First things first, if you’re not already doing college fantasy gymnastics (and enjoy that kind of thing), you should do it. I played last year and did . . . fine. My major weaknesses were everything, particularly that my beam lineup consisted of two people who could be relied upon to hit well, a couple others who were really happy to get a 9.700, several tumbleweeds, and a box of garbage. It didn’t go beautifully.
This year I plan on making the exact same mistakes and having a grand old time doing it. Really, the best part of fantasy gymnastics is making fun of how terribly your team is doing. I’ve been working on drafting my team and ranking my possible selections today (I’m almost up to the full 150 gymnasts, but I better not get some of these people), and I thought I’d share my rankings and my overthinking process. If you’re playing, feel free to do the same. We can all make fun of each other together this year!
My draft:
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Florida Grad Year: 2016 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”173″ data-title=”Bridget Sloan” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4094″>Bridget Sloan
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: LSU Grad Year: 2015 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”182″ data-title=”Rheagan Courville” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”3849″>Rheagan Courville
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Florida Grad Year: 2015 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”173″ data-title=”Kytra Hunter” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”3817″>Kytra Hunter
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: UCLA Grad Year: 2015 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”208″ data-title=”Samantha Peszek” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”3952″>Samantha Peszek
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Minnesota Grad Year: 2016 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”186″ data-title=”Lindsay Mable” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4137″>Lindsay Mable
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Utah Grad Year: 2015 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”209″ data-title=”Georgia Dabritz” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”3953″>Georgia Dabritz
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Oklahoma Grad Year: 2017 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”194″ data-title=”Chayse Capps” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4472″>Chayse Capps
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Oklahoma Grad Year: 2016 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”194″ data-title=”Haley Scaman” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4164″>Haley Scaman
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: LSU Grad Year: 2015 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”182″ data-title=”Jessie Jordan” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”3851″>Jessie Jordan
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Nebraska Grad Year: 2015 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”188″ data-title=”Jessie DeZiel” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”3873″>Jessie DeZiel
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Oklahoma Grad Year: 2018 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”194″ data-title=”Brenna Dowell” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4807″>Brenna Dowell
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Florida Grad Year: 2018 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”173″ data-title=”Kennedy Baker” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4703″>Kennedy Baker
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Florida Grad Year: 2016 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”173″ data-title=”Bridgette Caquatto” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4091″>Bridgette Caquatto
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Florida Grad Year: 2018 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”173″ data-title=”Alex McMurtry” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4706″>Alex McMurtry
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Oklahoma Grad Year: 2017 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”194″ data-title=”Kara Lovan” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4475″>Kara Lovan
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Stanford Grad Year: 2016 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”205″ data-title=”Ivana Hong” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4212″>Ivana Hong
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: UCLA Grad Year: 2017 Events: []” data-original-title=”” data-school=”208″ data-title=”Christine Peng-Peng Lee” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4530″>Christine Peng-Peng Lee
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Stanford Grad Year: 2018 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”205″ data-title=”Elizabeth Price” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4857″>Elizabeth Price
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Auburn Grad Year: 2016 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”160″ data-title=”Caitlin Atkinson” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4033″>Caitlin Atkinson
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: UCLA Grad Year: 2016 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”208″ data-title=”Danusia Francis” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4220″>Danusia Francis
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Stanford Grad Year: 2015 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”205″ data-title=”Kristina Vaculik” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”3942″>Kristina Vaculik
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Nebraska Grad Year: 2018 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”188″ data-title=”Grace Williams” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4778″>Grace Williams
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Alabama Grad Year: 2018 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”155″ data-title=”Mackenzie Brannan” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4610″>Mackenzie Brannan
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Georgia Grad Year: 2016 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”175″ data-title=”Brittany Rodgers” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4100″>Brittany Rogers
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Utah Grad Year: 2015 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”209″ data-title=”Tory Wilson” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”3956″>Tory Wilson
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Georgia Grad Year: 2016 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”175″ data-title=”Brandie Jay” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4098″>Brandie Jay
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: LSU Grad Year: 2017 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”182″ data-title=”Ashley Gnat” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4420″>Ashleigh Gnat
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Nebraska Grad Year: 2016 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”188″ data-title=”Hollie Blanske” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4141″>Hollie Blanske
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Boise State Grad Year: 2015 Events: [#, #, #]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”162″ data-title=”Ciera Perkins” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”3775″>Ciera Perkins
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Alabama Grad Year: 2017 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”155″ data-title=”Katie Bailey” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4288″>Katie Bailey
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Michigan Grad Year: 2017 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”184″ data-title=”Nicole Artz” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4428″>Nicole Artz
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Utah Grad Year: 2015 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”209″ data-title=”Corrie Lothrop” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”3954″>Corrie Lothrop
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Oregon State Grad Year: 2017 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”195″ data-title=”Madeline Gardiner” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4478″>Madeline Gardiner
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Alabama Grad Year: 2015 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”155″ data-title=”Kaitlyn Clark” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”3750″>Kaitlyn Clark
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Alabama Grad Year: 2015 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”155″ data-title=”Kayla Williams” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”3753″>Kayla Williams
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Oklahoma Grad Year: 2016 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”194″ data-title=”Maile’ana Kanewa” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4161″>Maile’ana Kanewa
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Alabama Grad Year: 2016 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”155″ data-title=”Lauren Beers” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4013″>Lauren Beers
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Michigan Grad Year: 2015 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”184″ data-title=”Sachi Sugiyama” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”3862″>Sachi Sugiyama
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: North Carolina State Grad Year: 2016 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”191″ data-title=”Brittni Watkins” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4152″>Brittni Watkins
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Utah Grad Year: 2018 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”209″ data-title=”Kari Lee” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4879″>Kari Lee
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Auburn Grad Year: 2018 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”160″ data-title=”Abigail Milliet” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4630″>Abigail Milliet
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Georgia Grad Year: 2015 Events: [#, #, #]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”175″ data-title=”Chelsea Davis” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”3825″>Chelsea Davis
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Arkansas Grad Year: 2017 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”159″ data-title=”Amanda Wellick” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4310″>Amanda Wellick
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Oregon State Grad Year: 2015 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”195″ data-title=”Chelsea Tang” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”3899″>Chelsea Tang
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Nebraska Grad Year: 2018 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”188″ data-title=”Kamerin Moore” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4777″>Kamerin Moore
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Georgia Grad Year: 2018 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”175″ data-title=”Natalie Vaculik” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4719″>Natalie Vaculik
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Oregon State Grad Year: 2017 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”195″ data-title=”Kaytianna McMillan” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4480″>Kaytianna McMillan
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: UCLA Grad Year: 2017 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”208″ data-title=”Jennifer Pinches” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4533″>Jennifer Pinches
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Arizona Grad Year: 2016 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”157″ data-title=”Shelby Edwards” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4021″>Shelby Edwards
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Georgia Grad Year: 2017 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”175″ data-title=”Kiera Brown” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4388″>Kiera Brown
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Oklahoma Grad Year: 2016 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”194″ data-title=”Keeley Kmieciak” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4162″>Keeley Kmieciak
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: LSU Grad Year: 2018 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”182″ data-title=”Erin Macadaeg” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4753″>Erin Macadaeg
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Oklahoma Grad Year: 2015 Events: [#, #]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”194″ data-title=”Rebecca Clark” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”3894″>Rebecca Clark
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Ohio State Grad Year: 2018 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”193″ data-title=”Taylor Harrison” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4800″>Taylor Harrison
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Georgia Grad Year: 2018 Events: [#, #]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”175″ data-title=”Vivi Babalis” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4716″>Vivi Babalis
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Cal Berkeley Grad Year: 2018 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”167″ data-title=”Toni-Ann Williams” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4674″>Toni-Ann Williams
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Auburn Grad Year: 2017 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”160″ data-title=”MJ Rott” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4314″>MJ Rott
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Michigan Grad Year: 2016 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”184″ data-title=”Austin Sheppard” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4130″>Austin Sheppard
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Nebraska Grad Year: 2017 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”188″ data-title=”Jennie Laeng” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4445″>Jennie Laeng
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Michigan Grad Year: 2018 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”184″ data-title=”Brianna Brown” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4759″>Brianna Brown
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Michigan Grad Year: 2017 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”184″ data-title=”Talia Chiarelli” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4429″>Talia Chiarelli
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: LSU Grad Year: 2015 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”182″ data-title=”Lloimincia Hall” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”3850″>Lloimincia Hall
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Arkansas Grad Year: 2018 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”159″ data-title=”Braie Speed” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4623″>Braie Speed
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Utah Grad Year: 2015 Events: [#, #, #]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”209″ data-title=”Becky Tutka” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”3955″>Becky Tutka
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Utah Grad Year: 2016 Events: [#, #, #]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”209″ data-title=”Kailah Delaney” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4221″>Kailah Delaney
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Stanford Grad Year: 2016 Events: [#, #, #]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”205″ data-title=”Taylor Rice” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4213″>Taylor Rice
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Utah Grad Year: 2017 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”209″ data-title=”Baely Rowe” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4535″>Baely Rowe
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Oklahoma Grad Year: 2017 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”194″ data-title=”McKenzie Wofford” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4476″>McKenzie Wofford
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Florida Grad Year: 2017 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”173″ data-title=”Claire Boyce” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4382″>Claire Boyce
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Alabama Grad Year: 2017 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”155″ data-title=”Aja Sims” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4293″>Aja Sims
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Florida Grad Year: 2015 Events: [#, #, #]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”173″ data-title=”Rachel Spicer” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”3819″>Rachel Spicer
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Illinois Grad Year: 2016 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”176″ data-title=”Giana O’Connor” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4103″>Giana O’Connor
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Oregon State Grad Year: 2016 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”195″ data-title=”Risa Perez” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4166″>Risa Perez
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: Auburn Grad Year: 2015 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”160″ data-title=”Bri Guy” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”3764″>Bri Guy
<li class="gymnastinfo" data-content=" School: UCLA Grad Year: 2017 Events: [#]” data-original-title=”” data-school=”208″ data-title=”Angi Cipra” href=”http://www.collegefantasygymnastics.com/draft#” id=”4528″>Angi Cipra
Am I pretending that all of this makes sense? No. But it’s what I have right now. This is the part that I’ve thought about. After #75, it’s just “I’ve heard of you/You got a 9.850 once that I remember.”
Thoughts:
- Everyone plus a thousand other people will be putting Bridget Sloan first, so it would be a smart strategy to select someone else as #1 because you would be more likely to get her. I have not done that.
- It’s tough to put freshmen too high because we just don’t know what we’re going to get from them until we see it. I’ve taken the plunge with a few of them like Dowell/Baker/McMurtry because they need to be excellent and have no excuse not to be. I would have Price higher, but that injury worries me.
- I tried to top-load with AAers and 3-eventers because I didn’t want to get stuck with a lot of people who are beautiful on one event, but I’m already concerned that I have some key non-beamers hanging around the top. Obviously, I will end up with all of them. Box of garbage 2.0.
- Having AAers is essential, even if they’re not getting a lot of 9.9s. I had Melanie Shaffer from Ohio State on my team last year, and she may have been my MVP because she was competing every event every week for usable 9.850s so that I wasn’t counting some terrible fall or, even worse, short on gymnasts. The Melanie Shaffers of the world are important, so check out those AA rankings.
- I put many of the gymnasts who are great on just one event lower on my list, which is why Lloimincia Hall is so far down. She could potentially make three lineups, but floor is the only guarantee, so other less famous gymnasts might end up being more valuable for fantasy. I assume many others will have her high since she’s Lloimincia Hall, so because I probably won’t get her, I didn’t want to waste a top spot.
- In some places, I’ve ranked less on strategy and more on which gymnasts I think it would be fun to maybe have, like Toni-Ann Williams from Cal. I don’t know what we’ll get from her, but I’m excited by the training footage. “Because I just like her” is a perfectly good reason to make a draft decision, and I’ve done that a ton. Don’t feel ashamed of that.
- But I did also put a lot of consideration into picking people enough I’m sure will make lineups. For instance, I have not ranked Grace McLaughlin and Ericha Fassbender at Florida in the top 75 because, while they’re recognizable, excellent gymnasts, I’m not really sure how many lineups they’re going to make. Conversely, I put Boise State’s Ciera Perkins really high because she has been so much more essential to her team with those 9.9s on three events that they don’t have elsewhere.
- Speaking of Perkins, don’t forget about people from some of the less prominent teams who could be very valuable. Brittni Watkins ranked well in the AA for NC State last year and could be that reliable, any-event type. Shelby Edwards has been 9.9-worthy on both vault and beam for Arizona, and both routines are superb. Taylor Harrison won JOs last year and should be essential for Ohio State.
- With one or two exceptions named Rheagan Courville, I tended to demote people I had on my team last year because it’s just more fun to mix things up. I don’t want the same people over and over again.
- Because of the calendar this year, most teams are not starting the first weekend. That means many teams don’t have any weekends off during the season, so bye weeks are a little less of a concern than some other years. I’m still slightly worried about overloading with gymnasts from the top teams, but they should be competing pretty much all the time.