Saturday Live Blog – February 4, 2023

Saturday, February 4SCORESSTREAM
2:00pm ET/
11:00am PT
Kent State, Simpson @ Northern IllinoisLINKFREE
4:00pm ET/
1:00pm PT
[12] Oregon State @ [25] WashingtonLINKP12
4:00pm ET/
1:00pm PT
North Carolina, Western Michigan @ [23] NC StateLINKACC+
5:00pm ET/
2:00pm PT
[21] Arizona State @ [7] CalLINKP12
5:00pm ET/
2:00pm PT
[20] Illinois @ [19] MinnesotaLINKBTN+
5:00pm ET/
2:00pm PT
Eau Claire @ WhitewaterLINKFREE
7:00pm ET/
4:00pm PT
Penn State @ [13] Michigan StateLINKBTN+
9:00pm ET/
6:00pm PT
Arizona @ [24] StanfordLINKP12I

Well, let’s see how things shake out today following yesterday’s flood of ninety-five 10s and seventy thousand 9.975s that were definitely all amazing and this sport is fine and totally above board. Oh, college gymnastics, the more of a preposterous mess you are, the less I want to quit you.

I have updated the Hall of 10s after yesterday, which is tied for the third-most 10y day in the history of college gymnastics.

Looks like Carey is not in the floor lineup today for Oregon State against Washington, our starting meet. I mean after yesterday, she could have been in line for a 40 today.

Rotation 1

Davis – VT – UW – bounce back on yfull, some knees in the air, good distance and direction. 9.750

Beeman – UB – OSU – blind to jaeger, a bit close, hit, lose some form – hits pak, small leg separation – stalder, pretty good rhythm today into double tuck, small lean on holding the landing. 9.800

Brooks – VT – UW – large bound forward on her y1/2 this week, an additional step-salute afterward. 9.675

Weaver – UB – OSU – short first hs – giant full, good completion position – hits gienger, legs together – clean bail hit – just a couple short casts – giant full to double tuck, stuck, minor stagger. 9.875

Innes – VT – UW – bounce back on yfull, good height, starts with really nice form, adds a pike position toward the end. 9.700

Caso – UB – OSU – good first hs – maloney to pak, slightly low on pak but fine – van leeuwen, good legs together – stalder with some elbows into double tuck, step back

Navarro – VT – UW – solid control on her yfull landing, hop up in place, comes in slightly forward. 9.775

“You want your armpits to be open” LOL

McMillan – UB – OSU – toe on to maloney, small leg break, connects to bail, good crisp vertical position – shorter final cast hs – DLO, some piking – step back. 9.825

SKW – VT – UW – good amplitude and position on her yfull, bounce back, much better height and distance than the first four. 9.800

Briones – UB – OSU – falls on her initial jaeger, lovely form in the feet but takes it too far. They have four usable counters before this and Carey to come, so it should be fine. Resumes with pak, balance check stepping up to high, DLO, just a small rebound.

Cunningham – VT – UW – great stick on her yfull, good distance and form, chest down a bit at the end to find the landing. 9.875

Carey – UB – OSU – a bit short on first hs – maloney to bhardwaj, nice leg position – van leeuwen, small amount of legs at the beginning – FTDT, holds the landing. Good. 9.975. Yesterday is alive and well.

TIL that you can take deductions on vault. Who knew. Washington goes 48.900 in the first rotation, will trail Oregon State by .4 after their 49.300 on Jade. I mean bars. That’s their best bars total of the season.

Rotation 2

Garcia – VT – OSU – pretty large bounce back on her yfull, maintains nice position in the air. 9.725 The difference between Kaitlin Garcia and Natalie Briones is Jim’s Waterloo.

Moody – UB – UW – a bit shy on first hs – toe on to maloney to pak, loses the legs at the end of the pak – FTDT, small shuffle back, chest down. 9.825

Briones – VT – OSU – also has a larger bounce back on her yfull, not as large as Garcia – good block, little pike at the end. 9.775

Oh Alisa, telling us that the judges are taking a .1 for flexed feet on vault. Wouldn’t that be nice.

Russon – UB – UW – short first hs – blind, big pause with elbow break on high bar but works through it into jaeger to overshoot, solid releases – short hs – giant full, nice finish position into stuck double tuck. 9.750

Letzsch – VT – OSU – hop back on her yfull, again smaller than the previous two – small pike throughout. 9.850, high for this meet, expected for most. 

Oppegard – UB – UW – short first hs – blind to jaeger, good height – bail, short of vertical – DLO, really shy and takes it to her knees. 9.075

Gonzales – VT – OSU – ro full on back pike, smaller hop back, not quite as strong as last week but a good one – chest up well. 9.875

Brooks – UB – UW – shaposh with some legs apart to clear hit to bail, good vertical, just some legs apart throughout the combination – better cast hs positions – giant full somewhat late, connects to double tuck, hop forward. 9.775

Dagen – VT – OSU – hits her Y1.5 with a pace forward, knees throughout. 9.850

Tubbs – UB – UW – good first hs – toe on to maloney, some legs into bail, hit – DLO, small hop back. Best positions in the lineup so far. 9.850

Carey – VT – OSU – DTY, so glad we saw Raschilla’s back throughout – looks like a secure landing, so this will be interesting – good stick – legs apart on the table, some knees throughout. 9.950.

Definitely Carey’s best of the year, but not as good as Chiles’ 9.975 yesterday.

SKW – UB – UW – piked jaeger to overshoot, legs together well – blind to front giant 1/2, small pause – double tuck with an arm wave. Good one. 9.925

Oregon State with another 49.300 on vault. Killough Wilhelm’s score takes Washington to 49.125 on bars and over 196 pace through the first two events.

After 2:
Oregon State 98.600
Washington 98.025

Rotation 3

Brooks – BB – UW – full turn is hit – kickover, small pause but pretty much keeps moving into bhs, secure – switch to split, hit – aerial, connects to beat jump, solid amplitude in beat – stag to gainer full, one of her most secure beam routines, some rhythm things in those combos. 9.825

Peterson – FX – OSU – back 1.5 to front full, gets a bit low, crossover step – switch side 1/2 – switch 1/1 to straddle 1/2, some indistinct landing positions there – bizarre closeup during her double tuck, chest well short, lunge forward. 9.725

Roberts – BB – UW – bhs bhs loso, large break, can’t save and falls – switch, low back leg into a good stag ring – cat leap to gainer full, small step – 8.900

Miller – FX – OSU – double pike, controls her step, chest up – switch 1/2 to popa, around – back 1.5 to front lay, some legs, not the highest, under control – double tuck, good. 9.825

Moody – BB – UW – bhs loso is secure – switch, pause before split jump, arm wave, broken dance connection – full turn is hit – side aerial to split jump, hit, some feet – holds onto the 1.5 landing, but I would say no dance combination in that routine. Alisa is talking about adding the split jump after the side aerial, but that doesn’t do anything for the dance req.

The Cal/AZ State and Minnesota/Illinois meets are also about to get started.

9.600 for Moody that will count.

Young – FX – OSU – double pike hit, some movement with front foot – double tuck, controls the front foot on that one – switch to split ring full, shows split, would like to see a little more ring – front lay to front full, pulls out the landing but short with a little shuffle. 9.800

Navarro – BB – UW – bhs bhs loso, right to the end of the beam, wobble, step, arm wave to keep it on – hits her beat to switch side – full turn, hit – hits her 1.5 dismount with some leg crossing. 9.750

Andi Li opens with a near stick on her yfull for Cal, step-salute back. Reeves opens for Arizona State on bars – blind, good toes into a high jaeger to overshoot and clips her feet on the mat on the swing through – DLO, good controlled landing, small leg break. 9.850 for Li, 9.600 for Reeves.

Back in Washington, Kennedi Davis is up 5th on beam in a must-hit situation – bhs bhs loso is hit with an arm wave, some soft leg position throughout the combination – 1.5 dismount, stuck. 9.850

Samiley – UB – AZ State – hits a high jaeger to overshoot, some feet in the jaeger – short cast hs on high – DLO, legs together nicely, shuffle back. 9.775

Casey Brown is up third on vault for Cal today and goes with just the full and it’s nice, small rebound. 9.825

Mangahas – UB – AZ State – hits first hs – blind to piked jaeger to overshoot, good amplitude in that combination – FTDT, solid control. Nice one.

Dagen in the 5th spot for Oregon Stat eon floor, finishes with a hit double pike, slide back. 9.900

DeSouza – VT – Cal – Y1.5 great stick today, one of her best, has that leg separation on the block, a bit of direction, some knees. 9.925

Killough Wilhelm falls on beam in the anchor spot for Washington on her aerial. And a second fall. So they’ll have to count that 8.9.

Scharf – UB – ASU – maloney is hit into pak, clean – 1/2 turn on low, a bit late but within reason – some elbows on giants – FTDT, stuck. Good. 9.900

Lauzon – VT – Cal – good Y1.5 from her as well – small hop forward though should get the reward for stronger form compared to DeSouza. 9.925

Letzsch is anchoring floor for Oregon State today – back 1.5 to front full is hit, a little low but under control – switch ring full to sissone, very pretty work there – double tuck, chest forward, lunge ahead. 9.800

Frazier – VT – Cal – holds onto the stick on her DTY, chest forward and a little arm wave to hold it. Just 9.850 for her because of the chest position and the arm balance swing. That would have been 9.950 at a lot of meets yesterday.

Clark – UB – ASU – anchoring following three strong scores – blind, good position into a hit jaeger – pak, small leg break – 1/2 turn on low, a bit of angle – DLO, clean leg position, small shuffle on landing.

Oregon State gets a fine 49.200 for their no-Jade floor rotation to stay on 197 pace. Washington stuck with a 47.925 on beam after counting an 8.

After 3:
Oregon State 147.800
Washington 145.950

Cal goes 49.425 on vault, which is close to the score from week 2 and more what they’re looking for from vault, since it’s typically their low number.

Clark finishes with 9.825 for Arizona State with 49.225, good bars start, one of their best bars of the season, a little shy of last week’s total.

Live scores aren’t working for the Minnesota/Illinois meet, but looks like Minnesota has a 49.300 on vault with a 9.975 for Hooten.

Rotation 2 for ASU and Cal

Reeves – VT – ASU – yfull is hit, medium bounce back and some piking throughout

DeSouza – UB – Cal – hits first hs – blind to piked jaeger to overshoot, good height and legs togther – FTDT, bounce back. 9.875

Peterson leads off beam for Oregon State, good bhs bhs loso series, small hesitation on full turn – switch 1/2 with an arm wave correction – gainer pike. 9.800

White – VT – ASU – better control on yfull, hop to the side, good layout position, some direction. 9.800

Frazier – UB – Cal – good first hs – maloney to pak, hit, some legs on pak – 1/2 turn on low – short final cast hs on high – DLO, chest down with a step forward but a hit. 9.800.

Mangahas – VT – ASU – better amplitude on her yfull, has the distance and direction, medium bounce back

Perea – UB – Cal – good opening pak, legs together – nice hs on low – toe on to van leeuwen, legs together – smooth hs on high – DLO, slide back. The high scores are there for them to get, but they’ll have to start sticking landings to get there. 9.875

Domingo on beam for OSU with a really nice aerial to back tuck combination, smooth connection – full turn with a wobble – swtich to straddler jump to split jump 3/4, holds it with subtle arm wave gaienr full stuck. 9.850

Smith – VT – ASU – lands short on Y1.5 today, step back and additional step to the side to control

Williams – UB – Cal – clean on the maloney to pak – 1/2 turn on low, good vertical position – hits cast hs on high – DLO, stuck landing. Very nice.

And it’s a 9.975 for her. A THEME.

Theodorou – VT – ASU – ro 1/2 on tuck 1/2 is good – step back – some legs at the end, which she doesn’t always have. 9.800

Li – UB – Cal – good hs, pak is the highest of the bunch – good hs on low – legs together on van leeuwen – small arch on cast hs on high – giant full to double tuck, stuck. Nice one but won’t get the 10 she was set up for. 9.900

Scharf – VT – ASU – really nice amplitude on yfull, step back. 9.850

Lauzon – UB – Cal – toe on to maloney, a bit of legs into pak, hit – solid 1/2 turn on low – hits hs on high – FTDT, bounce back. 9.900 is higher than I would have thought since it was not as clean as Li’s.

9.850 for Scharf is the high on vault for Arizona State as they go 49.000 there.

Oregon State got 9.875 from Letzsch int he third spot on beam, where they have three hits so far.

Cal goes 49.525 on bars, that’s a high for them this season as they’re just shy of 198 pace after two events.

After 2:
Cal 98.950
Arizona State 98.225

Sydney Gonzales hits her aerial to back tuck for Oregon State in the 4th spot on beam – side aerial, nice – cat leap to switch 1/2, solid – gainer front full dismount, small movement. Good one. Apparently a very good one 9.950.

Navarro is 4th on floor for Washington, a couple 9.8s have been recorded before her – double tuck, controls the step, chest just a bit forward – switch side to popa, hits her positions – back 1.5 to front lay is secure – double pike to finish, chest down but hit. 9.825

Dagen – BB – Oregon St – bhs loso, small arm wave correction – switch, little hesitation before switch 1/2, hit – 1.5 dismount, stuck, just some knees. Good. 9.875

DeSouza starts beam for Cal – cat leap to aerial, holds it – bhs loso, small adjustment on landing but solid – beat to sheep, more secure – sissone – full turn is hit – 1.5 dismount, holds the stick. Useful start. 9.900

We have Carey back on beam finishing the meet for Oregon State with a 9.950 already in this rotation – forward roll mount – full turn, hit – aerial to split jump is secure – bhs loso, also solid, some leg position – switch, small pause before switch side but gets the combination – gainer full, hit. 9.950

Oregon State goes 49.500 on beam and finishes on a big 197.300 road score. I mean, actually I suppose 197.300 isn’t that big right now given when happened yesterday, but it’s still a good road score.

Williams – BB – Cal – wolf double – aerial to split jump, clean – bhs loso, nice layout position – switch to beat, keeps it moving – bhs gainer full is pretty low, chest forward and a step. 9.800

Minnesota went 49.175 on bars.

Clark – FX – ASU – 2nd up following 9.725 from Lee – double pike, controls the step well, chest up – back 1.5 to lay, has to whip over the lay – double tuck, chest down but holds the step. 9.850

Li – BB – Cal – aerial to split is smooth – bhs loso is solid as well – full turn, small check – beat to sheep, holds it – gainer tuck full, good stick. 9.900

Jaslow – FX – ASU – double pike, hits under control – switch side to popa, good lift – front lay to front full, also well controlled – double tuck final pass is deeper int he chest position on landing. 9.825

Washington finishes with a good 49.275 floor, but this won’t be a counter because of that beam rotation, 195.225 total.

Frazier – BB – Cal – full turn, hit – aerial, check, no connection – bhs loso, leg-up wobble – switch ring to split jump, beautiful flexibility – 1.5 dismount hop forward. 9.725

White – FX – ASU – really strong front 2/1 landing – back 1.5 to front lay slide forward – switch ring to switch 1/2, pretty good positions – front full to front lay, control is good. 9.900

Lauzon – BB – Cal – wolf single, nice – bhs bhs loso, lovely leg position through that – switch to split, looked like she lost some back leg split there – high 2/1 dismount, slight leg position, stuck. Good one. 9.925

Mangahas – FX – ASU – FTDT, chest low, holds onto the landing – front tuck through to double tuck, secure with some foot flexing – switch 1/2 to wolf full wolf full, around well – 9.900

Perea – BB – Cal – wolf double is hit – kickover, keeps moving to back tuck, wobble, leg up a bit – switch to split, tight on the split position – side somi to immediate tuck 1.5, good landing today. Should improve on the Frazier 9.725 some. Or a lot. 9.900 there.

Scharf – FX – ASU – front tuck through to double tuck, high chest position on that landing – front full to front tuck – switch 1/2, short back leg, into wolf full – double pike, nice position, should be a good floor total.

Cal goes 49.425 on beam (they were probably the Williams gainer full away from a program record here because hers was almost perfect before that), staying on high 197 pace if floor is a hit.

Scharf goes 9.950, just that, to get Arizona State to 49.425 on floor as well. They’re still more than a fall behind Cal, but this is shaping up to be a really good total if they can survive beam.

After 3:
Cal 148.375
Arizona State 147.650

Minnesota has a fall from Seria Johnson in the 4th spot on beam so needs two big hits to end the rotation.

Rotation 4

Lee – BB – ASU – full turn, hit – bhs bhs loso series with a lean – split jump to sheep, a bit under on split but good sheep – 1.5 dismount, step forward. 9.800

Perea – FX – Cal – ro double tuck, controlled her step – ro double pike with a slide back – wolf double is hit – switch 1/2 to wolf full, pulls it around – back 1.5 to front lay with a bit of a rebound. Looked a little stiff but an improved hit. 9.825

Harper – BB – ASU – kickover, just a bit deep but keeps moving into bhs well – cat leap to switch 1/2, secure, loses her foot position in the air – bhs gainer full, a little low, step back. 9.800

DeSouza – FX – Cal – front rudi to double stag, shows control on her landing – double pike, large bounce back and looked maybe OOB though we couldn’t see from our angle because the team was in the way – back 1.5 to front full is controlled well. 9.850. So apparently not OOB.

Reeves – BB – ASU – bhs bhs loso, arm wave lean, knees throughout – switch to split, low back leg on split – aerial is solid – back 1.5, hop to the side. 9.750

Williams – FX – Cal – front lay to rudi, controls the step – wolf double, more comfortable – switch 1/2 to split jump, shows good positions – double tuck is a problem, chest down, bounce back, and definitely OOB there. 9.650

Clark – BB – ASU – full turn, hit – bhs loso, love the attention to amplitude in that combination – split jump to stag ring is nice as well – aerial, small hesitation – bhs 1.5, nearly holds the landing with a step forward. 9.875

Li – FX – Cal – front 2/1 with a huge bounce forward out of it and no connection – front full to front lay, does pull it around to her feet but it’s super deep, tucks around the layout. 9.550

It’s all falling apart on floor for Cal now.

White – BB – ASU – bhs loso is pretty – aerial, good straight position, keeps going into beat jump – split jump to stag ring, good – bhs 1.5, step forward. 9.850

Lauzon – FX – Cal – front 2/1 to front tuck is nice – switch side to popa, good amplitude – back 1.5 to front full, nearly holds the landing, a bit of a slide forward – much better. And it’s 9.950. Well they needed that.

Scharf – BB – ASU – wolf double is good – bhs loso, high, small lean to the side – side somi, holds it – switch to split, hit – 1.5 dismount, step forward. 9.825

Frazier – FX – Cal – DLO, bounce back – switch ring to switch 1/2 to sissone – front tuck through to double tuck, good control on that one. Will up that score. And she also gets 9.950, which I take some issue with given that DLO.

Arizona State goes 49.150 on beam for a 196.800 total, a very useful road number for them.

Cal ends up getting 49.225 on floor anyway thanks for Lauzon and Frazier. It’s a season high 197.600, but they’ll also know they could have matched what the top teams did this week with a fully hit floor rotation.

In other news, Minnesota ended up having to eat a 48.650 on beam but still leads Illinois, which has been in the 48s on all three of the first rotations and is now on beam. Otherwise, there’s still a little bit of time before Penn State/Michigan State.

Mya Hooten finished the meet for Minnesota on floor – good secure landing on FTDT, switch side and popa are around well – front full to front pike is stuck, and good rise in front pike out of the front full – double tuck, good chest up, small foot movement.

And it looks like a 10.

Minnesota goes 49.550 on floor to get up to 196.675 despite the beam total. Illinois does get its first 49 rotation on beam with a 49.125 but finishes on 195.775.

And now to spend some time with Michigan State and Penn State.

Oregon State’s result has made it more difficult for Michigan State to pass them this week, but a 197.375 today would do it.

At least, if this meet ever starts.

Rotation 1 – Michigan State and Penn State

Nyah Smith – VT – MSU – good control on her yfull landing,  some chest forward position. 9.850

Johanson – UB – PSU – good first hs – toe on to tkatchev, clean – short cast hs on high – pak, small leg break, good extension – 1/2 turn on low – shortish final cast hs as well – DLO, bounce back. 9.675. So this is a different bars scoring world than we’re used to this weekend.

Schulte – VT – MSU – yfull, small slide back on landing and then a step-salute – good position. 9.850

Johnston – UB – PSU – short hs – maloney to bail, comfortable – some body position and angle on high bar cast hs – giant full to double tuck, well short on double tuck with a sliding bound forward. 9.700

Garcia – VT – MSU – hits her yfull as well, not as high in the landing position as the last two, only a little movement again though. 9.850

Vihrova – UB – PSU – short first hs – blind to jaeger, very close catch, lots of elbows – bail was hit – giant full, solid finish position into double tuck, small hop back. 9.750

Kellerman – VT – MSU – handspring pike 1/2, pretty large bounce back this week, came in deeper than she has lately. 9.750

Mace – UB – PSU – good first hs – toe on to maloney, some legs into pak connected – 1/2 turn on low with a bit of hesitation – short hs on high – DLO, chest forward, little hop. 9.775

“Gymnastics is all about contagion.” OK……?

Nikki Smith – VT – MSU – good open on her Y1.5, medium hop forward. 9.875

Piedrahita – UB – PSU – short hs – toe on to maloney to pak, pretty work therer – hesitation on 1/2 turn on low with some body position – better cast hs on high – FTDT got a tad low, step back.

Stephen – VT – MSU – pretty yfull, holds onto the landing with a little lean forward. 9.925, so one judge went perfect even though she did not show landing control. A fun trend of the weekend.

Rushlow – UB – PSU – blind to jaeger to overshoot, good toes throughout, fingertipped the jaeger – arches back in cast on high – FTDT, hits with chest down, small movement. Good. 9.850

A big 49.350 on vault for Michigan State.

Rushlow’s 9.850 leads the Penn State rotation, but they’ll be sub 49 with a 48.875 there, so a pretty big margin for MSU already. That 49.350 is exactly the pace they’ll need to maintain to move ahead of Oregon State and into the top 12.

Rotation 2

Vihrova – VT – Penn State – handspring front pike, 9.9 start, small hop forward. 9.775

Schulte – UB – MSU – little arch in first hs – hits maloney to bail, slightly short on bail position, little foot separation – good final cast hs – DLO, nice height, great landing. Ideal finish there. 9.825

Johnston – VT – PSU – yfull, struggles to maintain the layout shape with quite a bit of pike – bounce back. 9.750

Stephen – UB – MSU – toe on to maloney, hit – clear hip on high with a leg break, connects to bail – some loose back position in cast handstand positions – FTDT, stuck. Another good finish. 9.875

Herring – VT – PSU – better amplitude on her yfull, smaller bounce back, also some pike but not as much. 9.775

Jackard – UB – MSU – good first hs – blind to jaeger, takes it too far and falls. resumes with a clean bail – good hs on high – giant full to double tuck, nice shape, gets deep in the landing. 9.200

Salcedo – VT – PSU – shows a good Omelianchik – small hop forward, just a little tucking at the end. 9.800

Zsarmani – UB – MSU – good first hs – pak, legs together well – hits hs on low – maloney to gienger, legs together well – short cast hs on high – flings her DLO a little but finds the landing. 9.875

Johanson – VT – PSU – nice yfull, holds the control on landing with just a small rebound, good height and position. 9.850

Nikki Smith – UB – MSU – good first hs – toe on to maloney to pak, some feet – 1/2 turn on low, hits vertical – DLO, pretty, nice stick. Good one. Risking some loose back position deductions in those handstands even when getting to vertical. Or not. 9.925.

Piedrahita – VT – PSU – she nails the landing on her Omelianchik – very good, just some direction. 9.925

Harkness – UB – MSU – good hs – toe on to gienger, nice position in the air – bail, legs together well, possible hip angle  – solid cast hs – FTDT, gets the stick, stagger in the feet. Good landings in this rotation for MSU. 9.900.

Big rotation fro 49.400 for Michigan State. Penn State will also be pretty pleased with the vaulting there for 49.125, their top vault score of the season.

After 2:
Michigan State 98.750
Penn State 98.000

Rotation 3

Kalefe – BB – MSU – full turn, hit – bhs bhs loso, check, turn to the side and some arms – switch to tuck jump full, works it out into beat jump – gainer full, holds the stick. 9.800

Rushlow – FX – PSU – double tuck, chest up, under control – switch ring to split full wolf full, good positions but gets a little out of control – 1.5 to front lay, low on the layout, loses the straight shape and has to slide back – rudi, bounce back. 9.700

Zsarmani – BB – MSU – kickover, large break, bend at the hips to horizontal with an arm wave – redoes it for series, tries to keep moving into bhs but was off the whole way and falls -switch to straddle 1/4 – full turn, check – 1.5 dismount, lunge back. 9.175

Piedrahita – FX – PSU – double pike, good control – 1.5 to front lay, hit, a little flat – switch 1/2 to wolf full, around, a bit under on switch position – double tuck, chest down, step forward. 9.825

Schulte – BB – MSU – full turn – switch to switch 1/2 to beat, pretty good split positions there – bhs loso, holds it, avoids the check – swtich to gainer full, sticks, chest forward. 9.875

Vihrova – FX – PSU – double tuck, small step forward, nearly stuck but ended up showing that she was short with that step – switch ring to split leap full, pulls it around, looked a bit short of split – front lay to front full, hits despite being low, some knee form but under control – double pike, lunge back OOB. 9.650

Nikki Smith – BB – MSU – bhs loso, wobble with leg up – switch to straddle 1/4, arm wave – full turn – double tuck dismount, small hop back and then a little step additionally. 9.775

Salcedo – FX – PSU – switch leap full to sissone, lovely foot positions – double front, step forward, a little bit of cowboy, but 50 bonus points for doing a double front – switch side to shushunova – front lay to front full to front pike, step forward. 9.825

The thing about floor is “very unique” and “personality”

Stephen – BB – MSU – aerial to two feet, hit – full turn – bhs loso, good amplitude on that – beat to split 1/2, excellent pretty split position – 2/1, stuck. Excellent routine. 9.900

Johanson – FX – PSU – double pike, large stumble, a couple lunges, stayed in – back 1.5 to 1/2 to straight jump is hit – double tuck, under control, chest down. 9.700

Garcia – BB – MSU – full turn is smooth – bhs loso is solid – aerial to split jump, nice positions on both – switch to split, clear 180s – bhs gainer full, stuck. Nice. 9.925

Herring – FX – PSU – double arabian – secure landing, presents quickly, some leg stagger in landing – back 1.5 to front lay, leg separation int he 1.5 – switch side to popa is well done – double tuck, lunge back and an extra step. 9.625. Pretty surprised that was the lowest score for them though.

So a 49.275 beam rotation for Michigan State with two really strong ones to finish. That will keep the 197 expectation alive with only floor to come.

Penn State on just 48.700 for floor, taking them back under 196 pace with beam still to come.

After 3:
Michigan State 148.025
Penn State 146.700

Rotation 4

Piedrahita – BB – PSU – bhs loso series, secure, some knee position – cat leap to side aerial, held – switch to tuck jump 3/4, around – 1.5, holds the landing with a lean. Solid beam opener. 9.800

Nyah Smith – FX – MSU – front tuck through to double tuck, small rebound – switch side to popa, shows 180 – back 1.5 to layout, a bit shy in layout, has to arch it around some – double pike, strong landing. 9.850

Salcedo – BB – PSU – smooth full turn – bhs loso series, large bend, ends up nearly going over to horizontal – standing front is hit – wolf jump, good attention to doing it non-terribly – split jump to straddle 3/4, lean forward – front lay full dismount, stuck. Heir to the Ava Verdeflor routine where it’s beautiful and I love everything about it and also there were 7 major wobbles. 9.700

Kalefe – FX – MSU – front 2/1, mostly keeps it under control – cat leap to switch to wolf hop full to shushunova, gets pretty low in that extensive leap combination at the end – punch rudi to loso right into the corner, nice – 9.900

Gibble – BB – PSU – aerial, wobble, leg up to horizontal – full turn, hit – bhs loso, solid – cat leap to switch side, large bend at the hips – beat to split ring jump – cartwheel 1.5, step forward. 9.650

Harkness – FX – MSU – FTDT is very short, two lunges forward, avoided putting her hands down, but a major deduction – swtich to split full to wolf full, nice positions – front through to double tuck, short again, not as bad, step forward. 9.500

Rushlow – BB – PSU – beat to split jump 3/4, lean correction, beat amplitude is SO much better than everyone else, excellent – bhs loso, secure – cat leap to side aerial, hit – full turn, held it – 1.5, stuck. Some really nice stuff. 9.775

Stephen – FX – MSU – front tuck through to double pike, well controlled – switch 1/2 to wolf full to straddle, good rise – front 2/1, controls the landing, some leg crossing – 9.875

Herring – BB – PSU – kickover with a bit of a pause before bhs – side womi, wobble, leg up – hitch kick to switch side, hit, somewhat crooked – front tuck full off the end, hop forward. 9.675

Philosophy: If every skill is unique, maybe they aren’t….

Schulte – FX – MSU – FTDT, some leg apart position in the air – switch 1/2 to popa to straddle jump is hit – front tuck through to double tuck -9.925

Johnston – BB – PSU – bhs loso hit with some soft legs – split to sheep, small adjustment on landing – side aerial, secure – full turn – 1.5, stuck landing, just some knee position in places. 9.825

Nikki Smith – FX – FTDT, good position in the air, slide back – switch 1/2 to popa, good execution there – 1.5 to front lay, hit under control, slightly arched around in lay – double tuck, comfortable, chest up, perhaps another slide. 9.875

Michigan State 49.425 on floor to finish a strong day and a usable 197.450 final score, which is a season high. Penn State finishes on 195.475, which ties a season low. That’s enough to put Michigan State ahead of Oregon State and into 12th place for the moment.

On to Arizona against Stanford? Why not.

Rotation 1

Chrobok – VT – Stanford – yfull, some of her best landing control, small hop back, some direction. 9.775

Linton – UB – Arizona – hits her maloney to pak, small leg break – 1/2 turn on low – small arch in low back on high bar – DLO, chest forward, hop. 9.675

Neault – VT – Stanford – ro full on 10/10 for effort to Kyla Bryant, but it’s Luconi, not Lucino – ro full on back pike, chest a little forward, hop. 9.775

McCabe – UB – Arizona – good first hs – blind to piked jaeger, solid – bail, just a bit of hip angle, gets to vertical – short casst hs on high – DLO, holds the landing with some chest position. 9.825

Widner – VT – Stanford – solid yfull – thought she might have the stick, ends up with a slide back – some direction. 9.775

Brovedani – UB – Arizona – arches first hs, pulls it back – maloney to pak, good amplitude but misses her hand on the pak on low and can’t catch, tough clatter to the mat. She’ll be looked at by the trainer and won’t resume.

Brunette – VT – Stanford – yfull, larger bounce back, best dynamics so far. 9.800

Nguyen goes ahead on vault next, hits a yfull, solid distance, bounce up in place, chest forward. 9.800

Long bars delay as the figure out what to do with Brovedani’s score.

Larusso – UB – Arizona – blind to jaeger, caught, some feet – bail, some hip angle, hits it – short cast hs on high – FTDT, chest up, bounce back. Putting up a usable hit. 9.700

Roberts – VT – Stanford – pretty Y1.5 in the air, good direction, bounce forward. 9.875

Hargrove – UB – Arizona – good first hs – giant full to tkatchev, solid – short cast hs on high – bail, nice position there – better final cast hs on high – FTDT, slightly jarred rebound. Best so far.

Stanford goes 49.025 on vault, about on par with what they have been doing.

Fears – UB – AZ – nice first hs – tkatchev, good – strong hs – clear hip to bail – nice toes in all her hit casts – DLO, holds the landing with a lean forward. Good final two routines there.

Looks like the scores died. Oh, Stanford, you were doing so well for almost a rotation.

We’re back with the scores. Hargrove went 9.775 and Fears 9.800. Thought they would both have been a little higher actually. Seemed like no reward for Fears’ form. Arizona on 48.775 for bars.

Rotation 2

Herry – VT – Arizona – nice control on her yfull landing, can take for distance, some legs at the end. Good one. 9.775

Dean – UB – Stanford – Tkatchev, hit – pak, nice legs together position – hits hs on high – giant full a little past, double tuck, lean to hold the stick – 9.825

Mueller – VT – Arizona – also solid control on her yfull with a small hop to the side, some pike throughout. 9.725

Brunette – UB – Stanford – good first hs – 1/2 turn into deltchev, hit connected to overshoot – a bit shy on final cast hs on high – DLO, step back. 9.750

Strom – VT – AZ – large bounce back on an uncontrolled yfull – some pike throughout – 9.600

Neault – UB – Stanford – maloney to pak, good leg positions – 1/2 turn on low – gets up to vertical on high – toe full to double tuck, holds the landing. Nice. 9.850

Hargrove – VT – AZ – good Y1.5, nearly found the stuck landing, leaning forward, small step – nice form in the air. 9.900

Alexeeva – UB – Stanford – toe 1/2 to piked jaeger, nice – short cast hs to follow – hits pak, a bit low – struggles with her hand placement on 1/2 turn on low, hits the mat and then can’t continue, stops against the low bar – and then just dismounts with a flyaway.

Nosek – VT – AZ – clean yfull, slide back, again will probably get a distance deduction, but a nice one.

Roberts – UB – Stanford – short first hs – pak is lovely – better hs on toe – toe on to van leeuwen, leg break – giant full, solid vertical into double tuck, holds the landing.

Larusso – VT – AZ – similar yfull to Nosek, bounce back, solid form.

With the 9.900 from Hargrove and a couple other 9.8s, Arizona gets to 49 on vault.

Widner – UB – Stanford – good first hs – tkatchev, falls, which means we have a counting fall for Stanford – resumes with a giant full to bail, nice vertical – solid cast hs on high – DLO, bounce back. 9.200 for Widner, so Stanford goes 48.475 on bars.

After 2:
Arizona 97.775
Stanford 97.500

Sorrento does exhibition on bars for Stanford, hits a maloney to pak combination, lots of back sway but hit – giant full to double tuck.

Rotation 3

Dean – BB – Stanford – full turn, good – side aerial to bhs is comfortable – switch 1/2 to beat, pretty nice position shown – 1.5 dismount, good stick. Really strong start. 9.875

Orman – FX – Arizona – front lay to rudi, bounce back – switch side to popa, around – double pike, some knees and chest down, controls the landing. 9.725

Onyshko – BB – Stanford – aerial to bhs bhs, shows connection – switch ring to beat, secure – full turn, hit – gainer pike, stuck. 9.925.

Herry – FX – Arizona – double tuck, bounce back – switch 1/2 to popa is hit – back 1.5 to front lay, good control of layout position – double pike, controls the step back. 9.775

Alexeeva – BB – Stanford – wolf double, hit – bhs loso, good back leg extension, controls the landing – switch 1/2, looked a bit under from our aerial angle, connects to beat jump – gainer front full off the end, stuck landing. Good. 9.925

We’re going to see a 49.8 in sec.

Strom – FX – Arizona – front lay to rudi, chest down – switch to switch ring 1/2, around, a little under position – 1.5 to front full, lands short, covers but a step – 9.575

Neault – BB – Stanford – bhs loso, solid, slight soft knee – smooth full turn – aerial, wobble – split jump to split ring jump, secure, some foot flexing – 1.5, stuck. 9.850

Larusso – FX – Arizona – front 2/1, hits, controls the step forward – cat leap to sdei side to popa, under split position on the popa – back 1.5 to front lay, tucks around the lay a little bit – rudi, rebound back. 9.700

Roberts – BB – Stanford – hits wolf – switch side attempt was risking no credit, back leg very short of split – bhs loso, leg up wobble – side aerial to split jump, good split position – 1.5, good distance and stick. 9.775 is fairly charitable for that switch side.

Mueller – FX – Arizona – double pike, good lift, little rebound – nice lift into switch side popa, good positions – 1.5 to front lay, maintains a solid layout position there – double tuck, maybe a little slide back. best of the rotation. 9.825

Widner – BB – Stanford – switch to split, great back leg positions – bhs loso, smoothly done – aerial, good amplitude into split jump – full turn, hit – bhs gainer full, maybe a little movement. Strong. 9.925

Big 49.500 for Stanford on beam.

Hargrove – FX – Arizona – FTDT, controls the step, chest down – back 1/2 front full , nice straight body position – switch ring to split leap full, looked under on those split positions – double tuck, controls the step, chest up. 9.825

Arizona 48.850 on floor.

After 3:
Stanford 147.000
Arizona 146.625

Stanford back in contention to salvage a solid 196 here.

Rotation 4

Fears – BB – Arizona – bhs loso, nice positions, good control – cat leap to side aerial, check, small lean to the side – beat to stag ring, secure landing – 1.5 dismount, holds the stick with a lean. 9.775

Dean – FX – Stanford – double pike, slide back, chest down – switch full, slightly under rotation but pretty much around – back 1.5 to front full is solidly controlled – switch 1/2 to popa, hit. 9.875. Strap in.

Herry – BB – Arizona – good full turn – bhs loso, nice amplitude there – side somi, holds it – straddle jump to straddle 1/2, a bit under on straddle half – bhs 1.5, small hop forward. 9.825

Brunette – FX – Stanford – front lay to rudi, chest up, controls the step, some leg separation in the air – split leap full to wolf full, around, wolf position could be splittier – double tuck, just a bit forward, step. 9.800

Hargrove – BB – Arizona – staddle cut mount – bhs loso loso series, right to the end of the beam, secure landing – full turn, overturns it a little – split jump to sheep jump, not the most closure, secure landing – 1.5 dismount, holds onto the landing with a pretty large lean forward to keep it – step-salute. 9.850

Neault – FX – Stanford – double pike, controls her front foot, some chest position – rudi, smoothly comfortable landing, a bit of leg position – swtich to split ring full – back 1.5 to front lay, dances out. 9.850

Mueller – BB – Arizona – side aerial to loso, hit well, just some knee position – full turn, comfortable – switch to straddle, well connected – beat, nicely crisp – 1.5, small hop. Good one. 9.850

Zeng – FX – Stanford – front lay to rudi, under control, a bit low – split leap full to popa to straight jump full – double tuck, step back OOB – 9.675

Burhans – BB – Arizona – full turn – bhs loso, solid – cat leap to side aerial with a wobble – split jump to split ring jump, nice back leg height – gainer full, stuck. 9.775

Nguyen – FX – Stanford – DLO, good height, controls her front foot – switch side to popa, possible short switch side but we got the aerial view of that one – 2.5 to front lay attempt, has to tuck around that layout to get it to her feet – 9.850

Linton – BB – Arizona – bhs bhs loso and falls, not what we were expecting to end this rotation – resumes with switch to split to beat jump, nice – hop back on gainer full dismount.

Roberts – FX – Stanford – front lay to rudi, lovely lift into rudi, clean position – double tuck, chest up, controls her step – switch 1/2 to popa –

So that’s going to be a season high for Stanford with a counting fall on bars.

Still waiting on the score for Roberts, but Arizona is done on 195.700 and Stanford is on 196.050 before Roberts, so still inclufing the 9.675 from Zeng. Stanford’s season high to this point was 196.225.

The 9.900 for Roberts gets Stanford to 196.275 for this one.