Oklahoma doubled down on the 198s this weekend, going 198.250 on Friday away and going 198.175 at home on Monday (which will be reflected in the week 4 rankings). Olivia Trautman returned on bars, and Maggie Nichols got the fourth 39.9+ AA score of her career. So, I mean, it’s OK I guess.
2. Florida Gators
Average: 197.100 Previous ranking: 2
Florida couldn’t quite match its opening meet score with the team’s first road performance, mostly because of an uncharacteristically medium bars rotation, but a strong second-half performance that featured Rachel Gowey tying her career-high on floor helped Florida remain the only other team with an average in the 197s.
3. UCLA Bruins
Average: 196.933 Previous ranking: 5
UCLA’s first complete hit (buoyed by the two-event return of Madison Kocian) helped the team gain two spots in the rankings this weekwith a 197.425, the second-highest peak score in the country. The eternal soap opera of these potential 10.0 starts on vault remains a weak spot with UCLA’s lowest rotation score coming there.
4. Denver Pioneers
Average: 196.900 Previous ranking: 3
Denver hit a season high 197.250 at Arkansas, though did drop a spot in the rankings because UCLA’s score was even higher. The no-falls streak continued, and some of those routines even got some friendly scoring crack, so you know Denver has truly arrived.
5. Utah Utes
Average: 196.713 Previous ranking: 4
Utah was idle this week and dropped a spot in the rankings by not being able to participate in the bacchanalia that is NCAA scoring.
As I mentioned in…something?…somewhere?…I don’t get the Oklahoma home meets anymore, so I’m just focusing on Georgia/Iowa State today in the live blog. But I’ll be watching the scores for Oklahoma and going, “hmmm” at things in between rotations. You know, just like the bad old days.
The Iowa/Maryland meet was pushed back today because of extensive travel problems for Iowa—Iowa is basically going to have to roll into the arena still all covered in airport—but hopefully the show will go on. Meanwhile for me it’s 75 and sunny and I’m wearing a t-shirt. Because I know that’s helping right now.
Earlier today, Kent State’s 195.325 allowed for a comfortable win at George Washington after GW had a floor-tastrophe in the final rotation with four misses. Central Michigan took the win at Eastern Michigan with a 195.100 despite counting a fall on bars, and Pitt had a three-miss beam rotation to fall at home to Ball State.
