Friday Live Blog – February 5, 2021

Friday, February 5
Scores Stream
5:00pm ET/2:00pm PT – Penn State @ Maryland LINK BTN+
5:00pm ET/2:00pm PT – Central Michigan @ Bowling Green LINK FREE
7:00pm ET/4:00pm PT – [2] LSU @ [22] Auburn LINK SECN
9:00pm ET/6:00pm PT – [15] Southern Utah @ [12] BYU LINK BYUTV

Just 8 teams competing in the ghost town today, so there should be a chance to check in on all of them. Initial focus will be on the Maryland Terrapins against the Penn State Matchmakers Nittany Lions.

Bowling Green meet in touch warmup now. Will we see full lineups today? BG hasn’t been able to put up a full team score in the last two meets.

Bowling Green starts off with a Tsuk lay on vault from bachner, pace back, some pike, not bad. 9.525

Pace back on a double tuck dismount on bars for CMU. We’re not getting IDs for those gymnasts at least so far. Bustello. 9.800

Sarina Ross with a Ylayout on vault for BG – lunge back, piking, not quite as solid as the first vault. 9.475

Demarinis – UB – CMU – hits a jaeger – bail, has an arm wave wobble stepping up to high bar – it’s the new gladiator sandel – toe on front tuck dismount with a step. 9.675

Marion – VT – BG – also a ylayout – bigger amplitude than Ross had, better layout shape, bigger bounce back though. 9.600

Johnson – Ub – CMU – giant full on high, pretty solid finish position – tkatchev, hit – short cast hs on high – bail, some hip angle – high FTDT, step back “and she sticks it”

Maryland and Penn State getting started now.

McClure – VT – Maryland – nice dynamics on her yfull, good pop and distance, large bounce back. 9.800

Jensen vaulted the first Yfull for Bowling Green, 9.550.

Verdeflor – UB – Penn State – blind change to pretty jaeger, some elbows on catch – hits bail – giant full, solid finish position, into double tuck, secure landing. Good one. 9.800

Silberman – VT – Maryland – full-on to back tuck, gets nice lift on that one – another large bounce back. 9.775

Johnston – UB – Penn St – maloney to bail – good amplitude, small leg break – giant full to double tuck, a step sideward on that one. 9.800

Bowling Green is able to put up six vaulters today. Three Yfulls.

Hannah Demers and her gigantic jaeger amplitude get a 9.925. That will bring CMU up to 48.950 on bars.

Gilbert vaults for Maryland but just does a Yback tuck. Not intentional.

Cross – UB – Penn St – good amplitude on jaeger, finishes very early – clean position on bail – giant full to double tuck, looks like she held onto the landing with a lean. We’re not getting any scores yet for Penn State’s bars. 9.825

Burgess – VT – Maryland – great pop on her yfull, has the dynamics, another large bounce back though, which will take away the score. 9.850. Or not. At all.

Bonsall – UB – Penn St – Maloney to bail – good vertical position on that bail, some legs on maloney – solid legs-together cast on high – DLO, overdoes it a tad with a step back. Good.

Barber – VT – Maryland – most control on the Yfull landings so far, medium slide back, not quittttte as large as Burgess’s vault but plenty of amplitude to have a solid layout shape and the control. 9.800

Rushlow – Ub – Penn St – rushes first hs – blind, small leg break, to jaeger to overshoot, nice toes – good cast hs on high – giant full, somewhat late into double tuck, small hop. 9.850

Rubio – VT – Maryland – another step forward in terms of control – small step forward on her yfull. 9.725 because of the shorter landing than the larger bounce backs on previous vaults.

Romagnano – UB – Penn St – good first hs – maloney to pak, good legs on maloney, small leg break on pak – 1/2 turn on low, slightly short – solid cast hs – toe on to stalder, small hesitation – into double tuck, slide back. 9.850

Six good hits on bars for Penn State to take the lead after one.

After 1: Penn State 49.125, Maryland 48.950

Maryland had one botched vault but five solid hits. Noteworthy because of the big amplitude that will really help these scores when they control the landings, though I did think some of those scores were a bit soft for large lunges.

Penn State through on bars with all counting scores at least 9.800 today, setting a season high bars score, still with just two sticks of six so room to grow there.

Meanwhile CMU got 48.950 in that bars rotation with the 9.925 for Demers. Bowling green 48.100 on vault, with a full lineup and a season high there.

Rotation 2 starts there, Johnson leading off vault for CMU, landing short on a Yfull with a lunge forward. 9.650. We have a survive on the first bars routine from Bowling Green from Muir. 9.050

Cesarone – VT – CMU – hits a full, step, chest slightly farther up than for Johnson. 9.725.

Kowalski – VT – CMU – very strong amplitude on her full, good height with a controlled landing. 9.850

Bachner for Bowling Green gives us some forward hip circle action on the low bar. Another survive.

Rotation 2 in Maryland

Bladon – VT – Penn St – knees down on her full this week

Tsiknias – UB – Maryland – hits first hs – blind to jaeger, strong ampltiude, one short cast, nice legs together position on bail – just a couple borderline casts – DLO, college step-stick. Really strong leadoff. 9.825

Johnston – VT – Penn St – controlled landing on her Yfull, small slide back, has to pike it down some at the end to find the landing – some knees. 9.750

Bowling Green has a fall in the third spot on bars, lost in her opening cast hs.

Le Blanc – giant full to gienger, catches close, loses a little rhythm – hits her bail – small hesitation on high bar – jittering cast on high bar – giant full to double tuck, hop back. 9.600

Bonsall – VT – Penn St – hit full, chest up on this one, slide back. Should improve on the 9.750. Well, a little. 9.775.

Central Michigan went 48.800 on vault. Strong amplitude from Kowalsi and Demers for 9.8s.

Weir – UB – Maryland – giant full to gienger, and falls, couldn’t get her grips over. That means that 9.6 from LeBlanc will have to count. Resumes with a clean bail – giant full to double tuck, step-salute. Score comes up as 9.750 but is a typo because she fell. Ah, 8.900, that’s more accurate.

Cross – VT – Penn St – holds the stick well on her full – good direction and amplitude – leans to hold the stick – some knees in the air – solid. 9.750. That’s comparatively harsh for a stick, similar in-air deductions to Johnston, who didn’t stick and got the same score.

Debarberie – Ub – Maryland – short first hs – hits a Ray into overshoot, some elbows on catches but fine – solid cast hs on high – DLO, step back. Solid.

Rushlow – VT – Penn St – best amplitude so far on the fulls, chest up, slide back, good layout position. 9.825

Silberman – UB – Maryland – 1/2 turn on high, a little late – takes gienger wayyy to far and falls, counting a fall for Maryland on bars now. Resumes, hits her bail – DLO – very pretty position in the air and stuck.

Bowling Green has two falls in the sixth spot on bars, which will have to count because there was a 5.800 earlier.

Howell – VT – Penn St – pogos a landing on her yfull but a useful hit – some piking. 9.775

Barber – UB – Maryland – great first hs – Hindorff to overshoot, very strong – short final cast on high – DLO – small hop back. Solid work. 9.800

After 2: Penn State 98.000, Maryland 96.900

So that’s 48.875 on vault for Penn State. Mostly got hit for some chest-forward action and not as much height and distance as the Maryland lineup had. But came back from the fall in the first spot.

Maryland has a meltdown time on bars, having to count a fall and a 9.600 to go 47.950 and present a big opportunity to Penn State. Tsiknias was a real highlight in that rotation.

Bowling Green had to count an 8.000 on bars (but another full lineup!) to go 45.750. I missed who it was but I saw a gienger and double Arabian dismount action in there at one point.

After 2: Central Michigan 97.750, Bowling Green 93.850

Also would like to give credit to Maryland for finally figuring out how to make their live scores not password protected.

Rotation 3 starts at Bowling Green. Bachner BB – cat leap to kickover front, saves it with a step forward – side aerial, check before a roundoff, I’d call it a broken connection, which would mean no acro series – switch to straddle side is solid – 1.5 dismount, near stick, hop forward

Veglucci – FX – CMU – front 2/1, slide forward – 2.5 to front tuck, just does pull it around, foot slides back but keeps it to her feet –

Rotation 3 from Maryland now.

Burgess – BB – Maryland – kickover to bhs, solid series, close enough speed for credit – switch to straddle 1/4, secure, some back leg on switch – hits side somi – gainer front layout full dismount, step forward. Nice. 9.775

Ayers – FX – Penn St – front tuck through to double tuck, deep chest on landing and staggers back OOB – switch side to popa – a bit bouncy – double pike, chest down, lunge to the side. 9.650

Weir – BB – Maryland – bhs loso series, nice float, small check – beat to loso series, good feet – switch to straddle 1/4, a bit tight – cat leap to switch side, tight position, check – bhs 1.5 dismount, step forward. 9.775

Bladon – FX – Penn St – pulls around a double pike, hit, chest down, some legs apart – 1.5 to front tuck low, pulls it around, slide back – double tuck, just gets it around, lunge back. 9.400

Good punch front beam mount from Bowling Green there. I also liked the loso position from Ross in the second spot.

Rouse – BB – Maryland – full turn with arm wave – standing loso hit, arm wave into straddle jump – loso series, check – split jump to straddle 3/4 – 1/5, bounce forward. 9.700

Rushlow – FX – Penn St – double tuck, chest up, bounce back – split leap full to wolf full, around – 1.5 to layout, control, just some knees – rudi, some chest forward, good control into immediate split jump. A necessary score. 9.875

Silberman – BB – Maryland – switch to loso, controls it – bhs loso, controls again with an arm up, just some knees – switch to straddle 1/4, secure, hits positions – 1.5, stuck landing, Well done. 9.800

Bonsall – FX – Penn St – double tuck, controls lunge back pretty well, keeps front foot down – back 1/2 to front full, a bit low but solid – switch 1/2, rises into wolf jump full – double pike, chest down, step forward. 9.850

McClure – BB – Maryland – keeps her aerial series going with an arm wave – kickover front, very high into split jump, good positions, just a little slow – gainer front 1.5 dismount, small step. 9.850

Allen – FX – Penn St – best chest up on her DLO we’ve seen, minor slide back – switch side to popa, short position in the popa – front tuck through to double tuck, solid control on that landing. Strong work. 9.800

Barber – BB – Maryland – aerial and immediately falls – Maryland has five hits already but will not break 49 here. Hits her loso series – Good lift in switch, connected into split jump – 2/1, small step

Astarita – FX – Penn St – open double tuck, well controlled step back – 1.5 to layout, hit, keeps her layout shape – switch side to popa, around – double pike, also under control. Very comfortable routine. That should help fully erase those early struggle scores. 9.825

It’s 48.900 for Maryland on beam for what was a pretty strong rotation through the first five. McClure did well, and I thought Silberman was stronger than her score. A little checky in the first half of the lineup.

Still waiting on the Astarita score.

Bowling Green goes 47.725 on beam, didn’t count a fall but had to count a start-value-induced miss.

It’s 9.825 for Astarita, which brings Penn State to 48.975 going to the moment of truth.

After 3: Penn State 147.000, Maryland 145.800

Demarinis finished CMU off with a 9.850 on floor to bring the rotation total to 48.875. It would require a pretty large beam score to get to 196 at this point, but a high 195 will be doable with a hit.

After 3: Central Michigan 146.625, Bowling Green 141.575

Half tenth score rasie for Rushlow brings her to 9.875 on floor and Penn State to 147.000 total.

BG stream cut away from Kotas’s split-squid beam mount right in the middle of it.

Rotation 4

Romagnano – BB – Penn St – bhs bhs loso series, hit, small check – split to double stag, hit – side aerial to back tuck full, hit landing but chest well forward. 9.800

Tsiknias – FX – Maryland – rudi to loso, good position maintained on both elements, pretty – switch ring to split leap full, a little low – front 2/1 final pass, does pull it around, squat with a step to the side. 9.800

Verdeflor – BB – Penn St – wolf turn is tight but pulls it around – aerial to swingdown, we’re going to be in credit purgatory there again as there was a pause in between – side aerial, pretty – split jump to stag ring, perfect positions – side somi to tuck full dismount with a slide back. So just watch to see if she gets all her SV. 9.650. I see a 9.8 SV card sitting there.

Silberman – FX – Maryland – rudi to loso, hit, not as laid out as Tsiknias, with a hop to the side – good positions on switch side to popa – front 2/1, gets that around, landing under control, solid finish. 9.800

Johnston – BB – Penn St – bhs loso series, hit, some knees – split jump to sheep, controlled – good side aerial – 1.5, stuck landing. That was confident. 9.850

McClure – FX – Maryland – double tuck, overdoes it with a lunge back and OOB – front lay to rudi and actually an amazing save to keep herself standing as her feet slipped there – front lay to front full is good, but they’ll want to drop this. Pretty surprised this got a 9.800 and I think it’s a mistake? Did they not take the OOB? It was very obvious.

Cross – BB – Penn St – smooth full turn – split jump to sheep jump, secure, just some feet – kickover to beat jump, hit – 1.5 dismount, short, lunge back. 9.775

Rouse – FX – Maryland – double pike, keeps the front foot down, good chest up – back 1.5 to front lay, somewhat steppy on landing – double tuck, stuck landing. Strong finish. 9.875

Rushlow – BB – Penn St – high beat jump to split 3/4, very pretty work, secure – bhs loso, solid – switch to split jump, correct positions – side aerial, hit – 1.5 dismount, stuck. That was quite excellent. 9.925

Burgess – FX – Maryland – 3/1, really happy with how early she finishes twisting, bounce up – switch 1/2 to wolf jump 1.5, short on switch 1/2 psoition, good rise into wolf element – front lay to front full, tucks it some, secure landing. 9.825

Bladon anchors Penn State on beam and falls on her series the second the Rushlow score comes up to show Penn St got to 196.000 in this one. They’re like, “196? WE’RE OUT. PEACE.”

Barber – FX – Maryland – pulls her full-in around, chest well forward with a lunge – 1.5 to front pike, well secured landing – switch to popa popa, elements clearly around – double tuck, solid landing. 9.775

FINAL: Penn St 196.000, Maryland 194.900

So it was the counting fall on bars for Maryland that decided this one, almost entirely. Certainly Penn State’s most complete meet thus far, best score of the season by 9 tenths. Maryland records its third score in the high 194s, which realllllly understates the quality of this team. They should be getting 196s and have yet to break out of the low 195s.

Some pretty work from Ayers in beam exhibition for Penn State. Lineup?

After an interminable wait, Morgan Tong does on beam for CMU and gets a lovely 9.900. They’re competing well after Bowling Green finished, and it looks like just four on floor for BG, so still not a complete group on all four.

Central Michigan finishes with 195.050.


Now it’s Auburn and LSU. Will be very weird to watch only a single SEC meet at one time.

Preliminary lineups for LSU look complete in terms of which gymnasts are available, save for the absence of Sarah Edwards, which will not be ideal for vault, and Johnson still isn’t vaulting.

Pa Smith – VT – Auburn – really strong start, only small movement on her yfull, some knees in the air throughout, but good job. 9.775

Johnson – UB – LSU – Only doing UB again, ugh – maloney to bail, good positions – a little short final cast – toe on – DLO, small slide back. Good. 9.900 is a high start.

Pi Smith – VT – Auburn – a larger bounce back on her full, some knees as well for her. 9.725

Brock – UB – LSU – good first hs – 1/2 turn, late position – hit tkatchev – solid cast hs – bail, keeps legs together – borderline final cast – FTDT, holds the stick with a lean – big improvement since the last time we saw her – now just get rid of that orphan 1/2 turn deduction trap. 9.875

Sabados – VT – Auburn – strong performance of her yfull, small hop back (and then maybe a little more movement to try to salute, I’d take two hops there) best layout shape fo far in the rotation. 9.800

Dunne – UB – LSU – good first hs – tkatchev to pak, lovely toes throughout – better 1/2 turn position low – short cast hs on high bar – DLO, hits it, one shiver of one foot. Another solid job. 9.925

Stevens – VT – Auburn – Bart said today she was out with COVID stuff the last two weeks – Yfull from her, bounce back, bit of knees and pike. 9.800

Bryant – UB – LSU – good first hs – blind to jaeger, comfortable height – bail, a little soft in body position catching bail – cast hs on high, small arch, pulls it back, double front, step forward. Good routine, a few more things to take than the previous ones. 9.825

Watson – VT – Auburn – Y1.5 – the bouncing! – She hit it, bounces forwar don landing and basically BOUNCE SALUTES after that, which technically should also be taken as steps, though I doubt they will. They didn’t 9.875

Shchennikova – UB – LSU short cast hs on hb – close catch on her tkatchev but works through it into pak, small leg break – good cast hs on high – DLO a little better, still some piking, step forward. 9.825

Gobourne – VT – Auburn – brings her 1.5 around comfortably – full tenth lunge forward, pretty solid form. 9.900. That’s quite a score with that landing.

Both events scored very loose so far today.

Durante – UB – LSU – good first cast hs – blind to jaeger, a touch close this week – pak, smooth – good 1/2 turn position on low – FTDT, stuck. Strong. 9.950

After 1: LSU 49.475, Auburn 49.150

Honey we’re in the SEC. Everything is 18 tenths higher. A very strong bars rotation for LSU. Highlight was Dunne’s routine, such pretty toe point. Brock also improved a lot. Just little things here and there in most of those routines. Best they’ve looked on bars so far. Auburn will love a 49.150 for that rotation and the relative lack of control on those landings. They will take that and run.

Rotation 2

Brock – VT – LSU – solid full – medium bounce back, good layout position, clean, correct direction. 9.800. Accurate score but low compared to the Auburn fulls.

Sumner – UB – Auburn – toe on to tkatchev, somewhat close but hit – short cast hs on high – pak, legs together – short 1/2 turn on low bar – solid cast hs on high – DLO, swims to hold the landing. 9.775

Shchennikova – VT – LSU – her best 1.5 so far – hop forward but medium – good layout position, comes in the slightest hair deep. I think Alyona might be better on vault than bars now. 9.900 is more in line with the high vault score for Auburn.

Pi Smith – Ub Auburn – good first hs – toe on to maloney, small leg break into pak, hit – 1/2 turn on low, late – DLO, great form and stuck. 9.925. Good gracious.

Arenas – VT – LSU – really impressive dynamics on her full, also much improved, solid stick – nailed landing. 9.900. Good.

Sabados – UB – Auburn – good first hs – some elbows on Ray but hit – bail, good legs together there – some muscling cast hs on high – DLO, whips, bounce back. 9.850

Ryan – VT – LSU – very short Y1.5 and falls. That’s in between the scary vault we saw at gym101 and the solid exhibition we saw from her. Not scary on the block but well short and lock legged

Stevens – Ub – Auburn – toe on to Ray, also some soft form but hit – clean bail hs – borderline cast hs on high – DLO, holds the stick. Good work. So important that she’s back. 9.875

TWIST. Kiya Johnson back in on vault.

Johnson – VT – LSU – they have her doing the double! You love to see it, but risky coming after a ll – near knee down on landing (don’t think it touched?) very shoort landing, large lunge forward. 9.700. Difficulty forgiveness there.

Brusch – UB – Auburn – good first hs – toe on to maloney, legs together into bail, clean work – short cast hs on high – DLO, very high, hop back Good. 9.900

Bryant – VT – LSU – handspring front pike 1/2, – hop back – everything else is literally perfect as always. 9.900

Judges we need to have an honest discussion about Shchennikova and Bryant getting the same vault score.

Gobourne – UB – Auburn – small hesitation on first hs but fine – tkatchev to pak, beautiful – 1/2 turn on low somewhat short – strong cast hs on high – FTDT, near stick, small slide. 9.900

LSU goes 49.200 on vault, which again, for being about 3/4 of an inch away from being a counting fall rotation, they’ll take.

Auburn goes 49.450 on bars to nearly match what LSU scored there. This meet is close. Scores are fully out the window and onto the sidewalk and have no basis in reality.

This is why they always have multiple SEC meets at the same time. So that we get distracted by a new routine and don’t have time to be like, but actually let’s think about what’s being scored here.

After 2: LSU 98.675, Auburn 98.600

Rotation 3

Watson – BB – Auburn – bhs loso series, arm wave correction, loose knees in bhs – cat leap to side aerial, solid – caitch to straddle 1/4, struggles on split positions on both elements – 1.5 very close to the beam but stuck. 9.850

Dean – FX – LSU – larger bounce back on double pike, just does keep it in bounds – 1.5 to layout, small shuffle of feet – split leap full to split jump full, short position on first element – double tuck, secure landing there. 9.800

Oldham – BB – Auburn – bhs loso series, small arm wave, a little loose in body position – cat leap to side aerial, large break but saves it – accidental attitude position in wobble – switch side, secure – 1.5, small hop. 9.750

Campbell – FX – LSU – 2.5 with a slightly too large step but fine – double pike, chest a bit forward, again not too bad, step forward – perfection leap 180s, that’s how they should look, deduct anyone who isn’t that – 1.5 to layout, a tad soft, more secure on landing. 9.850

Pi Smith – BB – Auburn – bhs loso and falls – shame, she had a great layout positions – switch to switch 1/2 to split jump, loses some position on switch 1/2, the simpler ones are solid – bhs 1.5, holds the stick. 9.375

I’m glad we’re getting an explanation of LSU’s ankle monitor. So apparently they had one gymnast test positive, and then everyone else had their monitors checked

Shchennikova – FX – LSU – hits her front 2/1, medium step – back 1.5 to front full, controls the landing well – switch ring and switch 1/2 look good – rudi to split jump. Good work. Comfortable routine. A lot better for her. 9.925 funnnn.

Sylvia – BB – Auburn – full turn, pretty – aerial through to bhs bhs, slightly slow – pretty individual elements – switch to sheep, check – hits her korbut – gainer full, stuck. Strong work. 9.900

Ballard – FX – LSU – DLO, a touch short, step forward, but solid. We saw that at 101 and I expected to see her before this point – back 1.5 to layout to stag, good control, just a bit low – switch ring and switch 1/2 is more of a struggle, not not quite there on switch 1/2 – double pike, short, lunge forward. 9.825

McLaughlin – BB – Auburn – bhs loso series, secure, good leg positions – switch to straddle 1/4, like the rise on that straddle 1/4 – side aerial to split jump, arm wave to keep it going – pretty positions throughout this routine – gainer pike, stuck. Good. 9.925

Arenas – FX – LSU – front 2/1, hit, a bit steppy and some knees – front lay to front full, good pop, again a small slide – switch 1/2 to wolf full – double pike, hit, some chest position. 9.875

She has looked a lot stronger in this meet than she looked in preseason.

Stevens – BB – Auburn – bhs loso series, hit, somewhat tight but secure – cat leap to switch ring, minor check lean – kickover to knee, excellent – 1.5 slide back. 9.850

Scores are bonkers, as established, but some strong beam work to save that rotation for Auburn. Sylvia and McLaughlin very impressive.

Bryant – FX – LSU – double front, solid, step forward but keeps that back foot down – fhs to front lay to rudi to have her three element combo, good control – switch 1/2 to popa, looked around – front 2/1, deep landing this time with a step back. 9.925.

Auburn at 49.275 on beam.

Bart almost crying about Dianne Durham just thinking about the segment they’re going to do about her death up next.

LSU 49.400 on floor.

After 3: LSU 148.075, Auburn 147.875

So this fun house mirror is still live going to the last rotation.

Well, even I’m about to melt now. Almost. Kathy and Bart both crying on air about Dianne and not able to finish the segment.

Kathy mentions how she’s not in the USAG hall of fame, which is one of the most preposterous things. I feel like they put modern gymnasts in there every year, as a member of each of their winning teams. Like Nastia has to be in there 15 times.

Rotation 4

So the commentary seems to be that Johnson did put her knee down on that vault and I missed it. Will have to go back when it’s over.

Desiderio – BB – LSU – in on beam today – switch and switch 1/2, secur e- bhs loso series, good – aerial, arms to avoid check – cat leap to gainer full, stuck. 9.900

Pi Smith – FX – Auburn – front lay to front full, secure, some knee position – switch 1/2 to wolf full, like the positions, maybe a little underturned on wolf – split leap 1.5 wellll done, hits 180 and all the way around, teach some elites – double tuck, deep, lunge back and OOB. But apparently OOB isn’t a thing anymore so we’ll see. 9.675

Durante – BB – LSU – full turn, good – bhs loso, secure landing, has the extension – aerial small correction into split jump and doesn’t hit the split the way she can, check again after – switch to straddle 1/4 – side aerial to full, small hop in place. 9.850

Oldham – FX – Auburn – wolf jump 1.5, looks like she pulled it around – double pike, very deep landing, large stumble backward and OOB – back 1/5 to layout, hit, some legs apart moments – double tuck, secure landing, lands in circle shape. 9.525

Bryant – BB – LSU – aerial to bhs, squeezes not to give anything away, great high position on aerial – switch to straddle 1/4, gets to position – front tuck, solid – split jump to beat jump – balance check walking on the beam – punch rudi, stuck. When everything is perfect and then you have a wobble while walking. Gymnastics. 9.900

Hollingsworth – FX – Auburn – huge open 1/2 in 1/2 out and the best she has done it – nailed the landing – great lift in her popa, clearly around – front tuck through to double tuck, lunge back but didn’t go OOB. 9.750

Dean – BB – LSU – side aerial to bhs with a leg-up check – switch to split jump, secure – aerial to beat is solid – side aerial to full, stuck with some knees. 9.875

There’s literally no difference between any routine. Fun lessons.

Stevens – FX – Auburn – front lay to rudi, under control, crossed legs – switch ring to switch 1/2, not up to position on switch 1/2 – double tuck, hit. 9.900

Shchennikova – BB – LSU – candle mount, good position – bhs loso, small check – onodi, again nearly a check but more confident – switch to split, hit – aerial, small arm wave check – bhs gainer full, lean to try to hold the stick. 9.875

Again, every routine, exactly the same. Did you see checks? Did you see a difference between them? Then you’re stupid.

Watson – FX – Auburn – double pike, chest slightly forward, small slide – switch side and popa were legit – 1.5 to layout, good lift – double tuck, chest down again but controls her front foot. 9.900

Campbell – BB – LSU – bhs loso series, quick arm wave walking out of it to cover – aerial to sissone, hit well – switch to switch 1/2, good – everything was great until the dismount, full tenth bounce back on 2/1. 9.875

Gobourne – FX – Auburn – open double tuck, small step, chest right up, comfortably pass – front full to layout, great layout, does well to keep foot down – just carrying her crown all around – double pike, very strong landing. Good.

Annndddd it’s 9.975 for Gobourne. That face says, “I did not expect that, as I often do that exact same thing for like 9.875.”

It wasn’t a 10, but with today’s scoring, that would have put quite the cap on this meet.

So that’s 197.500 for LSU and 197.075 for Auburn

The scoring was a pill addiction, but that was obviously Auburn’s best meet of the season so far. The week off served them very well.

I’m going to try to keep it going for the SUU and BYU meet, but it doesn’t start for a bit.

I went back and watched Johnson’s vault. I think it’s close, but not knee down, and 9.7 is too high.

First question: Why does Southern Utah have to host the live scores at a road meet?

When they interview the football player and you’re like, “Hmm, I wonder how many hate crimes you’ve done?”

“Neither of these teams had a chance to go to nationals.” I mean…they weren’t going to nationals last season anyway…

Zhong – VT – BYU – hits a full, small hop in place, not bad position in the air, not a ton of distance or height. 9.800

Thomas – UB – SUU – good first hs – toe on to maloney, legs together into pak, slight knees – pretty solid 1/2 turn position on lo wbar – DLO, stick or slightly foot shiver. Very strong. 9.825. I forgot that every hit routine doesn’t have to get 9.9.

Griffith – VT – BYU – Y1/2 but a large lunge forward out of it, some knees. 9.750

Schwartze – UB – SUU – piked jaeger, solid height – hip angle in hs and in bail, legs together but an angle – stronger cast hs on high – giant full to double tuck, short with a hop forward. 9.725

Bain-Heaton – VT – BYU – slightly short landing on her full, step forward, small – little bit of pike. 9.775

Bentley – UB – SUU – toe on to Ray, hit somewhat close into overshoot, form break catching on overshoot, works through it – DLO, very strong, stuck landing. 9.750

Mason – VT – BYU – full, medium bounce back, best chest position on the landing of the fulls so far – 9.800

McClain – UB – SUU – clear hip to gienger, pretty solid leg position in the air – small leg break in bail, hip angle on catch – a couple hs open the deduction door – DLO again very nice, nearly stuck, small one foot movement. 9.775

Bennett – VT – BYU – full on back tuck off – saves the landing well – came in forward but only a small hop forward. 9.775

Nipp – UB – SUU – good first hs – 1/2 to jaeger, a little low but good form – bail, hits vertical into toe shoot – strong cast hs position on high – DLO, comes in deep with a lunge back. 9.725

Miner-Alder – VT – BYU – best amplitude of the fulls – small hop back – good straight position. 9.850

Murakami – UB – SUU – good first hs – higgins intop higghh jaeger to overshoot, strong – good cast hs on high – FTDT, looked like she flung it out but found the stick. Nice. 9.875

After 1: BYU 49.000, SUU 48.950

Lots of perfectly fine 9.750 and 9.800y vaults from BYU but got that 9.850 from Alder to bring the score to 49 and take the lead. Southern Utah in several respects a better bars rotation that the scores show, some really strong DLOs in there. Close catches on releases were an issue.

Rotation 2

McClain – VT – SUU – small hop back on her full, good height, slightly soft knees, not the most distance, mostly up and less out. 9.825

Zhong – Ub – BYU – high jaeger, a touch close on catch, into overshoot fine – solid cast hs on high – DLO, hop back. 9.775

Kho – VT – SUU – also a medium hop back on her full – not quite as much height as McClain – small pike. 9.800

Hunter – UB – BYU – good first hs – tkatchev, good height, some feet – clear hip to bail, solid legs together, hits vertical – good cast hs on high – DLO, high, bounce back. 9.875

Alfaro – VT – SUU – very similar to the first two – medium bounce back – has the height, a bit more distance, small pike. 9.850

Miner-Alder – UB – BYU – late on initial blind change – hits jaeger, not the very highest but good toes into overshoot – solid cast hs – DLO, small hop back 9.850

Tervort – VT – SUU – somewhat larger on the bounce back for her on her full and some clearer leg break on the vault. 9.750

Cyrenne – UB – BYU – toe on to maloney , legs break – bail, hits vertical, small legs apart on bail – short cast hs on high – DLO, small hop in place. 9.900. Scores getting a little much here for me.

Alcantar – VT – SUU – struggles a bit more on her full, chest forward and a stagger back, pikes well down toward the end. 9.650

Beeston – UB – BYU – hecht – clear hip to gienger to overshoot, keeps legs together throughout gienger – hits cast hs on high – DLO, some more pike in the air on hers, bounce back. 9.875

Vultaggio – VT – SUU – just a ylayout for her, larger lunge back, will be the drop.

SUU started well but fell off in the second half of that rotation to drop quite a bit of ground to BYU.

Stainton – UB – BYU – blind a bit late, into high piked jaeger into overshoot – everyone has a little pike in these overshoots – FTDT, step. 9.850

49.350 for BYU on bars. Evaluated too loose for me—49.350 for no sticks is quite the score—but it was a strong rotation. The final cast handstands make the difference for BYU because for the most part they’re not short. Almost every team has short final cast handstands.

After 2: BYU 98.350, SUU 97.825

Is Guard Young eating one of those honey sticks like a preschooler?

Rotation 3

Mather – BB – BYU – side aerial to split, short on split position – bhs loso series, secure, some knees – switch to straddle 1/4, better split positions there- gainer full, small hop. 9.825

Vultaggio – FX – SUU – front full to layout, good straight position in the layout – split leap 1.5, not quite around – double tuck, keeps a secure landing – split leap full to popa, awkward landing on popa, lunge. 9.775

Cyrenne – BB – BYU – bhs loso series, solid – full turn – switch 1/2 to split, loses her feet in the switch 1/2, not quite up to split – 1.5, good stick. 9.900

Schwartze – FX – SUU – pulls around her front 2/1, under control, minor leg cross – split leap full to wolf jump full, around, just some flexed feet – rudi to a pretty loso. Good. Another rudi in final pass, solid. 9.800

Proposal for 2022: If you do a 2-pass routine, one of the passes must be an E. The other has to be a D or earn 0.2 bonus.

Alder – BB – BYU – split jump, solid – hitch kick to kickover front, deep, slide forward – bhs loso series is secure – switch with a check, breaks connection into split jump 3/4 – gainer full, step back. Broken combo will be significant, won’t start from 10. 9.675.

Nipp – FX – SUU – double pike, short landing, bounce forward – front full to front lay, good layout position – switch ring to split leap full, nice closure on ring – double tuck, chest down, though holds control fairly well. 9.800

McClelland – BB – BYU – wolf double into near break dance flare to work out of it, that was something – bhs loso series, strong – beat to stag ring, solid – bhs into tuck 1.5, stuck landing. 9.850

McClain – FX – SUU – double pike, chest solidly up, uncer control – 1.5 to lay, a tad short on lay landing – switch 1/2 to popa – double tuck, does well to control the landing since she seemed to come in slightly forward. Good. 9.900

Rollins – BB – BYU – switch with a check into straddle 1/4, could also be a broken dance combo – aerial to bhs bhs, good extension – hitch kick to side aerial, chest down, covers, small check – gainer full, stuck. 9.875. Got away with that dance combo with a check in between, quite high.

Horton – FX – SUU – 1.5 to front full, a slight bit under rotated, so a crossover step – rudi, slide back – switch side to popa, just does pull them around, not the highest but has the positions – 1.5 to layout, some tucking. 9.825

Stainton – BB – BYU – hitch kick to kickver front, small pause into bhs but not risking no credit – secure work – switch to split 1/4, short back leg on both – 1.5, finds the stick. 9.900

Tervort – FX – SUU – front lay to front full, not too high but secure, some legs apart – switch side to popa to popa, bouncy on landing, crooked position on switch side – double tuck, large bounce back

After 3: BYU 147.700, Southern Utah 146.925

Another 49.350 for BYU on beam. It was a strong rotation, lacking big errors, though some short leap positions were not deducted as they could have been. SUU breaks 49 again, going 49.100 and keeping 196 hopes alive.

BYU will expect a 197 at this point.

Rotation 4

Murakami – BB – SUU – moceanu mounting – bhs loso bhs series, solid – split jump to sheep jump, hit – side aerial to tuck full, stuck. Well that works. 9.900 OK now.

Bain-Heaton – FX – BYU – round off double tuck, good tight position, bounce back – split leap 1.5 to wolf 1/2, ends up at the right position in the end – lay to full to front tuck – rudi, solid form, another slide back. 9.700

Hernandez – BB – SUU – full turn, small hesitation – aerial, small hesitation into beat jump – split jump to double stag jump, check – bhs loso series, secure – side aerial to tuck full, slide back. A couple SV things to deal with there. McKell talking about the double stag that won’t get ring credit. Also the aerial into beat jump was a possible issue. 9.600

Bennett – FX – BYU – back 1.5 through to back 1.5 to front tuck with a hop forward – “elite-type opening pass” – double tuck, chest forward, lunge back – switch side through to cat leap 2/1, kind of a tuck jump double. 9.725

Really wishing we actually got SV reported in the scores in this rotation

Wissman – BB – SUU – aerial to bhs, quick enough – switch to switch, small check into split jump, some short back leg positions on the switches – full turn, small hesitation kickover, a bit deep, pulls it through into beat jump – gainer full, holds the landing, chest down. 9.825

Matthews – FX – BYU – double pike very secure – back 1/2 to front full, some knees, but solid – switch side to wolf full, around – double tuck, under control, chest down. 9.825

McClain – BB – SUU – bhs loso, strong – cat leap to side aerial, very secure – switch to straddle 1/4, small adjustment – full turn, slightly over turns – 1.5, stuck landing. Strong. 9.875

Vitkauskas – FX – BYU – high front 2/1 but struggles to control, large-ish lunge forward – 1.5 to layout, great shape in the air but a notable lunge forward again – switch side to popa, good positions and amplitude – very strong rudi control. 9.850 pretty high for that landing control.

Schwartze – BB – SUU – full turn – side aerial, chest low, holds it with a small check – split jump to sheep to beat, struggles in positions, somewhat short in split and not enough closure on sheep – bhs loso is solid, did well to pull it back from being slightly off line – gainer full, hop back. 9.825

Stainton – FX – BYU – round off double pike, slide back after coming in somewhat deep – back 1.5 to 1/2 to split jump, good control – nice lift into her split leap full – round off double tuck, under control there as well. 9.825

Nipp – BB – SUU – aerial, works it into beat jump with small arm wave – bhs loso series, great height and lovely feet extension – split jump to split jump 3/4, missed split position there – gainer full, deep landing, step forward. Was a perfect first half. 9.825

Alder – FX – BYU – DLO, solid control on landing – split leap full to split jump full, finishing positions look good, hits her splits – 1.5 to layout, gets soft in the layout position – double pike, secure – best of the rotation

Southern utah gets a 49.250 on beam, which is enough to reach into the 196s with a final score of 196.175

Waiting on the final score for BYU, which could get them into the 196.8s.

And it does, a 196.825 final after a 49.125 on floor. Kind of balanced out in the total because the floor scoring wasn’t as high as I would have expected but the beam scoring was higher. A strong meet. Next is Wednesday against UCLA.

Again tomorrow?

90 thoughts on “Friday Live Blog – February 5, 2021”

  1. Haha Watson a 9.875 for that vault landing…. Schennikova with a 9.825 for at most a 9.75 routine.

    1. I am agreeing with you on both. That vault literally did not stop… and Schennikova had four poor elements… I will give credit- the first half of LSU’s bars lineup really delivered. And I think Jay has done a good job ordering the lineup.

  2. Scores going highhh already, but Durante earned that 9.95. I think that was her best bars routine she’s ever done in college

    1. So good! Why can’t they commentate on every meet since they are just doing it remotely? The dream….

      1. AGREED! Love their dynamic and I think there are a few others that are strong as well. I think the ASQ/Rothlisberger duo could get there, but John has to develop more.

  3. I keep thinking as I watch these athletes that UGA should have had on their team: Sami Durante, Kiya Johnson, Audrey Davis. Just imagine what could have been.

    1. They didn’t say exactly, but I’m guessing she was the one with a positive test.

      1. That’s what I’m thinking now since it might be considered HIPPA violation to say it was her?

      2. HIPPA only applies to medical professionals or entities, aka a doctor or a hospital cannot release information without their consent. It’s a common misconception that it applies to anyone or anything outside the actual medical field…

        I fine it’s somewhat similar to a huge conversation going on in the USA right now about the First Amendment… it only applies to the government not being able to infringe on, or punish free speech. But even that is not absolute!

      3. It wouldn’t be a HIPPA violation but perhaps they are respecting her privacy nonetheless and only choosing to reveal positive tests if the athlete reveals it.

      4. HIPAA or not, I’ve always thought the athletes should have a right to give their permission before their injuries or illnesses are announced.

        People may not literally have a right to complete medical privacy but I do think it’s inappropriate for a school to share that so-and-so had COVID or an ACL tear if the athlete doesn’t want it out there.

      5. They cannot release that information due to FERPA. Unless the student shares the information, the university is not allowed to release that information without student approval.

  4. Ugh when will Bryant get rewarded for that vault. I know she hasn’t stuck it yet but it’s just so much better than anyone else

  5. So I guess the beam pause deduction doesn’t exist anymore? Watson took a year into that dismount.

    1. I’m pretty sure the judges gave up on that discussion two or three weeks after it was introduced.

    2. Agreed. That was one of the longest beam pauses I’ve ever seen…Almost a balk.

    1. That’s my guess since they normally say if someone so vital to a lineup is out due to an injury!

  6. Can’t believe these LSU floor scores I’m seeing…with those 150 degree split jumps..

  7. I think they are being a bit generous on landing control for UGA- but I also thought Sylvia did have connection when she changed direction on that series so it probably works out.

  8. OMG Barts voice breaking talking about Diane, I’m for sure going to cry when they cover this!

    1. It was tough, but I do feel it was a credit to Dianne and showed how much she meant to them.

  9. I know scores are insane, but the depth that LSU has and doing this without a healthy Kiya and no Sarah…. impressive.

    1. Eh…I don’t think it’s that impressive because it’s fake. They don’t deserve those scores. It would only be impressive if it were real.

      1. I didn’t say it was impressive because of the scores. The lineups out there today are not their peak lineups. A lot of ladies filled in spots and competed well and for the first time, which I appreciated because they could have struggled massively. Relax.

      2. Do I seem not relaxed? I’m just not impressed. I don’t think these are lineups that are that deep. Lots of teams are putting up not their best.

      3. Yeah, I’m not impressed either… definitely bright spots in this meet, but I have higher expectations for LSU. They have tons of stars and apparently zero restrictions on their training. I think they could do better.

  10. Can we talk about Haleigh Bryant’s floor music being “Lacrimosa”?! We love a bold choice. But this young lady said in her interview she picked out this music and enjoys how she can smile in her floor routine. What? Here’s hoping for a well rounded liberal arts education that touches on historic musical pieces and their meanings in the near future.

    1. Bryant is studying kinesiology so I don’t think she will get that. Could someone just sit her down with the movie Amadeus? That should get her close enough.

  11. I don’t remember Bart and Kathy trying to get Dianne in the HOF when she was alive.

    1. Don’t doubt KJC. That woman is class and has called out plenty of things in real time.

  12. I really hate SEC scores. I want the same judges for Cal and Utah. Utah’s floor routines are flipping amazing and generally locked at 9.85. Please “Carol “. Pull your head out.

      1. I mean every top team gets them…but these meet scores are saying Auburn is better than UCLA and close to Utah which is not the case at all when you watch the actual gymnastics!

      2. This was honestly one of the worst scored meets I’ve ever seen.

        Schennikova and Bryant within .025 of one another basically is all you should need to know to know the incompetence of these judges.

  13. So judges just aren’t taking anything for beam breaks at this point…ie Bryant and Dean!

    1. That Dean beam score was ridiculous. As was her floor score. Overall, that score was probably at least a point too high. Maybe a point and a half.

      1. (Sorry, to clarify, I mean the LSU score overall. I’m tired. And had too much to drink. But clearly not as much as those judges!!)

      2. I did say “maybe” a point and a half. On reflection, and another half of a cocktail, I’d say it was a 196.5 performance.

      3. The Dean floor score was perhaps the worst. I have that routine at 9.7 max, and even that is generous. 0.1 for first pass landing, 0.1 for leaps (can someone who knows more about judging explain how you would evaluate those?), 0.05 for second pass landing. 0.05 for poor form throughout (soft knees, lack of toe point, leg separation, cowboy on double tuck…)
        But overall, the failure to separate any routines is infuriating
        Nonetheless, both teams looked great, and I agree that LSU looks impressive with their depth of realistic options.

  14. 197.500 LSU
    197.075 Auburn

    QUESTION:

    What would your total scores have been for LSU and for Auburn if you had been a judge?

    LSU=?
    Auburn=?

    1. To above anonymous – if lsh should have been 196.5, what should auburn have been 195.8? After that floor? No way that Auburn was better than LSU tonight (though props for them looking better than they have all season and most of last)

  15. So if it was a point and a half too high – you’d have them at 196 even? That would be way too low based on the season and scoring of other teams (cough, Arkansas, cough) Maybe a bit high but I would have it at 197.2. If Kiya’s knee was down, 196.85.

    1. I think most of those beam scores was at least .1 too high. Durante’s was probably the most reasonable. I would have had Dean down in the 9.6s. So we are already down 0.5 right there. I’m guessing I have 0.2 off each of the other rotations. So about 196.4 seems right to me.

      1. As someone said up-thread…relax. I’m guessing you must live in the backwoods of Louisiana and get all your joy in life out of supporting a gymnastics team that gets overmarked. This level of routines won’t stand up in the post-season so enjoy your fun while it lasts! Toodles!

      1. No they weren’t. I think Arkansas were given some slightly forgiving scores there but it was a reasonable score overall. At LSU, UF, and home they definitely received plenty of crack scoring.

  16. LSU v Florida next week will insane and just go ahead and get those scoring complaints out now.

  17. Can we just crowd source judging? There scores are dumb. We need to pick a meet and everyone scores every routine and then we compare. Can you imagine if the final four tournament was this poorly refereed? Ughhh

    1. In my opinion, the postseason has always worked itself out regarding the best teams. We just need something to complain about.

  18. That was the most ridiculously scored meet of the season. Prior to that, it was joke high scores given to UCLA last week. This meet was comical

    1. BYU has super impressive bars. That 49.35 is legit.
      Alyona def is more suited to the open ended code. She can do one of the hardest bar routines in the world, but she just doesn’t have the execution for college. (Not that her scores reflect this). Her vault is quality, but everywhere else she looks scrappy. Same scores as Bryant tonight was just wrong.

  19. The SUU bars weren’t the most polished but a those were some decent routines. The anchor was quite nice. BYU was steady on Vt. I think that would have held up to any of the mid tier SEC schools.

  20. I think “Carol “ teleported to BYU. Some of these scores are SEC crazy. The las BYU beam routine getting a 9.9 with an obvious bobble prior to the dismount is just insane. Good routines but get real. Take the deductions especially when they are obvious. This is not a 197 plus meet. I will say their floor routines are really fun to watch

    1. I think scores got looser for both teams in the last two rotations. But it was more inline with ignoring one item not three… SUU looks good and BYU looks like a legitimate top ten versus what we have seen from other schools.

  21. BYU’s next meet: This Wednesday Feb 10 at 2pm Pacific (11am Eastern) at UCLA with free livestream.
    Any BYU@UCLA score predictions?

  22. Does anyone know if Abi Walker is still training for Penn State? I was looking forward to watching her compete in college.

      1. Ah got it. I’ll look forward to seeing her next year then! Thanks for the information.

Comments are closed.