Friday, January 18	Scores	Stream
6:00 ET/3:00 PT – [14] Arkansas @ [16] Kentucky	LINK	SECN
7:00 ET/4:00 PT – Michigan State @ [9] Michigan	LINK	FREE
7:00 ET/4:00 PT – Pittsburgh, Temple, Bridgeport @ New Hampshire	LINK	FREE
7:00 ET/4:00 PT – [22] Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan @ Northern Illinois	LINK	ESPN3
7:00 ET/4:00 PT – NC State, Cornell, William & Mary @ Towson	LINK	FREE
7:00 ET/4:00 PT – Winona State @ Lindenwood		FREE
7:00 ET/4:00 PT – UW-Whitewater @ UW-Stout	LINK	FREE
7:30 ET/4:30 PT –[17] Alabama @ [10] Georgia	LINK	SECN
7:30 ET/4:30 PT – Illinois State @ Iowa State	LINK	ISU($)
7:30 ET/4:30 PT – San Jose State @ SEMO	LINK	FREE
7:30 ET/4:30 PT – Hamline @ UW-La Crosse
9:00 ET/6:00 PT – [3] Florida @ [5] LSU	LINK	SECN
9:00 ET/6:00 PT – [20] Washington @ Arizona	LINK	FREE
9:00 ET/6:00 PT – [7] Boise State @ Southern Utah	LINK	FREE
9:00 ET/6:00 PT – [6] BYU @ Utah State	LINK	FREE
10:00 ET/7:00 PT – UC Davis @ Seattle Pacific	LINK	FREE

For the most part, this will be SEC Day in live blog town, but with Michigan, Washington/Arizona, Boise State and BYU also going, there will be other meets worth keeping at least half an eye on.

As far as the SEC meets go, all three should be super even, so unless someone has a total meltdown (also fun), there should be more than just “I guess that’s a competitive score once RQS blah blah blah” going on.

A couple changes for Arkansas this week. Hambrick is in the AA and Lovett will be making her debut on floor. (That means no Carter on bars, no Burton on floor.)

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ARKANSAS @ KENTUCKY BEGINS

Honestly surprised the SEC Network isn’t calling this triple header a “fliple header.” Seems right down their alley.

Rotation 1

Kwan – VT – UK – lands short on her full, chest well forward, medium lunge forward. 9.650

Yamzon – UB – Ark – clear hip to tkatchev, hit,, good toes, not so high – bail, nice vertical position – final hs close – DLO 1/1 with a small hop and then another step-salute back that will be deducted. 9.650 is low for that, but she probably gave away .150 on dismount landing alone. (Up to 9.700. A little more sensical.)

Dukes – VT – UK – Yfull, good control on landing, smallest slide and a little stagger on landing, probably a small deduction for distance and knees. 9.825

Laird – UB – Ark – Misses the catch on her opening Ray – resumes, does not repeat the skill – bail, good vertical – nice final hs – DLO, a little piking, very small step. 9.075

Davis – VT – UK – pretty large bounce back on her full – good amplitude and distance. 9.750

Hambrick – UB – Ark – good hecht mount and first hs – took her piked jaeger out wayyyy too far and falls – Arkansas counting a fall now. Attempts a bail but can’t get it, large leg break and has to rest against the low bar, FTDT looks nice in the air. 8.275

Hyland – VT – UK – pretty full, nice height – why are they using the bad camera angle for the better vaults in the lineup – legs extended, chest up – possible stick or near to it. 9.850

Garner – UB – Ark – small arch on first hs – giant full to gienger to bail – excellent, legs togther throughout – finsihes giant full to double tuck with a larger bounce back. A hit, though. She was really going for those handstands, to the point where two of them had a little arch. 9.750

Stuart – VT – UK – fab distance on her full, but similar to Davis, she had a pretty large bounce back – probably will score a bit better than Davis to account for form. 9.850 is a massive overscore for that bounce back

Burton – UB – Ark – short first hs – Shap, caught to Pak, legs apart with some feet – cast up to hs on low bar, goes over and has to improvise a turn and recast – DLO, short with a hop forward. Arkansas really fighting it, but it’s a hit that will have to count. 9.600

Korth – VT – UK – Y1.5, excellent, nearly sticks it – great vault – 9.900. On board with that score.

Shaffer – UB – Ark – toe on to the Shap, lovely positions – hits bail, a little quick in that handstand position but she got it – great final cast hs – DLO, bounce back, nice and floaty. Best of the rotation by a mile. 9.775. Could have been higher. She would have lost a tenth or so on the dismount, but there was little else to take.

After 1: Kentucky 49.175, Arkansas 47.900

Remember how close this week was going to be. Yeah. Arkansas had an absolute disaster on bars, so that’s where we are right now. Counting a fall routine for 9.075 and a few other semi-mistake routines.

Rotation 2

Yamzon – VT – Ark – hop back on her full, OK, came off the table a bit flat with a leg break on block. 9.675.

Staurt – UB – UK – nice tkatchev amplitude – clear hip to bail, a bit of an angle in that bail catch – better final cast hs – DLO 1/1 and stuck it. Pretty routine, just a couple verticals, particularly the bail. 9.800

Pennese – VT – Ark – bounce on her full and a little direction but fine and usable enough – 9.675

Nixon – UB – UK – toe Shap to bail, good amplitude on these skills, just some feet – smooth and hit final cast – giant full to double tuck, very high, step back – 9.800

Elswick – VT – Ark – still doing the full, comes in short with a lunge forward. 9.650

Kwan – UB – UK – nice height on jaeger – connects to overshoot – giant full a bit late, double pike, hop back. 9.775.

Shaffer – VT – Ark – lovely Y1/2, good extended leg form, absolutely perfect shape, toes pointed, pace forward. 9.775.

Dukes – UB – tkatchev, a little close with some feet, but hit – high Pak, leg break – close catch on shoot to high – DLO, stuck, best part. A couple close catches and a bit of muscling. 9.775.

Hambrick – VT – a bounce back on her full this week, landing with a little stagger, fine, not her best of the season so far. 9.775.

Hyland – UB – UK – big tkatchev, hits next handstand – bail with crossed feet – nice positions on her hs – FTDT with just a small adjustment. Nice routine. She had one handstand that she really went after that took on a little arch, but otherwise quite good. 9.775

McGlone – UB – Ark – hit full, small hop back – good amplitude, best dynamics and power of the lineup. 9.800.

Korth – UB – UK – short first hs – 1/2 turn to piked jaeger, good legs, hit – rushing through thse casts – nice bail position – DLO 1/1, bounce back. Not her strongest bars but this was a good rotation. 9.800

After 2: Kentucky 98.125, Arkansas 96.600

For the most part, the scores have seemed reasonable so far, but we have had a few weird outliers. Anyone else feel like Sarah Shaffer is getting totally hosed?

Everyone from Kentucky hit a solid one, everyone had a few issues here and there, though I think the scores got unnecessarily bunched there.

Rotation 3

Stuart – BB – UK – switch to double stag, small lean check – bhs loso, large wobble, leg-up – cat leap side aerial to layout full, stuck. Good ending, but a big deduction in there. 9.650

Yamzon – FX – Ark – good height and tight position on the double tuck, small slide back – double pike, same, but better control on this one – just some feet – switch side to popa, good – front lay to front full, step, some arching in the layout. 9.775

Angeny – BB – UK – bhs loso, really smooth work in that series – aerial, comes up short and falls – will have to count Stuart’s score – switch to beat jump – side aerial to tuck full, off to the side but holds the stick. 8.850

Lovett – FX – Ark – front lay to rudi, some legs in the layout, controlled on the rudi – double tuck, good height, overcooked it with a lunge back – switch side to popa – front lay to front full, dances out. 9.750.

Nixon – BB – UK – bhs loso, good legs, small shiver – switch to split, good switch to split series – aerial to wolf, love the aerial – will be interested what they do with rhythm on this – kickover front with a clear check – big 2/1, lunge back. Got through with hit. 9.725

Hambrick – FX – Ark – good control on double tuck – front lay to front full with a lunge out that she tries to cover with choreo but will get deducted – switch 1/2 to popa, good extension in the popa – double pike, good control, chest down. 9.775.

Korth – BB – UK – one arm bhs to loso, super secure, just a bit of knees – switch is tentative, breaks connection into back tuck, a .05 check on both skills – redoes the entire cat leap to switch to back tuck series to get bonus – but is accumulating the deductions on checks – 2/1, holds stick, lean and chest down. 9.600

McGlone – FX – Ark – double pike, pretty large bounce back, keeps it in bounds – double tuck, step back, mostly controlled but right to the edge again – good split and straddle positions – front full tto front lay – hit. 9.800

Dukes – BB – UK – pretty style on full turn – bhs loso, pretty form, covers her lean with some improvised hand-ography – aerial, seemed like she had it but is a little off line and has to do a little lean wave – switch to straddle 1/4, great position – sheep with a check – 1.5 with a step. That was one of her wobblier sets. 9.675

They’re trying to tell us 9.800 is McGlone’s career high on floor. Um…no? Like not at all?

Shaffer – FX – Ark – pretty double arabian in the air, comes in short with a lunge back to save it – double tuck, very strong, chest up, good control – 1.5 to layout, holds the landing well. Solid work. 9.800

Hyland – BB – UK – switch to split, gorgeous series – cat leap to aerial to bhs loso, tries to connect the whole gang, but started getting off line on her bhs and can’t save the loso, fall – finishes side aerial to layout full, stuck. 9.125

It JUST. GOT. INTERESTING.

Carter – FX – Ark – double tuck, good height, hips traveling back a little but does well not to move that front foot – 1.5 to front full, good twisting shape and composed landing – switch 1/2 to split jump 1/2 – double pike, just a bit short. 9.900. Well now.

After 3: Kentucky 145.900, Arkansas 145.650

Kentucky had exactly as much trouble on beam and Arkansas had on bars, which has evened this thing up almost entirely. Kentucky still with the edge finishing on floor, but still no 196s for either team after this one.

Michigan is already underway.

Karas – VT – nice power on her full obviously, but a fiarly large bounce back this time. First three vaults stuck in the 9.7s.

McLean – VT – Michigan – she’s also still on the full, good stick on hers, will get deducted for knees, but not too much else.

Raybon – UB – MSU – catches close on her piked jaeger but works out of it, a shor ths – overshoot with legs – toe Canada dismount – bounce back –

Brenner – VT – Michigan – a lunge forward on her 1.5 this time, just a little unsteady coming into the mat but nice to see that she didn’t do her left ankle because she might have –

Michigan goes 49.150 on vault to 48.975 for MSU on bars.

Rotation 4

Yamzon – BB – Ark – three series to loso, good control – kickover front with a bit of correction – gainer full, stuck. Good. 9.775.

Wojcik – VT – Michigan – steps forward on her 1.5 this week. So she’ll get a 10 this time…

Stuart – FX – UK – double pike, just a little slide – 1.5 to layout, good flight on that layout – switch ring to wolf hop full, a little under on the full rotation of that wolf hop – rudi, well controlled. 9.800

Hambrick – BB – Ark – bhs loso, solid, just a bit of knees – stag hop to switch 1/2, not bad on the switch 1/2 position – hits side aerial – straddle 3/4, hit with a small lean – gainer full, littlest hop. Strong set. 9.800

Warren – FX – UK – first routine of the season – front 2/1, gets it around, just a little leg crossing – switch side to popa, great extension, just a bit under the full turn position – rudi, great height, clean twisting position – front full to front tuck, lunge forward. 9.875

Garner – BB – Ark – beat jump to straddle 3/4 with a lean to save it – side aerial to loso series, off line and falls – finishes side aerial to full with a kind-of sold stick. 9.025

Hyland – FX – UK – double pike, just a bit short with a step – headstand-a-thon – great amplitude and positions on split to wolf combination – 1.5 to layout, strong routine. 9.900

Carter – BB – Ark – split jump to sheep, secure landing – bhs loso, holds it well, a little close to the beam – aerial, super smooth – balance check on a full turn – side aerial to full, stuck. 9.775.

Dukes – FX – UK – double pike, good control, chest just a hair forward but meh – lovely switch ring position – front full to front lay, not the highest, totally fine – double tuck with a bounce. Kentucky moving pretty comfortably toward the win now. 9.900. The judges have now started to drink.

Shaffer – BB – Ark – switch to straddle 1/2, had a small check in the middle so has to worry about combo credit – bhs loso, large break and falls. It’s all come apart again for Arkansas here. 9.075.

Korth – FX – UK – well controlled full-in, just chest down – split leap full to popa, not the strength of the routine but did enough – 1.5 to loso, super solid – double pike, no trouble. 9.900

Burton – BB – Ark – aerial with a lean at the hips walking out of it – bhs loso series is pretty – split to sheep, good amplitude on leaps – gainer full, stuck

Rosa – FX – UK – does her DLO, comes in short with a large struggle not to put a hand down, which she didn’t, but a major low-chest bounce and leg-up wave – front lay to front full, some leg break but solid. Won’t get the score because of the first pass.

FINAL: Kentucky 195.275, Arkansas 193.875

Some good rotations here and there for Kentucky, but overall a meet neither will want to remember.

Wojcik goes 9.900 on UB to lead Michigan.

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Alabama @ Georgia begins

Rotation 1

Magee – VT – UGA – clean position in the air on her full – bounce back. 9.775.

Gyerra – UB – Bama – jaeger, comfortable, hit – bail has a bit of an angle short of vertical -DLO, nice and high, small slide back. Really just the handstand positions. 9.800

Vega – VT – UGA – ever improving distance on her full – small bounce, a bit of piking throughout 9.800

Graber – UB – Bama – giant ful to to massive gienger, big leg break on catching, pretty extension on bail, good vertical, a bit of leg break from our angle – FTDT, some crazy legs and a hop back. 9.750

Ward – VT – UGA – Tsuk 1/1, one of her better ones that I’ve seen – controls the landing but with a pretty large pike in the hips lean to save the stick. 9.850.

Givens – UB – Bama – shortish first hs – good toes in jaeger – small arch on cast handstand but saves it well – bail with a bit of back – DLO, has an early pike shape, good control on landing. 9.800

Dickson – VT- UGA – Omelianchik, still working on getting that landing, similar to her previous efforts, large lunge forward. 9.800. Vault scores charitable so far.

Michigan working against a first-position fall on beam.

Mahoney – UB – Bamam – toe on to bail, good bail position – short cast on high – hits her tkatchev, just a couple hs – huge FTDT and stuck, great finish. 9.800. Too similar to the other scores.

Lukacs – VT – UGA – DTY, comes in a bit shorter this time, has to lunge forward and to the side – loses her legs a bit in the air. 9.800. Yeah, all these vaults are the same…

Dickson – UB – Bama – bail to open the routine, short of vertical – toe on to tkatchev ton high, great amplitude on tkatchev as always – FTDT, small adjustment.

Snead – VT – UGA – her usual gorgeous 1.5, hop forward this time though – 9.900

Gaskins – UB – Bama – toe shap to pak, just small legs breaks in both, such smooth gymnastics – short final cast hs – DLO, lots or arch but you know how I don’t mind – stuck

After 1: Georgia 49.150, Alabama 49.125

I mean…fine? Everyone was…fine. It was…fine. I’m not soaring about anything so far. No one separating themselves.

Mid-meet Sarah/Suzanne summary. “Sometimes it was…intense.”

“That’s one heck of a statue right there…”

Any opportunity to show Dana in that old Alabama court jester leotard is a win.

Rotation 2

Gaskins – VT- Bama – Yfull, gets good height but has too much pike in there – bounces back fairly far. 9.800. Please. So high.

Snead – UB – UGA – clear gip to tkatchev, smooth – good cast hs – super clean bail – tight final cast hs – DLO, pikes down, short with a small hop. 9.850

Armbrecht – VT – Bama – clean full, good height and direction – small slide back. 9.850

Roberts – UB – UGA – her debut – good first hs – toe ful to toe Shap to bail hs – nice difficulty in combo, but some legs and positions here and there – DLO – nice and high, a little pike in that first salto, excellent stick. Yeah, she’s a keeper in this lineup. 9.875. m

Mahoney – VT – lands a bit short on her full with a hop forward. 9.800

Al Hameed – UB – UGA – giant full to her big tkatchev – bail, good vertical – has some natural bross legs but toes together – good cast hs – giant full late to double tuck, stuck 9.925.

Guerra – VT – 1/2 on tuck 1/2, larger lunge back this time – otherwise normal. 9.850

Schild – UB UGA – lovely hip open on her tkatchev – hits pak, just the smallest leg break – 1/2 turn on low to shoot to high – hitting hs – DLO, deep landing, buckled with a step forward. 9.825

Olsen – VT – Bama – DTY – nearly sticks, small hop in place – she has a bit of legs throughout but not too bad. 9.900

Dickson – UB – overbalances a handstands and comes over, stay on the bar but will basically count as a fall – does her tkatchev to bail, nice – shorter than usual on cast – DLO 1/1, step back. Not a thing as long as they get one more hit because the scores have been pretty OOC for both teams in this rotation.

Graber – VT – Bama – nice Y1.5 in the air but came up short with a shuffle back, will count as a couple hops. 9.875. These scores are ridic.

Oakley – UB – small arch in first cast but saves – huggins to piked jaeger, lovely – Pak, great height, smallest legs – 1/2 turn on low a bit late – good final cast hs – FTDT, the usual close to the bar, comes up short with a hop forward. 9.800

After 2: Georgia 98.425, Alabama 98.400

So that’s close. Also, Carol is out tonight. Better second events from both teams. Georgia showing its possibilities on bars but not quite closing the deal with those last couple routines. Alabama also 49.275 for its rotation on vault but will have to watch out because some of those landings will not be 9.800s at other meets.

Wojcik 9.950 for Michigan on beam.

Rotation 3

Snead – BB – UGA – bhs loso bhs, super solid – cat leap to switch to straddle, short on those leaps, she always has some trouble with them but the last couple of weeks, they’ve been tighter – punch front, strong – 2/1, stuck. The rest of the routine was fab. 9.925. Oh, this is how it’s going to be.

Desch – FX – Bama – high double pike, super control, drops right into it – 1/2 to 1/2 to split to front tuck, comfortable series, I’d probably say a deduction on the split jump position – switch ring to split leap full, good position – double tuck, solid, some chest. 9.850

Dickson – BB – UGA – aerial to split jump 1/2 with a check-wave – bhs loso, secure this time – switch sissone, hitting right at 180 – bhs 1.5, tries to hold the stick with a lean. That was better. 9.800. (Judges went 9.900 and 9.700. Cool. Cool.)

Kiaku – FX – Bama – shes getting her debut – double pike, gigantic bounce back and a further stumble, backwards running – fantastic amplitude in switch side and split jump – front full to front lay to stag, a bit deep in front lay – punch rudi, a bit of a bounce 9.675

Magge – BB – UGA – straddle to straddle 1/2, dolis – bhs loso, small lean, good legs – switch to switch side, a bit tentative in that switch and in the connection – side aerial to full dismount, comes off the side of the beam, so off to the side with a hop back. 9.775.

Armbrecht – FX – Bama – double pike, bounce back this time – switch side and popa, great extension – 1.5 to layout, has to arch that layout, fairly low – rudi to double stag, a bit of travel there. Some lack of control in landings there but fine. 9.850.

Baumann – BB – UGA – side aerial to layout stepout, super power, controlled – L turn, leg drops toward the end and she decides to just add an extra 1/2 turn to cover up her lack of security – 2/1, deep landing, lunge back. 9.800

Graber – FX – Bama – full in, so strong – does really weel to show control on the landing because she was a hair short of where she wanted to be – switch side through to wolf 1.5, hitting positions – front lay front 1/1, no trouble – double pike, a bit deep with a lunge. 9.850

Oakley – BB – UGA – bhs loso loso series attempt, she popped right up on the second loso after not being straight on the beam on the first loso, not getting enough into that skill and couldn’t complete it, fall – big gainer full, sticks with a lean. 9.250

Guerra – FX – Bama – strong DLO, controlled landing, just a little down – switch side to popa, Alicia correctly shading the indistinct completion position of those dance elements – good power on 1.5 to layout – double pike, solid. 9.925.

Vega – BB – UGA – switch to split ring jump, a little tight on the switch this time it looked – aeiral to split jump, holds it well – bhs loso, bend at the hips lean, unusual for her on that series – side aerial to full, hop back. OK, not her strongest. Still gets away with 9.825.

Olsen – FX – Bama – pike full in, super well controlled, front foot planted – front tuck through to double tuck, just a bit short with a small hop – switch ring to split full, not bad on the split full but never going to be her strong area – double pike, also a bit short but the step was small. 9.875

Michigan having a bit of a mess on floor to give away what looked like it should have been a 196. Nice double Arabian from Karas in the anchor spot. Pretty low in that second pass landing.

After 3: Alabama 147.700, Georgia 147.550

Carol is still inhabiting the bodies of all the judges tonight, in case you were curious. Alabama a bit better in that third rotation. Got the benefit of the doubt in a lot of landings there. Georgia started big with Snead, but the rest of the rotation was not able to keep up with her level and build on the scores that were there to be snatched.

Only 6 of 36 routines so far have scored under 9.800 (2 of them falls), and…I mean it hasn’t been that great of a meet.

FINAL: Michigan 195.975, MSU 194.050

Rotation 4

Klopfer – BB – Bama – wolf turn, slow but hit, and actually gets out of it not horrible – aerial to bhs series, fairly slow – beat to straddle 1/2, not bad – switch leap lone  – pause – cast leap to aerial to layout full dismount, some shape and a hop back. 9.850. Well, we’re not worried about pauses today –

Baumann – FX – UGA – debut – high double tuck, good pop – double pike, wayyy short coming in for landing, hands down – switch ring to switch side – double L in an elite routine! Borderline credit for elite, but I’m sure will get it here – 1.5 to front full, just a bit of knees. 9.325

Drama time now.

Desch – BB – Bama – cast leap to aerial to beat, a little lean after the aerial – loso series, check with a bend at the hips, keeps it on the beam – switch to split, nice – 1.5 to a small step, and then probably another small deduction for college salute. 9.775

Davis – FX – Georgia – 2.5, crossover step, some legs in the air – split leap full to split jump 1/1, not quite there to 180s – 1.5 to layout to front tuck, solid – double tuck, just pulls it off, short with a lunge forward. 9.725

Olsen – BB – Bama – bhs loso series, leg-up wobble – switch to double stag, a bit of a check – aerial, another little lean – bhs bhs 2/1, some knees and a step back. 9.775.

Snead – FX – UGA – whip through to double tuck, fine – rudi to shush, very clean – double pike, just a bit deep with a little bit of slide back. 9.925. Everyone started talking about a 10 and I was like, “Was that even an option?” It wasn’t.

Armbrecht – BB – Bama – aerial to beat jump – smooth and lovely full turn – bhs loso series, another check with a step back – split to beat to sheep with a check, good positions, but they’re all checking all over the place – 2/1, just a bit under with a hop. 9.725

Lukacs – FX – UGA – music problems – now it’s fine – DLO, very well controlled and a great shape on that skill – wolf full to straddle 1/1, not bad on positions – 1.5 to layout, knees in the layout and a hop, needed to pop up more – switch side to straddle jump – double pike, strong. Interesting composition that they have her doing four dance elements, when her thing is tumbling. 9.900.

Gaskins – BB – Bama – gets her GB mount this time – bhs loso, like buttah – full turn a bit tentative – split America, secure, a bit short of position – switch to split jump, love how high she gets on the switch split but they need to watch the back leg – side aerial, hit – gainer full, stuck. 9.875.

Dickson – FX – UGA – double arabian, overdoes it this week with a lunge forward, stays in bounds – 1.5 to layout, great position on the layout, we’ve seen a lot of trashy 1.5 to layouts tonight, and that was not one – switch side to popa, very strong positions – double pike, bounce back. 9.925. Oh come on. With that first and last pass?

Graber – BB – Bama – bhs lay-pike, excellent, right on – switch to straddle 3/4, quite secure – kickover front to scale, keeps it going into the scale well enough – gainer full – basically stuck. Pretty routine. 9.925

Vega – FX – UGA – double pike, good height, small slide – 1.5 to layout, comes up short with a step back and a leg-up save – split leap 1.5, great – double tuck, nailed. Hm.

It’s 9.850 for Vega.

FINAL: Alabama 196.900, Georgia 196.875

Well, that was fun. Alabama wins by .025.

Quality-wise, this meet was pretty meh. Lots of tightness and little errors, but super exciting. And they both will enjoy how drunk the judges were to give them both useful scores.

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Isn’t Florida/LSU supposed to be happening? Why are we talking to Dana?

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FLORIDA @ LSU STARTING

Rotation 1

Finnegan – VT – LSU – back to the leadoff spot, which is interesting – gorgeous full and stuck. Perfect. Well there’s that. 9.925. Got a perfect score from one judge. Can’t even be that mad.

Boren – UB – UF – hit tkatchev – clear hip to bail, nice vertical it looks like – shortish hs – DLO, overcooks it with a .1 lunge back. 9.800

Harrold – VT – LSU – hits her 1.5 – step forward and the usual knees, but a solid showing. 9.850

Gowey – UB – UF – lovely first hs – tkatchev, hit – toe on to pak, smooth – 1/2 turn on low, good vertical position – riushed final hs – DLO, flung out, low, has to pike it down with a hop. They’re so close to 9.9s and losing it on dismounts so far. 9.800

Kelley – VT – LSU – remember that time we were like, “She might not compete this week” – handspring front pike 1/2, really strong, good power with a small hop. 9.825 is probably for chest position. Slocum would really whip her chest up because chest position is evaluated so much harsher on hs pike vaults because of ugh.

Hundley – UB – UF – toe shap to pak, just minor legs – toe on to toe Shap 1/2, solid catch – FTDT, stuck – one handstand in there, and judges can take for small leg breaks if they see them from their angle, but much better routine.

Priessman – VT – LSU – she pops up to the 1.5, nearly sticks it, small step forward and a bit of knees. Well now, LSU’s lineup. 9.825 is low for me for that one. And I’m as surprised as anyone to think these LSU vault scores are too low.

Schoenherr – UB – UF – gorgeous jaeger, hits bail, good legs together, maybe a bit short of vertical – one final – giant full to double tuck, hop back. 9.825.

Edwards – VT – sits down her 1.5 again this week.

Thomas – UB – UF – lovely shap to clear hip to Pak, she is a dream – toe on to toe Shap 1/2 – just gets up there for that final cast has – stuck DLO with a bit of a lean to hold it. Great routine. 9.925

Edney – VT – LSU – big 1.5, huge amplitude, step forward, and the usual knees. 9.825. Also a bit weird because they should have rewarded her superior amplitude to Priessman.

Skaggs – UB – UF – good counter on her tkatchev – pak, some clear leg break – final cast hs is shortish – DLO, pretty, just a bit deep and a hop forward. 9.900 is high for that.

After 1: Florida 49.350, LSU 49.250

I feel like I lived 100 lives during that first rotation. LSU started amazingly with Finnegan’s actually perfect full, and needed to stick better, lots of steps forward that can be .100, but it was a really strong vault rotation that the score won’t reflect. I think they’ll be happy with that. And having Priessman and Kelley doing 10.0s, that’s huge looking forward.

Florida opposite, started weakly in those bars landings, which took away those early scores. Thomas was fab. Hundley planted like always because Hundley. Although I have to say I think LSU was the stronger team in the first rotation. Both had their issues, though.

Rotation 2

Alexander – VT – UF – fantastic full, one of her best ever – small hop – great distance, never seen her control a vault landing like that – some loose knees on the block 9.850

Durante – LSU – good jaeger – nice cast handstand – pak has a leg break and a GREAT save because she initially didn’t have her grip and has to regrasp while swinging through – finishes FTDT, short with a bounce forward. 9.800

Chant – VT – UF – Tsuk full, not bad – bounce back, some pike in the air at the end – not the most distance. 9.850 a bit high for me.

Dean – UB – hits tkatchev, feet, a bit close – bail is better, good vertical – short final cast hs – DLO, a little flung but fine, step back. 9.750

Reed – VT – UF – big 1.5, very strong – small hop forward, some knees – 9.850. More reasonable score there.

Harrold – UB – Zucchold, good – balance check stepping up to high – RUBY!_ hits jaeger well – double front, one of her good ones, just a small step. Would have been a big score if not for that hesitation stepping up

Thomas – VT – UF – 1.5, less of a bound forward than last week, still pretty big, but the vault it self is lovely of course. 9.875

Edney – UB – LSU – Hindorff well done, some feet – bail, a bit short of vertical on that catch – DLO, good, stuck.

Boren – VT – UF – hop forward on her 1.5, pretty good – had some knee form again but not as extreme as last week – still those legs on the block as well, so probably a tenth just for form, and then there’s the landing. 9.800.

Priessman – UB – LSU – tkatchev to pak, tkatchev was actually crooked but you couldn’t tell by her catch – good final cast – just the smallest bit of movement on her DLO, some piking in the position – 9.950. LSU getting hte benefit of the doubt now.

Schoenherr – VT – UF – lands her 1.5 this week – a large bound forward but it was a hit – some knees.

Finnegan – UB – lovely tkatchev obviously – some elbow bend in a toe on which is strange for her – bail, perfect like a broomstick to shoot to high – good final hs – DLO – sticks, some piking as well but her routine was better than Priessman’s so we’ll see. 9.975.

After 2: LSU 98.775, Florida 98.575

LSU moves ahead after a pretty strong bars rotation, they got pretty much the same lens that Florida did on bars, a charitable view. LSU’s bars was stronger. Good improvements for Florida on vault, but the landings still aren’t there yet. The potential is tremendous in that vault lineup, but it’s still potential at this point.

Featurette about Priessman and Hundley. They’ve professionally avoided saying, “we were always there for each other when we needed to complain about MLT…”

Rotation 3

Desiderio – BB – LSU – aerial to sissone, solid – bhs loso, secure, a little low to the beam – full turn – switch to switch 1/2, switch is good, the 1/2 is short – cat leap to gainer full a little crooked but stuck nonetheless. 9.850

Hundley – FX – UF – whip to double tuck, good control – double pike, perhaps a bit out of control on the step – switch side to straddle shushunova – 1.5 to layout, also a fairly large step on her dance out, but secure overall. 9.725

Dean – BB – LSU – side aerial to bhs, very secure, a bit of knees – switch to a check – split jump to split jump 1/4 to get her dance combo – aerial – hit, a little short – side aerial to full, stuck. Fine routine. Will get hit for that hesitation though. 9.700. Raised to 9.800

Hundley’s score originally posted as 9.825. Now 9.725. 9.725 seems rather low for that to me.

SJS – FX – UF – double pike, large bounce back, just does keep it in – front lay to front full, a bit mushy position with a step – switch 1/2 to straddle 1/2 shush, which they’re really working this year – double tuck, super solid on that one. 9.800. Well, that one seems a little high, so.

Durante – BB – LSU – aerial to beat jump, good individual skills but I wouldn’t give the connection – bhs loso series, legs well apart – a little breeze shiver – good leap combination – side aerial to full with a small hop in place. A couple rhythm things there. 9.775.

Reed – FX – fab DLO but a bounce back this time – switch 1/2 to wolf full, good height – front lay to rudi, slight adjustment on landing – double pike, nicely done. Some landing control things, but big passes. 9.900.

Edney – BB – LSU – aerial to split jump, better this week – bhs loso, secure – switch to straddle 1/4, tight on that straddle 1/4, which is built-in for her – full turn – pause – kickover front, nailed as usual – 1.5, holds the stick well even though she came in short. 9.900

Boren – FX – UF – DLO, great shape, a little adjmustment in place but only a maybe landing deduction – 1.5 to layout, good height and maintains the layout shape – double tuck, very strong, well controlled passes in that one. I would say it’s stronger than Reed’s routine, so we’ll see if this meet gets floor cracky. Also gets 9.900

Campbell – BB – LSU – hits series – aerial to sissone, good height on sissone – switch to switch 1/2, good positions and height – 2/1 dismount, small slide. Good routine. 9.900.

Thomas – FX – UF – DLO, gigantic, large bounce back though, just stayed in – front lay to front 2/1, such quick twisting and great leg form – switch ring to split leap 1.5, and it’s real – giant double pike, just overcooks it a little bit for a slide back that will be a lack of control deduction. 9.950 is extreme crack.

I mean, I love Trinity as much as the next person, but no. Just no. With those landings, that was not 9.950.

Finnegan – BB – lSU – wolf turn, good – bhs loso with a leg-up check, unexpected for her – switch to switch 1/2, great positions – side somi is good – side aerial to full, stuck. Won’t get the biggest score because of a leg-up break, but the rest was her usual great. 9.850.

Baumann – FX – UF – shes back – double tuck, very easy, pretty shape, controlled – 1.5 to front full, good control, a little deep landing that front full – switch 1/2 to straddle, of course the positions are easy for her – double pike, little bounce back. Well, that was nice. Very much what she was delivering in the second 1/2 of last season. 9.875.

After 3: LSU 148.075, Florida 148.000

I do think Florida was the stronger team in that third rotation, especially Boren who nailed her routine, but we’re going to be talking about that Thomas score for a while.  LSU better on beam than last week but several of the performers were still quite tentative with some slow combinations and pauses. Dean’s score was raised from 9.700 to 9.800, though I didn’t think the 9.700 was out of control.

Rotation 4

Skaggs – BB – UF – wolf double, pretty smooth – switch to split, good positions, well extended – bhs loso, secure – cat leap to side aerial to full, minor slide on full, didn’t get a great punch off the beam on that dismount but got it around. 9.850

Harrold – FX – LSU – front 2/1, controls that step, some knees – double pike, nailed that landing, just outright screamin gof rsome reason  – switch ring to switch 1/2 is good – 1.5 to layout with a lunge forward -good one. 9.875

Hundley – BB – UF – aerial to sissone, smooth – bhs loso, secure, some feet you can always take – cat leap to switch side, good focus on the position there – hit a full turn and is thrilled about it – 1.5, stuck. Also a good one. 9.825

Campbell – FX – lSU _ 2.5, pretty good, a bit of leg crossing and I’d call that an uncontrolled lunge out if it – double tuck, littel steppies, impressed she got it around, though because I wasn’t sure halfway through. Leaps are great, duh – 1.5 to layout, pretty low on that final layout, good control. 9.850

Boren – BB – UF – gainer kickover front with a check – bhs loso, secure – switch to straddle, fine, a little tight moving into connection – cat leap to gainer loso, good – gainer full, stuck. Good. Moving tight early in the routine but smoother later. 9.900

Priessman – FX – LSU – she has to step off because of the music – starts – full-in, ankle cruncher – short with a lunge forward – nice leaps – double back, legs give out from under her and puts her hand down – 1.5 to layout. Well, I love that they went for it, but she’s just not there for floor right now. And I’m shocked her foot is still on.

Gowey – BB – UF – switch to split is good, a little tighter than usual on switch but OK – bhs loso loso, very good, secure and actually extended – aerial to sissone, pretty – full turn, kind of tentative – gainer full, stuck. Good. 9.925. Well here we go.

Edney – FX – LSU – double arabian, just pulls it out, awkward landing but saves it with a step back – legs nearly slid out from under her – 1.5 to layout, big and well extended – switch ring to split leap 1/1, they mentioned she had a hamstring issue which I didn’t notice until that split leap 1/1 – double tuck, just a bit forward with a step. Not her strongest landings, so this is getting interesting. 9.800. Kind of gets away with a score there, with two problem landings and a very short leap.

Thomas – BB – UF – switch 1/2 to beat, perfect – one arm bhs to loso, perfectly secure evrn though her feet were a little off – aerial to wolf jump, now that’s how high a wolf jump should be – adjustment on full turn because of course – 2/1 dismount, hop. 9.900.

Finnegan – FX – LSU – 1.5 stepout through to 2.5, small landing shuffle this time – double tuck, perfect – switch ring to switch 1/2, also perfect – double pike, also perfect. The end of that routine was amazing. She did have a first-pass problem, but you can probably still go 9.950 for it. And she gets 9.950

Baumann – BB – UF – bhs loso series, perfect – switch to switch 1/2, excellent psoition – 1.5, sticks it with a little stagger. That was a tremendous routine. 9.900. Actually could have gone higher for that for me. I didn’t see much.

Kelley – FX – LSU – DLO, good secure but chest well hunched over – front layout to front full, very solid – split leap full is well short of 180 and will be deducted – double tuck, really strong. She needs 9.950 to win the meet. This wasn’t a 9.950 but I also expect her to get it.

Oooh 9.875. That’s actually pretty reasonable for that routine. I’m surprised.

FINAL: Florida 197.475, LSU 197.425

Wow. That was just a delight to watch. As for the result, I do think Florida was the stronger team in that final rotation and given the margin we saw going into the final rotation, should have won. That beam rotation was amazing (thought it could have scored higher than 49.475, and it was the best single rotation for any team in this meet), and LSU had some issues on floor to give the result away. I think LSU’s “we got hosed” argument comes from the vault scoring. LSU was the better team on vault and bars, Florida was the better team on beam and floor, and that’s why it ended up so close. Progress for both teams, much better than last week.

Meanwhile, Washington just got 196.525 to beat Arizona, including a 49.400 on beam. So that happened.