2020 Preseason Coaches Poll

BUT WHAT ABOUT HAMLINE?!?!?!

That’s right, the NCAA coaches’ preseason poll is out, and it’s as fun and pointless as ever.

Sadly, there’s nothing too, too dramatic going on. Clearly, my petition for at least 5 coaches to submit a joke ballot was denied once again.

Continue reading 2020 Preseason Coaches Poll

2020 California Golden Bears

2020 CAL ROSTER
Seniors
Cassidy Keelen
BB
  • Competed BB in 13 of 14 meets in 2019
  • #1 returning score on BB (9.865)
  • Competed VT, FX in 2018 season
Rachael
Mastrangelo
VT
FX
  • Competed VT each week in 2019
  • #3 returning score on VT (9.820)
  • Showed 9 FXs, NQS of 9.795
Juniors
Kyana George
VT
UB
BB
FX
  • Competed VT, FX every week in 2019
  • Competed UB in 13 of 14, BB in 10 of 14
  • #1 returning score on FX (9.885)
  • #2 returning score on VT (9.865)
  • NQS of 9.835 UB, 9.745 BB
Alma Kuc
UB
BB
  • Competed 7 UBs in 2019
  • Average 9.839, peak of 9.950
Maleah
Pearson
 
  • Did not compete in first two seasons
Victoria Salem
 
  • Did not compete in first two seasons
Nina Schank
VT
UB
BB
FX
  • Competed UB in first 12 meets in 2019
  • #2 returning score on UB (9.870)
  • Showed 3 FXs, average 9.725
Emi Watterson
VT
UB
BB
  • Competed UB every meet in 2019
  • #1 returning score on UB (9.915)
  • Showed 4 VTs (9.763 avg), 1 BB (8.150)
Sophomores
Maya Bordas
VT
UB
BB
FX
  • Competed in 13 of 14 meets in 2019
  • Made final lineups on UB (9.840 NQS), VT (9.806 avg)
  • Showed 10 FXs (NQS 9.815)
  • Showed 8 BBs (NQS 9.550, peak 9.950)
Milan Clausi
VT
UB
BB
FX
  • Competed VT, BB, FX every meet in 2019
  • #1 returning score on VT (9.890), FX (9.885)
  • #2 returning score on BB (9.855)
  • Showed 1 UB (9.725)
Talitha Jones
VT
UB
BB
  • Made final 2019 lineups on VT, UB, BB
  • NQS of 9.835 UB, 9.800 VT
  • Average of 9.825 BB
Grace Quinn
VT
UB
BB
FX
  • Did not compete in first season
  • Showed exhibition on FX
Abi Solari
VT
FX
  • Competed in only the first meet in 2019
  • Scored 9.800 FX, 9.700 VT
Freshmen
Nevaeh DeSouza
VT
UB
BB
FX
  • Dream Xtreme
  • 10th AA, 2019 JO Nationals
  • 4th AA, 2018 JO Nationals
Maya Green
UB
  • Airborne
  • 2nd UB, 2018 JO Nationals
Natalie Sadighi
VT
UB
BB
FX
  • Azarian
  • 20th AA, 9th VT, 2019 JO Nationals
Ashton Woodbury
VT
FX
  • Wildfire
  • 14th VT, 2019 Region 1s

FINAL SEASON RANKING
2019 – 11th
2018 – 9th
2017 – 16th
2016 – 7th
2015 – 18th
2014 – 16th
2013 – 28th
2012 – 49th
2011 – 50th
2010 – 55th

THE 2019 STORY
Cal’s 11th-place finish in 2019 ranks among the better results the team has put up since it turned good, so the 2019 story should be a mostly satisfying one. The team rose at the end of the season, even withstanding the Toni-Ann Williams injury to put up a valiant effort and program-record team score in a nearly impossible regional final—going up against Oklahoma and Home Georgia and ultimately finishing .375 short of making nationals.

Continue reading 2020 California Golden Bears

2020 Michigan Wolverines

MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
Seniors
Lexi Funk
VT
BB
FX
  • Competed BB every meet in 2019
  • #3 returning score on BB (9.885)
  • Competed 9 FXs (9.655 NQS), 4 VTs (9.725 avg)
  • Competed UB in 2018, RQS of 9.805
Maggie O’Hara
UB
BB
  • Competed 3 UBs, 3 BBs in 2019 before season-ending injury
  • Avg 9.808 BB, 9.725 UB
Maddy Osman
VT
BB
FX
  • Competed FX every meet in 2019
  • #3 returning score on FX (9.810)
  • Made final 2019 BB lineup, NQS of 9.830
  • Competed 6 VTs for 9.700 NQS
Juniors
Anna Dayton
 
  • Joined team as sophomore
  • Did not compete in 2019
Lauren Farley
UB
BB
FX
  • Competed BB every meet in 2019
  • #2 returning score on BB (9.895)
  • Competed UB in 13 of 15 meets for 9.830 NQS
  • Showed 4 FXs, avg 9.681
Sam Javanbakht
 
  • Did not compete in first 2 seasons
Anne Maxim
VT
UB
  • Competed 10 VTs, 8 UBs in 2019 following transfer from Michigan State
  • Made final postseason lineups on both events
  • #3 returning score on VT (9.810)
  • NQS of 9.815 UB
Sophomores
Abby Brenner
VT
UB
FX
  • Competed VT, UB, FX every meet in 2019
  • #2 returning score on all three events
  • NQS of UB (9.875), FX (9.865), VT (9.855)
Abby Heiskell
VT
UB
BB
FX
  • Competed 7 VTs, 6 UBs, 5 FXs in 2019
  • Made final lineup on all 3 events
  • Avg 9.804 UB, 9.798 FX, 9.771 VT
Maddie Mariani
VT
UB
BB
FX
  • Competed UB every meet in 2019
  • Competed 12 BBs, 8 VTs
  • Made final lineup on all 3 events
  • #3 returning score on UB (9.860)
  • NQS of 9.800 BB, 9.760 VT
Natalie Wojcik
VT
UB
BB
FX
  • Competed AA every meet in 2019
  • #1 returning score on each apparatus
  • NQS of 9.955 VT, 9.930 BB, 9.910 UB, 9.910 FX
  • Finished regular season ranked #6 AA
Freshmen
Sierra Brooks
VT
UB
BB
FX
  • Aspire
  • 1st AA, 2019 JO Nationals
  • 3rd AA, 2018, 2017 JO Nationals
Abbie Gaies
VT
UB
  • Michigan Academy
  • 13th UB, 2018 JO Nationals
Nicoletta Koulos
VT
UB
BB
FX
  • Wildfire
  • 5th AA, 2017 JO Nationals
Gabby Wilson
VT
UB
BB
FX
  • Olympia
  • 1st AA, 2019 JO Nationals
  • 1st AA, 2018 JO Nationals

FINAL SEASON RANKING
2019 – 5th
2018 – 13th
2017 – 10th
2016 – 13th
2015 – 7th
2014 – 10th
2013 – 7th
2012 – 13th
2011 – 6th
2010 – 10th

THE 2019 STORY
There’s much for Michigan to be proud of from its 2019 season. The team came back from missing nationals entirely in 2018 to finish 2019 in 5th place, which quietly ranks as Michigan’s best result of the decade. In fact, Michigan hasn’t done better than 5th since Elise Ray was a freshman. You wouldn’t necessarily have picked that coming in to 2019, but it was a historically good finish.

And yet, it’s difficult to escape the disheartening “and none for Michigan bye” postseason feeling because Michigan’s score from the afternoon semifinal would have advanced to the top 4 out of the evening semifinal, beating Denver by a couple tenths. It’s an old story. Michigan always seems to be in the wrong session at the wrong time. Would have advanced to nationals from any other regional. Would have advanced to Super Six from the other semi. The best team not to make [insert round here]. It’s kind of a thing for Michigan.

Continue reading 2020 Michigan Wolverines

2020 LSU Tigers

LSU TIGERS
Seniors
Kennedi
Edney
VT
UB
BB
FX
  • Competed AA in every meet in 2019
  • #1 returning score on VT (9.910), UB (9.905), FX (9.925)
  • #2 returning score on BB (9.900)
  • Scored one 10.0 in 2019 (VT)
Ruby Harrold
VT
UB
FX
  • Competed VT, UB, FX in every meet in 2019
  • #2 returning score on UB (9.880), FX (9.865)
  • #3 returning score on VT (9.870)
  • Hit 17 of 17 UB routines, 16 of 17 VT and FX routines
Juniors
Reagan Campbell
BB
FX
  • Competed BB every meet in 2019
  • #1 returning score on BB (9.905)
  • Competed FX in 10 of 17 meets for 9.855 NQS
Bridget Dean
UB
BB
  • Debuted in lineups as sophomore in 2019
  • Competed BB every meet for 9.865 NQS
  • Competed backup UB as needed in 11 of 17 meets for 9.775 NQS
Christina Desiderio
BB
FX
  • Competed BB every meet in 2019 for 9.875 NQS (#3 returning score)
  • Competed FX in 13 of 17 meets for 9.845 NQS
Sami Durante
UB
BB
  • Competed 15 UBs and 14 BBs in 2019
  • #3 returning score on each (9.875 BB, 9.865 UB)
Sarah Edwards
VT
FX
  • Competed VT in 16 of 17 meets in 2019 for 9.875 (#2 returning score)
  • Provided 5 backup FXs as needed for 9.825 avg
Olivia Gunter
FX
  • Did not compete in first 2 seasons
Sophomores
Rebecca D’Antonio
VT
BB
  • Did not compete in first season
Bailey Ferrer
 
Freshmen
Courtney Goodrich
FX
  • Orlando Metro
  • 3rd FX, 2019 Region 8s
  • FX specialist
Kiya Johnson
VT
UB
BB
FX
  • Texas Dreams
  • 2018 & 2019 JO national champion
Lexie
Nibbs
VT
  • Stars-Houston
  • 8th FX, 2019 Region 3s
Kai Rivers
VT
UB

BB
FX
  • Gedderts
  • 2nd AA, 2019 JO Nationals
  • 2017 JO national champion & Nastia champion
Kamryn Ryan
VT
FX
  • Elmwood
  • 20th AA, 2019 JO Nationals (4th VT)
Alyona Shchennikova
VT
UB

BB
FX
  • 5280
  • 2017 US Classic champion
  • 9th AA, 2018 US Nationals
  • Currently recovered from Achilles tear, summer 2019
Caitlin Smith
UB
BB
  • Paramount
  • US junior elite 2013-2016
  • 34th AA, 2015 junior US Classic

FINAL SEASON RANKING
2019 – 2nd
2018 – 4th
2017 – 2nd
2016 – 2nd
2015 – 10th
2014 – 3rd
2013 – 5th
2012 – 9th
2011 – 20th
2010 – 9th

THE 2019 STORY
2nd 2nd 2nd 2nd 2nd 2nd 2nd. The continuation of LSU’s eternal 2nd-place journey somewhat obscures the reality that finishing in 2nd in 2019 was an excellent result and an over-performance based on how the season had gone. LSU wasn’t supposed to finish as high as 2nd, but UCLA was sort of eh in the final (and Florida bombed regionals, which helped take a contender out of the way), and LSU snatched the opportunity.

So while 2019 will inevitably get filed away in the “sigh, LSU can never win a championship” folder, that was actually a really good finish for that team.

Continue reading 2020 LSU Tigers