| Wednesday, April 2 | |||
| 2:00pm ET/ 11:00am PT | Penn State Play-In Maryland v West Virginia | SCORES | ESPN+ |
| 4:00pm ET/ 1:00pm PT | Utah Play-In BYU v Utah State | SCORES | ESPN+ |
We open calmly and smoothly on the first day of regionals, as 36 teams become…34 teams.
Starting with Maryland and West Virginia, Maryland enters this one as the favorite by a few tenths, but the key scoring opportunity for West Virginia will be the third rotation on floor. Maryland will want to accumulate a lead in the first two rotations to be able to withstand rotation three.
Rotation 1
Buckmon – VT – Maryland – yfull, nearly finds stick, ends up chest forward with a step. 9.750
Alban – UB – WVU – good first hs – clear hip to big gienger, takes it too far and falls – resumes with a hit bail – shy on hs on high – DLO, shorter, step forward. 8.900
A nervy start.
Engelmayer – VT – Maryland – yfull, solid, medium hop back, some pike. 9.725. Surprised it’s lower than Buckmon’s short landing step forward. 9.750 was high for that one.
Leigh – UB – WVU – short first hs – blind to jaeger, hit, some elbows – pak, leg separation – just short on some handstands – DLO, bigger bounce back. 9.700
Rothenbuescher – VT – Maryland – tsuk full, secures the landing, chest forward and a lean to the side, some pike and leg separation. 9.750
McDonnell – UB – WVU – toe on to Ray, hit – solid hs – pak, big straddle – a little past on 1/2 turn on low – short hs – DLO, piking, hop forward. 9.675
Rech – VT – Maryland – yfull, best form so far, medium bounce back, solid. 9.775
Irwin – UB – WVU – good hs – Jaeger , hit – short hs on high – bail hs – solid toe point throughout – DLO, piking, little hop to the side. 9.700
LeBlanc – VT – Maryland – yfull is a struggle, way short, large lunge forward, just keeps it to her feet. 9.625
Lowe – UB – WVU – short hs on high – piked jaeger, hit – short hs – solid amplitude on pak – just short on her hs – giant full to double tuck, hop back. 9.750
Martin – VT – Maryland – y1.5, solid hit, medium hop forward and some knees, good direction. 9.850
Macy – UB – WVU – short hs on high – piked jaeger to overshoot, hit, solid height – DLO, pike at the end, hop. 9.725
After 1: Maryland 48.850, West Virginia 48.550
West Virginia stays in it by dropping that fall, but Maryland has the lead they wanted after the first event.
Rotation 2
Alban – VT – WVU – yfull, larger bounce back than the Maryland fulls, some pike. 9.675
Gatzendorfer – UB – Maryland – toe on to maloney to pak, leg separation on pak – pretty far past on 1/2 turn on low – stalder to double tuck, solid landing, good chest position. 9.825
Tuohy – VT – WVU – yfull, solid stick on hers, pike and a bit of direction and distance to take. 9.750
Saville – UB – Maryland – toe on to maloney, legs, into pak, better legs together pak than the others – solid finish on 1/2 turn on low – hs on high, good vertical, some back position – DLO, nice landing. 9.850
Smith – VT – WVU – yfull, also solid, hop back, not too big, piking. 9.800
Brozowski – UB – Maryland – good first hs – blind to jaeger, hit – short hs on high – bail, a bit short and some legs apart – shy hs on high – DLO, well stuck.9.800
Nelson – VT – WVU – yfull, starts it quite tucked, then lays it out more, large bounce back. 9.650
Merchant – UB – Maryland – hits hs – toe on to Ray to overshoot, good amplitude – DLO 1/1, nearly sticks, arm circle and a step back. 9.825
DiCello – VT – WVU – yfull, medium bounce back and then a small step forward after the hop. 9.725
Rothenbuescher – UB – Maryland – tight first hs – jaeger to overshoot, hit, not as high as some of the others – hits hs on high – FTDT good stick. 9.850
Rice – VT – WVU – tsuk full, holds onto the stick but does it with a large lean forward, chest past horizontal. 9.750
LeBlanc – UB – Maryland – jaeger, good – hits hs – bail, maybe a little short – short hs on high – DLO, small bounce back. 9.800
After 2: Maryland 98.000, West Virginia 97.250
Big lead for Maryland now, better handstands and sticks on bars to develop a major advantage. West Virginia will need to hope that Maryland has issues on beam coming up.
Rotation 3
Brendlinger – BB – Maryland – good full turn – bhs loso, hit, small correction to the side – cat to switch 1/2, short of split, another smaller lean check – kickover front, secure – 1.5 dmt, lower, holds onto the stick with a whole bending and arm adventure. 9.750
Alban – FX – WVU – double pike, solid foot position, deepish landing with slide – front lay to full, some leg separation on the lay – switch side, overturns a little into popa – double tuck, under control, slightly deep. 9.775
Hammer – BB – Maryland – bhs loso, small check – kickover, holds onto it, quick movement out – cat leap to switch 1/2, under split – switch to split, solid – full turn, slightly tentative but fine – gainer full, bounce back. 9.725
Rice – FX – WVU – rudi to split jump, good rebound, some legs on rudi – front lay to full, bit of form, bit of slide – switch side to shushunova is solid. 9.825
Rothenbuescher – BB – Maryland – kickover, pause and shoulder dip before bhs, that’s a broken combo – switch to switch 1/2, arm circle check – 2/1 dismount, lunge back. No acro series here, so shouldn’t start from 10. 9.550 still quite high there for me.
Lowe – FX – WVU – double tuck, under control, chest down – split leap full to jump full, around, just a little lower on the jump – 1.5 to lay, controls it – double pike, pulls it around but pretty deep with a lunge back. 9.700
Gatzendorfer – BB – Maryland – bhs bhs loso, hits it, some form at the end – switch to straddle 1/4, nice straddle position – full turn, wobble – switch tight with hesitation into split jump – gainer pike, little slide. 9.775
Maness – FX – WVU – split ring jump full, not quite around on turn – 1.5 to lay, under control, just a small leg separation – switch ring to switch 1/2 – rudi to split jump, a little travel back. 9.800
Martin – BB – Maryland – bhs loso, solid, best leg and foot position so far – cat to side aerial, secure, a little low – switch to switch, lower back leg on second switch – full turn – bhs 1.5, step forward. 9.850
Smith – FX – WVU – ftdt, a bit of a loose cannonball but lands it – chest down with step forward – switch 1/2 to popa to popa, around – front lay to rudi, controls the foot – 9.775
Komoroski – BB – Maryland – one arm bhs to loso, hits with a shiver check – aerial, another small check – switch to split, best leap extension and form so far – full turn – 1.5 dmt, hop forward. 9.900 with two checks and a hop, we’re feeling it now.
Leigh – FX – WVU – front 2/1, good control – switch side to popa, nice foot positions – rudi with some knees, into loso. 9.875
After 3: Maryland 147.000, West Virginia 146.300
West Virginia only barely gains on Maryland in the rotation where they needed to make a move, so Maryland should feel on cruise control at this point.
Scores have been weird, but the nice thing is that this score isn’t being ranked against scores from any other meets, so “consistency within the meet” is actually a thing in this case.
Rotation 4
Leigh – BB – WVU – bhs loso, secure, some foot position, maybe some knee, but could also just be her metal leg – full turn – cat leap to switch 1/2 to beat, not too bad on switch 1/2 position – side aerial, secure – front gainer full, little hop, cheats the rotation slightly on the beam before leaving. 9.800
Rech – FX – Maryland – front 2/1, nice height, maybe too much, slide forward, good twisting shape – double tuck, under control – split leap full to wolf full, a little under on split position, has the rotation – back 1.5 to layout, crisp layout position. Good. 9.850
Lowe – BB – WVU – full turn – bhs loso, wobble, turn to the side – side aerial, hits, small lean into beat jump – good split 3/4 – 1.5, short with a crossover step back. 9.700
Ruffing – FX – Maryland – double tuck, good legs together, chest down, quick hop to present but the step is forward – switch side to popa, shows position, some control adjustment – back 1.5 to 1/2 to double stag has some crazy legs in the barani, loses form and a little wild on the rebound leap. 9.800
Brown – BB – WVU – bhs bhs loso, very solid – full turn, little tentative – switch to straddle, comfortable – 2/1, nice control, just some stagger. And it’s a 9.900
LeBlanc – FX – Maryland – front 2/1, very slightly underrotated with crossover control step, good lift – back 1.5 to layout, comfortable – switch side, overturns to wolf full – rudi, under control. 9.900s popping now
Nelson – BB – WVU – bhs loso, very small adjustment, but solid – cat to side aerial, hit, some feet – cat to switch side, another small waver – gainer full, good amplitude, stuck. 9.725
Komoroski – FX – Maryland – rudi, slight front foot adjustment – switch ring to split ring full, good on the switch, a little lower on the jump – 1.5 to layout, solid, shoots out more horizontal but fine. 9.850
DiCello – BB- WVU – full turn – bhs loso loso is hit, bent back leg throughout – switch to switch, pulls it out with some leaning – 1.5, hop back. 9.775
Brendlinger – FX – Maryland – double tuck, good pop big bounce back – switch 1/2 to wolf 1.5, gets the wolf around but abbreviates the switch 1/2 to do so, short of position – front full to layout, solid. 9.850
Webster – BB – WVU – full turn, smoothest one – side aerial through to aerial round off, slower in front to front combo but will get it – cat leap to switch 1/2, check, under – wolf to beat – 1.5, holds landing with arm wave. 9.825
Rothenbuescher will scratch floor as Maryland has already won.
FINAL: Maryland 196.250, West Virginia 195.325
Pretty comfortable win for Maryland here, leading from the start, and some really strong moments there, especially bars and floor. Not a bad showing from West Virginia, but they didn’t have the bars scores and got beat by the cleaner team today.
On paper, BYU/Utah State should be the closer of today’s competitions, but that is dependent on Utah State getting out to a fast start on bars. They can’t allow BYU to build up a first rotation lead the way Maryland did.
BYU a lotta look. Like if you only did the top button.
Rotation 1
Dudley – VT – BYU – yfull, good distance, some pike, small slide back. 9.725
Orengo – UB – Utah St – blind to jaeger, good feet, connects to overshoot – hits hs on high – dlo, some piking, looks like a stick. 9.775
Earl – VT – BYU – y1/2, good late twist – hop forward, pike. 9.700
Vandertoolen – UB – Utah St – toe on to maloey to pak, good feet, small leg separations – hits 1/2 turn on low – short hs on high – stalder to double tuck, good stick. 9.800
Kirkham – VT – BYU – yfull, solid distance from her as well – bounce back, similar to Dudley, little more dynamic. 9.775
Bibbey – UB – Utah St – good hs – tkatchev, high, some foot form throughout – small arch on hs – clear hip to bail, little angle – solid hs on high – DLO, small step back. 9.750
Eaquinto – VT – BYU – yfull, tries to hold onto the landing, but ends up chest forward with a shuffle ahead, best amplitude so far. 9.825
Brooks – UB – Utah St – Ray, excellent feet, connects to overshoot – DLO, little bounce back and then can’t hold the finish position with another step. 9.800
Silva – VT – BYU – yfull, better layout position and feet, but a pretty big bounce back. 9.800
Kirstine – UB – Utah St – good hs – blind to jaeger to overshoot, solid – good hs on high – FTDT, chest down with a hop
Jorgensen – VT – BYU – ro full on back pike – little hop back and some chest position, solid. 9.825
Jelen – UB – Utah St – toe on to maloney to pak, some leg separation on both – a little past on 1/2 turn on low but close – solid hs on high – DLO, good stick. 9.800
After 1: BYU 48.950, Utah St 48.950
Tied after 1, but that’s a minor win for BYU since Utah State would have expected the better score in rotation 1.
Rotation 2
Vandertoolen – VT – Utah St – yfull, small hop back and then an extra step when trying to hold the finish, piking. 9.775
Kirkham – UB – BYU – toe on to maloney, leg separation, into bail, bit of angle there – DLO, little rebound. 9.775
Eagles – VT – Utah St – yfull – tucking throughout, chest forward, hop. 9.750 pretty high
Glazier – UB – BYU – blind to jaeger, a little low but hit – bail – some hip angle in these vertical positions – dlo, small movement. 9.825
Brooks – VT – Utah St – yfull – best height so far – knee position – bounce back and off direction. 9.700
Alvarado – UB – BYU – hit hs – toe on to maloney to bail, leg separations – little hesitation stepping up to high – good hs on high – DLO, slide back
Gatzlaff – VT – Utah St – yfull, high on the table but works for her – best distance of the bunch, bounce back. 9.800
Jorgensen – UB – BYU – short hs – Ray, hit, some elbows – hits hs, but some back position – toe on to bail, legs together better – short hs on high – DLO, hop back. 9.775
Medrano – VT – Utah St – yfull, solid height – sizeable bounce back, not as much distance as the last but good amplitude. 9.800
Eaquinto – UB – BYU – tight first hs – toe on to maloney to pak, legs together well – just borderline on a couple handstands – dlo, a step back
Orengo – VT – Utah St – gets no block on her yfull attempt and looks like she jammed her ankle on that very short landing with a fall
Bramblett-Wilde – UB – BYU – short hs on high – toe on to Ray, super high and fall and BYU counters with its own fall on the anchor routine – satys over and hits Ray into overshoot – DLO 1/1, step back
After 2: BYU 97.900, Utah State 97.775
Still close. Missed opportunity there for BYU to pad the lead with Bramblett-Wilde’s bars, but they’ll take the advantage after 2. Beam’s going to tell us the story in this one.
Rotation 3
Dudley – BB – BYU – bhs loso, secure, smallest lean coming out of it – switch to straddle 1/4, comfortable – cat leap to side aerial, short, saves it with a step forward and small lean – 1.5 dmt, hop forward. 9.700
Eagles – FX – Utah St – front lay to rudi, solid rise into rudi – switch side and a little into straddle jump – double tuck, deep landing bounce back. 9.675
Millar-Crossman – BB – BYU – bhs loso, check to the side – cat leap to switch 1/2, good horizontal in switch position, open hips but good split – beat to straddle 1/2 – front full, solid stick. 9.775
Stuart – FX – Utah St – back 1/2 to front full, good control, soft knees – switch ring to switch ring 1/2 – double tuck, also controlled, chest down. 9.750
Hoke – BB – BYU – bhs loso, solid series – full turn, comfortable – split to straddle 1/2, also nicely done – side aerial, secure – 1.5, shorter, small hop back. 9.850
Medrano – FX – Utah St – double pike, larger bounce back – back 1.5 to layout, controls it, lower on the layout than the 1.5 – switch 1/2 to wolf full – double tuck, another bounce back. 9.750
Margraf-Benson – BB – BYU – aerial to back tuck, secure landing, knee position on aerial – cat leap to kickover, holds it – full turn – switch to split – front full, holds stick with foot stagger. 9.775
Vater – FX – Utah St – front 2/1, lands under rotated with a huge crossover lunge that takes her OOB and falls, knee down as she lunged out of control – back 1.5 to layout is hit. 9.025
Silva – BB – BYU – hitch kick to aerial to bhs, connected, just a bit of knee – full turn wobble – beat to side aerial, good extensiopn, solid – split to a tight straddle 1/4 position – gainer full, little rebound in place. 9.775
Peterson – FX – Utah St – round off double tuck, big bounce back, just keeps it in bounds – switch side to popa – front lay to rudi to double stag, a little low but securely hit. 9.750
Andersen – BB – BYU – bhs loso, good form, secure – beat to straddle 1/2, hit – full turn – cat leap to side aerial, turned a little to the side – bhs gainer full, nice stick. 9.900
Utah State doesn’t have enough people at this point after the Orengo vault injury to put up a 6th on floor, so that’s probably that as the 9.025 will count.
After 3: BYU 146.975, Utah State 145.775
Rotation 4
Jelen – BB – Utah St – full turn – side aerial to bhs, off line, saved it but a big lean to the side chest down – double stag with a wobble – stuck gainer full. 9.550
Millar-Crossman – FX – BYU – double tuck, controls step back – switch half to…..something? – got caught and did an accidental tuck jump full – switch side 1/2 to popa now, pulls it around – front lay to front full, super short, stumble back and falls. 9.000
BYU’s like, WE WILL MAKE THIS INTERESTING
Eagles – BB – Utah St – full turn – bhs loso solid – side aerial, knee position, connects to a split jump – switch to split, short back leg in switch – 1.5 dmt, holds stick with lean forward. 9.775
Matern – FX – BYU – front 2/1, lunge forward – back 1.5 to layout, layout doesn’t rise above the 1.5 but fine – switch ring, looked like she almost had a foot messup too but gets her wolf hop full just fine – rudi. 9.800
Witte – BB – Utah St – bhs bhs loso, secure – split to split jump 3/4, wobble with leg up – aerial, hit – remember how well she scored as a junior elite? – full turn – gainer pike, little movement. 9.825
Dudley – FX – BYU – double pike, bounce back – switch side to wolf full, good position and completion – front full to layout, solid amplitude – double tuck, slide back. Good one. 9.800
Medrano – BB – Utah St – bhs loso and falls, so that 9.550 at least will count – beat to side aerial, hit – split to split jump 3/4 is strong – gainer full, solid. 9.200
Schooley-Meyers – FX – BYU – back 1.5 to front lay, lowish but hit, keeps step in bounds – switch ring to switch side 1/2, pulls that around – double tuck, some feet, under control. 9.850
Brooks – BB – Utah St – aerial, slow lean but keeps it going into one arm bhs, off line but saves it with a check – switch to korbut, hit – split to straddle 1/4 – gainer full, stuck. 9.800
Eaquinto – FX – BYU – double pike, well controlled – switch ring 1/2 to wolf full, under on the ring shape but a nice wolf full, good completion, high position – 1.5 to lay. 9.875
“They wanted to advance.” #analysis
Vater – BB – Utah St – full turn – aerial to back tuck is solid – switch to straddle 1/4, hit – beat – 1.5 dmt, large bound forward. 9.750
Andersen – FX – BYU – switch ring 1/2, best one of the lineup – rudi to straddle jump, good control to arrest her momentum into that straddle jump and go up instead of back – switch ring to switch 1/2 – back 1.5 to front lay, shuffle forward and OOB. 9.650
FINAL: BYU 195.950, Utah State 194.475
Well, it all went to pieces for Utah State with the Orengo injury, and then not having enough people to go on floor with a counting fall sealed it. BYU through with 195.950, which wouldn’t have sounded like a safe score to start the day, but ended up being plenty.