| Friday, January 6 | SCORES | STREAM | |
| 5:00pm ET/ 2:00pm PT | Super 16 A: [21] Washington, Southern Utah, North Carolina, Fisk | BTN | |
| 7:00pm ET/ 4:00pm PT | [12] Michigan St @ [7] Alabama | LINK | SECN |
| 7:00pm ET/ 4:00pm PT | West Virginia, Ball St, Lindenwood @ [2] Florida | LINK | SEC+ |
| 7:00pm ET/ 4:00pm PT | Penn St, Temple, Penn @ Pitt | LINK | ACC+ |
| 7:00pm ET/ 4:00pm PT | Winona St, Gustavus Adolphus, Hamline @ [16] Minnesota | LINK | BTN+ |
| 9:00pm ET/ 6:00pm PT | [6] LSU @ [3] Utah | LINK | ESPN2 |
| 11:00pm ET/ 8:00pm PT | Super 16 B: [14] Oregon State, [17] Stanford, [20] Georgia, Rutgers | BTN | |
Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in. Welcome back for another season of NCAA live blogging. I’ll be starting out today with the opening competition of the season, the first session of the Super 16, then on to Michigan State against Alabama (while keeping an eye on Florida), then on to LSU’s visit to Utah.
Following that meet, I’ll be heading over to talk to some alcohol about it on GymCastics’s live post-game show, which is open for everyone this week.
As for the latest news, Savannah Schoenherr broke her foot yesterday. It’s a blow to Florida, though the team should have the depth to withstand it, just making it more likely that we’ll see characters like Payton Richards on vault and Riley McCusker/Victoria Nguyen on bars. We may also see more of the “depth options” in the early meets before everyone is ready/healthy.
There are allegedly live scores available for the Super 16 meets on MeetScoresOnline, but it currently links to their paid subscription, and over my dead body am I paying for live scores. Hopefully we’ll get the gist from BTN.
Broadcast underway, we’re discussing the historic nature of Fisk’s program, while showing gymnasts from Southern Utah.
Rotation order is UW on vault, SUU on bars, UNC on beam, and Fisk on floor.
Jess Graba and D-D Breaux are on the floor talking about Suni I mean the meet and how important it is to first meet while you first meet.
Rotation 1
Muhammad – FX – Fisk – transfer, notable for competing in unitard last year for Brockport – front full to front lay, good control, just a bit of knees in the full – switch full, a bit short of split but around – split leap full to split jump full, good toe point, just a bit short of split – double tuck, mostly secure landing, just a bit chest forward. Very solid opening routine. 9.600
We are getting some scores from MSO on the non-pay page. 9.700 for Davis of Washington on vault.
Greenlow – BB – UNC – 2nd up on beam – bhs loso, large break, leg up to horiztontal and a couple arm waves – cat leap to side aerial, bends way over at the hips but stays on and doesn’t grab the beam, grabs her legs – hits leap combination – 1.5 dismount, hop forward. 2 big breaks will be near equivalent to a fall.
McClain – UB – SUU – good first hs vertical – strong amplitude on gienger, legs together – a bit of body position on bail catch – a couple borderline hs – DLO, chest forward with a hop. 9.825
SKW – VT – Washington, following 2 9.800s – pretty form on her yfull in the air but jarred back on landing – chest forward. 9.725
Fisk with 9.475 for McDonald in the second spot on floor.
Coleman – FX – Fisk – front tuck through to double pike, bounce back OOB – shows good amplitude on her straddle work in leap combination – double tuck, super deep landing, saves a fall but very deep and a couple ginger steps to the side to make sure she stayed on her feet.
Cunningham – VT – solid work on Yfull, bounce back, some feet, good one.
Washington 48.825 on vault, which is lower than any vault score they had last season.
SUU got a 9.900 on bars from Goodman in the anchor spot to go 49.025 for a solid first rotation number.
Culton – BB – UNC – they’re already counting a 9.3 – bhs loso series, good extension – cat leap to switch side, arm wave correction, good toes on cat leap – aerial, good extension, keeps arms moving to split jump – full turn, leg up style out – gainer full, holds the landing, slightly staggered. Good one.9.825
Mora – FX – Fisk – front lay to front full, controls step, some knees – split jump full to wolf jump full, shorter positions – switch ring to switch 1/2, better, some feet – double pike, chest down but controls the landing, should be a usable score. 9.475, higher than Coleman’s, so that will count.
We’re going back to see Goodman on bars – blind to high piked jaeger, pretty – pak, shows good amplitude – a bit short on final cast hs and some body position on giant full finish, connects to a stuck double tuck.
Price – FX – Fisk – double pike, nice amplitude but overcooks it and sits it down – front lay to front full, pretty secure – switch 1/2 to wolf full to split jump full combination was excellent, great positions – 2.5, controlled step. Great ending to the routine, will be a huge deal for them when she hits.
After 1:
SUU – 49.050
Washington – 48.825
North Carolina – 48.325
Fisk – 47.550
So seems like the non-paid scores are updating fairly rapidly, still with multiple links above them trying to trick you into paying for this, which is chill and good.
UNC had a miss from Schulze on beam so had to count the Greenlow 9.3 with two major breaks for that 48.325, which would tie their lowest beam score from the 2022 season.
Rotation 2
SKW – Washington – UB – hop change to piked jaeger to overshoot, solid positions – crisp cast hs – blind to front giant 1/2 to double tuck, small hop in place on landing. Very clean start. 9.850
Murakami – BB – SUU – full turn – bhs loso, securely on – cat leap to side aerial, also fairly smooth – split jump to sheep – cartwheel gainer full – a little low on amplitude and a step. 9.800
Coleman – VT – Fisk – ylayout, solid height – legs apart, bounce back. 9.525
Shinohara – FX – UNC – front tuck through to double tuck, bounce back – switch side opens her dance combination and it was super high, but she lost control into her wolf full, which was low and bouncy – double pike, larger lunge back
Brooks – UB – Washington – following a couple 9.7s from Moody and Oppegard after the 9.850 from SKW – short first hs – shaposh, bit of legs into clear hip to bail, hit – better final cast hs on high – giant full, small leg separation into double tuck, little hop forward.
Reed-Hammon – VT – Fisk – brings out a yfull from Fisk and its pretty solid, good control, chest a bit forward and a step. 9.725
Brewer – VT – Fisk – good amplitude on yfull but well out of control on landing, a lunge back and then a couple additional steps connected right into hugs – 9.500
Cacciola – BB – SUU – clean full turn – bhs loso, pretty solid amplitude – standing loso also good toe position maintained there – switch to switch combination to split jump, a bit lower on split jump – 1.5, small step forward.
Culton – FX – UNC – double tuck, controls the step back – switch ring and switch 1/2 are well done – front lay to rudi, also controls the step, not the highest pass – switch side and popa are nice – 9.875
Price – VT – Fisk – the most beautiful Yfull, great landing, good layout shape. 9.900, excellent.
Forbes – FX – UNC – full-in first pass, chest forward with a step, some leg separation in the air – front lay to front full, very clean leg position in twisting – split leap full to popa, a little under on split leap full, good rise into popa – double tuck, stuck landing. Strong finish.
Fisk 48.175 on vault.
SUU counting a couple 9.7s right now with 2 to go.
McClain – BB – SUU – bhs loso, solid – switch to split, low – cat leap to side aerial, nice side aerial, cat leap possible amplitude deduction – split jump to straddle 1/4, some knees – 1.5, small hop. 9.750
Washington went 48.825 on bars, led by the Killough-Wilhelm leadoff 9.850.
Knower – FX – UNC – double pike, great foot position, controlled – front full to front lay, pretty form again but steps forward OOB – split leap full to split jump full – double tuck, chest forward and a step.
Schwartze – BB – SUU – hits loso series – beat to standing loso, small arm movement to control – split jump to sheep (not a ton of closure) to beat, small hesitation before beat – gainer full, small lean forward to hold it. 9.800
SUU goes 48.850 on beam to stay on top.
After 2:
SUU – 97.900
Washington – 97.650
UNC – 96.950
Fisk – 95.725
No one blowing it out of the water so far, also no judges too drunk so far, which is cool.
I was thinking the 190 mark would be a reasonable goal for Fisk in their first meet, and they’re above that level so far on floor and vault. But bars is typically the hardest event for the smaller programs to keep pace on.
Rotation 3
Schwartze – FX – SUU – front 2/1, solid control on landing – swtich to split leap full to wolf full, pulls it around – rudi to loso, good legs on loso, a little steppy on landing. 9.850
Shinohara – VT – UNC – follows a leadoff 9.700 – hits yfull, small hop back, some closed hips – 9.775
Cacciola – FX – SUU – double tuck, slide back, feet – front full to front pike, pretty much controls the step forward – swtich ring to switch 1/2 is well done – rudi to split jump, under control
Russon – BB – Washington – follows 9.700 from Brooks – aerial, knee, arm wave correction – bhs loso and falls – switch to split jump full, pulls it around with some low back leg – 1.5, a bit deep, small hop forward
Wiggins – UB – Fisk – she’s following an 8.4 and 9.0 – toe on to maloney, low and falls – resumes with solid toe on – connects to a straddled overshoot, probably not getting hs credit there – gaint full, late with legs, into double tuck, hop.
Bowles – BB – Washington – side aerial to bhs, hit, small lean – pretty full turn – split jump with small hesitation before straight jump full, a bit low on amplitude – beat to side aerial, hit – gainer front full off the end, pulls it out, slide back. 9.675
McClain – FX – SUU – FTDT, good secure landing, chest just a bit forward – back 1.5 to front lay, good layout position – switch 1/2 to wolf jump full, nice positions on landing – double tuck, pretty large bounce back but stays in. 9.850
Navarro – BB – Washington – bhs bhs loso series, right on – beat to switch side, lean forward at the hips – 1.5 dmt, just very small movement, strong control on dismount. 9.825
UNC went 48.825 on vault, same as Washington.
Ingrassia – FX – SUU – front tuck trhough to double pike, bounce back OOB – switch side to wolf full to wolf full, got out of control on those wolf jumps and under position – double tuck, controls step back – 9.675 will count.
Davis – BB – Washington – bhs bhs loso series is very nice, maybe the smallest lean – beat to straddle 3/4 is secure – 1.5 is pretty out of control, large bounce forward. 9.750
Smith – FX – SUU – whip double tuck, chest well down with a step forward – split leap full to split jump full to shushunova – rudi, chest forward, connects into a split jump on an angle –
SKW – BB – Washington – aerial, check – bhs loso series is hit – full turn – kickover is strong, connects to beat jump – swtich to split, some back leg – sdie aerial to layout 1.5 and sticks it.
SUU went 48.950 on floor, which is the top floor total so far.
Fisk had a couple 9.0s and a couple 8s on bars, but did get 9.700 from Price and 9.500 from Richmon. The total is 45.625, which will drop Fisk’s pace.
Washington goes 48.850 on beam after Killough-Wilhelm’s 9.900, so they drop a little more ground to SUU but are staying within sight for the last event, going to floor while Southern Utah is on vault.
After 3:
SUU – 146.850
Washington – 146.500
UNC – 145.775
Fisk – 141.350
Rotation 4
“No, it definitely is”
Vultaggio – VT – SUU – pretty solid yfull distance, fairly large bounce back – 9.700
SKW – FX – Washignton – front 2/1, around, slight lack of control – “She does feel extra power when she has Chipotle.” – swtich to switch ring 1/2 – back 1.5 to front layout, solid layout position. 9.800
Cacciola – VT – SUU – good height on her yfull, not as much distance, step to the side – while the stepped over the line, they’re using the lines to judge direction where you land, not where you ultimately step. 9.775
Innes – FX – Washington – front 2/1, lands somewhat under with a crossover step – switch to wolf jump full to wolf jump full, under horizontal – back 1.5 to front lay, some knees, step – rudi, nicely controlled. 9.575
Kho – VT – SUU – hits her Y1.5, fairly awkward landing with locked legs but nothing dire happened – knee position in teh air and a crossover step
Reed-Hammon – BB – Fisk – follows a 9.225 – full turn, small check – kickover, connects to bhs, arm wave correction – hesitation on cat leap, pauses – redoes it to side aerial, huge break at the hips but fights to save it and keep it on – split jump to split jump 3/4, secure – gainer full, step back. 9.350
Navarro – FX – Washington – double tuck, under control step back – switch side to popa, solid elevation – back 1.5 to layout, controlled, could take a bit for amplitude – double pike, nice toe point, keeps step in bounds, a bit of chest position. 9.875
SUU 48.950 on vault, ends on 195.800.
Daniels – BB – Fisk – bhs loso series and falls, lots of leg – resumes with split jump, check – beat to split 3/4 and falls for a second time – switch to straddle 1/4, hit well – gainer pike, bound forward. 7.925
Roberts – FX – Washington – transfer from Lindenwood – double tuck, a bit forward – back 1.5 to front lay, under control, a bit low – switch 1/2 to wolf jump full, gets it around in the end – double pike, chest forward again but not large on the landing. 9.775
Richmon – BB – Fisk – loso series is hit, dances back out of it – switch to straddle 1/4, a bit under position but secure – side aerial, magic apparently on the huge save – lots of leans and steps and movement but stayed on – 1.5, small hop in place. Will get hit for that large error but good potential score there in this lineup. 9.275
Cunningham – FX – Washington – front tuck through to double tuck, solid control – high amplitude on her three dance element combination – double pike, maintains foot position, controlled step, a tad chest positiony. Should be a strong score. 9.900
UNC finished with 48.850 on bars and a 194.625 total, but the broadcast was like, “We’re done with you”
Price – BB – Fisk – aerial, check, breaks connection – bhs loso series, falls, good extension on bhs legs – side aerial, nice amplitude, arm wave correction – 1.5, stuck landing. 9.125
Davis – FX – Washington – seh needs 9.900 to tie SUU – rudi problems, has to connect to just a back handspring instead of a loso and does the entire bhs out of bounds – split leap full to popa, some travel, good feet – attempts a front 2/1 and was way underrotated, twisted into the ground and falls, but looks like she’s OK
Mora – BB – Fisk – aerial, keeps moving into back tuck with an arm wave – side somi, holds it – switch to sheep jump, not back – cat leap to gainer full, small hop, nice one to finish.
9.675 by far their best beam number.
FINAL
Southern Utah – 195.800
Washington – 195.475
North Carolina – 194.625
Fisk – 186.700
Southern Utah wins the session with a solid opening meet total of 195.800, though it’s probably a first meet of the year drop score for all of the top three teams here. Moments of exciting potential for Fisk there on vault and floor, beyond just the “well, they’re a new team” business. Bars and beam will be more of an over-time kind of process. This 186.700 does surpass the opening 185.925 from Lindenwood’s debut in 2013.
MOVING ON!
On to Alabama/MSU and the Florida quad meet.
We’re now introduced to Bridget Sloan’s decorative plates.
Rotation 1
Olsen – VT – Alabama – only does the yfull, it’s solid – small hop back, some pike position. And it goes 9.850. So, welcome to judging!
Jackard – UB – MSU – blind to jaeger, close catch but works through it – good handstand – nearly an awesome bail position but has to go over the wrong way – strong final cast hs – giant full to double tuck, good stick. Pretty work. 9.700
Doggette – VT – Alabama – she brings out the Y1.5, full tenth bounce forward, a bit of direction as well – pretty solid form in the air, slight knee position. And that goes 9.900 somehow in a way I don’t understand.
DiCello debuts for Florida on vault with a Yfull, great distance, pretty large bounce back and some pike. 9.775
Stephen – UB – MSU – toe on to maloney – bail is hit, just a bit of hip angle and loose back here and there in this one – finishes with FTDT, bounce back. 9.725
Rachel Baumann does her first vault for Florida, holds the stick on her Y1.5 with a notable leg break on her block and not the most height. Still goes 9.900
Hudson – VT – Alabama – hits her Y1.5 – hop to the side – 9.850
Payton Richards for Florida on vault lands short on her Y1.5 with a step back to save it. Still goes 9.750
Zsarmani debuts for MSU on bars with a strong landing on her DLO, just a bit of legs.
Blanco – VT – Alabama – beautiful Y1.5 but lands a bit short with a bounce back. 9.875. You have to take .100 for short landing and .050 at least for the bounce, so it wasn’t possible to go higher than 9.850 for this vault.
Wong hits her ro 1/2 on pike 1/2 for Florida, but chest down, bounce back. 9.850
Schulte – UB – MSU – shaposh to bail, short of vertical on bail – good toe point throughout – DLO, little hop in place. 9.800
Paradise – VT – Alabama – solid direction on Y1.5, just a bit deep and a hop forward.
Thomas hits her Y1.5 for Florida, medium hop forward, great amplitude and distance as always. 9.925
Nikki Smith – UB – MSU – toe on to maloney to pak, clean work – solid handstand positions – DLO, stuck landing, excellent debut. Pretty routine. 9.875
Florida 49.300 on vault. They’ll be find with that score and performance, very first-meet landings but to be expected.
Gladieux – VT – Alabama – pulls out the Y1.5, great distance, some leg position in the air, a little deep on landing, hop to the side. 9.825. More reasonable scores for Paradise and Gladieux here.
Harkness – UB – MSU – toe on to gienger, good position – hits hs – bail, clean vertical position – FTDT, some leg position at the beginning and a small hop. 9.850
Alabama 49.325 on vault, similar rotation to Florida in that they’ll be comfortable with the progress, very first-meet landings. Some gifties.
MSU 49.075 on bars, which is fine but not huge, mostly because of some errors early, but the toe position is there to expect big things as we go.
Lindenwood’s floor score will be ahead of the WVU bars and Ball State beam after one rotation.
Rotation 2
Nyah Smith – VT – MSU – solid power on yfull – a bit of hip position, and the bounce back. 9.800
Paradise – UB – Alabama – blind to jaeger, solidly done, just some feet – holds vertical on bail well – DLO, legs apart, small slide back. 9.800
Schulte – VT – MSU – also hits a pretty clean yfull, larger bounce back for her, could take a bit for shoulder angle if you wanted, but that hasn’t seemed the theme.
Hudson – UB – Alabama – toe on to maloney, small leg break, connects to bail, a bit of position in the air but gets to vertical in the end – giant full, not bad into a stuck double tuck, pretty finish. 9.850.
Garcia – VT – MSU – secure yfull, one step back – slightly chest forward position
Waligora – UB – Alabama – good first hs – blind to jaeger, hige, flexed feet, connects to overshoot – DLO 1/1 is back, lunge back, just a bit of foot crossing in the air. 9.800
Kellerman – VT – MSU – pulls out the first 10.0 start for MSU, a handspring pike 1/2, gets it around, bounce back – some chest position, not the most distance. 9.900, which is also a very high vault score, so at least the same benefit that Alabama got.
Machado – UB – Alabama – maloney to pak, solid – toe on to van leeuwen, slightly crooked body position – short cast hs – toe full to double tuck, brings heels together on landing. 9.850
Nikki Smith – VT – MSU – hits her Y1.5 but is a bit short, step back. Great height. 9.850
Doggette – UB – Alabama – pretty tkatchev to pakcombination – small hesitation in 1/2 turn on low – DLO, stuck landing, legs together well, pretty routine. Would merit going into the 9.9s. 9.900
Stephen – VT – MSU – lovely yfull, stuck landing, excellent. 9.900
Blakely sticks her double front bars dismount leading off for Florida.
Blanco – UB – Alabama – pretty pak – toe on to van leeuwen, gorgeous position – a bit short on final cast hs – FTDT, very tiny foot movement. Wonderful. 9.875
Very reasonable bars scoring today. In Alabama at least.
Those final two 9.9s pull MSU to 49.300 on vault, just shy of Alabama’s score there. Alabama goes 49.275 on bars thanks to a full lineup of 9.8s and the one 9.9 from Doggette.
Nguyen – UB – Florida – maloney to pak, pretty clean, good toes, very small leg break – finishes DLO, stuck, legs a bit apart. Nice one.
DiCello – UB – Florida – Ray – nice – good toes – pak to toe on to van leeuwen, clean, legs together – FTDT, stuck landing. Well that was stronger than Nguyen’s 9.9, so let’s see where we start to go. Ah, 9.925. Hello, score bunching, our old friend.
Thomas – UB – Florida – good first hs – maloney to pak, clean – good hs – toe on to van leeuwen, hit – solid final cast hs – DLO, small hop of legs together. Excellent. And that goes 9.950, presuming they took for landing and nothing else. Florida no score lower than 9.900 on bars so far.
Wong – UB – Florida – good first hs – maloney to pak, solid – van leeuwen, good toes, hit – strong cast hs – DLO, nearly holds the stick but doesn’t, step salute. Still goes 9.950, so I guess another would-be 10. I would have been 9.900 on that one.
Florida already at 49.625.
Hurd – UB – Florida – short first hs – Ray to pak is well done – very short full turn attempt on low bar – tries another cast 1/2…? I think? Also goes over to make it a full and hops off – very short handstand on high bar and peels off – YIKES – they’ll just have her salute and stop.
Well, um, her first college routine is out of the way…
The release combination was lovely. But the handstands and pirouettes are not there yet.
Alabama started with 9.850 on beam from Hudson in the third rotation. Doggette up second – bhs loso, secure, good feet position – beat, small hesitation but continues into switch 1/2, and then an extra beat jump – split jump a bit short into tucked korbut – 1.5, small movement. 9.775
Garcia started with 9.675 for MSU on floor.
Nyah Smith – FX – MSU – front tuck through to double tuck, good control on landing – switch side to popa, good height, a bit crooked in switch side split position – 1.5 to front lay, solid landing – double pike, short landing, lunge forward. 9.750
Olsen – BB – Alabama – switch to switch 1/2, secure, a bit low – bhs loso, small lean correction, some soft knees – front walkover for her front requirement – bhs bhs double pike, brings her chest up quickly, step back. 9.775
Harkness – FX – MSU – FTDT, mostly controls her step back, chest up – switch to split leap full to wolf full, around clearly, solid positions – front tuck through to double tuck, shorter landing, step forward. 9.775
We’re seeing some final pass struggles early in this lineup for MSU.
Waligora – BB – Alabama – bhs loso, wobble, leg up – side aerial, holds it – split jump to tuck jump full, underrotated and has to lean and walk a little to save it – 1.5 dismount, hop – 9.675
Stephen – FX – MSU – front tuck through to double pike, good amplitude, bounce back, keeps it in bounds – switch 1/2 to wolf jump full to straddle jump, elegant positions there, pretty work – 2.5, just a bit of knees, crossover step – 9.900
Gladieux – BB – Alabama – bhs to lay-pike, secure – let Bridget know that a lay-pike is its own skill in NCAA, it’s a D, while the layout 2 feet is an E, and she’s intending to get D credit for this element – aerial to beat jump, clean – switch, small pause before split jump, slight lean – ro double tuck dismount – step back. 9.825
Meanwhile, Hurd is up on beam for Florida – aerial to bhs series, keeps it moving, covering a check on aerial – split to split ring jump, check, holds onto it – pause before dismount, round off 2/1 bounce back. Stayed on for this one, which will be a victory after bars, some tentative moments. 9.775
Nikki Smith went 9.850 on floor for MSU.
Blanco – BB – Alabama – aerial, lovely, great toe point – bhs loso series, check, great form – switch ring, pretty, into beat jump – 1.5 dismount, holds onto the landing, excellent. 9.900
Lazzari back to the beam lineup for Florida – strong bhs loso loso series – aerial, solid –
Schulte – FX – MSU – good amplitude on FTDT, controls her step – switch 1/2 to popa to straddle jump, nice elevation – front tuck through to double tuck, also well controlled on landing.
Over to Dicello on beam for Florida – wolf double, hit – swtich to split is comfortable – bhs loso series, small lean correction – aerial, good knee position – bhs, some knees, into gainer full, bounce back. Still gets 9.900, a little high for me.
Alabama went 49.125 on beam, only OK for a somewhat tentative rotation. They would have wanted more there. MSU gains a little ground with its 49.175 on floor, saved with the last three excellent routines after those struggle-passes in the first three spots.
After 3:
Alabama 147.725
MSU 147.550
Alabama’s lead is small but will have the advantage going to floor.
Richards with a large leg-up check on beam for Florida but keeps it on for 9.750.
Ball State has gone 49.000 on beam and floor after a beam issue in the first rotation.
Thomas – BB – Florida – lovely switch mount combination – clean full turn – one-arm bhs to loso, secure – aerial to two feet is a fun twist, hits it – beat to korbut, solid – side aerial to 1.5, stuck landing. Well done.
Annnnd we have our first 10 of the season for Triity on beam. I didn’t have a 10 there but lots of great stuff.
We missed most of Wong’s beam as a result, but the aerial was good – 2/1 dismount with a bounce back.
So that’s 21 for Thomas now.
Wong looked like it was the end of the world after her beam, so obviously that means she went 9.850. Florida 49.425 beam rotation. Baumann doing exhibition beam.
Rotation 4
Waligora – FX – Alabama – front 2/1, leg crossing and a crossover step – also thought her wolf full in combination was short of position, a theme – 1.5 to front lay is clean. 9.850
Schulte – BB – MSU – check on full turn – swtich, hesitation before switch 1/2, adds a beat jump afterward to get her dance combination – bhs loso, large break, bends both ways, keeps it on – swtich to gainer full, solid landing. 9.750 is pretty high for that huge break.
Olsen – FX – Alabama – piked full in, controls the landing step – front tuck through to double tuck, chest down, hop forward. 9.775
“They are your family, whether you like it or not” – Bridget on the truth.
Zsarmani – BB – MSU – kickover piked, small pause into bhs, secure – swtich to switch side, good horizontal position on switch side but an arm wave correction swim to hold it – 1.5 dismount, high, great stick. Tons of potential in this routine. 9.750
Doggette – FX – Alabama – FTDT, hit, a bit forward with a step – split leap 1.5, looks like she just did pull it around – switch ring to switch 1/2, under on split position – 1.5 to front lay, legs apart on lay. 9.800
Nyah Smith – BB – MSU – bhs loso, great amplitude but huge break, bend over at the hips to horizontal, so an automatic .2 there in addition to the other deductions – swtich to straddle 1/4, good height there – high double tuck dismount, step back. 9.625
Gladieux – FX – Alabama – secure landing on FTDT, some legs apart in the air – high dance element combination, slightly out of control in the air but holds onto the landing – front lay to rudi to split jump is well done, clean twisting, good elevation. 9.900
Stephen – BB – MSU – aerial to 2 feet, another theme – secure landing, a bit of knees in the air – bhs loso series, good, extended position in los – beat to split jump 1/2, nice split position, step correction on landing – 2/1, nearly stuck, step back into salute. 9.825
Florida has Brubach into the floor lineup leading off for them – slide back on rudi – split full to popa, a bit under on popa landing position – double tuck, chest down, holds it with a step – 9.850. I had 9.700, so that will be interesting for this floor rotation score.
Blanco – FX – Alabama – double pike, very small movement of front foot – double tuck, chest up well – front full to front lay, dances out. 9.925
Nguyen – FX – Florida – something we were not expecting to see at Georgia… – front 2/1 and tries to lunge forward and connect to a split jump at the same time which…kind of worked?…very low split jump – back 1.5 to front lay, a little lower on the lay. Still goes 9.900
Garcia finished MSU out with a 9.900 on beam for a 49.00, there, so they broke 49 on every event.
Hudson on floor finishes the meet for Alabama – front lay to front 2/1, out of control on landing, huge bound forward and an additional step OOB. Good stick on 2.5 though.
DiCello – FX – Florida – front 2/1 with some leg crossing and a crossover step – switch ring and switch 1/2 are fine – 1.5 to front full, good control, some soft knees. 9.875
Alabama drops Hudson’s floor to go 49.250 there.
FINAL:
Alabama 196.975
Michigan State 196.550
Solid opening meet scores but not anything Alabama will hope to keep around by the end of the year. Probably same for MSU given how last season ended in the scoring department. Mid 196 is suddenly just OK for them instead of an amazing score.
Richards on FX – chest down on DLO landing, lunge forward – solid straddle positions – back 1.5 to front tuck full and hilarious face out of it because she would have been intending a layout position, lunge forward. I assume Jenny is telling her right now that the tuck front 1/1 is the same value as the layout so it works out. Still have some questions about this 9.850, but not from a start value perspective.
Baumann – FX – Florida – wolf double is around – back 1.5 to front full, controlled step, pretty solid leg position – switch side to straddle jump, very high- good double pike, nice work. 9.925, Florida at 49.400 now with Thomas to come.
I mean with Blakely to come. No Thomas on floor today.
Blakely sits down her opening double Arabian, so that means Florida is done on 49.400.
Yikers, and now a second fall on her second pass that looked like an injury and she has to stop. Florida, I know you have depth, but you can’t just keep having 85 injuries per day.
FINAL:
Florida – 197.750
WVU – 194.925
Ball State – 194.100
Lindenwood – 193.125
Big score for Florida, as we expect. Most of the bars lineup was the highlight in this one. Some really pretty routines. Also Thomas being Thomas. Lots of moving pieces to figure out in all these lineups still, and I’m not sure we got final answers on, say, Hurd today. DiCello very solid in debut, with some moments of being downright elegant on bars.
Let’s get going, the big one for today, LSU against Utah.
Kathy and Bart on the call tonight to make us feel safe regardless of how these scores go.
Utah will have Smith on 3 events and Brenner 2 on two. LSU has Bryce Wilson on one event (beam).
Rotation 1
Hoffman – VT – Utah – solid yfull in the air but a pretty large bounce back. 9.825, so one judge only took for the landing.
Kiya Johnson – UB – LSU – a bit short on first hs – maloney to bail, solid bail vertical position – better final cast hs – toe on – DLO, bounce back. 9.775
Brenner – VT – Utah – hits her Y1.5 pretty well, small shuffle to the side, some soft knee position. Good height, you can/should deduct for distance in addition to the knees and hop. 9.875
Arenas – UB – LSU – good first hs – tkatchev, hit, solid height – high pak, large straddle though, got way over the low bar – good final cast hs – DLO, legs apart, slide back. 9.750
Stanhope – VT – Utah – good distance on her y1.5 – medium hop forward – not as high as Brenner but way way farther. 9.875
These 9.875s are a little high for me, but not excessive. You could sell me on 9.850
Jeffrey – UB – LSU – good first hs – maloney to pak, small leg break – 1/2 turn on low is fine – a bit short on final cast hs – FTDT, deep landing but holds onto it. Strong. 9.875
Smith – VT – Utah – Omelianchik is nearly stuck, small hop forward, good distance. Well done. 9.900. Would have liked more separation between her and Brenner.
Finnegan – UB – LSU – good first hs – piked deltchev, very nice – toe on to bail, maybe a little past hs, good feet – arch in the back on cast hs but works through it – double arabian dismount, step forward. Things to take but impressive. 9.750
McCallum – VT – Utah – She’s on the Y1.5 today – lands it short and sits it down, was pretty locked coming into landing. 9.300
Shchennikova – UB – LSU – short first hs – Ray with some foot flexing into a pretty pak – solid 1/2 turn on low – short final cast hs as well – DLO, the usual, pikes it down to find the landing control. 9.775. Wellllll, it was almost like they took for things.
Rucker – VT – Utah – Y1.5 solid dynamics – medium pace forward. 9.875
Bryant – UB – LSU – great piked jaeger – bail, good vertical – hits final cast hs – blind to double front 1/2 out, a little short, step forward. Nice one. 9.825
Utah goes 49.350 on vault, LSU on 49.000 on bars.
Utah with mostly good first-meet vaults with steps, similar to Florida and Alabama, right in that 49.3 zone. Smith definitely the most impressive vault there for the best score. They’ll have to figure out what they’re doing with McCallum’s vault.
Bars judging definitely tighter than vault judging so far, but LSU opened the door and gave things away, and the judges were willing to take them. Also some shorter handstands for LSU today than usual, for people like Kiya Johnson and Shchennikova, which is not where they typically lose tenths but did today. Bryant could certainly have lost .150 on the dismount with .05 for chest down and .10 for step, which is why her score was what it was, but the routine seemed comparatively stronger.
“I’m pretty sure Jay’s very pleased.” Mmmm don’t know about that.
Rotation 2
Arenas – VT – LSU – beautiful full as usual, just small movement with the foot. 9.850
Smith – UB – Utah – toe on to maloney, good legs into pak, very pretty – 1/2 turn on low – solid final cast hs – toe on to double arabian dismount, staggered landing for .05 but good stick. Strong start.
Shchennikova – VT – LSU – hits her Y1.5, medium hop forward, good distance, not the highest, solid. 9.825
Brenner – UB – Utah – jaeger to overshoot, hit, just some feet, was not intending a bail to handstand, intended an overshoot – short cast hs on high bar – DLO, small slide back and additional step salute. 9.800
Finnegan – VT – LSU – also the Omelianchik for her, similarly strong distance and direction to Smith, larger step forward. 9.850
Thompson – UB – Utah – shortish first hs – good amplitude on pak – maloney to geinger, some feet and not the highest but solid for an inbar gienger – good hs on high – DLO, hop back. 9.800
KJ Johnson – VT – LSU – huge yfull, nearly stuck it, small hop – also one foot was over the line on landing so they should take in direction deduction in addition to the hop, not much else to take. 9.775
We’re seeing the evidence of the OOB lines right there. Last season that’s probably 9.875.
O’Keefe – UB – Utah – maloney to bail, good feet – not her best vertical psoition day but gets the stick on her double arabian very well.
Kiya Johnson – VT – LSU – hits her DTY, very well under control, just some small movement on landing and a bit of legs on the block. 9.875.
Would have been fine with 9.900 there, but you really do have to take for leg form regardless of the difficulty.
But then you look at some of the vaults that went 9.900 at the Alabama meet, and how can you say this was worse?
Isa – UB – Utah – so she’s back for the first meet – Ray, somewhat close with elbows – slight hesitation in hs, hits bail, saves it with an arch – seems rusty on the handstands today – giant full into DLO no trouble there thought. 9.775
Bryant – VT – LSU – hs pike 1/2, her usual perfection, just the medium bounce back. 9.900. So they only took for hop.
McCallum – UB – Utah – maloney to pak, solid – good hs on low – van leeuwen, very small foot break – hits hs on high – FTDT, stuck landing. Really nice.9.925
LSU with another of our 49.3s on vault, very similar to the other top teams so far, the difficulty is there, the landings not so much yet overall, but a couple closer to sticks for LSU there.
Utah goes 49.225 on bars to retain the lead, but gives back a little ground to LSU.
After 2:
Utah 98.575
LSU 98.300
Difference maker on bars between the two teams was landings. We saw some actual sticks for Utah, more postseason level even though they weren’t quite there on the handstands either, while LSU wasn’t really sticking on bars.
Rotation 3
Morgan – BB – Utah – she’s doing the front walkover mount, always a favorite – bhs bhs loso, securely done – split jump to split jump 1/2, some feet but super secure again and hit her 180s – check on full turn – front gainer full off the side dismount, stuck landing. Good start. 9.825
Ballard – FX – LSU – DLO, step back, under control, keeps her front foot down, some leg separation – back 1.5 to front lay to stag, good straight body position on layout – switch ring and switch 1/2 – double pike, chest up, nice control again. Some leg and feet things but one of her best ones. 9.825
Isa – BB – Utah – candle mount, hits vertical – bhs loso loso series, right on, feet – commitment to showing choreography in squat, NO LEVEL DEDUCTIONS FOR ME – beat jump to straddle 1/4 is solid – gainer full dismount, small movement. 9.875
Shchennikova – FX – LSU – front 2/1, slight crossover dance out, mostly covers it – back 1.5 to front lay, good straight layout position -switch to switch ring 1/2, a little low but fine – rudi to split jump, out of control on travel. 9.825
McCallum – BB – Utah – triple wolf hit, but a bit of arm correction – double wolf, hit – bhs loso, holds it, arm wave to secure it but did well to get herself on line – split to straddle jump, hit, some feet – gainer tuck full off the end is nice, stuck landing. 9.875
KJ Johnson – FX – LSU – FTDT, great secure landing – back 1.5 to front lay, does well to maintain a straight shape on that layout because she mistimed the punch but you wouldn’t have really known – switch side to popa, a little under on popa – double tuck big struggle, stumble back, multiple lunges and OOBs. 9.500
Paulson – BB – Utah – side aerial to loso, secure, some feet – switch to sissone, a bit short on split position but sissone was nice – beat to side aerial to 1.5, holds the stick, a bit of knees. 9.875
Finnegan – FX – LSU – double arabian to stag, very well done – 2.5 to front tuck, good control – switch ring to split leap full, pretty switch ring position – back 1.5 to front lay, a bit more of a step out there but covers it into dance. Really, really good one. 9.950.
Eaker – BB – Utah – switch leap mount, good – switch to split leap, good 180 postions and toe point – side aerial to loso, holds onto it without giving away a check, good composure – gainer full is the only problem really, bounce back and somewhat low on amplitude. 9.900
Bryant – FX – LSU – double front, controls the step forward – front lay to rudi, great chest up position, and super straight layout – switch ring to switch 1/2, solid height – front 2/1, that dance out was a big lungier than Finnegan’s for me. 9.875
O’Keefe – BB – Utah -side aerial to loso, holds it securely – switch to split leap, a little low on split leap amplitude but hits her 180 – bhs gainer full, stuck landing. Good. 9.950.
Kiya Johnson – FX – LSU – FTDT, small slide back – back 1.5 to front lay, shows the stick for 85 minutes before the controlled step – swtich 1/2 to popa, nice toes and split positions – double pike, stuck landing. Another excellent routine. 9.900.
49.375 for LSU on a strong floor rotation overall. Scores kept themselves in their pants (in a good way, while some of the vault comparisons were annoying, the scores have been non-drunk for the most part today and you know there are LSU home meets we’ve seen where those last three floors would have been 10, 9.950, 10), but I think they’ll be pleased about the quality of the rotation. Finnegan, Bryant, Johnson looking very much prepared.
Utah goes 49.475 on beam so extend their lead, with Eaker and O’Keefe showing very pretty work. That lineup also looks ready.
After 3:
Utah 148.050
LSU 147.675
Rotation 4
Rivers – BB – LSU – bhs loso series, large arm wave break, a couple swims – switch 1/2, secure, a bit under split – switch to straddle 1/4, good 1/4 position, horizontal split – 2/1 dismount, small bounce. 9.700. Ouch.
Paulson – FX – Utah – front tuck through to 2.5, controls the step, some leg crossing – front lay to front full, deep landing with the step – switch full to sissone, did a good job getting the full twist around today – back 1.5 to front lay, clean, also a little deep in landing. 9.800
Wilson – BB – LSU – bhs loso series, solid, pretty good back leg extension – swtich to straddle 1/4, good height, still some low back leg, but huge – aerial, a little flat but securely controlled – full turn, slight hesitation – bhs bhs 2/1, bounce back. Some formies but a comfortable beam showing. 9.775
Gilstrap – FX – Utah – front lay to rudi, little bounce up, good leg form of course – switch is excellent to switch ring 1/2, a bit low on front leg – front lay to front full, just got a little soft in that last pass but lovely presentation of course. 9.850
KJ Johnson – BB – LSU – so this is a new lineup member, getting her straddled Kristie Phillips on in the mount department – switch to straddle 1/4, short on split position but nice high straddle – bhs loso series is very solid – side aerial, holds it but pause before sissone, which was short of split – bhs 1.5, small step back. She can get destroyed in the score on those leaps. 9.725
O’Keefe – FX – Utah – double pike, just a bit deep – front lay to front full, secure – switch to split leap 1.5, pulls it around – back 1.5 to layout, slight legs but again quite solid. 9.850
Bryant – BB – LSU – aerial to bhs, connected pretty quickly – switch to straddle 1/4, good positions and elegant extension there – full turn, hesitation – standing front tuck, step forward but easily completed – punch rudi dismount, hop back. 9.850
Smith – FX – Utah – front 2/1, controls the step out, solid twisting form – rudi to loso, good toe point on loso – split leap full looked a little under, popa was OK – 2.5, step, just does keep it in bounds. 9.875
Finnegan – BB – LSU – opens with the candle 1/2 – bhs loso loso series, lovely, right on – switch to split, strong – hits her aerial – gainer full, stuck. And then basically college saluted herself into the step. 9.900
McCallum – FX – Utah – FTDT, just a bit deep in landing, controls the step – split leap full to popa – front lay to rudi, also controls the step, just some soft knees and feet in places here. 9.850
Kiya Johnson – BB – LSU – full turn, hit – bhs loso, secure – swtich to switch, to split jump – a bit of bent knee in the back leg on those switches – kickover, arm wave – bhs 1.5 dismount, step. 9.800
Rucker – FX – Utah – double arabian is different for her, way short and stumbles back to fall.
So that will do it for the meet.
FINAL:
Utah 197.275
LSU 196.725
Congratulations to the judges for not getting drunk before the meet and keeping the scores very reasonable overall. Neither team will love the score, but we haven’t seen much in the 197 zone so far, so Utah won’t mind that and will enjoy the win.
Off to GymCastic!