| Friday, March 1 | Scores | Stream |
| 6:00 ET/3:00 PT – [10] Kentucky @ [16] Missouri | LINK | SECN |
| 6:00 ET/3:00 PT – Michigan State @ Eastern Michigan | LINK | ESPN3 |
| 7:00 ET/4:00 PT – [19] BYU, Maryland @ George Washington | LINK | FREE |
| 7:00 ET/4:00 PT – Western Michigan @ Kent State | LINK | FREE |
| 7:00 ET/4:00 PT – Illinois State @ Northern Illinois | LINK | ESPN3 |
| 7:00 ET/4:00 PT – Bridgeport, So Connecticut @ Towson | LINK | FREE |
| 7:00 ET/4:00 PT – Air Force @ Centenary | LINK | |
| 7:00 ET/4:00 PT – 10th annual Nastia Liukin Go Pink Yourself Challenge | LINK | OC |
| 7:30 ET/4:30 PT – [12] Auburn @ [8] Alabama | LINK | SECN |
| 7:30 ET/4:30 PT – Iowa State @ Iowa | LINK | BTN+ FLO |
| 7:30 ET/4:30 PT – Penn @ SEMO | LINK | FREE |
| 7:30 ET/4:30 PT – UW-La Crosse @ Gustavus Adolphus | LINK | FREE |
| 7:30 ET/4:30 PT – UW-Stout @ UW-Eau Claire | ||
| 8:00 ET/5:00 PT – [3] Florida @ [20] Arkansas | LINK | NONE |
| 8:00 ET/5:00 PT – [6] Denver @ Illinois | LINK | BTN+ FLO |
| 9:00 ET/6:00 PT – [7] Georgia @ [4] LSU | LINK | ESPN2 |
| 9:00 ET/6:00 PT – [17] Washington, Utah State @ [13] Boise State | LINK | FREE |
| 10:00 ET/7:00 PT – [14] Cal, UC Davis @ Sacramento State | LINK | FREE |
| 10:00 ET/7:00 PT – Bowling Green, Alaska @ [15] Oregon State | LINK | FREE |
| 10:00 ET/7:00 PT – San Jose State @ Seattle Pacific | LINK | FREE |
Today, it’s the usual SEC-splosion with some seriously compelling contests. But be prepared, the Florida/Arkansas meet has no live stream at all for some reason, so there’s literally nothing to see here.
The performance of Bowling Green tonight also got a little more interesting after the events of today’s article.
I don’t typically watch the Nastia Cup live because there’s too much NCAA going on (I end up watching it about nine months later when preparing the freshman playlist and needing to know what these new people are all about), but I’m sure you all will keep me apprised if something remarkable happens.
The day begins with Kentucky and Missouri. Missouri has had an extra week to recover from the most recent performance, where injuries and limitations led to just five athletes vaulting, one of them with a fall. We’ll have to see whether the last two weeks have allowed that lineup to get back on its feet.
We’re on SEC score watch for Kentucky, which will be looking for at least a 196.700, which is the minimum score required to have a shot at passing Alabama this week. Getting that 196.700 would then put pressure on Alabama in the next meet to get a counting score in order to hang onto a top-4 conference place.
Kentucky @ Missouri begins
Rotation 1
Christensen – VT – MU – full – not bad, medium hop back, a clear pike in the air, solid distance and direction. 9.700
Stuart – UB – UK – tkatchiev hit, some ragged legs – very solid bail, good vertical and toes – a little tight on final hs – FTDLO dismount, hop back. Solid, her usual. 9.700 is pretty tight early.
Gotula – VT – MU – gets the hit this week, but a pretty large lunge back – good amplitude, open hip position. 9.725. Raised to 9.775 later.
Nixon – UB – UK – Shap to bail, nice amplitude, legs together, maybe a little short of vertical on bail – a short hs – giant full to double tuck, nearly sticks but then with an arm wave and a step back. 9.750
Tucker – VT – MU – comes in a little short on her full this time, didn’t get the amplitude we usually expect from her – good open position but comes in chest forward with a hop forward. 9.675
Kwan – UB – UK – shortish first hs – huge jaeger to overshoot, lots of amplitude – good final cast hs – giant full to double tuck, pinged a little, hop back – 9.800
Porter – VT – MU – really strong full, small hop back – good distance and only a little bit of pike at the end, just a little direction. 9.800
Dukes – UB – UK – good first hs – tkatchev, hit, good toes – pak, a little bit of legs apart – OOF, goes over on her final cast hs on high and falls – was going really well until then too. DLO, a bit whippy, holds the stick with a swim. 9.250
Bidwill – VT – MU – adds in her Y1.5 and it’s quite solid, small step forward and some legs apart deduction throughout the vault to take. 9.850.
Hyland – UB – UK – tight first hs – huge tkatchev but catches her heel on the bar on catch, which will hurt – bail, small ankle crossing – a couple short verticals in there – FTDT, solid with feet hop together – 9.725
Bower – VT – MU – handspring front pike with a lunge forward – some knees – it’s a 9.9 start. 9.625
Korth – UB – UK – shortish first hs – gorgeous piked jaeger – nice clean catch position on bail – a couple short hs in there as most of them have had – FTDLO dismount with hop back. 9.850. That’s the only score so far I think has been a little high/normal SECish. Otherwise pretty tight evaluation.
After 1: Kentucky 48.825, Missouri 48.800
Not an ideal first rotation for either team. Kentucky had the fall from Dukes and Hyland clipping the high bar on the release, in addition to the overall tighter evaluation, which is not TIGHT, it’s more accurate, but tighter than expected. Kentucky a little too short on handstands this week to get those high numbers.
Missouri had six vaults in there but one of them had a 9.9 start and still misses several of its big guns. Getting Bidwill in there with a strong 1.5 is a huge deal is shoring up that lineup.
Based on this scoring standard, we’re probably not going to see those big 196s today from this one, but there’s time.
Rotation 2
Kwan – VT – UK – comes up short on her full, pretty large lunge forward, chest down and some direction. 9.575
Tucker – UB – MU – hit piked jaeger, close but only a bit of form break – bail with legs apart correction – a couple short handstands – giant full to double tuck with only the smallest little hop. 9.800, kind of high compared to UK.
Dukes – VT – UK – really pretty full, great stick, chest up, nicely done. You take a little for height, a little for chest. 9.800.
Kelly – UB – MU – very short first hs – hits nice piked jaeger – snagle on bail hs, crooked – a bit better final cast hs – great amplitude on DLO with a hop back. 9.725
Davis – VT – UK – full – great amplitude as always – only a very small adjustment hop back on landing and then the typical deduction on the best knees. 9.700
Christensen – UB – MU – girna tfull to tkatchev, hit but fairly low – short hs after – bail, a leg break in the air but solid position on catch – good hs – giant full to double tuck, lower double tuck with a hop back 9.725
Hyland – VT – UK – great stick on her full, quite nicely done – good direction, chest a little higher than Dukes, good position in the air, just some lack of distance to take.
Judges meeting and then a 9.800. Low but I like it if this is the standard for EVERYONE.
Schugel – UB – MU – huge piked jaeger to overshoot, solid – nearly gets there on final cast – giant full to double tuck, stuck. Their cleanest so far. 9.850
Stuart – VT – UK – Y1.5 pretty solid, a stutter step to the side – a bit of knees, nice hit. 9.825
Porter – UB – MU – small loose back on first hs – jaeger, hit, a bit of elbows – bail, small leg break – shortish final hs – double front, hop back. Solid one, a couple little things in there, nothing major. 9.850
Korth – VT – UK – Y1.5 – lovely 1.5 in the air – medium-sized hop forward, cleaner in the air than Stuart’s. 9.875. That’s a more expected score. They’re willing to go there for Korth in the anchor positions.
Bidwill – UB – MU – arch in toe on and then falls on Shap. They have five hits to count.
After 2: Kentucky 97.850, Missouri 97.750
A solid vault rotation for Kentucky in the 2-5 spots. Pretty solid control on landing, got the two 1.5s, they’ll be happy with that. Really like the scoring lens on vault today, but we’ll have seen that rotation go a couple tenths higher at other meets, and it’s going to seem unfair as long as it’s different from most other meets we’re watching, which it is.
Bars scoring a little looser, more willing to go above 9.800 on those scores. Missouri gets through with five hits, a reasonable showing, but not hitting the 49 mark for another rotation.
Rotation 3
Nicholson – BB – MU – bhs bhs loso series, solidly hit, some tight hip position – beat to straddle 1/2, solid 180s – gainer full, stuck. Good one. 9.825
Poland – FX – UK – front tuck through to rudi, a little low on amplitude, hit under control – front 2/1, another controlled landing – strong straddle positions – 9.750
Bower – BB – MU – bhs loso series, hits it without a wobble but pretty slow and tentative on it, some leg form – cat leap to kickover front with a check into beat jump – switch to straddle 1/4, a little tight in straddle 1/4 position – gainer full, stuck. 9.825
Beam scores going higher now.
Warren – FX – UK – giant front 2/1, great form as always but a large bounce out – switch side to popa, camera work tried to zoom in there and ended up with a crotch closeup, one of the many reasons you don’t do closeups during leap combos – rudi, more good height, small slide back – front full to front tuck, nice – 9.825
Gottula – BB – MU – bhs bhs loso, very solid landing, good speed, just a little bit of knees but overall stronger extension – switch to straddle 1/4 with a check, kind of short in straddle – gainer full with a deep stick. 9.825
Hyland – FX – UK – double pike, super solid landing, flexed feet – “I think sometimes athletes learn their teammates floor routines.” oh do you Bridget? – great extension and amplitude on leaps – 1.5 to front layout, pulls it out after overcooking her 1.5 a little and not getting full punch into layout. A little low but maintains layout position well. 9.850
Porter – BB – MU – switch to split to back tuck, good security and solid positions – aerial to bhs series, best extension in acro elements of the lineup so far – hitch kick to kickover front with a check – 1.5 with hop forward. Gave it away a little at the end. 9.775
Dukes – FX – UK – double pike, mostly controlled landing, little step forward – lovely switch ring position – front full to layout, keeps extended position – double tuck, good control and chest up. Nice routine. To me, that was the strongest of the lineup so far. 9.875
Kelly – BB – MU – sissone and full turn to begin – aerial to one-arm bhs, hit, a tad slow – straddle to sheep with a check, a little crooked on the sheep position, some leap deductions there – punch front 1/1 with a hop. 9.850
Korth – FX – UK – full-in, secure landing, chest well down – split leap full to popa, efficiently done – second pass…….front 1/2 to back lay to back tuck full? – an improvised pass but sure? – some position but not bad? – double pike, solid. 9.700. Haven’t done the score but would have missed some bonus there. But did very well to avert disaster by making sure she had an acro combo. Score would have been much lower otherwise.
Ward – BB – MU – bhs bhs loso series, super solid and extended, a highlight of the rotation – beat to straddle 1/4, good straddle, arm wave on landing – hitch kick to side aerial, very smooth – 1.5 and comes in suppppppper deep, holds the stick somehow but a major squat and lean. 9.725
Stuart – FX – UK – double pike, solid, chest up – 1.5 to layout, super low on layout landing with a deep squat to pull it to her feet, not dissimilar to what Ward did – switch ring into wolf hop full, kind of caught her foot trying to go into the wolf but should get connection credit – rudi, solid. 9.600
After 3: Missouri 146.850, Kentucky 146.850
So this is close. The mid-meet whiskey break has loosened up the scoring a little bit in that third rotation on beam. Almost like maybe they shouldn’t have that? Kentucky also had odd errors on floor, which has allowed Missouri to close the gap, Korth and Stuart both coming up with struggle scores.
Rotation 4
Angeny – BB – UK – bhs loso series, nice extension, a little arm wave lean coming out of it – switch to sheep, another smaller check – side aerial to tuck full, stuck. Some balance checks to take, but solid opener overall. 9.775
Bower – FX – MU – double pike, secure landing, whips her chest up – split leap full to wolf full, a bit of knees, a little short of position – 1.5 to layout, hit, a little low – double tuck, controlled step back. 9.850 is fairly high there.
Poland – BB – UK – bhs bhs loso, super clean series, nice amplitude, full turn with a check – one-arm fhs – switch to split with a small lean, tuck gainer full off the end, stuck. 9.775
Nicholson – FX – MU – front 2/1 is a little closer to around though will still get a deduction for under twisting that – 1.5 to layout second pass, hit, a bit loose back in the layout – switch side to popa – rudi final pass, best part, good height and twisting position. 9.850
Korth – BB – UK – one-arm bhs loso series, solid, some knee form – cat leap to switch to back tuck, secure, short back leg on switch leap – 2/1 with a bounce back, ended up a little ragged on that dismount, but a hit. 9.825 a little high for that dismount.
Turner – FX – MU – double pike, secure step back, some chest position – split leap full to wolf 1.5, will get credit for getting leaps around but deduction for not quite being up to position – 1.5 to front tuck, not a lot of height there in the combo but pulled the tuck around. With just two passes, that’s not going to be enough for UTL, I believe.
9.825. Apparently not. Did I miss something there? Or is all the credit I gave to the judges in the first two rotations revoked?
Stuart – BB – UK – switch to stag, well done – bhs loso, small check, little wobble – cat leap to side aerial to full, stuck. 9.850
Gottula – FX – MU – double pike, just a touch deep in the landing with a slide back – 1/2 to 2/1, good control on that one, kept the front foot down – switch side, pretty low to the floor – double tuck, well controlled, chest up, strong routine. 9.900
Scores suddenly kind of out of control now. You guys were doing so well.
Dukes – BB – UK – bhs loso series, controlled, excellent extension – aerial to super high split, lovely – switch to straddle 1/4, more strong positions – 1.5, short with a lunge back, really the only major thing there. 9.875
Tucker – FX – MU – full-in, very high, keeps front foot down on controlled step – chest up – 2/1 to loso, pretty, extended – double pike, just a little down, but a well performed routine. Best of the rotation so far. 9.900
Hyland – BB – Uk – switch to split, perfect – cat leap to aerial, smooth – bhs loso series, also secure, I’d say too slow to call the whole thing connected but she doesn’t need it – cat leap to side aerial to layout full – tries to sell the stick but has an arm wave and has to step back anyway. 9.875
Porter – FX – MU – nice high double tuck, smoothly landed, chest up – 1.5 to layout, good pop on 1.5, a bit of legs – split full to popa, popa position was nice – double tuck, just a little bounce coming in, but chest up, strong routine again. 9.900
FINAL: Missouri 196.250, Kentucky 196.000
Judges lost any credit I was going to give them with the end-of-meet performance there. You started out so sensibly, too! Both teams able to get into the 196 range in the end, but won’t be super celebrating those total scores. Kentucky’s RQS (NQS….) will barely change. Missouri will move up a little bit but not enough to challenge any of the teams ranked above. Still in some danger of getting passed this weekend.
Time for Auburn and Alabama!
Auburn @ Alabama begins
Rotation 1
Mahoney – VT – Bama – really clean full, good layout position, small slide back. Pretty. 9.775
Watson – UB – Aub – great first hs – Ray, pretty close catch, bent elbows – bail, a bit of a leg break in the air – short final cast hs – FTDT, hop back. We’ll see how harsh they are on that release. 9.825
Armbrecht – VT – Bama – hop back on full, great in the air, better distance and open position than Mahoney. 9.825
Krippner – UB – Aub – toe shap to bail, legs together on ail, a little break on the Shap – toe on, some elbows – FTDT, stuck. Nice. 9.875
This “the SEC scoring is tight this year, you guys” narrative is going to be fun. But it isn’t though.
Gaskins – VT – Bama – FAB stick on her full – great layout position in the air, drilled the vault – just some chest forward on landing and probably a distance deduction. 9.850
Gobourne – UB – Aub – 1/2 turn on hgih – tkatchev, hit, feet – pak is nice – 1/2 turn on low – closer on final cast hs but a little short – FTDT with hop back. 9.875
Olsen – VT – Bama – DTY, great distance, hop back this time, not too big, some legs to take as usual, but not too much. 9.875. Is a higher score for her. She’s done better for 9.800 at times this season.
Cerio – UB – Aub – short first hs – lovely piked jager – a very small hesitation on cast on high – crisp bail position – giant full to double tuck with lunge back
Graber – VT- Bama – 1.5, great height and open – small hop forward, a touch of knees – strong vault. 9.850
Milliet – UB – Aub – falls on her Ray. LE SIGH. finishes with a lovely blind full into a double tuck with a step.
Guerra – VT – Bama – sticks her Y1.5 – where has this vault been all our lives – some soft knees, and mostly shows control on her landing into the salute.
9.950
Day – UB – Aub – short first hs – toe 1/2 to fantastic jaeger, super high and pointed toes – into overshoot – double arabian, stuck. Really strong routine. 9.875. Was better than some of the other 9.875s.
After 1: Alabama 49.350, Auburn 49.300
So yeah, scores are not tight here today. But a strong rotation for both teams. If the final four in the lineup all keep vaulting like that, Alabama will be very pleased. Everyone for Auburn had some things, but they got through with five hits and are keeping things close.
Rotation 2
Phillips – VT – Aub – her usual big full with a large lunge back, some piking throughout
No it is not the first time she has competed on vault this season.
Dickson – UB – Bama – good first hs – a little short of vertical position on bail – really strong on her casts – toe on – tkatchev, great open but clipped the low bar on catch – FTDT, stuck. Great routine but that hitting the bar will cost her.
Or not. 9.875. I guess they didn’t see the bar clip, which is a flat tenth
Krippner – VT – Aub – full – medium hop back – mostly good layout position, just some little piking at the end
Giancroce – UB – Bama – short first hs – tkatchev, hit – another short hs – pak is nice, just the smallest leg break – good shoot to high – final hs much better – DLO, some whippy pike position, hop back. 9.800
Day – VT – Aub – comes up a little short on her 1.5 but saves it with two small steps back – a little bit of body position. Still gets 9.800
Childers – UB – Bama – toe on to toe shap to bail, small amounts of legs apart but solid – hitting cast hs – 1/2 into double tuck dismount with some crazy legs. 9.875
Glenn – VT – Aub – huge lunge forward on her 1.5 this time – little bit of leg break in the air – nearly lunged right into Raschilla. 9.725
Guerra – UB – Bama – prety jaeger, nicely done – bail, legs right together – tight final cast hs – DLO, lovely position and stuck. She’s having a good day. 9.950
Happy senior night! Great routine. Same routine she has done a dozen times for Alabama.
Gobourne – VT – Aub – that’s closer to the vault they needed on the 1.5, but still comes in short with a hop back. 9.900. High.
Mahoney – UB – Bama – tight first hs – bail, lovely leg position, very strong bail – pretty close to position on final cast hs – tkatchev, somewhat close catch with some elbows – great amplitude on FTDT and squeezes to hold the stick. 9.825
Watson – VT – Aub – 1.5, nicely done, small hop to the side and some bent knees – solid distance and direction. 9.925. You guys.
Gaskins – UB – Bama – good first hs – toe shap to pak, solid, small hesitation – 1/2 turn on low, a hair late – DLO, chest down with a hop. A couple loose knee things in this routine, nothing too major. 9.800
After 2: Alabama 98.675, Auburn 98.400
So not super subtle in the judging department at this one, but Alabama hasn’t received much SEC scoring at home this year, so this works. Some strong moments in there, especially from Guerra, but the last couple routine shad a few too many form issues to get the really huge bars number. Still easily on 197 pace.
Auburn didn’t have the landings on vault there and got away with some scores at the end that were too high on those last couple 1.5s. But a real lack of control on some early vaults kept the scores down and allowed Alabama to create a margin after 2 events.
Florida putting up a big number on bars.
Rotation 3
Klopfer – BB – Bama – slow but smooth wolf single – aerial with a large break, bend at the hips – redoes the combination – aerial to bhs, hit this time, a little knees – switch is nice – cat leap to side aerial to full, stuck. But will be a lower score because of that large break. 9.700
Smith – FX – Aub – double pike, little slide back – 1.5 to layout, controls enough to stay in, some knees – switch side to popa, great extension – double tuck, not so high, lands it but chest down. 9.725
Olsen – BB – Bama – bhs loso loso series, very solid, has improved that form – switch to wolf jump, solid – aerial, hit – bhs bhs double pike, hop back. Some knees in those bhs. So impressed by her improvements on beam as a college gymnast. She looks no-longer-pee-pants there 9.800
Cerio – FX – Aub – double pike, solid landing, gets her chest up – front full to front layout to wolf jump, love how she was able to punch up into that wolf even though it looked like she was coming up short on the layout – strong straddle position – rudi, lunge back, good routine. 9.825
Childers – BB – Bama – switch to sheep to beat, holds it without a check – bhs loso series and falls. Will have to count Klopfer score now. Danger zone for that much-needed 197. Kickover front to scale is excellent – 1.5 with a near stick to college salute
Watson – FX – Aub – double arabian, fantastic, good form and controlled landing, very strong – double tuck with a bounce back – 1.5 to layout, came up super short with a slide back and a step to save it. Shame because that should have been a great score with that awesome first pass. 9.675
Big 49.475 for Denver on bars starting at Illinois.
Armbrecht – BB – Bama – aerial to beat, very pretty – full turn, smooth – bhs loso series, hit – switch with a small check into straddle 1/4, so we’ll see how forgiving they are for series credit, I figure it will get it – 2/1, stuck. As long as they give that series, an excellent routine. 9.900
Gobourne – FX – Aub – full-in, open position, does very well to control her small hop back and keep it in bounds – switch ring is a bit tight – front full to front layout, landing caught her a little bit but controls that step – double pike, comes up short with a step and kind of tries to do a prowl-save to cover it which I’m obsessed with. 9.725
Gaskins – BB – Bama – back dive mount, rushes right through position but holds it – bhs loso, very secure – strong split 1/2 from side – switch to split, excellent extension and amplitude – side aerial and falls. ALABAMA! Gainer full, hop back. 9.150
Milliet – FX – Aub – front lay to a perfect rudi, chest up, control, lovely twist position – switch ring to switch 1/2 – double pike, short landing with a lunge forward, this third rotation has been a beast of burden for both teams – 1.5 to layout, a little arch in lay. 9.775
Giancroce – BB – Bama – aerial to beat jump, nice and smooth – bhs loso series, hit with a check – switch to straddle 1/4, solidly executed – sissone – gainer full. Hugely important hit.
OOOOOF. Florida goes sub 49 on vault.
Day – FX – Aub – I love her floor routines – solid landing on her double arabian – double tuck, a little chest down but also hit – swolf hop full to split, short of 180 there – front full to layout, a little low but hit. 9.900
After 3: Auburn 147.350, Alabama 147.200
So it’s 48.525 for Alabama on beam. No 197 today. Now they’re fighting to get this into countable range with a good floor. Auburn also had issues on floor in those landings to go sub 49. Not a strong showing from either team.
After 2: Florida 98.375, Arkansas 98.175
Florida with a lead, but that sub-49 on vault takes away the chance for a super huge score. Lots of 9.7s there, only Boren hitting for a big score.
Meanwhile, Denver is at 98.725 after two events, and Illinois is having an absolute nightmare on bars.
Rotation 4
Watson – BB – Aub – bhs loso with a bit of a lean check – cat leap to side aerial, large leg-up wobble, good save – switch with another small check into straddle 1/4 – 1.5, near stick with a little step. 9.775 is higgggggghhhh.
Desch – FX – Bama – double pike with a bounce back, just does keep it in bounds but uncontrolled – 1.5 to 1/2 to split to front tuck, solidly done – split leap full to split jump full – double tuck, stuck landing, just some flexed feet in the air
Well, the flag didn’t go up because she didn’t go OOB.
9.900. LOL.
Gobourne – BB – Aub – bhs loso series, step back – switch to straddle 1/4, pretty short in straddle position – hitch kick to side aerial to full, step. Hit. Kicks her own foot on takeoff and still completes the full. 9.775.
Olsen – FX – Bama – double double, hit it very well, just a little step on landing – front tuck through to double tuck, stuck – split leap full to split jump full, solidly done – double pike, nailed landing. Super excellent control on passes. And if they went 9.900 for Desch with a giant bounce back… 9.875
Riddle – BB – Aub – bhs loso series, a little tight in position but hit – switch to straddle 1/2, secure, noit quite extended enough in positions – cat leap to side aerial to tuck full with a hop, a little off to the side.
Mahoney – FX – Bama – double tuck, nice position in the air, just a little slide – front full to front lay, a little ragged in position, kind of low – split leap full to popa, nicely reached positions – double pike, chest up, another little slide. Strong. 9.850
Krippner – BB – Aub – cat leap to aerial to bhs, smoothly done if a little slow, hit positions – aerial, tried to save it by pretending to take it to scale, ultimately had to grab her calves to gain control but did super well not to come off or grab the beam – awesome leaps – 1.5 dismount, tries to step salute and trips over her own feet with a major lunge to the side.
Well, that was just the weirdest beam routine.
Gaskins – FX – Bama – super low landing on DLO, chest well down with a lunge forward – front tuck through to double tuck, secure – a little tight in split position here – double pike, stuck, chest down. DLO will take away the score. 9.800
The beam judges are like, what even was that Krippner routine. 9.350 for Krippner.
Milliet – BB – Aub – front tuck mount, awesome – bhs loso series, crisp, very strong – split to sheep, lovely, a real sheep jump – cat leap to gainer full, stuck with chest down. Excellent routine. 9.925
Armbrecht – FX – Bama – DLO, pretty in the air, comes in a bit chest down – switch side to popa, lovely as always – 1.5 to front layout, dance out, a little horizontal on that pass – rudi to double stag, a little forward but hit well. 9.925
Sylvia – BB – Aub – full turn, nice style – aerial to rulfova, just a taddddd off line but hit – a little slow in combination but they’ll be forgiving because it’s a difficult combo – stag hop to switch 1/2, pretty short on switch 1/2 position – gainer full….SUPER deep squat and a hop back. That was weird.
Meet decided on a gainer full squat? ONE JUDGE STILL WENT 9.800.
Guerra – FX – Bama – they’re setting up for a 10 here so let’s see – DLO, very well controlled, some chest down – switch side 1/2 to popa, a little indistinct in twisting position – 1.5 to layout, perfect, crisp body position – double pike, a little slide. Strong routine.
Finishes 9.950.
NO TIME. LSU and Georgia starting!
Rotation 1
Finnegan – VT – LSU – nailed her full as usual, just didn’t quite hold the stick for long enough with a step-salute back as her momentum took her back. Otherwise perfect. 9.900. Correct.
Roberts – UB – UGA – toe on to toe shap to bail, nice vertical positions there – short final cast hs – DLO, stuck. Strong start. 9.775. A little low.
Harrold – VT – LSU – 1.5 with a pace forward, pretty much her usual, a little out of control on landing, and the knees to take. 9.825
Schild – Ub – UGA – toe on to Ray, nice open – solid cast hs after – pak, hit, a little leg break – a little rushed on 1/2 turn on low – short final cast hs – DLO, a little pike, step back. 9.850
Kelley – VT – LSU – handspring pike 1/2, solid, comes in a little short this time with a hop forward, will get the chest down deduction but not too much. 9.875. A bit high.
Snead – UB – UGA – lovely first hs – tkatchev, hit – bail, strong vertical position as always – well short on final cast hs – DLO, has to pike it down quite a bit, chest down with a hop. OK.
Cannamela – VT – LSU – full, hit, small hop back – not so much dynamics so will get deducted for distance, a bit of piking. 9.850
Al-Hameed – Ub – UGA – giant full to her giant tkatchev – bail, crisp vertical position – better on final cast hs but went crazy on the giant full – gets off line and has to stop in a total dead hang, casts out at horizontal to finish with a double tuck, hop.
Edwards – VT – LSU – hits 1.5 – comes up short with two small steps back and has some knees to deduct for. 9.875 way too high.
Meanwhile, it looks like the Auburn Alabama final was Alabama 196.700, Auburn 196.350. Scores died.
Dickson – UB – UGA – Ray, comes in super close with a large elbow break and a near Mikulak face smash – but works out of it somehow – DLO 1/1, very strong with only a small slide, but the Ray catch will destroy her score. Amazing how she continued. 9.650
Edney – VT – LSU – doesn’t have the landing on her 1.5 today with a large bound forward into the next state. 9.825. I mean, how do you go higher than 9.750 there?
Oakley – UB – UGA – higgins to lovely piked jaeger – YIKES – overdoes her cast handstand and has to go over the other way and improvise – continues with lovely individual skills – FTDT, stuck. 9.500.
OH GEORGIA.
After 1: LSU 49.325, Georgia 48.600
It’s a miracle that Georgia got out of that rotation with a 48.600 despite three gymnasts having huge errors on their routines. LSU hit vault well enough for 49.325, though the scores were pretty loose on those last couple vaults. They’ll need to develop more control on the later-lineup vaults to get a truly competitive score.
Heads up that Denver is on track to score another 8 billion this week.
Rotation 2
Magee – VT – UGA – full – hits her full, a little chest down, hop back, will get deducted for dynamics. 9.775 is high for me there.
Durante – UB – LSU – a bit tight on first hs – 1/2 turn with some arch back into jaeger, hit – pak, a bit of legs – final cast hs is closer – FTDT, stuck with chest down. Nice start. 9.900
Danna is wearing a neutral white. No aggressive LSU colors like I was hoping for.
Ward – VT – UGA – Tsuk full – bounce back – some clear piking throughout.
Ferrer – UB – LSU – short first hs – 1/2 turn to jaeger with feet – bail, pretty close to vertical there – better final cast hs – DLO, stuck. Her best of the year. I feel like those taped ankles really make it look like she has boulders at the end of her ankles. 9.850
Vega – VT – UGA – hits her full – shoots off exactly horizontally and it doesn’t even matter – small hop – some knees – an amplitude deduction, great distance as always
Harrold – UB – LSU – good Zuchold – cast a bit short – 1/2 turn to jaeger, well caught – double front, pace forward. One of her good ones. 9.875
Dickson – VT – UGA – Omelianchik and hands down. She’s having a bit of a day so far.
Edney – UB – LSU – Hindorff and falls. Weird. What is happening today? Finishes DLO with a step back.
FINAL: Florida 197.225, Arkansas 196.350
Score won’t be noteworthy for Florida but will be for Arkansas.
Lukacs – VT – UGA – one of her best DTYs this year – chest up more, small hop back, a little bit of legs – not a ton of distance – 9.900
Priessman – UB – LSU – tkatchev to pak, so quick and hit, one of her good paks tofay too – 1/2 turn on low, good – nice cast on high – DLO, a bit whippy, stuck. Exceptional routine.
Denver goes 197.775, the high score of the night.
Snead – VT – UGA – Y1..5 – not her most controlled landing with a hop forward. Otherwise pretty.
10.000 for Priessman. It was probably her best bars routine for LSU. And it’s not even senior night. So we’re done complaining about both the lack of 10s in the SECs and the scoring for LSU, right? OK good phew.
Finnegan – UB – LSU – small arch in first hs – Ray – toe on to bail, nailed vertical position – snother small arch ion final cast hs – DLO, hop back. Not her strongest but clean and good. 9.825.
After 2: LSU 98.775, Georgia 97.850
LSU on a solid pace after two events. Aside from the weird Edney fall, hit a strong bars rotation, though Finnegan had more little errors than usual in her set. Georgia goes 49.250 on vault, getting the scores for the last couple routines. The fall from Dickson was strange, but they too had five usable scores from the rest.
Rotation 3
Desiderio – BB – LSU – aerial to split, smoothly connected – bhs loso series, secure and hit – full turn, a little hesitant but fine – switch to switch 1/2 to beat, a little tight in that switch 1/2, combination and position – gainer full, stuck. 9.900.
Perez-Lugones – FX – UGA – double pike, large bounce back and OOB – 1.5 to layout, clean – switch side to popa, a bit crooked on switch side, popa looked good – double tuck, stuck. 9.650
Dean – BB – LSU – side aerial to bhs, hit securely, knee form deduction – switch to split 1/4, not bad on the position this week – aerial with a huge break, bend at the hips, several steps – grabs the beam to save it – side aerial to full, stuck. But major deduction there.
Still gets 9.600, which makes no sense because she had a mandatory .3 for grabbing the beam IN ADDITION to everything else.
Baumann – FX – UGA – double pike, bounce back, a touch of knees as well – double tuck, much stronger, good control – switch ring to switch side – lovely L – 1.5 to layout, controlled, just some knees – 9.900
I’M LIVING IN A CUCKOO CLOCK
Durante – BB – LSU – aerial to beat jump, pretty style – loso series, good control to save it with just a little check, legs very wide apart and kept it together – split leap positions are nice – side aerial to full with a hop in place. Hit. 9.875
Snead – FX – UGA – double pike, nice position in the air – slide back – rudi to shushunova, hit comfortably – switch to cat leap – whip through to double tuck, very secure landing, just chest down. 9.875
Edney – BB – LSU – aerial to split, hit – bhs loso series, super solid – split to straddle 1/4 with a balance check and some position deductions there – kickover front with a check and an arm wave, super high as always – 1.5, stuck. 9.900 I CANNOT
Lukacs – FX – UGA – sticks DLO, awesome straight position in the air – wolf and straddle jumps pretty high, solid – whip to 1/5 to front layout, also stuck, just a little body position in the layout. Straddles connected, hit positions – double pike, controlled step back. Her best of the season. 9.875
Campbell – BB – LSU – loso series, quite clean – aerial to sissone, great height, slow combination but fine – switch to switch 1/2, also hit well – 2/1, basically stuck. Really, really strong work.
9.975. Heavens. That’s a SARAH FINNEGAN WE’RE GIVING YOU A 10 kind of score.
A casual 49.575 for Boise State on bars with a 9.975 for Courtney McGregor.
Magee – FX – UGA – pike full in – hits with a slide back – switch side to popa, overturns the switch side a bit – 1.5 to layout, really has to whip over an arched layout – double pike, really low, chest down with a lunge forward. 9.775 extremely high for that –
Finnegan – BB – LSU – wolf turn single – bhs loso with a little lean that she covers with a butt shelf – excellent switch to switch 1/2 as always – side somi, hit smoothly – side aerial to full, holds the stick on her toes.
I mean, it’s not one of her 10s, but we’ll see if they decided beforehand or not.
“Sarah Finessegan.” Kathy, we’re going to have to talk about that one.
10.000. They decided beforehand.
Vega – FX – UGA – full in, one of her solid ones – controls landing very well not to go OOB because she was so close to the edge – 1.5 to layout, nice in the air, hop forward – gets her split 1.5 around – double pike, secure. Good. 9.900
LSU goes 49.650 for a fine beam rotation. Cool cool.
After 3: LSU 148.425, Georgia 147.175
The theme of this meet is “LSU hasn’t been super overscored at home so far this year, so we’ll do four meets worth of overscoring in this one meet.”
Dickson out of the meet after being pulled from floor.
Rotation 4
Snead – BB – UGA – bhs loso bhs with a balance check this week – cat leap to switch to straddle, super low back leg on switch – front tuck, very solid – 2/1, holds the stick despite being a little under. A hit. 9.875.
Harrold – VT – LSU – front 2/1, hit, a little out of control on the slide forward – double pike, a little adjustment on landing there as well – switch ring to switch 1/2 look solid – 1.5 to layout, a bit of knees, controls the step out on this one. 9.825
Also keep an eye on Boise State, where EVERY ROUTINE IS A 9.9!
Lukacs – BB – UGA _ bhs loso series, secure landing, some knees – oof, wolf hop to switch side are both quite low of position and I would say not connected – gainer full, stuck. 9.675
Desiderio – FX – LSU – DLO with a bounce back out, a little piking at the end as well – front tuck through to double tuck, secure but chest well down – switch ring to split leap are fine – double pike, deep mush in the knees on landing. A struggle routine. 9.725 is kind of high for that.
Magee – BB – UGA – straddle to straddle 1/2, pretty straddle position on that opening one – bhs loso series with a balance lean and a fairly major arm wave – switch to switch side with a little hesitation in between – full turn, small lean – side aerial to layout full, off line and a couple steps. Some major things to take there – 9.725 will count.
Campnbell – FX – LSU – 2.5 opener, fairly out of control on landing with a lunge. double tuck, does well to hold a controlled landing despite coming in short – awesome amplitude on switch 1/2 and popa, that’s how it should look – 1.5 to layout, a little lower on the layout but nice overall. 9.850
Oakley – BB – UGA – opens with her wolf – bhs loso series, lovely height and extension, wonderful – aerial, solid – split to split ring, hits positions pretty well, small lean – gainer full, stuck. Great one. 9.925
Edney – FX – LSU – double arabian, much better this week with just a little hop – 1.5 to layout, good amplitude – switch ring to split leap full, second split leap a little short for me – double tuck, nailed. Her best in a while.
9.925. The judges are like, “PHEW WE CAN SET UP FOR FINNEGAN AGAIN”
Baumann – BB – UGA – side aerial to loso series, large break with a leg-up correction, leg going up to hip height – wolf hop to switch side, another larger check, leg up again – 2/1, deep landing with a crossover step. Another struggle routine. Georgia getting through but major errors on several routines. 9.625
Finnegan – FX – LSU – 1.5 through to 2.5, a little too steppy on landing this time but close to control – double tuck, perfect in the air and landing position as always, just a little bounce – switch ring and switch 1/2 perfect obviously – double pike, stuck, excellent. She is a perfect swan, but you can’t really go higher than 9.900 for that, though I expect them to go higher.
9.950.
Vega – BB – UGA – switch to split ring, excellent – aerial to split just a small adjustment in between but covers it – bhs loso series, hit – side aerial to full, stuck. Good final routine. Bars and beam were problems today for Georgia. 9.950. End of meet.
Kelley – FX – LSU – DLO, secure, chest down – front lay to front full, short with a step back – split leap full to tuck jump 1.5, short of split position – double tuck, solid final pass. Sort of impossible to go over 9.850 for that.
They find a way. 9.925. That kind of night.
LSU 197.900, Georgia 196.325
LSU gets the number it has been looking for at home all season. For Georgia, not a very usable road score there.
Meanwhile Boise State is about to get a huge home number in its first post-Remme meet, and Washington should also break 196.
Cal went 49.225 on floor to start.
Bowling Green just got 46.400 on bars. Oregon State 49.075 on vault.
Sabrina Gill peels off on bars for Oregon State. They’ll be counting 9.525 and will go 48.900 on bars.
Boise State and Washington both come out of their meet with excellent scores, Boise State going 197.125, Washington 196.700. Utah State finishes with 195.025.