Friday, February 27
8:00 ET/5:00 PT – Oklahoma @ Illinois (Scores)
And while we’re waiting, place your bets on who takes the high score on the day.
We’ll get started with Florida and Kentucky in a few minutes. Florida’s vault lineup will be the usual. They got a great stick from McMurtry last week, but most of the people in the middle of the lineup were bouncing all over the place, so I’m looking for more landing control this time around.
We’re with B Team, Melissa and Kupets, for the Florida meet, as expected. We’re getting the Florida blooper reel for some reason. Here are all the mistakes, guys! They really need to work on their landings *Bridgey doing 2/3 of a Yurchenko*. Suri has been tasked with interviewing Rachel Spicer’s mom, who has breast cancer. She’s a gem.
Here we go, Rotation 1: Florida on vault, Kentucky on bars
Caqautto – VT – solid y full – hop back and off to the side, but looked to get a better block than some of her bad ones this year. Distance was fine.
Roemmele – UB – straddle back is clean, the handstands are clearly missed, but she has a nice stick on the full in – if not for handstands, this routine would be a thing.
Spicer – VT – the direction and control on the landing were pretty good this time, a little pike – fine.
Carlisle – UB – stronger on the handstands for her – but takes two small hops on the full twisting double back – which will take her down.
I love the description “9.700 or less: Needs work.” 9.700 or less: Sort of sucky, amiright?
Wang – VT – better control on her yfull than most of her vaults this season – no huge bounce, just a small hop in place.
Waltz – UB – very high tkatchev but catches pretty close, a little short on her bail handstand, nice final handstand and full into a high double back with a small shuffle that should have been a stick. Pulled it together after a sloppy-ish start.
Baker – VT – Great vault, strongest on the team so far – nice block, good direction, stays straight, and basically sticks. 9.950.
Harlety – UB – a little late on giant full – another huge tkatchev that falls a littel close to the bar – bail – finishes with a whippy DLO with some piking and a hop forward.
Hunter – VT – The usual 1.5 from her, great distance maybe even more than usual, but a fairly significant hop forward – though that’s the only deduction they’ll take I’m sure.
Rechenmacher – UB – pretty jaeger – solid hs – clean enough on the baiul and hits the hs – very precise on the full – small step on double tuck – nice work.
Just saw the comment that one judge gave Bridgey a 9.950. Um……
McMurtry – VT – here we go – beautiful in the air as always, but a medium hop back this time – and a little off to the side.
Beucler – UB – “That jaeger is HUGE” was my internal monologue, and that’s the problem – way far away from the bar – misses a handstand later, step forward on full twisting double tuck.
Florida goes 49.575 on vault because of course they did. It was an improvement, but really only Baker vaulted to her potential. We’ll expect more control in the landings from both Hunter and McMurtry because they gave away a bit of their score there. But McMurtry still got a 9.950, which one judge gave her last week for her stick, so whatever. Improvements in control of landings from the first three in the lineup this week.
Kentucky 48.775
Some nice work in there. Rechenmacher’s routine is quite pretty. Love the height on those tkatchevs as always, but they do come down right on top of the bar and catch with bent arms. A bunch of almost sticks, small shuffles and steps that they’ll need to turn into sticks by Regionals if they want to make anyone remotely nervous.
Florida opens on that pace for a 100,000, as expected. They’ll set the mark to beat.
Rotation 2: Florida on bars, Kentucky on vault
Furuyama – VT – pikes down on her yfull with a hop.
McMurtry – UB – She has been all over this lineup this year – clean work – late on giant full turn – solid bail but short on a handstand on the low bar – fantastic dismount as always with a stick, but she gave away more on the bars this time than usual.
Beucler – VT – That was a little unnerving yfull – “They’re still improving” is Kupets’ assessment. Very little block with lots of piking and a large lunge back.
Fassbender – UB – Waiting on the McMurtry score – good first hs – solid tkatchev, some good counter rotation – clean bail – trying to be precise and slow on these handstands – double arabian dismount with a step back. Pretty strong.
Hartley – VT – Better block than her teammates, still some real piking and a large step back, but better height distance and direction.
BDG – UB – toe on to a strong shaposh – clean bail – step up to high bar – nice final hs – pikes down the second salto of her DLO with a hop forward. Was probably going to get a 20 before that dismount.
Mitchell – VT – front handspring, handspring front pike vault – with a step forward. Tough to get much distance on that, but well done. Every time a front handspring vault is done, the commentator will tell us that she’s never seen anuything like it. It’s a rule.
Hunter – UB – Great hindorff – lost her handstand a little after – short – clean on bail – sticks the full twisting double back – but everything looked pretty strong except that one short handstand after the release.
Hilton – VT – More refinement in that full than the others have shown – tries to open out of it a little bit and give it some flair – off to the side, and a step, but potential to be pretty.
Caquatto – UB – Strong ray and solid hs afterward, hits her hs position on the bail – precise on all hs – and sticks the DLO. Strong work. One of her more precise bars routines.
Watlz – VT – Good height and finds the stick well – strong vault – not the distance of the Florida vaulters and pikes for it, but holds onto the landing – confident vault.
Sloan – UB – Let’s see what she does after last week – Great Ray – handstands look good – legs together on the bail this time – sticks the DLO. That was a very last year routine. And I’m happy to see the legs together on the bail, which doesn’t always happen. Good performance. 9.975. Almost there.
Florida is still on 198 pace with 99.025 at the halfway point. Caquatto and Sloan both put up very strong routines in the final two spots to give that rotation a competitive score. It could have been better. Each of the first four performers had some unnecessary errors to keep them down in the 9.8s in a looser scoring environment, but they were saved by the last two. Once again, this lineup looks so much better with Sloan in it.
Kentucky 97.825, after breaking 49 on vault. Waltz had that nice stick, Hilton had good form, and the rest kept them close enough to be competitive. Vault has been a problem for a number of seasons, and I was worried about it this year without Cunningham, but that was OK. Those last two vaults will carry them, just as those last two bars routines carried Florida.
Courtney is giving us the keys on beam and floor, and they really are milking this footage of Courtney doing beam. Every week? She could walk out there right now and get a 10. That would only be half-based on reputation.
Rotation 3: Florida on beam, Kentucky on floor:
Fassbender – BB – clean on the aerial to bhs – check after the bhs that she probably didn’t need – that sheep jump really isn’t close enough to be a true sheep or anything – great side aerial to stuck full, though.
Hilton – FX – WHOA. What was that? She went into a great, high double pike, but then lost herself in the air and slammed down onto her face. She’s down on the ground now, I was hoping she just got the wind knocked out of her, but they need to go through concussion protocols etc right now because she landed on her head. So we’re in a hold.
She’s still down, which is a worry, but she slammed down near her head, so they have to be very careful with this.
I’m thinking I’m going to switch primarily to Georgia/Auburn when that gets going, but keep an eye on this one. Georgia/Auburn should be the much closer and more interesting meet.
Hilton being loaded onto the gurney now. This is bad. Such a shame. I did not think it was that bad on first view. She even started to continue the routine and then realized something was very wrong. She’s now out of the arena and being taken to the hospital. No big deal, rest of the Kentucky gymnasts. Just go do all your double pikes now. Does Kentucky have meets without scary injuries?
They’re getting a touch warmup now, as Georgia and Auburn gets close.
Spicer – BB – solid loso series to start – full turn – secure gainer loso – no wobbles in here so far, the switch is always a question mark in her routine, it seems like they’re working on rigor-mortis arms a little bit – stuck gainer full. Solid work.
Phipps – FX – Double tuck is secure but legs apart – clean on the front full to layout middle pass – switch side to wolf full – rudi is a little undertwisted and piked – but a solid comeback hit – no landing errors.
Baker – BB – Wolf turn is OUT. Aerial to bhs is strong – split jump and split jump 1/2 are not 180 and are now the biggest issues in this routine since the wolf turn is gone – double tuck is landed pretty low but secure – small hop.
Carlisle – FX – split jumps to open – also with a solid double back – she’s loading in the leaps because that’s her strength in this routine – hits them – whip 1.5 to front tuck is hit as well – they’re hitting to potential in the next couple routines.
Boyce – BB – aerial – huge break and can’t pull it back and comes off the beam. Eeeeenteresting. It didn’t even look like she was that far off. She just sort of started bending, and then more, and then more – does it again well – everything else is clean – but then a check on choreography – hesitation after her switch – sticks gainer full.
Auburn underway – strong full from Webster with good dynamics but a larger bounce back.
Jay – UGA – UB – good hip to very strong Ray – clean on the bail and precise hs – a little short on final hs – hops the legs together on the DLO – solid start.
Kopec – Auburn – VT – they wait to twist on these vaults – also solid form in the air on her full with a large bounce. Missing the control so far.
Vaculik – UB – nice half turn to excellent jaeger – a little rushed in some handstands – bail looked OK from this angle – nice final cast hs – but overdoes her tuck full a bit with a lunge back.
McMurtry – BB – UF – excellent punch front to start – clean work – secure loso series – into the 2.5 – just slightly undertwisted with a hop forward –
Guy – VT – Auburn – Excellent power – good direction – sticks landing – that’s the Guy vault we expect to see – loses her leg form a little early in the vault – maybe a slide on landing?
Persinger – UB – strong first hs – half turn to a hit jaerger – precise on the bail – handstand work is strong – late on the giant full and then a hop back on the double tuck – gave away too much at the very end, though but a nice start.
Kluz – VT – Strong 1.5 – it never looks like she’s going to do one and then she pulls around that other half turn fully – hop forward –
Hunter – BB – Huge series as always – takes it right to the end of the beam with a smaller check – finishes with a stuck double tuck. Just that.
Brown – UB – UGA – The tkatchev and pak are beautiful as always – still not wild about hte hald turn on the low bar – but the hs look close enough – tuck full is strong with a small hop in place – better.
Atkinson – VT – Very nice on the 1.5 – Good power, clearly fully completed, small hop – should be a very strong score.
Davis – UB – good first hs – excellent tkatchev as always – high and counter rotation – hits bail – good height on shoot to high bar – small steps on tuck full – good work as well. this is closer to the late-lineup hits they should be getting.
Rott – VT – Excellent stick on her full. They are getting these vaults. Shame that we didn’t see Demers vault today, but Rott’s stick will help. 9.975. Hello, enthusiasm.
Rogers – UB – very precise first hs – Ricna is great – clean hs – strong bail to stalder shoot – DLO with a step back that was pretty big – perfection until the dismount.
Rounding things up: Kentucky did very well to recover after Hilton’s injury. They has one uncontrolled double pike and almost OOB, but they easily broke 49. Florida came back from Boyce’s fall on beam to get some very fancy scores and a 49.375. They’ve fallen off the 198 pace for now, but they still have a home floor rotation to go.
Auburn vaulted very well for 49.375. Strong work from Atkinson and Rott for some of their better vaults, needed more control on a couple of the early vaults, but that rotation is coming along well and they should be pleased with that performance.
Georgia went 49.325 on bars to stay close, but behind, Auburn after the first rotation, which they didn’t need. They need a lead at halfway. A lot of good work on the bars there, but a few people gave away tenths on landings that they shouldn’t have been giving away, which keeps them under 49.4. They need to be getting 49.4s regardless of venue. Interesting that Davis hasn’t really been getting the scores this season because her routines look the same as they always did for 9.950s in the past, though she did not stick that landing.
Oklahoma jsut went 49.400 on bars, led by Scaman’s 9.925, which is one of her better scores on her 3rd-best event.
Roemmele – UK – BB – way way short on her loso series and comes off the beam. More pressure routines coming from Kentucky. Sheep jump is better than Fassbender’s, though.
Strong start for Vaculik on VT for Heorgis in the landing department with a stick. Still has some crazy legs going on, but she worked that landing.
Guy – UB – arches her his hs a little but holds it – just looks a little rushed and ragged so far, but is hitting her position – strong tkatcehv, nice full, and a stuck double back – got better as it went –
One of Boyce’s stronger floor routines to start them off
Roberts – VT – Came onto the table CRAZY high and CRAZY crooked and went way off to the side – almost vaulted off the mat entirely, which would have been something.
Kopec – UB – hits her jaeger but very flexed feet – overshoot – short on final hs – clean DLO in the air but a small step and then another step to salute –
Davis – VT – Very nice distance and form, but not her usual landing – shuffle back – also came in a little lower than usual –
Milliet – UB – Good Ray with nice flare of the legs – hits pak with a little leg separation – half turn on low bar – short on a couple handstand position late – nice double tuck – she’s comiong along here, which they desperately need.
Broussard – VT – Not the stick for 9.975 from last week, but a similar vault in many ways – good form and direction – slide back this time.
Kluz – UB – Good tkatchev with nice swing out of it into the bext handstand – hits bail – not much on the shoot to high bar – catches close and has to muscle up the next hs – good DLO dismount.
Rogers – VT – Came in short on her 1.5 this time with a larger step back and more knee bend than usual. They’re not getting the landings from last week at all.
Florida is hitting, hitting this floor rotation, so watch out for the scores when we get to the end. Wang’s best final pass landing of the year as well – no shortness this time –
Walker – UB – good form and hs – hits her tkatchev – clean pak – very short on half turn on low bar and never really went through hs – great DLO with a stiuck – shame about the low bar work because the rest was excellent.
Jay – VT -She also doesn’t have her best landing, pretty large bounce forward on the 1.5. They needed to bring the sticks today, and no one but Vaculik did. Just a 49.100 for UGA on vault, almsot entirely because ogf landings.
Atkinson – UB – very precise bail but collapses her elbows a little working out of hit – nice tkatchev – a couple questionable hs – but a great stickon the dismount. They hit this rotation for the most part – a few unnecessary errors, but this should be a good score overall.
Baker – FX – UF – Good landing on the piked double arabian that time – just a small step but I would consider it controlled this time – not short on the double pike this time either – the scores have been going high so far, so what do they do with this – hits her leaps – 1.5 to half to straddle jump – definitely travels on that straddle jump in the air but keeps it under control. Very strong routine. 9.950. Well done. A 10 and a 9.900 from the two judges.
Auburn is on it. Easy 197 pace after two events. They’re getting the benefit of the scores in there, but they’re not giving away the mistakes that Georgia is. Georgia is, once gaain, on high 196 pace, but they needed more from vault. Because now the pressure is way on those floor and beam rotations, which is scary.
Hunter – FX – Great DLO as always and good control this time – no question there – 1.5 to layout to front pike this time – changes the pass and I actually prefer it to the other one – more dynamic – or maybe I’m just tired of the other one – good straddles – open double back – looked like a clear slide back on that last pass, but the rest was great. 9.950.
Mitchell – BB – UK – I’ve loved this routien for a while so I’m glad she’s getting the scores. So many times over the last couple of years she has been great at home and then gets a 9.750 for some reason. Strong on the aerial to bhs and the side somi – secure on the tuck jump full as well – just the dismount left – front full and a stick – well done –
Caquatto to finish for Florida as always – It’s a YOU GET A 9.950 AND YOU GET A 9.950 rotation – front double full to front tuck is nice this time – rudi to split jump is clean as well – the leap combination is the strongest part of her routine – secure double pike – hit routine – one of her better routines of the year. 9.975. A case of scoring the rotation order rather than the routines there. 49.65- for Florida.
Florida 198.150, Kentucky 195.950.
Good score for Kentucky by the way, but Florida got what they needed with those floor scores. I think you can anticipate by lack of separation feelings. Baker was amazing and Kytra was almost amazing.
Back to Auburn and Georgia, Auburn has started well on beam, Persinger had a low double pike with a slide on floor.
Milliet – UB – strong on loso series – pulls around her full turn with minimal correction – solid aerial that might have been under but she stayed with it not to wobble – long pause pre-dismount – 1.5 with step forward. Nice.
Reynolds – FX – They’ve had a little changing of the guard here after last week’s disaster – fine double pike to start – low but secure – switch side to popa are both hit – clean rudi to loso – 1.5 to layout finish is hit – it’s not a big routine, but none of them have been so far this year, and it’s a reliable, regular hit, which they needed.
Demers – BB – My obsession with this routine grows by the day – clean loso series – she moves swiftly and confidently – the switch is an issue but the sheep is actually real and good – side aerial to full – off to the side with a twitch on landing, but another real hit.
Marino – FX – Solid on the double tuck mount this time – split full and popa positions are both hit – 1.5 to layout is clean – this is a recovery performance – much better endurance and chest position – pulls around the double pike this time – low chest but not the lowness of last week.
Do those guys just have SPORT written on their chests? How feeble.
Guy – BB – aggressive on the full turn – almsot too aggressive with a check – switch side is OK – clean on the loso series – the switch is iffy as is the theme of the day, but this is secure enough work – solid aerial – gainer pike with a twitch – not quite stuck.
Babalis – FX – round off double tuck – large step, too large – but does keep her front foot planted – better than last week – hits her leaps – half turn to 1.5 loses her knees in there and lands squatty – had to tuck to pull it around – lands low on double pike and bounces to the side, but this is a recovery. 9.825. Is that LOWER than she got for her big bounce last week?
Walker – BB – kickover front is fine – strong on loso series as well – secure work – full turn – big break on her sheep jump as the leg flies up, so this won’t be another 9.9, sticks gainer full – just the one major error there.
Box – FX – a little overcooks her double pike this week with a slide back – 1.5 to layout is very clean – hits leaps – very squatty on her doubel tuck this time with a large slide back – just does keep in in bounds – she’s not getting the routine she did earlier in the season suddenly. These last two weeks she has looked very January.
Atkinson – BB – Great full turn – loso series is hit – pretty aerial – switch to a real pike jump – just the 1.5 this time – hop forward. Great hit beam rotation for Auburn to pull way away from Georgia going into the last event.
Jay – FX – Low chest on the mount this time as well – with a lunge forward – so they’re still not earning the scores – middle pass was solid – switch to wolf-ish to cat leap – double pike is solid but she also finishes with 9.800.
After 3: Auburn 148.200, Georgia 147.425
Didn’t expect Auburn to have this kind of lead going to the last event. They are definitely getting the benefit that Georgia isn’t getting so far tonight, but while Georgia improved on floor, they gave a bunch away again. Same on vault. Auburn has been the stronger team so far.
I think I’m going to stay with this one to see how it turns out and then head to Alabama and LSU, but we’ll see. But now I’m bored during this rotation break, so maybe I lied.
Kayla Williams had a great 1.5 in the air but no stick this week – larger step forward.
Wyrick – UB – back goes archy on the full turn, but she keeps it over the bar – clean legs on the bail – one shorter hs – very nice DLO with a stick.
Jordan – UB -short first hs – she often rushes the beginning of this routine – great jaeger – arches on the bail a little – small step on DLO –
Beers – VT – Upgrading to the 1.5 – excellent form in the air throughout – great distance and direction, just a small hop. That can be a 10 when she sticks.
Vaculik is having a couple small check for UGA on beam but hitting.
Courville – UB – good first hs – clean on the bail as well – short on final handstand and past on the full twisting double back – lunge forward – great early, lost the endurance at the end it appeared.
Alabama didn’t have the big scores early but pulled it together for a solid score with the last two vaults. They maintain a slight lead over LSU, who got 9.875s from Gnat, Jordan, and Courville, and the Jordan and Courville ones seemed friendly. Courville had real errors at the end there.
A few errors from Walker on that floor routine – a chest-down slide and short on a final front tuck with a step back. 9.825.
Brown – BB – She’s getting another chance, which I like – bends in the hips on her loso series but keeps it together this time – solid leaps – clean and secure on side aerial – finishes with a stuck gainer pike. Pulled it back after the early issue for a recovery hit.
Hlawek – FX – secure double pike – she’s back to #2 since Atkinson it back – 1.5 to back tuck is fine as well – solid split full to tuck jump – this is the routine she did last week for 9.8s in the last spot – whips around an arched layout at the end of her last pass, but another usable showing. They’re rolling now.
Georgia is definitely getting the beam benefit that LSU did. 9.900 for Brown with that bend on the series.
Babalis – BB – high loso series – slight check on the pike jump after the split – I’m sad they got rid of the switch 1/2 – good kickover front – big wobble on the aerial – GIRL! – fine dismount -shuffle
Hall just a near-stick on vault for LSU – and McNeer sticks her DLO on bars –
Savona – VT – high and clean full – small bounce back – she should have been able to break this vault lineup from the beginnign, but I’m glad she’s finally getting a chance – a little piking –
Jetter – UB – good first hs – clean on the tkatchev – looked short on the bail – nice shoot to high bar – MLT would be happy with these handstands – and one of her good dismounts with a stick – She’s as happy as that MLT dog right now with that routine. Sophie? Yappy? What’s the dog’s name?
Rogers – BB – GIRL you did not just almost fall on a straddle jump. What is this? Almost collapses on her bhs 3/4 but gets it this time. sticks dimsount.
Nice stick from Jordan on vault – she’s rounding into form – well done – Brannan looks very precise on bars, but they are all just short of vertical on these bails – which is often true of Alabama early in the year – pikes her DLO a little with a step.
Hambrick – VT – I luuuurrrve this vault – sticks it – maintains good form – not much you can take from that – lovely –
C Sims – UB – good full turn – good height but ragged feet on that tkatchev – hits the bail – ful turn -huge double tuck with a step she probably didn’t need to take, but she’s very close to being great on this event – just bits of form everywhere.
Auburn has this meet tied up and is about to get an amazing score.
Gnat – VT – Just the full this time, and they should really stick to the DTY because that landing was less controlled with a slide back.
A Sims – UB – Weiler – bail and a toe shoot back to high bar – they’re trying to get rid of some of the skills that show off her leg separations, but you can still see it so clearly on her giants and dismount.
Courville – VT – She still hasn’t homed in on the landing yet this season – slide back.
Beers – UB – Good shaposh – to pak – finishes her half turn well but then turned crazy and lost herself on the low bar – tried to save it by circling around but had to come off the bar. She was stepping up to the high bar and fell, you guys. On a circle up to the high bar. step forward on double front.
Georgia finishing with Box on beam. They’re getting good scores, but they’ll be nowhere close to Auburn’s Florida-level score.
LSU has gained the lead at the halfway point, 98.675 to 98.600. LSU didn’t really have the vault landings at the end, but Hambrick’s vault was a real treasure. Jetter had a good hit, but everyone else had moments of sloppiness for Alabama on bars.
Georgia finishes with a 196.775, another of their usual scores, but they still won’t be happy with that meet. Auburn crushed it with a program high. We’ll see what it ends up being. Scores went way fancy for Auburn at the end for a 197.750, you guys. Almost a 10 for Atkinson on floor. Everyone’s on the Auburn bandwagon now.
Oklahoma is on solid mid-high 197 pace going to beam, but not getting the big 49.5s. It’s a 49.4 of a meet today, which will work.
Is it time to panic for Georgia? They still look like a Nationals team, but they still look far away from a Super Six team, regardless of the scoring issues today.
Alabama to beam, LSU to floor
Williams – BB – Solid on the front tuck this time – long pause before the loso series – just the smallest flinch on landing – pulls the popa around well – holds her leg up as she finishes the full turn – step on 1.5.
Savona – FX – 1.5 to double back – really wanted that stick and just steps a little – full in middle pass with a controlled step – nailing the tumbling so far – fine split and good popa – finishes with a secure double pike – the Savona landing special.
McNeer – BB – precise aerial to bhs – check on the loso series but minimizes the damage – switch to split is fine but just a little more tentative than other weeks – off to the side on her 1.5 with a hop.
Ewing – FX – front double full with a solid landing – front full to a slightly arched layout but it has been clean so far – they utilize the safer switch side to popa dance combinations well for the gymnasts who need them – buckles a little on the double pike with a hop to the side but not bad.
Guerrero – BB – Finally getting to see her – solid bhs loso series – switch side is hit – full turn is pretty – secure side aerial – swtich to straddle jump – not everything is lovely and precise, but it’s all secure, and that’s what she advertised – another hop on 1.5 dismount.
Wyrick – FX – full in mount – and lands it well – it’s funny to me that she’s now getting in on floor because WHAT ABOUT BEAM. It still should be her best event. I swear. She was so good in JO. Problematic middle pass – just pulls around her layout but will lose ground for form – very low chest on double back but hit.
Beers – BB – Good splits – the side somi looked award going into hit but she hit it securely – loso series with too much of a wobble – bends at the hips as she tries to correct – they’ve worked on prettying up these full turns and I appreciate it – sheep is solid and secure – sticks the 1.5 dismount.
Jordan – FX – Very strong double pike – and a clean 1.5 to layout as well – she could do a more difficult dance combination than the switch side popa but it certainly works for her. She nailed that routine. Should be a great score. Great twisting form and secure landings.
Clark – BB – solid loso series – hits the sheep – clean full turn – nice kickover front – this is their most confident routine so far – 1.5 with a large step. They would be winning this meet if they had picked up those beam landings.
Oklahoma hit a massive beam to finish 197.875. That’s the beam rotation we’ve been waiting for.
Gnat – FX – big DLO and a very nice landing – changing to that pass is the best decision they could have made – 2.5 to front tuck is nailed as well. This is starting to be a postseason level floor rotation from a couple of these people later in the lineup. The split full is good. I would like to see the front leg higher on the switch ring – Comes in a little low and locked on her double pike and bounces, so it won’t be an amazing score – still solid.
A Sims – BB – Alabama is trailing and needs a big hit from her – they home streak is really on the line now – wobble on the aerial – solid loso series – switch and straddle are great – switch side is excellent as well – her routine should be all leaps – full turn – a little short on her double tuck with a step. Too many giveaways on those landings is this rotation.
Hall – FX – a lot of taping on her knee today – bounces a little on her DLO this time – another with the switch side popa combination – front full to a whipped, arched layout but a little sloppier than usual as well – alos a little slide on the double tuck. One of her less confident routines this year.
LSU leads 148.150-147.825. Alabama needs ones of those home floor rotations right about now.
Note that Utah/Oregon State is just getting underway as well. Utah getting normal human bars scores in this road meet. Are they killing a bull in this DISHNET commercial?
Courville update – sick, not doing any more events tonight. Scarlett Williams will replace her on beam.
Rotation 4:
Ewing – BB – layotu 2ft series is secure – high switch side – still looks a little crooked but hit – standing loso with smallest check – 1.5 dismount small step. Nice.
Kathy, the “BIG E” club is not that.
Frost – FX – She’s back in the lineup – slightly crunched in the DLO landing but nice – good popa to wolf full – front full to front tuck – off and just pulled it around – another small bounce on doubel pike – fine – but not the routine she was doing at the beginning of the month –
Hall – BB – Lots of adjustments to the beam lineup today – switch side with a lean – secure on loso series with messier legs – good full turn – switch to straddle 1/4 – form issues but not wobble issues so far in the routine – sticks the double tuck. There you are.
Jetter – FX – flexed feet on double arabian with a step forward – leaps look OK – 1.5 to front full with another slide that was just a little too much to be controlled, but she’s hitting comfortably – solid 1.5 to layout.
49.350 on bars for Utah – got big numbers from Lopez, Lothrop, and Dabritz of course. 9.950 for Dabritz.
Macadaeg – BB – she always looks a little tight on her full turn and then amazing after that – great leaps as always – just slightly tentative on these skills but still lovely – aerial as well – wobble on loso series and again on choreography – steps on gainer pike –
Dennis – FX – solid on the double pike – splits looked not bad but a little short – layout to front full with a bounce – solid double pike as well – not a big routine but minimized what she gave away. Alabama surging.
Gnat – BB – Now the pressure is on LSU to get the big scores because their lead is gone and they’re counting a 9.7 already – nice turn and aerial – switch to straddle 1/4 – just slightly tentative corrections here – nice switch side – it’s huge – secure loso series – sticks or near-sticks the double full – started tight but was great by the end.
C Sims – FX – The usual DLO – high and lands with a lower chest – front full to front pike looked fine – secure enough on the landing – switch side to split jump 3/4 – hits double pike as well. If the others were getting 9.9s…
Williams – BB – Now this is interesting. I loved her beam for Arkansas, but it wasn’t always the biggest score – nice full turn – high switch and straddle jump – nice aerial pause into back pike but she hit both – smallest correction on the pike – strong sheep jump – can you stay in this lineup? – dismount combo into full – smallest shuffle. Great.
Clark – FX – Alabama starting to move into a comfortable position – Such a high double pike – shuffles a little bit toward the line – 1.5 to layout a little bouncy as well but I love how high her passes are – short on the double back dismount with a lunge forward. Interesting. They had a chance to move up with that one, but maybe not now. Still got a 9.850.
Jordan – BB – They need her life routine – great side somi – secure on loso series – perfection – switch and straddle 1/4 are great – holds the full turn – excellent aerial – sticks the 1.5 AMAZING routine.Still just a 9.900. Pssh.
Beers – FX – Needs basically a 10 doesn’t she? I’m not putting it past them, but… – Excellent DLO – Needs a 9.975 to tie, 10 to win. Botches her middle pass and doesn’t even do it – HUH? – Dana Duckworth is sacrificing so many lambs right now, but it’s too late dear. Just a layout to layout half final pass. What happened there?Dana doing some emotional damage control. DD is owning the world right now.
What if Beers just got a 10 for that routine? SEC.
No, a 9.400. That’s more appropriate.
LSU 197.350, Alabama 197.225
What are we going to talk about for LSU home meets now? Didn’t really come down to Beers in the end because she needed a 10. Neither team was that great tonight. Fine, but not their best. LSU had a sloppy bars rotation and too many wobbles early on beam. Alabama almost the same. Sloppy moments on bars and too many hops on beam landings, just LSU’s problems were smaller. Odd scoring, in that there were some really charitable moments for LSU (bars) and some harsher moments (some of those beam scores).
Oh, this is the time when you need to interview D-D. But props to Jessie Jordan for that beam routine, which was stellar, so I guess she gets the interview. That was the routine of the meet.
Utah had a strong vault rotation in spite of not having one of Dabritz’s strong vaults – on mid 197 pace after two events. Oregon State’s bars…that was Regionals 2013 again. 48.000.
Now the D-D interview – Now one is telling her the score and she’s pissed about that. It’s 197.350, D-D!
Alright, time for Utah and Oregon State now.
Rowe on floor now – high 1.5 to layout to finish. So far Utah is getting another of those road scores they have needed.
Witherby – BB – small correction on aerial into the attempted bhs connection – switch side – a little tight on all her skills – Tanya making a lot of notes – stumbles back with a fall on her double pike dismount. The troubles continue.
Lee – FX – a small bounce on a lovely triple full – sure, there’s some crossed legs (not too bad) but it’s NCAA. It’s not Wong-good, but it’s good – a little too much of a slide on the middle pass – strong double tuck – good chest position and secure – will miss a little for the middle pass, but a good hit.
McMillan – BB – good kickover front to bhs – tight full turn – front handspring one handed to her knees – nice and original – switch pause to straddle 1/4 – this is better – bounce on gainer full and some broken connections but nice.
Wilson – FX – way too much on her DLO and goes OOB with both feet and a hundred steps. Switch side and popa work for her. Seat drop doesn’t. Layout to full with a larger slide – nice double back to finish though but they’ll need to drop that. How did she still get a 9.700?
Perez – BB – Enjoy her mount – wobble on aerial – holds onto her loso series without having to give away a check – very strong and fluid full turn – check on her switch side 1/4 – sheep is hit – small bounce in place on gainer full.
Tutka – FX – Strong full in – solid on the middle pass as well – popa to wolf full – switch and stag – Double tuck with a larger lunge back – looked like she was right on the line, and did just slide OOB.
Tang – BB – very strong kickover front to bhs – high on her standing loso – does a wolf turn that we’ll have to forgive – it was a little shaky – switch to straddle 1/4 is quite well done – bhs to a stuck gainer full – her usual secure routine. They are pulling it back together on beam, which is new for OSU.
Utah counting the 9.750 from Tutka now.
Lothrop – FX – Chest down on tuck full mount but solid landing – 1.5 to half to split jump which is smart composition for her – straddles are hit – also low chest on the double pike but hit landings. I’m sure they’ll love this in the scores – she didn’t do a dance out of bounds like Wilson, so it has to be 8 tenths higher than that.
Gardiner – BB – her wolf turn isn’t that bad as far as wolf turns go – keeps her aerial together with just a tentative minor check – nice loso series – strong side somi as well – they have looked very good in these final four beam routines – awkward gainer full with a step back.
Other Amanda thinks every skill and every routine is very nice.
Dabritz – FX – Strong landing on the piked full in – good security – rudi to a high loso – splits and wolf look good as well – finishes 3/1 with a shuffle and slide, but that was the only big issue. Solid routine. Still gets a 9.925 even with the landing error. So would have been flirting with a 10 with her usual landing.
Oregon State 49.275 on beam, which is great for them. Utah 49.325 on floor, so they’re well over 197 pace but will be well short of 198 as well. Still in line for a big road score if they hit beam. But they still need a strong and confident hit to get to that 197.5 marker that would keep them in very comfortable stead as far as road scores for RQS go.
For Oregon State, this is a lost meet because of that bars score. They will hurt in the rankings, especially depending on what Penn State and Minnesota are able to do this weekend.
Megan Marsden is giving HUGE side eye to ASU not being able to host Pac-12s. “Thankfully, our administration…” LOL.Well done, Megan. Best performance of the day for Utah.
One more rotation to go…fading…fading…fading…
Utah on beam, OSU on floor
Wilson – BB – WHOA. She was way off her her two layouts series – off line on her first one, went for the second one anyway and slammed her ankle into the beam. Amazed that she isn’t hurt. Keeps going – small hop to the side on 1.5.”You can tell in her face that she’s disappointed” as she’s grinning.
Turner – FX – nice double arabian in the air – lands a little squatty with a step but stays in – nice layout stuck out of her middle pass – hits switch side to wolf full – slide back on final pass, but an opening hit –
Delaney – BB – This will be interesting – nice loso series – secure – straddle jump to tuck jump full with check – she has the potential to be lovely here but has always been so nervous – nice loso to wolf jump – round off gainer full with a hop forward.
Witherby – FX – strong tuck full mount- also lands low but controlled step and comfortably in bounds – high 1.5 to layout – almost too high but she got a solid layout out of it – also switch side to popa – a little bounce back on double pike.
The Pac-12 commentators are SOOO obsessed over whether everyone is smiling or not.
Stover – BB – aerial – checks a little and stops herself – loso series – another moment of tightness with a small correction – again on the full turn – just a bit nervous here – nice switch to straddle – kickover front with several steps forward and a wobble – sticks gainer full but things to take on every skill. 9.850? OK?
Tang – FX – Strong double pike to start – leaps aren’t huge but they’re hit – “It’s almost ballet music” – that means it has violins in it – strong and high 1.5 to layout – secure – rudi dismount with a bounce up – could have controlled that more, but otherwise a great routine.
Lee – BB – full turn – goes for her loso series and completely slipped off the beam. That one looked like it hurt as well and she’s a little more shaken – split the beam and slid along it – ouchie – couting a fall now, first time for Utah this year. What is it, last year? Finishes well with a stuck double full.
That’s a shame for Utah. They were on track for a great road score. Not so much anymore. Missed opportunity to move up in RQS.
Perez – FX – hips a little back on that double pike with a slide. I make a point of hating happy routines, but even I don’t hate this one. front full to half to shushunova – is able to cover any errors on that pass by moving right into shushunova – 1.5 to a piked half at the end. Nice routine but small errors in each one.
Rowe – BB – Now she needs to stop the damage – full turn – switch to straddle 1/4 are hit – wobble with bend at the hips on her loso series – everyone is having issues today – does a great job to save her kickover front – still a step and another bend but it looked like she would come off – hop to the side on 1.5 dismount. Some major, major breaks in there. 9.800. Sure. Fine.
McMillan – FX – clean front double full with a pretty big step out but not too much lack of control – nice leaps – split and straddle – very well hit and pretty – clean 1.5 to layout as well. I’m so glad she’s been able to come back on floor finally. I hope we get to see her on vault at some point since she had an amazing vault in JO. Love that back spin. punch rudi with a bounce similar to Tang. Good work.
Lothrop – BB – swims a little on her switch side 1/2 but holds it – solid loso series – very short of position on the switch side – fluid full turn – switch and straddle 1/4 are fine – 1.5 dismount with a step together. Their best routine of the rotation but still a couple small errors.
Gardiner – FX – 2.5 with a small stumble but does well to keep it controlled and not travel with her back leg much – nice middle pass into straddle jump – twisting is her strength – a little low on the double pike dismount but hit. Two good rotations to finish for Oregon State, but there was no coming back from that bars.
Final: Utah 196.875, Oregon State 195.750
Missed opportunity there for Utah. The scores were here to be taken, and they took advantage of it early, but lost it at the end with a couple OOBs on floor and then a very unsteady beam rotation with two falls and two other routines with errors throughout. That beam rotation was shades of last season. It’s not a thing yet, because it has only happened once, but it starts to put the doubt in that this could end up being another last year.
Note: If Oregon State had gone just 49.150 on bars, they would have won this meet. Oregon State beat Utah on both beam and floor.
To all a good night!
