Friday Live Blog – February 23, 2018

Friday, February 23 Scores Stream
6:00 ET/3:00 PT – Maryland, West Chester, Southern Connecticut (@ Philadelphia, PA)  LINK
7:00 ET/4:00 PT – [2] LSU @ [15] Georgia LINK SECN
7:00 ET/4:00 PT – [11] Arkansas @ [5] Florida LINK SEC+
7:00 ET/4:00 PT – [6] Michigan, [12] Denver, Utah State, Bowling Green (@ Toledo, OH)  LINK FLO
7:00 ET/4:00 PT – [20] Missouri @ [9] Kentucky LINK SEC+
7:00 ET/4:00 PT – SEMO @ Centenary LINK CC($)
7:00 ET/4:00 PT – UW-Oshkosh @ UW-Eau Claire  LINK
7:00 ET/4:00 PT – Winona State @ Gustavus Adolphus FREE
7:30 ET/4:30 PT – [19] Minnesota, Michigan State, UW-Stout @ [25] Iowa State LINK ISU($)
8:00 ET/5:00 PT – West Virginia @ [1] Oklahoma   LINK FSGo
8:30 ET/5:30 PT – [7] Alabama @ [16] Auburn LINK SECN
9:00 ET/6:00 PT – Iowa @ Southern Utah LINK FREE
9:00 ET/6:00 PT – [13] Boise State @ [18] BYU LINK FREE
10:00 ET/7:00 PT – Sacramento State, Alaska @ Seattle Pacific LINK FREE
10:00 ET/7:00 PT – UC Davis @ San Jose State LINK FREE

Remember to check out the RQS update if you’re watching the scoring benchmarks for these meets.

We have a pretty busy schedule in front of us in the early part of the day with simultaneous significant SEC matchups and the Elevate the Stage, going right into Oklahoma an hour later. I’ll try to live blog as much of all of them as possible.

Who else wants Danna to show up to the Georgia meet in full LSU regalia? Basically in a D-D costume. SECN cameras, you have your assignment.

There is (theoretically) a live score link for Elevate the Stage. Mmm. We’ll see about that.

Also Maryland just went 49.250 on bars.

Michigan still without Farley and MacLean is just on vault today. O’Hara will be going on beam and Shchennikova will be doing the all-around (!).

ROTATION 1

Vega – VT – Georgia – comes in short on her full, hop forward with a pike, not much height, but hit. 9.775.

Durante – UB – LSU – Danna LSU shirt spotted – good Jaeger and toe point – Pak, small leg break – clean handstand st the end – FTDT with a hop back, two feet hop. 9.825.

Great stick on full from Gowey for UF! One of her best vaults in NCAA.

Oakley – VT – Georgia – large bounce back on her full, also didn’t get the distance she would have wanted. Not her strongest. 9.750. Scores going a little high for these vaults.

Foberg – VT – Florida – hop back on full, good dynamics.

Hambrick – UB – LSU _ Solid Ray – good hs – full turn to bail, very clean – efficient set – FTDT hop back. 9.875.

Dickson – VT – Georgia – better height on her full but a pike down and a small hop back. 9.775. More appropriate score for that but it was stronger than the first two and didn’t get the separation reward.

Harrold – UB – LSU – Zuchold clean – toe 1/2 to Jaeger, nice hit – hop grip change to double front, step back. Good. No major things.

Johnson – VT – by far best height in the lineup but a large bounce back from her which will take away the score build. 9.775 as well. No 9.8s yet.

Baker – VT – Florida  1.5 a little short and locked but minimizes the damage with a small hop back with both feet

Edney – UB – LSU – Hondorff, solid, a little close – clean bail – good final hs – DLO with a slide back.

Snead – VT – Georgia – Y1.5, upgraded to that, comes in shortish with a medium step back. Best of the rotation and should get them into the 9.8s.

Slocum – VT – Florida – one of her good ones,very small landing adjustment –

Priessman – UB – nice tkatchev to Pak, clean – hitting handstands – DLO, a little whippy in the air and a medium-sized hop back.

Speed – UB – Arkansas – toe 1/2 to Jaeger, solidly caught, a little crooked in the air – clean bail – toe full to double tuck, late on the toe full but holds the stick on a staggered double tuck.

Finnegan – UB – Ray, strong – clean bail as well – DLO, two small steps back.

McMurtry – VT – full today – lovely as always – just a slide of heels together on the landing salute. Still got the perfect 9.950 from both judges.

After 1: LSU 49.425, Georgia 48.925

LSU solid enough on bars—I appreciated the final cast handstands, which looked closer to postseason level today—but didn’t get the landings on any of those routines, which they won’t be happy with. Several of them got 9.900s with full-tenth landing issues, though, so the judges were willing to go the the stratosphere for them. I’m not really how the one judge saw Finnegan as 9.950 with two distinct steps on landing.

Georgia meh on vault today. Vega and Oakley aren’t going to go that high because of dynamics, and then Johnson didn’t get her landing. Nice to see the 1.5 from Snead.

After 1: Florida 49.525, Arkansas 49.375

Watch out for this one. Those scores were HIGH for that Florida vault rotation. Baker landed short on her 1.5 with two steps back and still got a 9.950 from one of the judges. It’s going to get fancy. I’m not sure that McMurtry really stuck that and still got 9.950 from both.

Elevate still hasn’t started yet.

Kentucky and Missouri both over 49 in their first rotations.

Suzanne schmnoozing the judges during the bars warmup as we would expect.

ROTATION 2

Cannamela – VT – small hop back on full, pike throughout

Johnson – UB – Georgia – short first hs and clear hip – legs on her Gienger – legs on the bail as well – better final hs – DLO, large lunge back. 9.650.

Finnegan – VT – LSU – loveeeeely stick on her full – her best of the season. Very clean. 9.900.

Schild – UB – Georgia – Shap to bail, extreme crazy legs on bail but saves it – nice final cast handstand – DLO, a little pike throughout and a lunge back. A hit this time though!

Boren – UB – Florida – a little short fist handstand – solid tkatchev – hits bails, small leg break, good vertical – a couple questionable handstands there – sticks DLO. Good.

Lunge back for Edwards on 1.5 on VT.

Vaculik – UB – Georgia – good first hs – giant full to excellent Gienger – drops into vertical on her bail – close final hs – FTDT, usual form, small hop forward. Solid.

Priessman – VT – holds the stick on her full as well. Good one. Chest a little more forward than Finnegan’s but also quite strong. Took for distance to give her 9.800, which is a little tight to me. That should have been higher by comparison to other vaults today.

Baker – UB – Florida – Great Ray – hits hs – clean bail – toe 1/2 to double front, crazy cowboy but controls the hop back to make it pretty small.

Oakley – Ub – Georgia – Shap to Pak, very clean – one short hs – good toes – just comes in short on FTDT with a hop forward.

Hambrick – VT – LSU – lunge forward on 1.5 this time, maybe a little off angle, ,otherwise good.

Snead – UB – Georgia – Good form on her WOGAtchev – excellent bail toe point – short final hs – DLO with step forward.

Wellick – VT – Akransas – good full, small slide back – strong dynamics.

Edney – VT – LSU – 1.5 with lunge forward but good direction. Still think it’s a full tenth lunge so won’t get the benefit of her good direction. 9.850. So they took a tenth for the lunge and a half tenth for knees, which is always a potential deduction for her. Hambrick’s form is cleaner.

Sundstrom – UB – Denver – clear hip to tkatchev, fine, not huge – shortish hs – legs together on bail – short final hs – DLO with hop.

Dickson – UB – Georgia – fall on Tkatchev. Georgia could not afford that with the low early scores.

Brown – VT – Michigan – short on full with a lunge forward and to the side.

Spped – VT – Arkansas – lovely open on her full, just a small slide back

LSU leads 98.725 to 97.850.

Gowey – UB – Florida – strong Ray – toe on toPak, lovely – good toes on 1/2 turn on low – DLO, sticks with chest down. Pretty set.

McMurtry – UB – Florida – Great high Ray – clean bail – iffy final handstand – FTDT with a hop to the side, almost hops right into Owen because he didn’t expect her to have to hop. 9.925. Oh Carol.

L Brown – UB – Denver – She’s back today! arch in first cast handstand – Shap to Pak with leg breaks – Shap 1/2, solid, also legs – a couple arches in these handstand but holding them, solid DLO.

Florida 99.050, Arkansas 98.500

Zaziski – VT – Michgan – good control on her full landing, some pike throughout. Solid.

ROTATION 3

SNEAD – BB – GEORGIA – good bhs loso bhs series as usual – switch to back tuck, short on the switch, also as usual – punch front, secure – 2/1 hop back.

McLean – VT – Michigan – just the full from her, bounce back and leg form to take there.

Kirby – FX – LSU – switch side to popa – front lay to rudi, bounce back – double tuck, nice and clean – front lay to front full was better

Hundley – BB – Florida – aerial works through to sissone in that Hundley way where she’s kind of off but you wouldn’t know – bhs loso, secure – cast leap to switch side, solid – holds the stick on 1.5.

Desiderio – FX – LSU – DLO, secure, just chest forward at the end – front tuck through to double tuck, large bounce back, looks like she just does stay in bounds – switch ring to split leap 1/1, very good – double pike, crunched down but OK. This is still the question for LSU on floor. It’s a bigger routine with more potential, but will it actually earn those scores.

Oakley – BB – Georgia – wolf turn, solid – aerial, smooth – bhs loso, good extension – split jump to split ring jump – gainer full, small hop. 9.950. Ok…

Skaggs – BB – Florida – switch to split, nice form on both – check on loso series – cat leap to side aerial to full, basically holds the stick.

Edney – FX – LSU – good chest up double Arabian with a lunge forward – 1.5 to layout, good amplitude, comfortable landing – switch ring to split leap 1/1, good – double tuck, control, also good chest position, solid set.

Babalis – BB – Georgia – aerial to loso series, hit – switch to split to back tuck, good legs and keeps the rhythm going well enough – piked kickover front, right on – hop forward on dismount.

Boren – BB – Florida – front tuck, solid, a little low – loso series, solid and secure – standing loso, also solid – gainer full

Priessman – FX – full in, well controlled, maybe some chest but mostly fine – split leap full to popa, hits her 180s – 1.5 to layout, keeps that back foot down – double pike, solid. Good routine.

Dickson – BB – Georgia – aerial with a step forward check working out of it – some feet on leaps – smooth full turn – loso series with a lean correction on landing – switch to straddle 1/4, better – bhs 1/5 with a hop back.

Gowey had a check on her aerial working into sissone on beam – otherwise good.

Polina – UB – Michigan – Toe Shap to Pak, a little loose back but soldly caught and not back in the form – giant full to double tuck, tries to hold stick but swims and hops a little

Finnegan – FX – LSU – 1.5 through to 2.5, a little bit much of a lunge forward this time – double tuck, hips moving back a little but holds the landing – strong leaps as always – double pike, clean, just a hair of chest forward

Vega – BB – Georgia – switch ring, fine – secure on loso series – cat leap to aerial, comfortable – switch to straddle 1/4, hit – side aerial to full, stuck.

Baumann – BB – Florida – lovely Onodi – bhs loso, very nice – lovely leaps obviously – really wanted that stick on the 1.5 but nope, pretty large slide back.

Hambrick – FX – LSU – DLO – “a little different technique” secure as always – 2.5 to front tuck, got no punch on the front tuck but managed to pull it around, deep landing – double pike and a large bounce OOB. Weird. Weak showing that they will drop.

McMurtry – BB – Florida – kickover front, holds it – smooth bhs loso – switch position was solid – 2/1 with slide back

Florida goes 49.575 on beam. The double Carol event.

Karr – BB – Denver – side aerial to bhs series, hit – huge break on leap, bend at the hips and saves it – sticks 1.5.

After 3: LSU 148.150, Georgia 147.225

After 3: Florida 148.625, Arkansas 147.725

Schou – BB – Denver – aerial to bhs loso, solid – full turn – beat jump to sheep jump, some leg separation on sheep but solid closure for NCAA – stuck gainer full. They needed that hit.

Kentucky on its way to a big score. And at home too!

Loper doing beam exhibition for DU. Had a check in combination but otherwise hit.

Marks – VT – Oklahoma – short on full with lunge forward

Lehrmann – VT – Oklahoma – better full, lands chest higher – small hop back.

Macadaeg – BB – LSU – full turn, easy – switch to switch 1/2, great position but a lean check on landing – aerial, solid – bhs loso series, very strong – stuck gainer full. 9.800 – mostly because of the switch 1/2 landing.

Dowell _VT – kinnnnndddd of sells the stick on her 1.5, lands a little deeper than she would like and holds the stick for a while before a step-salute forward. 9.950 is high for that landing.

Arnold – FX – Georgia – double pike, chest forward but mostly secure – aerial – double tuck, same, secure but forward – 1.5 to layout, solid. Good set.

Jackson – VT – large bound forward out of 1.5.

Hambrick – BB – LSU – L turn, strong – hitch kick to side aerial, well hit – switch to straddle 1/4 – nice and high loso series – 2/1 with step back.

Webb – VT – OU – Omelianchik, held the stick this time. Probably her best one.

Babalis – FX – Georgia – hits opener – half to front 1/1 with a dance out – double pike with bounce back.

Nichols – VT – OU – 1.5 with a small step forward. Otherwise strong.

Marler – WVU – UB – nice piked jaeger – bail is well short of vertical – shrot cast hs – DLO, small pike and a step forward.

Edney – BB – LSU – aerial to split jump – bhs loso seriess, fairly large break on landing, bend at the hips – switch to straddle 1/4 – great high kickover front – good stick on 1.5. Better after the mistake.

Oklahoma 49.550 on vault –
One judge went 10 for Nichols on vault despite not sticking.

Dickson – FX – Georgia – secure double pike – 1.5 to layout, a little flat but gets it around well enough – switch side to popa, solid 180s, distinct finishing positions – double tuck, chest up, good.

Does Georgia have a stick-CUMBERSOME FOOTBALL THING to match the stick crown?

Desiderio – BB – LSU – aerial to sissone, nice – bhs loso, comfortable – switch to switch 1/2 to beat jump, a little short on switch 1/2 – sticks gainer full

A couple checks from Polina on beam but hit.

Snead – FX – Georgia – whip through to double tuck, controls landing – wolf jump full to popa, a little short of rotation but strong shape – rudi to straddle to chest, smooth, nice pass – switch leap – double pike, short with a lunge forward. Was that supposed to be a shushunova and she was just like BELLY FLOP PLEASE?

Marinez also a little checky but staying on –

Karr – FX – Denver – double pike, a little slide – 1.5 to full, very solid – split leap 1/1 to wolf full, good extension on split – rudi, solid –

Vega – FX – Georgia – bounce back on double pike but keeps it in – 1.5 to layout, some dance out but OK. Double tuck, solid.Still got 9.950 even with the first pass. OK. Sure.

“She reminds me of a young Maggie Nichols.” Kelly, they’re basically the same age.

Finnegan – BB – LSU – bhs loso series with a check – switch to switch 1/2, pretty and great 180s – side somi, holds it well – side aerial to stuck full

Dowell -UB – Good Ray – had an arch on her first hs – legs right together on that bail, strong – DLO, stick. Very good.

The end of the Georgia/LSU meet was very EVERYONE GETS A 9.950. Finnegan’s like, “Why am I getting the same score as for my good ones without the wobble?”

Lehrmann – UB – OU – 1/2 turn to jaeger, excellent – perfect bail – hitting hs very well – FTDT, step back.

Koshinski – VT – WVU – FANTASTIC 1.5. Nailed the stick. Not as high as the OU 1.5s but the best landing.

Nichols – UB – Tkatchev, Pak and Shap 1/2 all fantastic – maybe a short final hs – sticks DLO. One of her very good ones.

“Brenna Dowell has been a world champion and Maggie Nichols also at world champion level.” Kelly what.

Baker – FX – Florida – Dos Santos, I’d say controlled the step out but borderline, fairly large but that back leg stayed down. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Landed her double back and it looks like her ankle went.

WELL EVERYTHING IS CANCELED.

Anyway…

FINAL: LSU 197.575, Georgia 196.725

FINAL: Florida 197.725, Arkansas 196.875

Yes, it’s Baker’s senior year, and yes it’s too late to redshirt.

Townsend – FX – Michigan – front tcuk trhough to double tuck, solid, small slide back – short of split position – double pike, OK, a little low – whip 2/1 slide back.

Childers is back on bars for Alabama. Necessary. Small hop on landing.

Kentucky goes 197.100.

Mahoney – UB – Alabama – good first hs – Shap, some legs but catches – very good swining up to handstand on each occasion – FTDT, stuck. Another strong one.

Catour – BB – OU – bhs loso, solid – cat leap to switch side, OK – nice aerial – gainer tuck full. Good.

Watson – VT – Auburn – leans to hold the stick on her 1.5. Very good.

Graber – UB – Alabama – short first hs – full turn to gianger with a leg break on catch – legs on bail but hits her vertical – quite short on her two cast hs on high bar – FTDT, swims to hold the stick. 9.850 is high.

Schou – VT – Denver – full with a pretty large bounce back –

Day – VT – Auburn – pretty big bounce forward on 1.5.

Dickson – UB – Alabama – large arch on first cast hs but brings it back – not quite vertical on bail – toe on to tkatchev, very strong – FTDT, holds stick.

Glynn – VT – Denver – Tsuk 1/1 with a lunge back

Showers with a check on her straight jump full, did not do the Korbut afterward –

Glenn – VT – Auburn – 1.5, off to the side with a large lunge forward

Winston – UB – Alabama – nice first hs – lovely Shap – Pak is perfect as always – short final hs – DLO, stuck. By far the strongest in the lineup.

Karr – VT – Denver – 1.5 – lands short with a step back but saves it

Lehrmann – BB – OU – full turn, nice – aerial, smooth – cat leap to switch side with a check, saves it – lovely toes on loso series – switch to swingdown, no trouble – gainer full, stuck.

49.400 for Alabama on bars.

Marinez comes in short on double pike on floor with a lunge.

Brown – BB – OU – they kind of brought the slither back! Aerial with a little check – bhs loso, hit – beat jump to straddle 3/4, solid – full turn, smooth – still a little tentative today but close to her usual self – switch to gainer full, stuck.

Mahoney – VT – ALabama – good shape on her full but a pretty significant bounce back

Becker – UB – Auburn – 1/2 turn to jaeger, catches bent elbows – some hs trouble – DLO, step back

Webb – BB – OU – full turn – bhs loso series, solid landing, smallest of hip adjustments on landing – aerial with a lean correction – nice 180s – layout full dismount, stuck. 9.950 with significant check, if you were keeping track.

Armbrecht – VT – Alabama – also a large bounce back on her full

Guerra – VT – Alabama – round off 1/2 on tuck 1/2, it’s getting better – lunge back, off line, chest low. 9.850 is high.

Nichols – BB – Oklahoma – aerial to split jump – hits her loso series – switch to split, good positions as always – front tuck, strong landing – stuck landing on 1.5 pretty much, legs well apart, slides together to salute.

Winston – VT – Alabama – getting there – good shape on her full – but a pretty significant lunge back

Milliet – UB – Auburn – falls on tkatchev because of frustrating.

9.975 for Nichols. When even KELLY GARRISON thinks the Oklahoma scores are too high.

Graber – VT – Alabama – 1.5 is back, large lunge forward but they need that SV.

Oklahoma fine on beam for 49.600. *My life*

And Day can’t save a handstand for Auburn on bars, so that’s falls with two in a row now.

Guerrero – VT – Alabama – what has become her usual, a stick on the 1.5 with knees. You can also take for height potentially but good stick.

Cerio – UB – Auburn – clear hip 1/2 to piked jaeger, good jaeger but clear hip 1/2 is a deduction trap – arches on the bail but holds it, a necessary save – cast hs are nice – lunge back on dismount

Oklahoma 148.625, WVU 146.725

Alabama 98.675, Auburn 97.600

Linnen – BB – WVU – aerial with a pause correction, then to aerial bhs – switch to straddle 3/4, quite nice – full turn – side aerial to beat jump – punch front tuck full with a hop. Some really nice qualities in her leaps

Showers – FX – OU – double pike, chest up, slide back – front full to layout, does rise into the layout, which is good, some knees on that full – 1/2 to front full, much better positions that one.

Guerra – FX – Alabama – double tuck, very strong – split leap full to popa, a little indistinct with some knees but pulls it around – 1.5 to layout, solid, a little flat in layout – double pike with a very large lunge back, maybe kept it in? Doesn’t have the amplitude but better control on first two landings.

Dowell – FX – OU – double front to stag, maybe a little low landing this time but still can do the stag – 1.5 to layout, strong – split leap 1/1 to popa, the split position the weakness of the routine – front lay to front full, good, stepped back but can be a controlled step.

Watson has a fall on beam for Auburn. Split the beam painfully and vaguely hilariously.

Mahoney – FX – Alabama – double pike with a lunge back, just like Guerra in the same place, but that one was definitely OOB – front full to front lay – double tuck a little forward but holds it

Lehrmann – FX – she does floor now apparently – I’m all about this choreography – double pike, comfortable – 1.5 to 1/2 to stag jump, crazy landing on the stag, a little awkward – better on her split leap combinations – 1.5 to layout with some arch and a hop. Probably not making final lineup but a definite option, and the choreo is totally my jam.

Armbrecht – FX – Alabama – double pike bounce back – solid leap series – 1/5 to layout, pretty whippy – rudi to double stag –

Webb – FX – OU – front 2/1 with a lunge out – 1.5 to front full, loses her straigth shape just at the end of the full but pretty good – loses her feet in her leaps sometimes, which was more evident here – rudi, clean with a little bounce

Slappey – BB – Auburn – bhs loso with a pretyt big check, good extension – switch to switch 1/2, another check – side aerial to full, step back

Actually nice sheep jump from Galpin.

Nichols – FX – OU – double back, no trouble because it’s a double back and it’s Maggie Nichols – front lay full to layout stepout, precise – switch ring to split leap full, how it’s done – double pike, also solid. Normal Maggie.

Desch – FX – Alabama – short on double Arabian but saves it this time with steps back – finishes with double tuck, another stumble back and saves it – trouble but stayed on her feet.

Milliet – BB – Auburn – front tuck mount, nailed – check on loso series, lovely form – strong split and sheep – she has 10 potential when hitting because there are no technique problems – gainer full, stuck with lean forward.

39.825 AA for Nichols.

Jackson – FX – OU – open full in, better control, maybe a small slide but got it this time – 1/2 to front full, solid, great height in leaps as always – double pike, welllll short with a large lunge forward.

Winston – FX – Alabama – double pike, fine – front lay front full, lovely front lay, the full snuck up on her a little but she worked it out well – double tuck, good.

Krippner – BB – Auburn – aerial with a check – full turn – falls on split jump. Auburn counting a fall on beam as well. One of those days.

Draper exists for OU. Doing floor exhibition. Double pike with a bounce back. Possibility.

Guerrero – FX – Alabama – double pike, lunge back, they’re all struggling with their double back landings except Winston – switch side to popa, very well done – 1.5 to full, good stick, knees – finishes well enough to be a counter.

Alabama gets away with 49.225 in a floor rotation with a couple mistakes with three 9.9s in there.

FINAL: OU 198.025, WVU 195.750

After 3: Alabama 147.900, Auburn 146.025

Alabama on track for a season high by quite a margin if they hit beam.

Kennedy Baker has confirmed it’s a torn Achilles.

Childers – BB – small check on loso series – full turn, nice – split jump to sheep, not quite the closure you’d like to see – kickover front to scale, secure – side aerial to tuck full, fine.

Smith – FX – Auburn – double pike, no trouble – 1.5 to layout to shushunova, went kind of insane in trying to pull that very arched layout around and punch into a shushunova,but it happened? double tuck, secure, a little squatty

Armbrecht – BB – aerial to beat jump, fine – checky on her full turn – bhs loso, secure – split to sheep, similar to Childers but with a check – 2/1 with a hop back

Glenn – FX – double pike, not back, good pike shape maintained – bouncy landing on leaps and not hitting 180s – 1.5 to front tuck, no punch and fall – double tuck, solid, chest down

Ernst – BB – full turn, bends a little to hold it but solid – fall on loso series – off line from the start – switch to sheep, her sheep is stronger than the first two sheeps in this lineup, but a check – aerial, another lean correction – 2/1, high and close to the beam, stuck

Watson – FX – double pike, bounce back, had enough room to stay in bounds – switch side to popa, well done – double tuck, fine, a little bounce – 1.5 to layout, a necessary hit

Graber – BB – full turn – bhs lay-pike, secure – switch to straddle 3/4, not there on the straddle and a fairly noticeable check – kickover front to scale with hesitation but works through it – 2/1 with crossed legs, stuck

Slappey – FX – front lay to rudi – a little forward, not bad – switch 1/2 ti split jump 1/1, good on the half, low back leg on full – double pike, secure, forward – double pike, also forward with small slide

Winston – BB – split jump and straddle 1/4, great – aerial to bhs, works through the series – full turn, smooth – beat jump straddle 1/2, perfect – double tuck dismount, small step back. Good.

Day – FX – double Arabian, hit, came in short with a step back – front full to layout to stag, maintains shape pretty well – this is another of my favorite floor routines of the year – double tuck, solid

Guerrero – BB – bhs loso loso series – perfect as typical – switch to straddle, nice – side aerial, no trouble – 1.5 dismount, couldn’t tell if she stuck because of that stupid camera angle. Not really, tried to hold but couldn’t.

Milliet – FX – front lay to rudi, a little lean forward trying to control the landing, just a small deduction – switch ring to switch 1/2, switch ring is very pretty – double pike, stuck, crunched over – 1.5 to lay. Well, they didn’t count a fall on floor. So there’s that.

FINAL: Alabama 197.300, Auburn 195.400

 

 

 

47 thoughts on “Friday Live Blog – February 23, 2018”

    1. Yes. The video appears for a moment on the ESPN page, then blanks out to a “video unknown” screen. I looked up the meet on their listed schedule of live gym meets, and it is not there. Very strange, because it does show up for a few seconds there. I’m hopeful it’s just delayed…?

  1. I’m interested to see how Natalie Vaculik and Jasmine Arnold compete. A lot has been said of Sami Durante likely feeling a bit emotional this week and rightfully so, but I think those two might have a lot wrapped up in today, as well.

    1. I think I read that Danna has already been to a Georgia meet this season? So I don’t know if today will be that big a deal for Georgia.

      Kudos to Sami though!

      1. I’m sure she’s still close to some of the girls on the team and is there to support them. All the gymnasts say the right things (or PC things) and are mature college students, but I’m sure some aren’t totally happy with the coaching change. Remember back when Jay was “let go” and Danna took over, many of the gymnasts made it work but struggled with loyalty to Jay.

        Maybe Danna was there to support Gigi (a senior) after she torn her Achilles… It makes sense the seniors (at least four of them) would show a loyalty to Danna. Anyone know if Gigi plans to do a redshirt year yet – she’s eligible given the timing of her injury, but since floor is her specialty and most gymnasts with her injury don’t ever return to floor, she may decided it’s not worth it to just return for vault… Also UGA may not be willing to give her a scholarship for a fifth year if all she can do is a FTY for a 9.80.

      2. I doubt seniors Vaculik and Arnold feel loyalty to Danna.

        Also, Gigi is helpful on vault, but she is great on floor. She would be anoth 9.9 on floor. I hope she comes back for a fifth year, but I also understand wanting to move on with life.

  2. Why is judging always so high at Florida? I don’t understand how it’s always the same school even though the judges change.

    1. Where have you been for the last 5 years. The UF scores are the NCAA normal. I would gladly let them have all the “crack” they can get to have Baker be OKAY. Prayers with her. She is a joy to watch. Good luck To her

    1. What does ‘Carol scoring’ mean? I keep seeing that, but I don’t get the reference.

    1. I didn’t see that many crazy scores. Not a lot above 9.9, no 10s. Shoot that’s tame for Florida.

    1. The thing is they would probably get those same scores for those same routines at Florida, UCLA, Utah, OU, LSU, Bama, etc.

      People just like to act like “Home floor scores” are just a UGA thing.

  3. I feel horrible for Baker! She is so much fun to watch, but she has had ankle issues for the past two years.

    I wonder who will step in on the other events now. Maybe Foberg will be in the lineups more consistently.

    1. By my notes, I count 18 confirmed, including during preseason, across all divisions. I’m sure that list is not near complete. I have no idea though what the ‘expected’ rate might be.

      That said, between Worlds and NCAA I feel like I can’t watch a meet without witnessing an achilles blow.

  4. I’m an LSU fan and I’m hoping they win it all this year. That being said, I’m impressed by Georgia and you can see definite improvement in form and determination this year. They were excellent on beam and floor tonight and you can see where that bars lineup could be really strong too.

    Also, Oakley may be one of my new favorites to cheer on. She reminds me a bit of a young Hambrick — beautiful form and rhythm and doesn’t realize how good she actually is yet.

    1. Ditto, Ditto on everything you said. Oakley is one of my favorites to watch this year. I’m so cheering for Georgia to do well this year and it’s satisfying watching them bounce back and gain confidence with each meet. Aggravated that Hambrick got a snub on the AAI award.

      OU fan though. ; )

      1. Marissa Oakley has got to be one of the most underrated gymnast in the country! OMG she is so talented. I know Georgia would love to have vault and bars back. They could have had a big score. I’m so impressed by the composition changes in there routines and some new skills added. Very smart coaching. They do need a vault coach though. And why is Rachel Dickson piking down her vault? She has no need to do that

      2. There was an article in Red and Black this week and they said Oakley should be competing floor soon.

        In regards to Dickson, I think she’s trying too hard to be perfect this year. I see it mostly on vault and beam. She doesn’t need to be perfect on every event. She can go 9.9 just doing her gymnastics.

  5. How is it possible that they can’t find anyone better than Kelly to commentate for OU? She ruins every meet she’s at.

    1. Dear Anonymous,

      I realize you do not like my commentary, however
      I was always taught if you don’t have anything nice to say, then do not say anything at all.

      Prayers for Kennedy. What a loss for her and college gymnastics😔

      1. I know what an awful way to go out. I hope the girls can use this as motivation and send her out as champs!

    1. You can still start from a 10 without an e pass. When you don’t have e passes you need to be close to perfection to score well. When you do have e passes you can do it less perfect but still get rewarded for it because judges recognize that it’s harder. Rachel Dickson has been competing her double Arabian she just didn’t this week. Vega and Snead have full ins and Babalis has a double Arabian also. But with the amount of injuries they have had it’s not worth it for them to throw them and risk injury or mistakes. Most of the Denver girls have e passes but same situation. It’s not worth it when you don’t have any depth

  6. Does anyone else think it looked like Amanda Wellick forgot her routine midway through?

  7. I enjoy Kelly Garrison’s enthusiasm for the sport & athletes. My husband and I started attending gymnastics meets because Kelly endorsed attending meets in person. Now these true Texas Longhorns are OU womens gymnastics season ticket holders and are spreadingbthe gymnastics love!

    1. Whoa! Texas fans holding season tickets for OU?!?! We need you guys working in DC. Clearly you have peacekeeping skills!

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