1. Oklahoma Sooners
Average: 197.813
Previous ranking: 1
Oklahoma extends its lead over all the other teams after a second-straight road 198 in an already-famous visit to UCLA. Six 10s were awarded between the two teams—one shy of the all-time record set in 1997. (Not a role model.) Again this week, the score is probably not representative of current level, but the Sooners nonetheless continued to prove that they are the top team in the country on three events. That’s enough to carry them ahead of most other schools, but floor is still a swirl of uncertainty. Also, Nicole Lehrmann’s bars was the best routine Oklahoma had that day, and it wasn’t one of the 10s. There. I said it.
2. Utah Utes
Average: 197.335
Previous ranking: 3
Utah leapfrogs LSU for the week thanks to a season-high 197.700 in victory over Washington. That 197.7 outpaces LSU’s season-high by .250 and is the #5 score recorded in NCAA so far this year. It’s the success of Merrell-Giles—who has moved very close to catching Skinner in the national all-around rankings—that is fueling the Utes’ rise to #2, as they now have two big AAers to rely on instead of one, which is particularly useful in keeping those vault and floor scores high. The control of the landings on vault was the highlight of the 197 performance, looking very March/April.
3. LSU Tigers
Average: 197.290
Previous ranking: 2
LSU will be frustrated again with the weekend’s showing, having to count a 9.400 mistake on bars that prevented the team from recording a 197.5+, which all the other top contenders have done at least once so far this season. Ergo, the Tigers drop to #3. The big positive was getting Priessman into the floor lineup since she’ll be a necessary member of a best-case-scenario floor six in the postseason (now to have Priessman and Desiderio at the same time), but left unresolved are the mystery position on beam and the Ruby Harrold situation. Harrold has been out on vault and floor lately, and just fell on bars, and it’s a concern.
4. UCLA Bruins
Average: 197.265
Previous ranking: 4
Despite losing to Oklahoma by a tenth at home, UCLA can have few complaints about that meet or the season-high 197.950 that came with it. There’s no question that several of those routines would not be getting 10s at a normal meet, but the bigger takeaway was UCLA kind of/sort of being able to keep pace with Oklahoma through the majority of a meet. Beam is at the same level, and floor is actually more consistent. (What world is this?) Where UCLA fell behind was in using too many Yfulls and in the early half of the bars lineup, which was a clear step behind what Oklahoma brought in form and handstands. Still, UCLA is in the same stadium as the #1 team, which is something, and is moving closer in the rankings to #2 and #3 despite still having to absorb that 196.2 from the first week.
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