MEET WEEK 8
Friday, February 23
6:00pm ET/ 3:00pm PT	Big Five: [8] Michigan State, [14] Ohio State, [15] Minnesota, [23] Nebraska, Rutgers	Scores	BTN
6:00pm ET/ 3:00pm PT	Temple, LIU @ Towson	Scores	YT
7:00pm ET/ 4:00pm PT	[2] LSU @ [5] Florida	Scores	ESPN2
7:00pm ET/ 4:00pm PT	[13] Missouri @ [12] Auburn	Scores	SECN
7:00pm ET/ 4:00pm PT	[24] Ball State @ George Washington
7:00pm ET/ 4:00pm PT	Whitewater @ Oshkosh	Scores	FREE1 FREE2
7:00pm ET/ 4:00pm PT	Winona State @ Gustavus Adolphus	Scores	FREE
7:00pm ET/ 4:00pm PT	Winter Cup Junior Women	Scores	YT
7:30pm ET/ 4:30pm PT	North Carolina @ [24] Clemson	Scores	ACC+
8:00pm ET/ 5:00pm PT	[18] Georgia @ [10] Alabama	Scores	SEC+
8:00pm ET/ 5:00pm PT	West Virginia @ [1] Oklahoma	Scores	ESPN+
8:00pm ET/ 5:00pm PT	Stanford @ [4] Utah	Scores	P12N
8:00pm ET/ 5:00pm PT	Washington @ [20] Arizona State	Scores	P12N
8:00pm ET/ 5:00pm PT	Western Michigan, Alaska @ Illinois State	Scores	ESPN+
8:30pm ET/ 5:30pm PT	[6] Kentucky @ [16] Arkansas	Scores	SECN
9:00pm ET/ 6:00pm PT	[7] Denver @ [24] BYU	Scores	ESPN+
9:00pm ET/ 6:00pm PT	Boise State, Iowa State, TWU @ Utah State	Scores	FREE
10:00pm ET/ 7:00pm PT	Air Force @ Sacramento State	Scores	ON($)

LSU’s visit to Florida headlines the day’s action as a top-5 match-up, with both team’s looking to erase 197.1s that are still lingering around their NQS pictures. LSU can’t go any higher than 2nd this week, but Florida could get up to 4th if things involving Kentucky and Utah also break their way.

Meanwhile, Sarah and Suzanne would be rolling in their spa chairs to know that Georgia v. Alabama is the only SEC meet NOT on TV tonight.

In earliest action, MSU and Minnesota tied on 49.450 in the first rotation at Big Fives, Nikki Smith going 9.975 on vault and Mya Hooten going 9.975 on floor. The pace dribbled a bit in the second rotation with MSU scoring 49.225 on bars and Minnesota 49.025 on vault, allowing a lifeline for Ohio State after their opening 48.950 on beam.

OK, Florida and LSU. Nothing in, all regrets.

Rotation 1

Draser – VT – Florida – y1.5, finds the landing, ends up a bit short so has two small steps back and not as much distance as others will. 9.775

Jeffrey – UB – LSU – maloney to bail, legs together – rushes final hs a little – high FTDT, and has the now-usual deep squat to hold it with a little lean. 9.850

Blakely – VT – Florida – y1.5, solid landing, very small movement and off direction, good distance. 9.900

Cowan – UB – LSU – Ray, good, hit into overshoot, not trying for handstand but it’s high enough that she could – short on cast hs on high – DLO, hop back. 9.825

Nguyen – VT – Florida – y1.5, nice, small hop forward, not as dynamic as Blakely’s but better direction. 9.900

Johnson – UB – LSU – maloney to bail, hits vertical, little loose back moment on bail after catch – FORCEFUL handstand on high, with some chalkography – DLO, hop back. 9.825

Pilgrim – VT – Florida – y1.5, nearly finds the stick on hers, small movement to the side. And it goes 9.950. Would have liked to see a little more dynamics separation on some of these scores. We’re going to see bigger 1.5s and there’s no room to score that.

McClain – UB – LSU – back on bars today – Church to pak, good amplitude – lovely 1/2 turn position on low – hits cast hs on high – FTDT, small shuffle, two little steps. 9.825. Thought we would see a higher number, but two steps on dismount.

Ferris – VT – Florida – just a tad short coming in to land the y1.5 so has a shuffle back. 9.900, high for a short landing for me.

Schoenherr – UB – LSU – toe 1/2 to jaeger, good height – solid hs on high – toe on to bail, good vertical position – nice hs on high – double front 1/2 out, shorter with a hop forward. 9.850

Wong – VT – Florida – ro 1/2 on pike 1/2, small slide back. Good. And 9.950.

Bryant – UB – LSU – high jaeger, good – hits hs on high – bail, good vertical – blind to double front 1/2 out, a little form at the end, just a little rebound, good routine. 9.925

Which team is at home? I couldn’t tell. Just kidding, yes I can.

After 1
Florida 49.600
LSU 49.275

So we’re not sticking, that’s a theme. Florida still goes 49.600 on vault with no sticks, minimum possible deductions taken there. LSU solid on bars but not overwhelming. No significant errors but also giving away a bunch on most landings. Scored more along the lines of how…I would score it? I’m like, what a logical bars score.

Meanwhile Missouri has an .025 lead on Auburn after 1,

Rotation 2

Johnson – VT – LSU – yfull, good amplitude, hop back. 9.825

Blakely – UB – Florida -= good hs – maloney to pak, small leg break in maloney – hits 1/2 turn on low bar – a bit of elbow form to initiate 1/2 turn – double front, cowboy, good stick. 9.875

Finnegan – VT – LSU – Y1.5 is in again, but a large bound forward today. 9.800

Nguyen – UB – Florida – good first hs – maloney to pak, small leg separation – pause in position up to cast on low – short hs on high – DLO, slide back. Fought through it. 9.775

Drayton – VT – LSU – y1.5, good legs together position, finds the stick on her y1.5. 9.975 – judges scored themselves into a corner there since it was better than Florida’s 9.950s but not really a 10.

Disidore – UB – Florida – rushes first hs – hs to recast to do maloney – connects to pak – hits hs on low – van leeuwen, legs together – DLO, small hop back. 9.800

Schoenherr – VT – LSU – y1.5, just a tad short, small hop back. Solid. 9.875

Lazzari – UB – Florida – short first hs – good tkatchev – toe on to pak, good height – way short on cast hs on low – recasts to get her 1/2 turn also – FTDT, good landing, a bit of legs at the end. Florida struggling with cast hs today. 9.800

Kiya Johnson – VT – LSU – DTY is back, nice stick – some leg form in the air, comes in a little forward. 9.950

Pilgrim – UB – Florida – maloney to pak, hit, a bit low – works out her cast hs on high – FTDT, chest forward with a step. 9.800

Bryant – VT – LSU – handspring pike 1/2 – great, slide back. 9.925.

Wong – UB – Florida – maloney to pak – van leeuwen, legs together – hits hs on high – DLO, stuck. 9.950

After 2
Florida 98.825
LSU 98.825

Florida saved by Wong on bars but lost the lead in that rotation with a number of handstand problems for 49.225. Lots of landing scoring today, and they got saved by some sticks. LSU gets big vaults from Drayton, Johnson, and Bryant to go 49.550 to bring us to a tie after two events.

Missouri and Auburn still just .025 apart after 2 events,

Rotation 3

Draser – BB – Florida – bhs loso, secure – switch, to switch 1/2, some foot flexing – full turn – nearly wobbles on sideward choreo – 1.5 dismount, hop forward. 9.875

McClain – FX – LSU – DLO, small rebound back, good position in the air, doesn’t pike down the second salto like most of the college DLOs – switch to switch full, around – back 1.5 to front full, under control – nice. 9.900

Blakely – BB – Florida – aerial to bhs, comfortable – split leap to switch 1/2, some foot position, connects to beat jump – full turn with arm wave correction – gainer full, small hop back. 9.850

Drayton – FX – LSU – DLO, also very strong but not McClain’s, good control – front tuck to double tuck, lands slightly deep, controls her step – wolf single – switch ring to switch 1/2, very good – 9.925

Pilgrim – BB – Florida – hits candle mount – bhs loso, secure – full turn, most comfortable of the three yet – aerial, smooth – switch to split leap, pretty split positions – bhs gainer full, holds onto stick, chest a bit forward. And we have a 9.975. A couple chest position things for me in there on the loso and the dismount.

KJ Johnson – FX – LSU – FTDT, good landing control – back 1.5 to front lay, controls her step, a bit of leg separation in 1.5 – switch side, overturns a little into popa – double tuck, good foot position, under control. 9.950, we’re flying.

Lazzari – BB – Florida – bhs loso loso, solid – switch to split, pretty positions – aerial with a very large break, lean back and leg up wobble – full turn, another wobble – gainer full, solid height, stuck. 9.725

Finnegan – FX – LSU – double arabian, solid landing, small pause before stag jump but good elements – switch ring to split full, good – 2.5 to front tuck, secure landing.

And we have a 10 for Finnegan. LSU’s like, remember that time we were mad about the bars scoring, me neither.

Nguyen – BB – Florida – onodi, keeps working to bhs, moving through the little lean – switch to split, lovely back leg in switch, small arm wave on landing – 1.5, stuck, a bit of knees. Good. 9.950

Bryant – FX – LSU – double front, solid, just a liiiiiittle softy-forwardy on landing – switch through to split leap full – front lay to rudi, under control. Solid. 9.950

Wong – BB – Florida – switch to split leap, nice – bhs loso, good – full turn – aerial, was ever so slightly short but covered smoothly into beat jump – 2/1, some legs, holds onto the stick with some chest position. 9.975. There were enough maybe-almost-deductions in there. Wong and Nguyen both did a very good job of covering leans, but there’s still stuff going on there.

Kiya Johnson – FX – LSU – FTDT, small slide back – back 1.5 to front lay, good layout psoition – switch 1/2 to high popa – double pike, good stick, chest forward some. 9.950 is some anchor scoring there, with the movement on the first pass and chest position on the last.

LSU with a casual 49.775 on floor, Florida goes 49.625 on beam to keep it wild and crazy kids heading into the last rotation. And we’re expected to start keeping an eye on Oklahoma and Utah and Georgia/Alabama now too? How.

After 3:
LSU 148.600
Florida 148.450

LSU’s floor lineup is really excellent, best in the country, and if you’re scoring college gymnastics like college gymnastics is scored, it’s going to be 49.7+s every week. Which tells us that if you actually want to separate routines and establish who is the best among great versus just having everyone tied on WE’RE SO PROUD OF YOU, you have to start taking for things like flexed feet even on a hard pass from a gymnast with good form, for little pike positions, etc.

Rotation 4

Ballard – BB – LSU – bhs loso, lean correction – sissone, short back leg, into switch 1/2, secure – kickover, quick arm down to cover lean – 1.5 dismount, lunge forward. 9.825 similarly high to Florida’s rotation

Nguyen – FX – Florida – front 2/1, little pause but works it out into split – switch ring to switch 1/2, lovely – y spin, good – back 1.5 to front lay, sells the landing, was a little short, some movement back. 9.925

Beard – BB – LSU – bhs loso, big break, turn to the side, leg up wobble – switch, small check before straddle jump 1/2, I’d consider a broken connection but also, today, so no – side aerial, lean wobble – cat leap to gainer full, some pike, stuck. 9.675

Pilgrim – FX – Florida – front tuck through to double tuck, controls step back – split leap full to jump full jump full, good positions – double pike, a bit lower, slide back. 9.925

Oklahoma went 49.475 on vault, though most interesting development there may be a stick from Hawthorne in exhibition.

McClain – BB – LSU – switch to switch 1/2, hit – aerial to bhs, good – wolf jump, perfect – full turn, good – side aerial, smooth – gainer full, holds stick with a little lean. Very nice. 9.950

Bluffstone – FX – Florida – FTDT, gets it around, chest down, hop to present – front full to front full, lower which causes the crossover step – straddle elements a little under. 9.875. I mean.

Johnson – BB – LSU – full turn, arm correction – bhs loso, wobble – switch to switch, hits her positions, another balance correction though – kickover, solid – 2/1, small hop back. 9.825

LSU surviving in the scores but giving the lead away with these wobbly beams.

Blakely – FX – Florida – double tuck, landing under control – switch to switch ring 1/2, good height – back 1.5 to front full, under control, lower amplitude on second element – 9.975 of course –

Bryant – BB – LSU – aerial, works through to bhs, covering a lean well – switch to straddle 1/4, hit – full turn, a little movement – kickover, solid – rudi, holds stick with small lean. 9.950, also high for that one.

Richards – FX – Florida – DLO, gets it around, chest forward and she has hurt herself – didn’t see anything on the pass landing but then she really reacted as she started to dance out of it and now she’s down. Carried off now.

Finnegan – BB – LSU – bhs loso loso, lovely in the air, big wobble with a leg up correction – switch to split, rushing now with some small corrections – aerial, another small check – gainer full, hop back. 9.800.

Wong – FX – Florida – wolf double, pulls it around – DLO, under control, a bit forward – switch 1/2 to popa is good – back 1/2 to front full, under control, nice.

Meanwhile Utah got a leadoff 9.975 for Smith on bars, so dig in.

And Wong got a 10. I mean, no, but also you would have been shocked if it hadn’t.

FINAL
Florida 198.150
LSU 197.950

If I went back, I think I probably still would have LSU on top in this one (I know, no one is crying themselves to sleep for LSU’s scores with all those home crazies and basically a road 198 here with some high ones of their own, but within the meet…), but that was not a Win On The Road kind of final beam rotation, a shaky one that didn’t confirm a victory.

Meanwhile, Auburn ends up with the win over Missouri 197.425 to 197.000.

Oklahoma just went 49.700 on bars with a 9.975 for Bowers.

McCallum is up 5th on bars for Utah, clean first half, bit of an arch on her final cast hs and then a shorter dismount with hop forward.

Over in Alabama, Machado is anchoring bars after 9.950s from Blanco and Adams – good first hs, on the edge of going over but holds it, little arch – pak and van leeuwen hit, a bit shy on her hs posiition on high – toe full to double tuck. 9.875 and a 49.600 on bars for Alabama.

We’re underway with Arkansas and Kentucky – Frankie Price 3rd on vault for Arkansas with a good yfull but pretty big bounce back. 9.825

Rodriguez – UB – Kentucky – good first hs – tkatchev, hit, solid, not the highest – bail, legs looked together, slight angle – solid cast hs on high bar – DLO, good position, absorbs landing

Essenpries – VT – Arkansas – hits a y1.5, but a lunge forward and some knee position throughout, direction. 9.775

Procasky – UB – Kentucky – good first hs – maloney to pak, clean – 1/2 turn on low bar is very well done – hits cast hs positions, good toe point – DLO, small leg separation – holds onto DLO stick with a lean. Good one. 9.850

Klein – VT – Arkansas – y1.5, good height and direction, comes up slightly short with a step back. 9.825

Bunn – UB – Kentucky – blind to jaeger, hit, some foot flexing – bail, gets to vertical in the end – a it shy on final cast hs – DLO, good stick. 9.900

Williams – VT – Arkansas – y1.5, best one, small hop forward and some soft knees. Still gets 9.925.

Worley – UB – Kentucky – hits first hs – clear hip to tkatchev, solid – hits cast on high – good amplitude on pak – 1/2 turn on low – FTDT, deep landing with a step. 9.825

Arkansas on 49.400 on vault, Kentucky 49.275 on bars.

Checking in on Oklahoma for a bit, they have 9.925 Davis, 9.875 Wells, 9.950 Bowers to start beam. Torrez up 4th – good wolf jump – side aerial to loso is secure – full turn, comfortable – switch to straddle jump, lovely straddle position – gainer full, holds the landing, so that should score well.

And by well I mean she just got 9.975.

Utah started beam with 9.825 for Smith, Gantner is up 2nd – bhs loso, good foot positions, small pause before straddle – switch 1/2, under control into beat jump – full turn, wobble correction – punch front full dismount, hop forward. 9.775

Levasseur 5th on beam for Oklahoma – full turn, smooth – loso series, lovely – switch to straddle 1/4, hit – cat leap to aerial, some soft knee position – gainer full, stuck. And 9.950

Pratt is 2nd on bars for Arkansas, following 9.850 for Swaney, good first hs – Ray, hit with some foot position – bail, nice legs together – DLO, good height, bounce back

Smith – BB – Oklahoma – bhs loso, solid – aerial, smoothly strolls out of it – straddle jump 1/2 to korbut, good speed and elevation – gainer full, stuck. Let’s see.

Also McCallum just went 9.975 on beam while that was going. It’s all happening.

And it’s another 10 for Smith. Oklahoma goes 49.800 on beam (you guys) which ties a program record from last season. OU is on 148.975 after three events. We have potential Oklahoma record score watch going, so there’s that. 49.625 on floor would set a new one.

Back in Arkansas, Worley just landed short on her y1.5 for Kentucky with a lunge back

Park – Ub – Arkansas – hit Ray – pak, good height, some leg separation – DLO, nice stick, another small leg break. 9.850

Paulson is up on beam now for Utah following the McCallum 9.975 – side aerial to loso, secure – switch to split, solid – gainer full, stuck. Where do you go from here because that was a bit more foot-position refined than McCallum’s. And it’s another 9.975. Utah has three of those so far today.

Makenzie Wilson nearly held the stick on her handspring pike 1/2 for Kentucky but a little movement in the end. 9.875

Jones anchors bars for Arkansas – blind to a nice piked jaeger – pak, good clean position – DLO, stuck. Pretty one. 9.950

Arkansas goes 49.375 on bars to Kentucky’s 49.075 on vault. Arkansas 98.775 to 98.350 after 2.

O’Keefe – BB – Utah – switch to split leap, keeps moving through it with some arm position – side aerial to loso, secure – full turn, hit – bhs gaienr full, stuck. And a third 9.975 in a row. Also wouldn’t have been one of her 10s for me, but we have a…different range of routines all on 9.975 here.

Meanwhile Blanco is finishing beam for Alabama – lovely bhs loso loso series – switch to beat jump, nice – 1.5, a little low but sticks. 9.900. So…meets are different.

Oklahoma starts out floor with 9.925 for Davis. Johnson follows her, front lay to rudi, under control, a bit of knees – double tuck, controls it – switch 1/2, a little under, into wolf full. Another 9.925. What isn’t.

Maddie Jones in the second spot for Arkansas on beam has a bend at the waist wobble for 9.675 that they’ll want to drop.

Smith – FX – Oklahoma – double tuck, good foot position, controls her step back – back 1.5, misses her punch and corrects to do only a front tuck out of it, hit but low – nice leap positions – double pike, bounce back. Also she still got a 9.800 you guys.

Hutchinson not in the lineup for Denver today as they go 49.225 on bars to start against BYU.

Magnelli 3rd on floor for Kentucky, following 9.775 and 9.800 – rudi to loso, smooth – switch side to popa, excellent positions – double pike basically in the middle of the floor, hit. It’s been a tied-legs day for Kentucky but that was a nice one. 9.900

Levasseur – FX – Oklahoma – FTDT, chest up, under control, some leg separation – switch side 1/2 to shushunova, hit – back 1.5 to 1/2 to straddle jump, under control. Third 9.925 of the rotation.

Davis – FX – Kentucky – double pike, a bit out of control, slide back – switch side 1/2 to straddle 1/2 – back 1.5 to front lay, pretty positions – double tuck, solid. 9.900

Torrez up 5th for Oklahoma on floor – DLO, solid – good leg up full – split leap full to wolf full, good completion – front tuck through to double tuck, chest up. Do I hear another 9.925? No how silly of me, that was 9.950.

Klein saves a wobble for Arkansas on beam,

Brose 5th on floor for Kentucky, double pike with a small rebound – front full to front lay, clean – good front twisting form overall. And 9.950.

Bowers finishes the meet for Oklahoma, needs 9.900 for a record OU score – front 2/1 to front tuck, good form, just does control her step out – double pike, huge, slight movement – switch to switch 1/2 to wolf full, nice –

Linton anchors beam for Arkansas, working through a wobble as well on her loso series but staying on.

Worley – FX – Kentucky – FTDT, nice control – switch ring to switch side, very comfortable – front full to front lay, stuck – double tuck, chest up, good control.

Oh and it’s 9.975 for Bowers on floor. Oklahoma finishes on 198.675, which is an Oklahoma record and the fourth-highest score in NCAA history. Just that, you know how happens, behind UCLA and Stanford on 198.875 from that weekend in 2004, and then Florida two years ago on 198.775 at regionals.

9.975 for Worley on floor, it’s a theme. Kentucky goes 49.525 on floor to Arkansas, counting a couple 9.7s on beam for 48.950, so Kentucky tkaes the lead after three: 147.875 to 147.725.

Utah has three 9.9+s for its first three floor routines, obviously, Rucker up 4th: FTDT, chest down and a shuffle forward on landing – switch full, a tad under on landing, into shushunova – back 1.5 to front lay, hit, some leg separation. 9.850

Alexeeva fights through her leap combination in the 5th spot for Stanford on beam, but a lovely loso series in there as Stanford tries to hold onto a 196 here.

Meanwhile, Alabama is way out in front of Georgia, but they are finishing up with the last couple routines. Smith on beam for Georgia, large lean correction on front aerial, redoes, the aerial, comfortable into bhs bhs – switch to split, pretty – kickover is excellent – full turn – gainer full, stuck.

Also McCallum got a 10 on floor.

Blanco – FX – Alabama – front 2/1, a bit too much on the slide forward, nice position in the air – double tuck, under control, hops to present – front full to front lay, good lay position. And 9.950 for Blanco.

Chloe Widner got 9.975 on beam for Stanford, making that the fourth 9.975 on beam in this meet across 12 routines. Stanford gets to 196.625, which is very solid.

Gladieux finishes the meet for Alabama on floor – FTDT with some foot position in the air – split leap full to popa, pretty popa – rudi to split jump, good control. She gets, you guessed it, 9.975.

Alabama goes 49.750 on floor, which is a program record for Alabama (!), to finish on 198.075, which is tied for their third best score ever. For Alabama. Georgia is one on 196.975.

O’Keefe finishes floor for Utah with 9.925, so they ALSO end up on 198.075. Our fourth 198 of the day.

It’s finish-up time for Arkansas and Kentucky, Bunn third on beam for Kentucky, hits her bhs loso loso series – switch to split is solid – 2/1 dismount, holds onto landing but leans chest way forward with a swim to do so. Still 9.875.

Jones – FX – Arkansas – front 2/1, nice controlled step out – switch ring to switch 1/2, good position – back 1.5 to front lay, just a tad soft in body position but completed – rudi well done. And we have a 9.950. Arkansas is like, US TOO YOU KNOW.

Patterson – BB – Kentucky – full turn, nice – bhs loso, lovely foot positions, hit combination – aerial, just a little short but still connects to split jump, then a wobble, leg up and arm circle – cat leap to switch side, hit well – gainer pike, stuck. Mostly great but gave away enough on the aerial combo. 9.825

Smith – FX – Arkansas – front loso to double tuck, nice front, some cowboy in double tuck, small rebound – switch side and a little into popa – double pike, very nice. 9.925

Worley – BB – Kentucky – hits her switch side – aerial to bhs loso, solid – full turn – 1.5 dismount, step into salute and direction. 9.850

Williams – FX – Arkansas – high FTDT, good control – back 1.5 to well extended front layout – switch side to popa, some indistinct landing positions – double tuck, controls it. Probably clinches it. 9.950

Magnelli – BB – Kentucky – bhs loso loso, secure – switch to straddle 1/4, great – aerial, hit – full turn – gainer pike, holds onto stick. Good finish. 9.875

Price – FX – Arkansas – DLO, controls it, nice height, chest a bit forward – switch side and a quarter to high popa to popa – front full to front lay. 9.975 for Price (some things to take there, so it was fairly situational), Arkansas still waiting for its 10.

Kentucky gets a 197.150 road, which will be a drop score. Arkansas wins on 197.400, a home high for the season and their fourth-best score ever.