Thursday, April 3
1:00pm ET/ 10:00am PT	Penn State Semifinal 1 [8] Michigan State [9] Kentucky Ohio State Penn State	SCORES	ESPN+
3:00pm ET/ 12:00pm PT	Utah Semifinal 1 [5] UCLA [12] Minnesota Southern Utah Boise State	SCORES	ESPN+
3:00pm ET/ 12:00pm PT	Alabama Play-In Clemson v Rutgers	SCORES	ESPN+
5:00pm ET/ 2:00pm PT	Washington Play-In Illinois v UC Davis	SCORES	ESPN+
7:00pm ET/ 4:00pm PT	Penn State Semifinal 2 [1] LSU [16] Arkansas Michigan Maryland	SCORES	ESPN+
9:00pm ET/ 6:00pm PT	Utah Semifinal 2 [4] Utah [13] Stanford Denver BYU	SCORES	ESPN+

Things get going in earnest today as our 34 remaining teams will have become 24 by the time night rolls around.

Starting us off is the first semifinal from Penn State, where the scores tell us that Michigan State and Kentucky should jump out to a lead from the first rotation and keep it. So any time they’re not 1-2 here, it’s reason to open at least half an eye.

Ohio State’s leo inspired by those mazes you would draw in 6th grade. Anyone? Anyone?

Rotation 1

Rodriguez – VT – Kentucky – yfull, holds the stick to open, small pike, legs a little far apart. 9850

Washington starts bars for Ohio St, double tuck bounce back

Maul – BB – Penn St – bhs bhs loso, very nice – full turn – switch to straddle 1/4, comfortable, shows the split on straddle – 1.5 dmt is low, lands short with a slide back. Nice on the beam. 9.800

Harkness opens with secure FTDT on floor – finishes front to double tuck, well controlled. And a 9.900 to start.

Procasky – VT – Kentucky – yfull, also quite nice, good open and a stick. 9.900

Walker – UB – Ohio St – blind to piked jaeger – hits hs on high – pak -only small leg break – giant full to double tuck, flexed feet, good stick. 9.825

Leary – BB – Penn St – also secure on her bhs bhs loso series, comfortable sheep jump – nice stick on 1.5. 9.850

Tucker – FX – MSU – rudi to floaty loso – double turn to switch 1/2 straddle, love it – front 2/1, just a bit of knees. 9.825

Rizo – VT – Kentucky – yfull, bigger bounce back, good dynamics – 9.800

McElligott – BB – Penn St – bhs bhs loso, small adjustment lean but hit – switch to straddle 1/4, a little tight on the 1/4 – 1.5 dmt, some knees, hop forward. 9.825

Reutzel can’t find the stick on her well executed DLO, little quiver and then doesn’t hold the finish position

Wilson – VT – Kentucky – hs pike 1/2, another strong stick, just some chest position and maybe distance. 9.900

Salcedo – BB – Penn St – stylish full turn – bhs loso hit – front tuck is secure – wolf jump – split to straddle 3/4, rushes the 3/4 around so doesn’t quite get to split but hit – small movement on dmt. 9.825

Vetter – UB – Ohio St – hits her high tkatchev, some feet – bail, a little shy – FTDT nice stick

Magnelli – VT – Kentucky – hs pike 1/2, nearly finds the big stick, ends up with an arm circle to try to control it, more distance than Wilson. 9.875

Stephen – FX – MSU – front tuck through to rudi, slide back – switc h 1/2 to wolf full, good lift in wolf full – loso to knee – front 2/1, controls it. 9.900

Latronica – BB – Penn St – good aerial to beat – bhs loso, secure – full turn, a little tight but fine – split jump to stag ring, good ring shown – gainer full, low but secure. 9.850

Rader – UB – Ohio St – toe on to maloney to pak, legs togther on pak – rushes 1/2 turn on low – borderline casts – DLO, good stick, just a tad deep

SKW – VT – Kentucky – y1.5 is kind of scary, lands locked legged but she seems fine – hits it, not her best with a stutter step to the side. 9.825

Smith – FX – Michigan St – ftdt, under control, small leg separation – switch side 1/2 to straddle – front tuck through to double tuck, also under control. 9.900

Johnston with a lean to the side wobble on beam for Penn St –

Parks – UB – Ohio St – toe on to maloney to pak, some leg break – 1/2 turn on low – balance check stepping up to high hits hs on high – DLO, step to the side. 9.750

Minervini – BB – Towson – bhs through to side aerial, hit – split to split 3/4, not bad on the split position, check – full turn – gainer full, some pike, stuck

Schulte – FX – MSU – FTDT, bounce back – switch 1/2 to popa to straddle jump, good – front tuck through to double tuck, chest down, step forward. 9.850 too high there.

Dehaan falls on piked jaeger on bars.

We expect whichever of Kentucky and MSU doesn’t qualify to dominate the individual qualifiers, so I’m looking at all these 9.900 ties on their first events as a prospective mess, but a long way to go.

Sheremeta – FX – George Washington – back 1.5 to layout, good control, some leg separation on 1/5 – switch ring to switch 1/2 to wolf full, balance check NO IT’S CHOREO on landing – rudi, controls front foot

After 1:
Michigan State 49.400, Kentucky 49.350, Penn State 49.150, Ohio State 49.000

High quality first rotation. Everyone should be happy with their performances, but as expected, Michigan State and Kentucky have jumped out in front.

Good use of Penn logo instead of the Penn State logo finishing that video.

There was a shot of Mike talking to someone about the vault and I immediately had Sydney moments but everything seems fine. We’re just not well mentally.

Rotation 2

Tucker – VT – MSU – y1.5 lands short, step back. 9.850 too high for short vault with step and knees

Rizo on bars for Kentucky, finds stick on DLO with some piking. 9.800

Guevara – BB – Ohio St – bhs loso secure – cat to switch 1/2, hit, under split – 2/1 bounce back. 9.800

Maul controls double tuck well on floor for Penn State – switch 1/2, solid split position – back 1.5 to layout gets low amplitude but pulls it out. 9.775

Doyle – VT – MSU – good height on y1.5, bounce forward, small leg break in the air. 9.850

Reigert – UB – Kentucky – high jaeger, good feet – rushes hs a bit – toe on to bail, legs together well – giant full, a bit past, into double tuck, step forward. 9.825

Smith – BB – Ohio St – hits wolf double – kickover, a little slow into bhs but a fine connection – beat jump – straddle, little wobble before straddle 1/4, a questionable connection – sticks gainer full. 9.750

Kaempfer finishes floor with rudi to straddle jump, some leg form, then 1.5 to layout, under control, a little low on layout with arch. 9.750

Zsarmani – VT – MSU – y1.5, nice one, good direction, hop forward. 9.900

Procasky – UB – Kentucky – good first hs – toe on to maloney to pak, small leg separations, smooth – past on 1/2 turn on low – DLO, good stick. 9.925, we’re flying now, and the separation is growing

Walker – BB – Ohio St – full turn, good style but a little teeter – bhs loso, sturdy – cat leap to layout to beat, smooth – tight switch side, secure but under position – gainer pike is well short, bound forward

Smith – VT – MSU – y1.5, nearly finds the stick but ends up short with a step back. 9.850, I guess a more reasonable 9.850 with short landing because it was less short and there’s not much else to take

Rivelli – UB – Kentucky – nice jaeger into overshoot, good feet – DLO, stuck. 9.900

Vetter – BB – Ohio St – bhs loso, solid – beat jump to side aerial, switch to straddle 1/4, good – gainer full, stuck, very solid. 9.900

Stephen – VT – MSU – y1.5, excellent stick, let’s see what they do with that one,

Rodriguez – UB – Kentucky – good hs – tkatchev, not the highest but good form – clear hip to bail, legs together – DLO, excellent. 9.900

And we have a 10.000 for Stephen on vault. Not that mad at it.

Raider – BB – Ohio St – bhs loso, solid – cat leap to side aerial, also secure – switch split jump to straddle 1/4, good amplitude on leaps, a little lower on acro – gainer full, step back

Kellerman – VT – MSU – hs pike 1/2, very strong stick – chest up fairly well, more than Wilson – just not that much distance. 9.925

SKW – UB – Kentucky – blind to piked jaeger to overshoot, smooth – hits hs on high – DLO, bounce back and another small movement

McElligott FX – Penn St – double tuck, solid landing – switch ring to switch ring 1/2, could use a little more closure – 1.5 to layout, small adjustment

Montevago – UB – George washington – toe on to tkatchev, excellent – rushes hs on high – bail hs, legs together – hits hs on high – toe on to stalder to double tuck, holds the stick

Nice bhs mount from DeHaan. Hits her double turn like a proper Russian.

Minervini – Towson – FX – rudi under control – switch full, a little under rotated – 1.5 to layout, solid amplitude

After 2:
Michigan State 98.925, Kentucky 98.775, Penn State 98.300, Ohio State 98.075

Same story. Penn State and Ohio State are doing solid work but Michigan State and Kentucky are on one so far. Would basically need to mess up beam at this point for it to get dicey.

Rotation 3

Monahan – VT – Penn St – tsuk tuck full, hit, some foot position, hop forward – 9.750

Doyle – UB MSU – piked jaeger, hit – solid hs – toe on, pauses a little short, pulls it through – pak, small leg break – double tuck is a good stick. 9.850

Rodriguez – BB – Kentucky – switch, little teeter into split jump – bhs bhs loso, secure, soft knees – full turn – kickover 1/4, hit – dmt stuck. 9.850

Washington on floor for Ohio St, high double pike but lands chest forward – double tuck, little bounce back

Vihrova – VT – Penn St – handspring front pike, larger bound forward. 9.725

“Put in gymnasts who weren’t as popular during the season” is hilarious

Stephen – UB – MSU – maloney to bail, small leg separation – a little tight on final cast hs – FTDT, good stick. And we have 9.950

Brose – BB – Kentucky – high front tuck, nice stick – kickover with a wobble, leg up to the side – has to redo the kickover, a little slow into bhs but will get the series because college, another check on bhs – switch to beat – 1.5 dmt holds stick. 9.675

Nice layout position out of her 1.5 on floor for Grimes.

Kamepfer – VT – PSU – yfull, hit, little bounce back and some soft knees throughout

Zsarmani – UB – MSU – maloney to pak, legs together well – hits 1/2 turn on low – DLO, little bounce back, very clean. 9.850.

Big wobble with arm circles and a turn to the side for Lee on beam for Kentucky. 9.750 is forgiving there.

Guevara – FX – Ohio St – front 2/1 to front tuck, under control, some twisting position – switch side to popa, hit – rudi to loso, nice in the air, little foot adjustment on landing

I love that Kennedy has picked up beam wind as a comment.

Leary sticks yfull for Penn St. 9.850

Bennett – BB – Kentucky – bhs loso loso is secure – cat leap to aerial, smooth – switch to beat is good – gainer pike, stuck. Best one I’ve seen her do. 9.900

Smith nails bars for MSU, just small bounce back on DLO

Vetter – FX – Ohio ST – double tuck, good air position, comes in a little too forward – front lay to rudi, has the height in rudi, little leg break on layout. 9.850

Salcedo – VT – Penn St – lands short on her Omelianchik with a shuffle back. 9.725

SKW – BB – Kentucky – – aerial, little lean into bhs loso but keeps moving – full turn – switch to beat – side aerial to 1.5, holds stick. 9.900

Harkness – UB – MSU – toe on to gienger, nice – DLO, full tenth bounce back

Johnston – VT – Penn St – hits yfull, little .05 scoot to the side, knees

Gregory – FX – Ohio St – front lay to rudi, some ragged position and a bounce – front lay to full a little short

Magnelli – BB – Kentucky – bhs loso loso is solid – switch to high straddle 1/4, excellent – aerial, comfortable – full turn – gainer pike is stuck. 9.950

Minervini – VT – Towson – ro full on back pike – a little short with hop forward and some chest position

Kellerman – UB – MSU – blind to jaeger, solid – bail, legs together, good vertical – DLO, chest a little forward with a hop

Hong finishes beam for Towson with front full, good stick

Rader – FX – Ohio St – double pike, bounce back – 1.5 to front tuck is comfortable – split leap full to popas, pretty well around – double tuck, short, chest down, lunge forward

DeHaan – FX – George Washington – double pike, good position, bounce back – rudi to straddle jump, some travel – switch side to straddle 1/2 shushunova – front lay to front loso is fun

After 3:
Michigan State 148.375, Kentucky 148.125, Penn St 147.250, Ohio State 147.175

So this one moving in a specific direction, Michigan St with enough buffer now even to miss on beam. Will be interesting to compare the MSU and Kentucky final scores heading to Saturday.

Rotation 4

Washington – VT – Ohio St – good lift on yfull, small bounce back, some pike

Johnston – UB – Penn St – maloney to bail, overbalances bail, nearllllly pulls it back in sheep position, ends up falling

Schulte – BB – MSU – full turn – switch to switch 1/2, high, check into beat jump – bhs loso, secure – switch to gainer full, holds stick. 9.850

Procasky – FX – Kentucky – front lay front full, under control – switch ring to split 1.5, about an eighth under, Donatella is fine with it – double tuck, chest up, controls landing

Guevara Ohio St, bigger bounce back on yfull

Duplissis – BB – MSU – bhs bhs loso, arm wave turn to the side – hits split ump 3/4 with arm adjustment – 1.5 dmt, arm circle to hold landing. 9.775

Vihrova hits bars for Penn St in the second spot.

Magnelli – FX – Kentucky – rudi to loso, hit, some leg form in rudi – switch side 1/2 to straddle, slightly out of control – double pike, keeps front foot under control. 9.875

Misenheimer – BB – MSU – full turn – aerial to split jump, knee on aerial but solid – bhs loso, hit, small lean adjustment, feet on loso – switch to split, solid – 1.5 dmt, hop forward. 9.750

Grimes – VT – Ohio St – good height on yfull, little bounce back

Rizo – FX – Kentucky – hits double pike – double tuck, also under control – split leap 1.5, also a little under – switch 1/2 to popa, not quite around on her leaps – back 1.5 to layout, does well to pull out stick because she was low.

Harkness – BB – MSU – bhs loso, small adjustment – switch to switch combination is solid – side aerial, comfortable – cat leap to side aerial to tuck 1.5, hop forward. 9/850

Gallentine – UB – Penn St – toe on to maloney, leg separation, into smooth pak – 1/2 turn on low bar gets wild, leg separation and past hs – DLO, hop back

Smith VT – Ohio St – y1.5, nice form throughout, medium hop forward

Rodriguez – FX – Kentucky – rudi to back lay, smooth – switch ring to split leap full, gets a little low but around – double tuck, big stumble back and OOB. 9/575

Smith – BB – MSU hits series securely, just some foot form – beat to straddle 1/2, small check – full turn to beat – double tuck dmt, little bounce

Latronica – UB – Penn St – piked jaeger, good form – hits hs – bail, legs together, a little shy of vertical – toe on to toe pike 1/2 out, hop forward

SKW – FX – Kentucky – front 2/1, controls it – switch to switch ring 1/2 – back 1.5 to high layout, stays in, pretty layout. 9.90-0

Stephen – BB – MSU – aerial to 2 feet, little wobble – bhs loso, secure – beat to straddle 1/2, solid – stuck dmt, better stick than on her 10 last time. 9.900

DeHaan – VT – GW – yfull, good open, little bounce

Barbanente – UB = Penn St – piked jaeger to overshoot, hit,some foot form – short hs on high – DLO, chest down, hop forward

Brose – FX – Kentucky – double pike, good form, lands comfortably – split leap full to wolf full, a little under on wolf position – nice lay in combo as well – front 2/1, good twist position controls it

Willlldest dismount trip for Sheremeta on beam, she’s cracking up, foot slipped off as she ran for gainer. 9.950

FINAL:
Michigan State 197.625, Kentucky 197.525, Ohio State 196.400, Penn State 196.225

Michigan State and Kentucky through. Saturday’s going to be gooooood.

Minervini finishes out bars with a pretty DLO stick.

Whitman – FX – George Washington – double front, short landing with a step back – front 2/1 to front lay, under control – switch side to 1/2 shushunova – front 2/1, slide forward

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On to the first semifinal in Utah as well as the play-in for Alabama with Clemson and Rutgers. Will focus on the semifinal, but if it gets boring…

Rotation 1

Randolph opens bars for SUU, hop back on DLO

Pearl – VT – Minnesota – good height on yfull, bounce back. 9775

No McGowan today for UCLA.

Rosen – FX – UCLA – double tuck, comfortable – double pike, chest downm, keeps step in bounds – switch ring to switch 1/2 to wolf, under split on switch 1/2 position – back 1/5 to layout, a little low, pulls it out. 9/800

Vulaj – BB – Boise St – gainer bhs to loso, secure, knee form – kickover, hit, a little deep – 1.5 dmt, slide forward. 9.775

Steensland VT – Minnesota – yfull, solid height, small bounce back,some foot form. 9.825

Neff – UB – SUU – good first hs – toe on to maloney to bail, legs together well – hits hs on high – DLO, hop

Kho – BB – Boise St – hits candle mount – bhs back pike series, leg up check – full turn, over turns a little – aerial, wobble – switch to switch 1/2, more secure, under split – gainer full, stuck. 9.725

MWL – FX – UCLA – front 2/1 is nice – 1.5 to layout, clean layout position – switch ring and switch 1/2 are comfortable – rudi, bounce back. 9.850

Moraw good yfull stuck for Minnesota. 9.875

Hampton – UB – SUU – blind to jaeger, hit, some elbows – pak, leg break – good hs on high – DLO, little hop. 9.850

Lopez fall on beam for Boise State in the third spot.

Crump – VT – Minnesota – high y1.5 but a large lunge forward out. 9.800

Ferguson – UB – SUU – good piked jaeger – toe on to pak, legs together – a bit shy on high bar hs – DLO, step back. 9.800

Malabuyo – FX – UCLA – double pike bounce back – switch ring to switch 1/2 to wolf full, well done – struggles on wolf double, foot slips under 2 turns and then a wobble stumble – back 1.5 to layout, hit. 9.750

Loyim pulls out her triple series on beam for Boise St, step back to keep it on the beam – side aerial, hit – switch to switch, a bit under split –

Christensen – UB – SUU – blinmd to piked jaeger, little leg break – toe on to bail, hits vertical, little foot separation – DLO, little deep, step back. 9.800

Stewart – VT – Minnesota – y1.5, hits with step to the side out of the area. 9.800

Campbell – FX – UCLA – FTDT, solid, small shin separation – split leap full to popa, comfortable – front lay to rudi, smooth – double tuck, solid. 9.925

Shchennikova rights things on beam for Boise State. First 9.8 of the rotation.

Hooten – VT – Minnesota – y1.5, good height, step forward, some knee position – 9.850

Routsis finishes bars for SUU with a short DLO, hop forward

Moors – FX – UCLA – front 2/1 to front tuck, hit – switch to switch 1/2 to wolf full, around well – rudi, controls front foot. 9.950 with a 9.900-10.000 range

Leitch hits bhs back pike for Boise St – switch to a short split jump 3/4 with leg up wobble – kickover, wobble –

Bergstrom – UB – Iowa St – jaeger, hit, some feet – bail, legs together – very short hs on high – double tuck dismount, close to the bar with a lunge back

Chiles – FX – UCLA – DLO, high, little pike down at the end with a tiny rebound adjustment – split leap full to wolf full, hit – dive roll, no trouble – front tuck through to double tuck, some feet, under control. 9.975 for her with a 9.950-10.000 even split. With the 9.950s there.

Nice beam stick for Slife.

Adams – FX – Iowa State – front 2/1, just a little underrotated with a crossover lunge – split leap full to jump full – front lay to rudi, a ;little lower on the rudi, under control

After 1: UCLA 49.500, Minnesota 49.150, Southern Utah 49.075, Boise State 48.700

Southern Utah with a pretty clean bars rotation, Neff a highlight there, keeping Minnesota honest after 1.

Rutgers has a .075 lead on Clemson after 1 as neither got the scores they wanted.

Rotation 2

Lee – VT – UCLA – clean yfull in the air but lands chest forward with a little rebound. 9.850 is high for chest forward

Jencks – UB – Minnesota – tkatchev, hit – clear hip to bail, hip angle on catch – tight hs on high – DLO, good landing. 9.850

Randolph hits kickover to bhs loso on beam for SUU, 1.5, stuck. 9.875

Anastasi – VT – UCLA – y1.5, lands shorter with a step back. 9.725

Vulaj finishes on FX with double pike, solid height, slide back

Harrington – UB- Minnesota – maloney to pak with some leg breaks – 1/2 turn on low, a little past – cast hs – some back position – FTDT with leg position, chest adjustment to hold landing

Christensen step forward on dmt for SUU.

Moors – VT – UCLA – really nice landing on hs pike 1/2, one of her best, actually probably her best one. 9.925

Kemp OOB on FTDT on floor for Boise State

Bringhurst – BB – SUU – bhs loso secure – beat to spklit 3/4 is around – kickover, small adjustment – 1.5, hop forward, some leg crossing

Crump holds stick on DLO on bars with an arm wave

MWL – VT – UCLA – nearly finds the landing but comes in short with step back and then another adjustment 9.850 with a 9.750-9.900 split. High scores for short 1.5s has been a theme today.

Leitch – FX – Boise St – double pike, bounce back, keeps it in – front lay to front full, hit – double tuck, chest down, hop forward

Miller on beam for SUU with not a bad switch 1/2 as far as they go, good leg positions in this one – 2/1, bounce back

Stewart – UB – Minnesotsa – malaoney to pak is nice – van leeuwen, legs together – toe o n pike 1/2 is high, sticks it, comes in just a little deep on landing. 9.900

Campbell with a slide back on her yfull today. 9.875

Ferguson – BB – SUU – wolf double is solid – bhs, can’t connect anything and has to grab the beam, tries to pretend it’s choreo but it’s a beam grab – redoes the bhs into side somi, an unusual combo – beat to split jump 3/4, under split, secure landing – gainer pike, step back

Chiles – VT – UCLA – praise be the 1/2 on tuck 1/2 is back ( I mean, I prefer the DTY but it’s not the score decision) – little rebound, and some form on block. Goes 9.950, so no one cared. It’s the score decision. the DTY’s not getting that.

Hooten holds onto stick on bars dismount.

Pascal – FX – Boise ST – double tuck, a bit low, chest forward, controls landing – switch ring to switch 1/2, under split – 1.5 to layout is pretty – rudi to split jump

Cacciola – BB – SUU – full turn – switch to split to bhs to beat jump is well connected – bhs loso, leg up wobble – 1.5 dismount, holds landing control

Lyden – UB – Minnesota – maloney to bail, good legs together – short hs on high – DLO, high, nice stick. 9.900

Loyim – FX – Boise St – whip to double tuck, comes up short with lunge forward – good popas – double pike, under control

After 2: UCLA 98.950, Minnesota 98.525, Southern Utah 98.175, Boise St 97.475

Counting that 9.675 on beam really hurt Southern Utah since they definitely had some pace-keeping routines in that rotation as well. Still close enough to make Minnesota have to hit a beam.

Clemson and Rutgers still too close to call in the midst of rotation 3.

Aird up third on floor for Rutgers – double pike, under control, foot flexing – switch 1/2 to wolf full, around – front lay to full, a little low on the full – double tuck, short, chest forward with step

Church – BB – Clemson – bhs loso series is secure – switch to split, comfortable – side aerial to split jump, good – 1.5, hop forward 9.825

Adrian – FX – Rutgers – back 1.5 to front full, controls the step – switch 1/2 to wolf 1.5, a little under on switch position, like the clear completion of the wolf 1.5 – rudi, pulls out the stick, chest down. 9.825

Kuhl – BB – Clemson – bhs bhs loso, break, arm wave turn to the side – switch, wobble, breaks combination – redoes switch into tuck jump 3/4 – full turn – tuck 1.5 dmt, stuck

Goldsmith FX – Rutgers – front 2/1, just a little under rotated with crossover step – front full to lay is solid – rudi to back lay to straddle jump, good control.

Rotation 3 in Utah

Campbell does the Chae landing her double front on bars. Her commitment is admirable. Still gets 9.800, which is like what she gets when she does a good one

Koch – BB – Minnesota – nice loso series – beat to split jump 3/4, a little under with arm correction –

McCright finishes beam for clemson with a full fanny pack of a thigh wrap – falls on tuck jump full, so they’ll be counting Kuhl’s 9.675

Rosen finishes bars for UCLA with a little hop forward

Stewart – BB – Minnesota – candle mount, hit – split to split ring jump, shows back leg height on ring – aerial to korbut, just some knee bending on aerial – gainer full, step back

Ball – VT – Boise St – ro full on back pike, pretty large bounce back

MWL – UB – UCLA – good first hs – maloney some leg break into pak, clean – hip angle in bh handstand – clear hip to full out, hop back

Moraw with a bigger leg up wobble on her loso series on beam.

Rutgers will now have a .325 lead on Clemson heading to the last rotation.

Christensen – FX – SUU – back 1.5 to front full, well done, keeps her height – switch side, 12 on the way down to straddle jump – creepy circus music – double tuck, keeps front foot under control. 9.825

Kemp – VT – Boise St – y1/2 with solid form at the end, larger hop forward

Rowray – BB – Minnesota – bhs loso, secure, good form – switch to straddle 1/2, good oversplit – kickover to wolf jump – full turn, arm wave adjustment – front gainer full dismount, holds the stick with a lean forward. 9.900

Randolph – FX – SUU – DLO, little chest forward rebound – front tuck through to double tuck, controls it

Vulaj – VT – Boise St – ro full on back pike, better distance than most get on that one, bounce back

Esparza – UB – UCLA – maloney to bhardwaj, hit – van leeuwen, legs together – hits hs on high – DLO, holds the stick?, squats down into a ball. 9.900

Pearl with a nice switch to straddle 1/4 in beam for Minnesota – aerial to beat, smooth – gainer full, hop up. 9.850

Cacciola – FX – SUU – double tuck is solid – switch ring to switch 1/2 to wolf full – punch rudi, little rebound. 9.900

Lopez – VT – Boise St – yfull, holds the stick, just some pike and direction

Chiles – UB – UCLA – piked tkatchev to pak, clean – struggles on low bar, can’t get up to handstand, recasts and is well short on the toe 1/2 turn – DLO, holds onto the landing but with a lean forward. 9.725

Lyden with a solid bhs loso for Minnesota – cat to switch side – 1.5 hop forward

Slife hits Y1.5, hop forward

Gull – FX – SUU – FTDT, bounce back – split leap full to wolf full, under position on the wolf – 1.5 to front pike, slide forward – double tuck, bounce back

Rutgers has a fall from Delaney Adrian in the 2nd spot on beam, so they’re already counting a 9.700.

After 3: UCLA 148.250, Minnesota 147.850, Southern Utah 147.375, Boise St 146.550

Southern Utah is having a good competition, just short a routine or two, Minnesota extending the advantage each time.

Huge delay over at the play-in to come up with 9.100 for Adrian. Now Pagliaro going in the third spot, switch to switch 1/2, hit, under split, connects to beat jump – bhs loso, arm wave correction, turn to the side – full turn – gainer front full, step back. 9.725

Holman – FX – Clemson – front 2/1, just a little squatty on landing but controls – switch side to popa, under split on the popa – tuck jump full – rudi to loso, keeps it in, some legs on rudi. 9.850

Rains – BB – Rutgers – bhs loso, huge break, looked like she was going to be able to pull it back somehow, but falls on the second wobble. So that’s probably that, 2nd beam fall for Rutgers.

Rotation 4

Werline off bars for Boise State on a toe circle up to high

Lee – BB – UCLA – aerial, just a bit of knee, into a pretty split jump – bhs loso, good feet, small lean to the side to hold landing – switch to straddle jump, solid – full turn, over turns slightly – gainer full, stuck – 9.900

I feel like when Emily Lee is perfect she goes 9.850 and when she has checks she goes 9.900.

Jencks – FX – Minnesota – front 2/1, just slightly under with a crossover slide – switch 1/2 to popa, solid – 1.5 to layout – punch rudi to controlled straddle jump

Kelly – VT – SUU – ro full on back pike, large bounce back

Rosen – BB – UCLA – switch to split, good – beat to onodi, steps back to control it – bhs loso is secure – 1.5 dismount is well short with lunge back. 9.825. One judge watched the dismount so went 9.700

2nd bars fall for Boise State as Buell comes off on a bail.

Swartzmiller – FX – Minnesota – rudi to double stag with a travel back – good straddle positions – back 1.5 to front lay, solid

Chiles – BB – UCLA – hits loso – cat leap to a good switch side, shows horizontal – full turn, just a little hesitation – side aerial, solid – 2/1, good stick. 9.950, one judge goes 10. We pushed the scores wayyy high here with those first two numbers, so Alipio and Malabuyo will be watching out.

Pearl – FX – Minnesota – 1.5 to front lay, one of the best layout rises – switch side 1/2 to popa, indistinct in landing position, not a full popa – double pike, chest down, under control

Campbell – BB – UCLA – bhs lay pike, secure – split leap to switch 1/2, little adjustment – full turn, wobble – gainer full, good stick. 9.850

Clemson will scratch the final floor routine and advance after Rutgers counts two beam fallsfor 47.425.

Gonsiorowski – FX – Minnesota – FTDT, bounce back, some dayligth between the legs – switch side to popa – back 1.5 to front pike, solid – double tuck, solid

Christensen – VT – SUU – medium bounce back on yfull –

Alipio – BB – UCLA – full turn, good – bhs bhs loso, a little off line but doesn’t show, secure – side aerial, small chest adjustment – split leap to switch to beat – gainer tuck full, hop back

Emily Lopez goes 9.900 on bars for Boise State

Koch – FX – Minnesota – front 2/1, minor forward motion – good completion on wolf full –

Malabuyo – BB – UCLA – wolf hit – bhs loso, smooth, good foot positions – aerial, little squeeze adjustment – split to split ring jump to beat jump, nice – small heel adjustment on her flexibility hold – gainer full, holds still, little chest lean forward. 9.900

Leitch hits Hindorff to overshoot to finish things for Boise State. Solid DLO.

Hooten – FX – Minnesota – FTDT, chest up, good control – switch side, under split, to wolf full – front full to front pike, shows how you’re supposed to rise in the second element – double tuck, controls it. It’s really that switch side that has kept her from 10s this season. You have to deduct. 9.925

FINAL: UCLA 197.750, Minnesota 197.200, Southern Utah 196.475, Boise State 195.175

Another one that didn’t really end up being close, but Southern Utah is my most impressive not-advancing team so far.

Hardin Iowa State on floor to finish things up – DLO, bounce back, leans forward to try to minimize bounce, keeps it in bounds – split leap full to popa to popa – back 1.5 to lay, nice layout.

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Moving on to our final play-in, it’s Illinois against Davis.’

Rotation 1

Coppola – VT – Illinois – yfull, pretty big bounce back, pike. 9.650

Knecht – UB – Davis – short hs on low – toe on to maloney to bail, leg separations on both – shy hs on high – DLO, chest down, lunge back. 9.700

Cho – VT – Illinois – yfull, solid distance, pike down to try to control the landing, doesn’t hold finish position. 9.750

Scafani – UB – Davis – blind to high jaeger, catches close, connects to overshoot – solid hs on high – giant full, little pause on top of the bar – double tuck, some legs, chest forward, small step. 9.700

Muller – VT – Illinois – yfull, best dynamics so far, step back. 9.750

Gideon – UB – Davis – jaeger pike to overshoot, leg separation – short hs on high – DLO, tries to control, lean forward, chest. 9.775

King – VT – Illinois – y1.5 is well hit – little hop forward, some leg separation and distance. 9.800

Oshiro – UB – Davis – clear hip to tkatchev, can’t get her grips over and falls – resumes with pak, small leg separation – short hs on high – attempts giant full, can’t get over, has to reswing and add giant 1/2 into double tuck dismount. 8.800

Ward – VT – Illinois – y1.5 – nice height but a gigantic bound forward. 9.675

Fitz-Gerald – UB – Davis – higgins to jaeger, super close catch, can’t connect out, adds an extra swing before overshoot – DLO, holds stick, arm circle to keeping holding it

Joelson – VT – Illinois – hs pike 1/2 – step back – not a ton of distance, but usable. 9.725

Long delay to deal with the last bars score, did she hit her foot? (yes), the broken connection to the overshoot which also changes the value of that skill.

And it’s a counting 9.050 for Fitz-agerald with a 9.7 start.

Moneymaker – UB – Davis – toe on to maloney to bail, leg separations – hits hs on high – DLO, bounce back. 9.800

After 1: Illinois 48.700, UC Davis 48.025

Illinois got a little pinched in that vault rotation compared to what we’re seeing elsewhere and probably would have been pissed but Davis’s errors on bars mean Illinois has a big lead.

Rotation 2

Reichow – VT – Davis – yfull, large bounce back and pike, step salute as well. 9.575

Brown – UB – Illinois – clear hip to gienger to overshoot, hit with some leg breaks – short hs on high – DLO, step back. 9.700

Wyly – VT – Davis – y tucked full, good landing control – solid foot position in the tuck as well. 9.700

Denning – UB – Illinois – toe on to malonwy, legs into bail, just a small leg break, good foot position – hits hs on high – DLO, bounce back. 9.775

Kim – VT – Davis – yfull, another huge bounce back and step salute. 9.575

Ward – UB – Illinois – tight first hs – blind to jaeger, good height, just some feet – bail, legs together solidly – some hip angle in handstands – giant full to double tuck, step back

Moneymaker – VT – Davis – yfull, big bounce back, not quite as large as the 1st and 3rd vaults, solid power and position. 9.700

Cho – UB – Illinois – good first hs – maloney to pak, pretty – hits hs on low – van leeuiwen, small leg separation – DLO, stuck. 9.900

Ray – VT – Davis – ro 1/2 on tuck 1/2 – medium bounce back, little leg separation on block and some feet. 9.750

Green – UB – Illinois – good hs – toe on to maloney to pak, small leg break – little pause getting up to hs on 1/2 turn on low – hits hs on high – DLO, stuck with some feet. 9.925

Abraham – VT – Davis – y1.5 good distance and direction, medium lunge forward. 9.800

Knight – UB – Illinois – toe on to maloney to bail – arch hs on bail, pulls it back – DLO, chest forward with a step. 9.775

After 2: Illinois 97.875, UC Davis 96.550

Illinois extends the lead by another big chunk in rotation 2, so now it’s well over a point after two events.

Rotation 3

Sapp – BB – Illinois – full turn – bhs loso secure – switch to switch 1/2, landing wobble – switch to split, a little under on some split positions there – gainer full, chest down, shuffle back. 9.725

Reichow – FX – Davis – front tuck through to double tuck, shows control, chest forward – switch 1/2 to wolf fulls, under on the wolf position and some under rotation – double pike, short, step forward – switch side to popa, solid. 9.725

King – BB – Illinois – bhs loso, secure – full turn – switch 1/2 that’s more of a switch side 1/4 on the way down – switch side, hit – 1.5, bound forward, extra hop. 9.750

Wyly – FX – Davis – double tuck, chest forward, step – switch ring to split leap full, good feet, gets low on split full – front tuck through to double pike, really hunched over, big lunge back but keeps it in bounds – switch side to popa, under on popa. 9.625

Nataraj – BB – Illinois – bhs bhs loso, pretty and secure – switch to straddle 1/4, tight with a wobble – full turn, slight over turn – 1.5 dmt, under rotated with bound forward. 9.725

Oshiro – FX – Davis – rudi to straddle jump, nice control – switch ring to split full, clearly around – back 1.5 to layout, also comfortable – split ring full, a little low on ring shape. Good one. 9.800

Cho – BB – Illinois – wolf single – bhs loso, hit – switch 1/2, small adjustment into split jump, keeps the combo – side aerial, solid – near wobble on choreo – 1.5 dmt, stuck. 9.850

“I liked to go in the anchor spot and have the most amount of pressure possible.”

Ray – FX – Davis – double pike, good height, little rebound – split leap full to jump full to popa, good turn completion – front tuck through to double tuck, shows control

Coppola – BB – Illinois – full turn – side aerial to round off attempted combination, lands very hunched over with a leg up wobble – switch to split to beat is solid – side aerial two feet, secure – 1.5 dmt, stuck. 9.725

Abraham – FX – Davis – DLO, good amplitude, just a tad forward on landing – switch side to straddle jump – front tuck through to double tuck, step back, a little out of control, stays in bounds. 9.825

Saltness – BB – Illinois – replacing Knight in the lineup – full turn – cat leap to switch side, small waver on landing – bhs loso, hit with arm wave – beat to split jump full, almost all the way around, slightly finishes turn on the beam – front gainer full, short with step back. 9.750

Moneymaker – FX – Davis – rudi to loso, under control, just a tad low but solid – switch 1/2 to wolf full, nice lift and completion there – front tuck through to double tuck, chest up, controls step back. Good. 9.900

After 3: Illinois 146.675, UC Davis 145.650

Davis picks up three tenths in that rotation, which would have been a big deal if this were close, but Illinois maintains a point lead.

Rotation 4

Illinois scratching Cho on floor, replaced by Gordon. We’ve seen lots of winning play-in teams scratch major floor routines.

Poonja – BB – Davis – bhs bhs loso is well done – split to stag ring, nice front foot position on split, stag is a little low – gainer full, holds the stick with a chest forward lean arm wave. 9.775

Joelson – FX – Illinois – front tuck through to double tuck, bit of movement back – straddle jump – switch side 1/2 to wolf full, pulls it around – double pike, chest down, controls landing. 9.775

Abraham – BB – Davis – bhs to a super high layout attempt, maybe too high, off line and falls – waver on switch side – bhs 1.5, step forward. 8.900

Brown – FX – Illinois – front tuck through to double tuck, stuck, chest down and some foot flexing – switch side 1/2 to straddle – front 1.5 to front lay, shoots forward on the front lay landing. 9.750

And you know what’s not humiliating? Making a gymnast crawl on her hands and knees to get under a curtain and back to her team after a routine.

Ray – BB – Davis – cat leap to switch 1/2 to split to beat, well connected, just tight on switch 1/2 – side aerial, secure – bhs loso, secure as well, just some knee and foot positions – front tuck full, hop. 9.800

Coppola – FX – Illinois – 2.5, good landing control, some knee crossing – split ring full – back 1.5 to lay, gets lowish in the lay, slightlu sqwuatty on landing – switch ring to split full to jump full, comes up about a quarter under rotated

Wyly – BB – Davis – bhs loso, off line and falls – full turn – split to straddle 1/2, secure, just a little under in straddle position – beat to aerial, small lean check – gainer pike, little hop. 9.175

King – FX – Illinois – double tuck, very comfortable – switch side 1/2 to straddle jump – back 1.5 to front full, good height in the 1.5, well completed. Very strong one. 9.900

Moneymaker – BB – Davis – kickover, little pause into bhs – full turn to beat is smooth – split jump to stag ring, also securely landed – gainer full, hop back. 9.775

Nock – FX – Illinois – double pike, good position in the air, slide back – wolf jump 1.5 – split leap full to jump full, jump full gets a bit out of control and under split – front lay to rudi, very short, chest well forward and a lunge. 9.575

Oshiro – BB – Davis – bhs loso, good height, solid landing – full turn, smooth – gainer loso to split jump – switch to straddle 1/4, comfortable – gainer full, stuck, just a little chest position. 9.875

Gordon – FX – Illinois – punch front 2/1 attempt, lands suepr deep, just keeps it to her feet – front lay to front full,short there with a slide back – switch 1/2 to wolf full attempt with some feet and under rotation –

FINAL: Illinois 195.475, UC Davis 194.050

This one decided early and the trend continued through all four rotations.

Ultimately Maryland’s .925 margin of victory was the closest of the four play-ins, which isn’t a great advertisement for the concept, though Clemson and Rutgers was exciting until Rutgers lost it on beam at the end.

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On to the second semifinal out of Penn State, as we wait to see if Michigan has just been faking it all season and can actually pull off an upset here.

Rotation 1

Weaver – VT – Arkansas – yfull, good stick to start, solid shape. And we’re starting with 9.900

Parenti – UB – Michigan – a little tight on final cast hs, finishes DLO, step back. 9.800

Brendlinger – BB – Maryland – bhs loso, small lean – cat leap to switch 1/2, under split, secure – kickover, nice – 1.5 dismount, holds landing weith arm circle – 9.775

Coen – FX – LSU – front 2/1, out of control slide forward, stays in bounds – front lay to front full, just slightly under – split leap full to popa to popa, stronger leap positions than on beam. 9.875

Lang – VT – Arkansas – also finds the stick on yfull, more distance than weaver, but they already went 9.9 there, some direction deduction to take. 9.900

Jordan – Ub – Michigan – high jaeger – bail, small leg separation in the air – just gets to hs on high – giant full, good finish position, into double tuck, a little low, step forward. 9.850

Hammer – BB – Maryland, large break on loso series and falls.

Ballard – FX – LSU – DLO, solid, some pike at the end – switch 3/4ish into sissone, indistinct landing positon – 1.5 to layout, under control – switch ring to switch 1/2, just a little lower on switch 1/2. 9.900

Essenpries – VT – Arkansas – y1.5, solid hit, step forward, some knees. 9.900 again there is way too high

Diaz – UB – Michigan – good first hs on low – toe on to maloney to bail, legs together well – hits hs on high – DLO, holds stick with lean forward, smooth one. 9.900

Rothenbuescher – BB – Maryland – wobble on kickover, has to redo it for an acro series and gets it this time.,

Chio – FX – LSU – ftdt, secure landing – switch ring to split leap full, lands very slightly under – 2.5 to front tuck, good height, solid landing – switch. 9.925

Klein – VT – Arkansas – y1.5, short landing, step back. Do I hear 9.900????? 9.800

Vore – UB – Michigan – good first hs – toe on to tkatchev, hit – bail, legs together – shorter on high bar handstand – DLO, chest a bit forward with a hop. 9.750

Drayton – FX – LSU – DLO, nice secure landing, very slight pike doen at the end – switch ring and switch 1/2 are excellent – front tuck through to double tuck, bigger bounce back, just stays in, but it’s not the short landing from most of the regular season. 9.900

Roberson – VT – Arkansas – ro 1/2 on lay 1/2, finds the stick, chest forward and not the highest, but solid. 9.875

Bauman – Ub – Michigan – jaeger to overshoot, strong foot positions – hits hs on high – double front, good form, stuck landing, very nice. And it’s 9.950

Finnegan – FX – LSU – double arabian, a little short today with some adjustment, covers into her stag but should get an underrotation deduction – switch ring to split full – 2.5 to front tuck, very good. 9.925

Price – VT – Arkansas – yfull, nice, slide back. 9.850

Zabrowski – UB – Michigan – blind, a bit past, into jaeger, hit – pak with some foot form – hits hs – DLO, step back. 9.775

Komoroski finishing beam for Maryland – bhs loso hit – aerial is well done, good front foot position – switch to split, good – 1.5, good stick.

Bryant – FX – LSU – double front, good, shows controlled step – switch to switch full, lands slightly under – front lay to well controlled rudi

Kerico – BB – Penn – wolf single – split to straddle 1/2, very nice – bhs loso, secure – front tuck, small waver on landing – 1.5 dismount, nice stick. 9.925 is a huge start for her

After 1: LSU 49.550, Arkansas 49.425, Michigan 49.275, Maryland 49.075

Scores sailing so far, which means it’s a landing day, and Michigan had a few too many steps on those bars dismounts to keep up with Arkansas after the first rotation.

Komoroski got 9.950 on beam, which could be significant as it ties Magnelli. We don’t get the judges scores on statbroadcast, so we don’t know about tiebreaks yet.

Rotation 2

Johnson – VT – LSU – yfull, nice, just a little rebound in place. 9.900

Roberson – UB – Arkansas – good hs – clear hip to maloney with leg break, into pak, big, hit – but major swing and past vertical on 1/2 turn on low – DLO, good landing 9.875

Parenti – BB – Michigan – good form turn – bhs loso, little lean correction – switch to split is solid – aerial to split is hit – 1.5 dismount, a bit low, stuck

Rech finishes for Maryland with solid 1.5 to layout

Zeiss – VT – LSU – y1.5, little hop forward, some tucking throughout. 9.900 for these 1.5s with all the knee form and non sticks is going to end me

Swaney – UB – Arkansas – good hs – toe on to maloney to pak, smooth – 1/2 turn on low past vertical as well – DLO, good stick. 9.900

Vore – BB – Michigan – bhs loso, small adjustment – kickover – split to split 1/2, solid – 1.5 dismount, higher than Parenti but a little step forward. 9.800

Finnegan – VT – LSU – y1.5, bigger bounce forward, slight knee form, less than Zeiss. 9.850

Ewald – UB – Arkansas – blind, past into jaeger, very slightly close but fine – hits hs – pak is good – also a little past on 1/2 turn but closer to vertical – DLO, small hop back. 9.900

Boozer – BB – Michigan – cat leap to aerial, small lean – switch to switch split jump, nice – bhs loso, clean – gainer full, holds the stick but a lean forward. 9.850

Drayton – VT – LSU – solid y1.5, little shuffle forward, good layout position. 9.900

Ranger – BB – Michigan – lean correction on loso series – finishes double tuck, short landing, hop forward. 9.750

Park – UB – Arkansas – good hs – his her Ray – pak, small leg break – short 1/2 turn on low from her as well – hits hs on high – DLO, bounce back and another hop. 9.750

Komoroski – FX – Maryland – rudi, clean – back 1.5 to layout, comfotable, just a bit lower on layout

Chio – VT – LSU – y1.5, good distance, hop forward 9.900

Mulligan – BB – Michigan – aerial to bhs hit – side aerial, leg up wobble – beat to straddle 1/2, a bit tight – tuck 1.5, step forward. 9.775

Jones – UB – Arkansas – piked jaeger, good distancr – hits hs – clean pak – 1/2 turn on low is brtter – hits hs on high – DLO, nice stick. Should be rewarded, did they leave themselves room to? 9.950, it was better than the 9.9s earlier in the lineup.

Bryant – VT – LSU – hs pike 1/2, high, chest a little forward oday with slide back. 9.900

Bauman – BB – Michigan – full turn, hit – bhs loso, solid – split jump to straddle 1/2 to sissone, nice – piked side somi, good – gainer pike, little hop back 9.850

Waligora – UB – Arkansas – blind to jaeger, good feet positions, into overshoot – hits hs on high – DLO, hop back 9.900

Kind of getting worried that every routine on Saturday is going to be a 10 at this point.

Martin – FX – Maryland – FTDT, hit, leg separation and chest position – switch 1/2 to wolf fulls, a little under on those positions – back 1.5 to front lay, kind of low, pulls it out into stag. 9.875

After 2: LSU 99.050, Arkansas 98.950, Maryland 98.400, Michigan 98.350

Big lead for the top two now. Michigan had to stick more to force those scores and had a few wobbles. Maryland having a nice competition as well, it’s just going to be tough to contend.

Kerico – FX – Penn – back 1.5 to layout, solid – switch side, 1/4 on the way down, into popa – double tuck, hit under control, chest down

Kerico nailing it so far. 9.925 beam, 9.900 floor.

Rotation 3

Does Maryland do a little vomit circle before vault?

Zeiss – UB – LSU – toe on to maloney to pak, clean – solid finish on 1/2 turn on low – hits hs on high – ftdt, small slide back – form has improved there. 9.900

Buckmon – VT – Maryland – yfull, hit, bounce back, some pike

Parenti – FX – Michigan – double pike, hit, chest down – back 1.5 to front full, under control, small knee position – 9.825

Gamiao – BB – Arkansas – standing loso loso, secure, some knee bending – side aerial, hit – switch to split – full turn – stuck dismount. 9.900

Engelmayer – VT – Maryland – yfull, chest forward with a hop

Cowan – UB – LSU – Ray to overshoot, hit – solid hs on high – DLO, little rebound back. 9.925 with a non stick

Waligora – BB – Arkansas – bhs loso, off line and falls.

Davis finishes floor with a secure double pike for Michigan. 9.875

Rothenbuescher – VT – Maryland – tsuk tuck full, step back and foot form

Chio – UB – LSU – small arch on first hs – maloney to bail, legs together on bail, small break on maloney – hits hs on high – blind to khorkina, hit – solid hs – FTDT, chest down, hop forward. 9.900 too high for that dismount and the handstand

Park – BB – Arkansas – candle mount – full turn, hit – bhs loso, lean correction – switch to switch, a little low but fine positions – side aerial to 1.5, stuck with some soft knees. 9.800

Diaz – FX – Michigan – front 2/1, crossover step, some knees – rudi to loso, under control

Rech – VT – Maryland – really good stick on yfull

Finnegan – UB – LSU – good hs on high – piked deltchev, great – hits hs – toe on to bail, legs together – godo hs on high – FTDT, full tenth-sized bounce back. And 9.900

Swaney – BB – Arkansas – full turn – cat leap to aerial, large break, saves the meet with a lean, bend at the hips to horizontal and turn to the side – bhs bhs loso, secure – gainer full, stuck. 9.675

Sanger – FX – Michigan – switch ring 1/2, a bit under – double pike, chest well down – back 1.5 to a secure layout

Murphy – VT – Maryland – yfull, good stick, just comes in deep in the knees

McClain – UB – LSU – Church to pak, good one – 1/2 turn on low, solid finish – hits hs on high – FTDT, another bounce back. 9.900

Weaver – BB – Arkansas – bhs loso, solid – side aerial, smooth – straddle to double stag, a little tentative low on the double stag – hop on dismount –

Bauman – FX – Michigan – front 2/1, slide dance out – good completion on her wolf fulls – 1.5 to layout, very nice

Martin – VT – Maryland – y1.5, solid, medium hop forward and some knees

Bryant – UB – LSU – good first hs – blind to jaeger – hits hs on high – body position on giant swing – bail, hit – double front 1/2 out, chest down, step forward

Roberson – BB – Arkansas – beat to pike jump is good – switch to back tuck is solid – full turn, smooth – side aerial to loso, secure landing – punch front full, stuck. Big hit. 9.925

Ranger – FX – Michigan – DLO, bounce back and some leg separation – switch 1/2 to popa, good lift – front through to double tuck, great, chest up, under control. 9.900

Kerico – VT – Penn – Y1.5, can’t control the landing todau, large boumd forward –

After 3: LSU 148.575, Arkansas 148.075, Michigan 147.725, Maryland 147.625

Arkansas gives ground back with counting that 9.675 but had ground to work with and now gets to floor.

Leigh – FX – WVU – front 2/1, strong landing – switch side to popa, good foot positions – rudi to loso, under control, nice one

This regional currently has a 13-way tie on 9.900 on vault behind two MSU gymnasts on 10 and 9.925. So watch that space.

Rotation 4

Davis – VT – Michigan – yfull is solid, little bounce back. 9.850

Gatzendorfer – UB – Maryland – good hs – toe on to maloney to pak, larger leg break there – gets caught in 1/2 turn on low, pulls it out – stalder to double tuck, stuck 9.850

Ballard – BB – LSU – bhs loso, secure – full turn, hit – sissone to swtich 1/2, under split on sissone – kickover, solid – 2/1, a little short, step forward. 9.850

Gamiao – FX – Arkansas – double pike, under control – switch 1/2 to popa – double tuck, also good control. 9.850

Jordan – VT – Michigan – yfull, nice height, bounce back –

Coen – BB – LSU – aerial to beat, hit – bhs loso, small foot wuiver but solid – switch to split, still a bit under split – full turn, should deduct for lack of releve but they never do – 2/1, good stick,some leg crossing. 9.875

Saville – UB – Maryland – te on to maloney, leg break – into pak – hits 1/2 turn on low – hits hs – DLO, stuck. 9.900

Klein – FX- Arkansas – front through to double tuck, secure, chest down – front lay to front full, a little short ad a leg separtion

Boozer nearly finds stick on yfull but ends up chest forward with step

Chio – BB – LSU – loso mount is hit – bhs loso, under control – switch to split, good – aerial to split, good – 1.5 dmt stuck. Good one. 9.900

Kondo – UB – Maryland – blind to jaeger to overshoot, hit, solid, some feet in jaeger – dlo, chest forward and a step

Ranger – VT – Michigan – y1.5, large lunge forward and a leg separation in the air

Jones – FX – Arkansas – front 2/1, good form, under control – rudi, comfortable –

McClain – BB – LSU – switch to switch 1/2 to split, good – aerial to bhs, solid – full turn – wolf jump, nice – gainer full, stuck. Good. Just a bit chest forward on the gainer and some knee on the aerial, but nice. 9.900

Mulligan – VT – Michigan – nearly comes up with the stick on y1.5, step back, and some leg separation on block.

Merchant – Ub – Maryand – ray to overshoot, little leg break in overshoot – DLO 1/1, very nice, I think a little rebound?

Bryant – BB – LSU – aerial to bhs, hit – switch to straddle 1/4, under split in straddle there – front tuck, secure – rudi, small shuffle movement – 9.900

Waligora – FX – Arkansas – front lay to front 2/1, good rise, a little underrotated with crossover step – split full to weolf full is well completed – 1.5 to front lay

Diaz – VT – Michigan – y1.5, really well done to pull out the stick – some knee bending –

9.950 for Diaz, so she’ll go to nationals as a vault individual if MSU goes as a team.

Finnegan – BB – LSU – bhs loso loso is solid – switch to split, good – full turn, smooth – aerial, good extension – gainer full, stuck. Nice. 9.950

Roberson – FX – Arkansas – DLO, large step back, does keep the front foot planted – switch side to popa, pulls it around – front lay to double tuck, good control. 9.925

Cameras being eclipsed by coaches has been a HUGE problem at regionals so far. We can’t see anything.

LeBlanc – UB – Maryland – jaeger, hit, some feet – bail, legs together well – DLO, bounce back.

Price – FX Arkansas – DLO is way way short on her ankles and she’s hurt. What a way to end. She’s being carried off now.

FINAL: LSU 198.100, Arkansas 197.550, Michigan 197.050, Maryland 196.825

Kerico – UB – Penn – good first hs – Ray, hit – solid hs – toe on to bail, good vertical, small leg break – FTDT, lunge back

LSU and Arkansas through. The quality and competitiveness of Maryland here was one of the highlights of this semifinal. They belonged with these other teams.

So if LSU and MSU go through as teams, it will be Roberson in the AA, otherwise Stephen.

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And we’re onto another semifinal!

Rotation 1

Chang – VT – Stanford – chest forward on yfull landing with step, nearlu found stick but ends up short; 9.750

Casali – UB – Denver – maloney to bail, just some feet – short hs on high – DLO, good stick. 9.850

Glynn – FX – Utah – front 2/1, under control, some knee form – good straddle positions – back 1.5 to lay, low amplitude on lay, pulls it around but doesn’t rise. 9.850

Neault – VT – Stanford – ro full on back pike, also nearly finds the stick but then a slide back and an extra step to the side while trying to hold finish. 9.850. Methinks a couple judges looked down too quickly.

Ulrich – UB – Denver – maloney to a high pak – 1/2 turn on low, a bit late – smoother hs on high – DLO, hop forward. 9.900 is big for that one, so watch this space

Zirbes – FX – Utah – front 2/1, good control – switch 1/2 to popa, good – back 1.5 to front full, loses her layout leg shape some in both those elements. 9.875, and one judge went 10. You OK honey?

Millar-Crossman finishes beam for BYU with a nearly stuck front full, small right foot movement.

Soma – VT – Stanford – yfull, good lift, pretty big bounce back, small leg separation in the air. 9.825

Rorich – UB – Denver – blind to jaeger, good toe point – bail, legs together – bounce back on dismount. 9.900

Good stick from Hoke on beam.

I can’t get over the 9.800-9.850-9.900-10.000 split for Zirbes on floor.

Neff – FX – Utah – front 2/12 to front tuck, comfortable – front full to front full, good rise in 2nd element – 9.900

Gutierrez – VT – Stanford y1.5, medium hop forward, knees throughout. 9.850

Margraf-Benson BB – BYU – aerial with come feet, connects to back tuck, small adjustment – cat to kickover, foot flexing, secure – nearly sticks dmt, lean and a little movement. 9.700

Cooley – UB – Denver – toe on to a big ray, bail, legs together, little hip angle – short hs on high – DLO, finds the stick. 9.850

Roberts – VT – Stanford – y1.5, very clean position in the air – hop to the side. 9.900

Gilstrap – FX – Utah – front lay to rudi, good rise, chest forward some on landing – switch 1/1, a little under rotated into sissone, great split positions – good front lay to front full, slight knees – 9.900

Silva – BB – BYU – hitch to aerial to bhs, just a bit of knee position – split to a short straddle 1/4 – gainer full, stuck

Hebinck – UB – Denver – good hs – Ricna to pak is quite nice – struggles through 1/2 turn on low, loses back position and rhythm, gets through it – DLO, small hop back. 9.825

Nguyen – VT – Stanford – pretty big bound forward on y1.5. 9.825

Smith – FX – Utah – front 2/1 to front tuck, good control and feet, small amount of leg separation in twist – rudi to loso well done. 9.950 and another 10 from a single judge

Andersen hits loso series on beam for BYU -small bounce on gainer full . 9.900′

Mundell – UB – Denver – tkatchvev, nice counter rotation – toe on to bail, legs together – hits hs on high – DLO, holds stick, chest a little forward

McCallum – FX – Utah – ftdt, secure landing, flexed feet – Bridget pretndning she was bad at gymnastics again – front through to double tuck, small foot movement – switch to split leap full to popa. 9.950

Three different judges gave 10s to three different routines in that Utah floor rotation. But we definitely are all on the same page.

After 1: Utah 49.575, Denver 49.400, Stanford 49.250, BYU 49.150

We’re having kind of “everyone is an equal beautiful star” routine evaluation here, which is going to make for an exciting one. Denver absolutely had to be ahead of Stanford after Stanford’s vault to have a shot here, and they are.

Rotation 2

“Judges please wait for the signal to release your athletes.” From their literal cages.

Zirbes – VT – Utah – y1.5 with medium hop forward and some knees. 9.850

Gutierrez hits bars for Stanford, hop to the side on double front 1/2 out. 9.825

Cooley – BB – Denver – bhs bhs loso, very solid landing – switch, little hesitation into split, hits her positions – full turn – gainer full, stuck. Nice form, pretty routine. 9.900

Millar-Crossman FX – BYU – double tuck, some rebound – front lay to front full, slide with some leg separation

McCallum – VT – Utah – y1.5 is a landing struggle, huge lunge forward, the most height I’ve seen from her this year, and that may have led to the landing. 9.800, Olympian scoring there

Robinson – UB – Stanford – high jaeger, good feet – pak, small leg break – shorter hs on high – FTDT, good stick. 9.900

Gallen secure beam for denver, some more knee form things than Cooley, small slide on gainer pike.. 9.850

Neff – VT – Utah – y1.5 good stick, some knee position, not much else. 9.950 and one judge goes 10. I mean if McCallum jumping to Montana was 9.800…

Iwai – Denver – BB – bhs loso loso is secure – check on full turn – gainer full is low with a slide back. 9.850

Neault – UB – Stanford – maloney to pak, smooth – 1/2 turn on low, slightly rushed – hits hs on high – toe full a but late into double tuck, can’t quite hold the finish position with step back. 9.825

Stanford not really trusting their sticks and having some landing hesitations as a result.

Glynn – VT – Utah – y1.5, short landing, step back. 9.825.

Mabanta – BB – Denver – wolf – quick split to switch 1/2, hit – bhs loso, secure, lovely leg position – gainer tuck full, small step forward. 9.900

Nice control on double pike from Dudley on floor for BYU – front full to front lay, controlled step – doubel tuck, hit

Smith – VT – Utah – Omelianchik, ahhhh, pretty big hop forward today. With this scoring, she could have gone 10 with a stick. 9.850

Chang – UB – Stanford – good hs on low – toe on to maloney to an extra swing, can’t connect to pak, adds empty swing – now can’t get her 1/2 turn on loe and falls – in the lineup in place of Sorrento.

Thompson – BB – Denver – side aerial to bhs, hit, but leg form – switch to side somi, check, foot flexing – beat – gainer pike, good stick. 9.900

Schooley-Meyers – FX – BYU – back 1.5 to front lay, gets super low on layout, somehow made it to her feet horizontallly – doubel tuck, chest forward, holds the stick and sells it well

Johnson vaults her best one, sticks a y1.5 with knee form. 9.925.

Ulrich – BB – Denver – straddle jump 3/4, solid – bhs loso, small front foot slide back – full turn, overturns with wobble – hitch kick to switch side, solid – aerial, good extension into beat jump – gainer pike. 9.850

Roberts – UB – Stanford – lovely pak – toe on to van leeuwen, small leg break – DLO, bounce back. Pretty on the bars but another non stick won’t help the comparison to Denver. 9.850

Eaquinto – FX – BYU – double pike, good landing – switch ring 1/2 to wolf full, gets wolf full around well – back 1.5 to front lay, hit. 9.850

Soma – UB – Stanford – good first hs – maloney to pak, legs together well – small back position on hs on low – van leeuwen, legs together – hits hs on high – DLO, a little deep in position, nice stick. 9.900

Andersen – FX – BYU – punch rudi to straddle jump, a bit less control than yesterday – switch ring to switch 1/2 – 1.5 to layout, just a bit low.

Nice DLO stick for Brooks from Utah state.

After 2: Utah 98.975, Denver 98.800, Stanford 98.550, BYU 98.325.

Third rotation will tell us a lot here. Stanford’s beam is supposed to be able to gain tenths on Denver’s floor, but also it’s floor. Denver found the better beam they’ve been hiding this season. Can they do the same on floor?

I do appreciate that this session got the memo and is delivering on the excitement so far.

Rotation 3

Dudley – VT – BYU – yfull, little hop back and some feet, not as high as some others but solid . And 9.850

Smith – UB – Utah – good pak – toe on to van leeuwen, solid leg form – a bit shy on hb handstand – toe on to toe pike 1/2 dismount, step. 9.850

Dean splits the beam on her side aerial to bhs and starts Stanford with a fall. “A little bit of a mistake”

Rorich – FX – Denver – front tuck through to double tuck, deepish with bounce back – double pike, controls step back. 9.850

Earl – VT – BYU – yfull, good distance, bounce back. 9.825

Glynn – UB – Utah – maloney to bail, legs together – toe circle up to high – hits hs on high – stalder double tuck, flexed feet, slide back. 9.850

Landry – BB – Stanford – wolf double, hit – bhs loso is solid – split ring jump hit – gainer pike, nice stick

Brusch – FX – Denver – double pike, big bounce back – front tuck, feet, through to double tuck, a little low with a slide back and arm wave. 9.725

Jorgensen – VT – BYU – ro full on back pike, bounce back and some chest position. 9.825

Neff – UB – Utah – clear hip to gienger to overshoot, good leg together position, just a little too piked in the overshoot – DLO 1/1 flares it with a nice stick. 9.900 and all the boos.

Carter – BB – Stanford – jump to split mount – full turn – bhs bhs loso and slips off the back of the beam and falls – the beam cap comes with her but you aren’t allowed to pretend that made you fall anymore. 9.150

Iwai – FX – Denver – 1.5 to layout to stag, smooth – finishes double tuck bounce back

Morgan – Ub – Utah – maloney to bhardwaj, solid, very small leg separation – van leeuwen, hit – short hs on high – stalder tuck 1/2, a little low, shuffle on landing. 9.900, that shouldn’t be as high as Neff’s.

Cooley – FX – Denver – front lay to a high udi, controls it so doesn’t go OOB – switch ring 1/2 to split jump – 1.5 to layout, solid rise – 9.850

Neault – BB – Stanford – triple series very nice and smooth, was that just three bhs? – beat to split ring jump, good attention to beat jump amplitude – aerial with a wobble has to redo it to have a series, aerial to fhs – 1.5 dismount, hop forward . 9.775

Zirbes – Ub – Utah – good hs – blind to high jaeger, bit of elbows, connects to overshoot – hits hs on high – FTDT, lunge back. 9.850

Silva – VT – BYU – hits yfull, bounce back, shows ther start of some open in that position. 9.800

Mabanta – FX – Denver – front lay to rudi, solid, some leg crossing – switch ring 1/2 and actually does it correctly – back 1.5 to lay, a little low. 9.875

Roberts – BB – Stanford – wolf double, hits it – switch to split, nice positions there – bhs loso, holds onto the landing there – side aerrisal, keeps moving into split jump, check afterward – gainer full, good stick

McCallum – UB – utah – stalder shap to pak, legs together – van leeuwen, legs together – ftdt, better foot position than beam and floor. And we have a 10.000

Bramblett-Wilde – VT – BYU – y tucked 1.5, hop forward and some feet – 9.800

Ulrich – FX – Denver – DLO, hit, chest forward – good lift in her popa – back 1.5 toi laypout, solid amplitude – double pike, bounce back. 9.900

Robinson – BB – Stanford – bhs loso, wobble to the side and some foot position – switch, wobble, has to redo it to have a dance combo – switch to split – good side aerial into beat jump – full turn – 1.5 dismount, stuck. 9.775

Boris – VT – EMU – ro full on back pike, hit but chest well down with step

Davis – FX – Brown – high double pike, just does keep that front foot down – switch ring to switch ring 1/2, well done – back 1/2 to front full, controls the step, some knee form in both – switch 1/2, a little low, into split jump full, a little under split

After 3: Utah 148.475, Denver 148.125, BYU 147.450, Stanford 147.150

Stanford with their shakiest ever beam rotation, counting a fall here to drop out of contention heading to the final event and also having a couple other errors that would probably have put them out of it even without the counting fall, as Utah and Denver just have to go through with intact routines now.

Rotation 4

Brusch – VT – Denver – yfull, good amplitude but pretty large bounce back. 9.825

Kirkham – UB – BYU – toe on to a missed foot and she’s off the bars

Morgan – BB – Utah – bhs bhs loso, secure – switch 1/2, some foot flexing, into beat – full turn – front gainer full, slides heels together. Solid. 9.900

Dean – FX – Stanford – rudi, secure, some leg crossing – back 1.5 to front full is comfortable. 9.825

Mabanta – VT – Denver – pretty yful in the air, stuck landing but chest well down/forward. Goes 9.900. Judges are like, this meet isn’t close and we’re ready to hit the bar.

Winger – BB – Utah – bhs loso loso, lands just a little up on her toes but holds on – switch to split, a pretty big wobble with leg up – full turn – gainer full, chest well forward with a bound. 9.700

Neault – FX – Stanford – double pike, under control, chest down – rudi, comfortable landing, small amount of knees – 1.5 to layout. 9.825

UIrich – VT – Denver – hs pike 1;2 is nice, good height, bounce up in place – And 9.925.

Smith – BB – Utah – candle mount, has to muscle it a little to keep it together – bhs loso, little lean – aerial to split to straddle 1/4, tight in straddle 1/4 position with lean forward – gainer pike, hop forward.9 .825

Robinson – FX – Stanford – double tuck, good landing, chest up, under control – memmel turn, nearly all the way around, not enough for elite but good enough for college – double pike, short landing and a lunge. 9.800

Reidenbach – VT Denver – y1.5 hits with hop forward and some knee position and another 9.900

McCallum – BB – Utah – hits candle mount – attempts wolf triple and nearly has her own wolfkino moment as she stands up out of it and wobbles and leans – bhs loso, leg form, small wobble – gainer tuck full, stuck – 9.750 is a mad respect for staying on score

casali – VT – denver – y1.5 is stuck – some feet on the block and knees in the air, good one. Scores are going crazy now on vault so we’ll see what happens. And it’s 9.950.

Nguyen – FX – Stanford – hits DLO with bounce back – switch side to popa – front through to double tuck, good control and chest position.

Neff – BB – Utah – side aerial to bhs, solid – cat leap to side aerial, little foot movement before shushunova – gainer full, small step. 9.900

eaquinto – UB – BYU – toe on to maloney to pak, kegs together welkl – little hesitation in 1/2 turn on low – dlo, small rebound., Good one.

Hargraves – VT – Denver – yfull, hit with a bounce back

Roberts – FX – Stanford – front tuck through to double tuck, well landed, good chest position – switch 1/2 to popa, lovely position – front lay to rudi, controls step back – fake out wolf turn and stands up, love it

Padurariu – BB – Utah – wolf double, nice, good toe point – aerial, wobble, turn to the side, no connection – redoes aerial into bhs, hits this time – split jump to sheep jump, wobble – gainer pike, hop forward

Bramblett-Wilde falls again on bars, so BYU counting a fall there. Retries and falls again.

Padurariu goes 9.800, which is jusssst exactly enough to get Utah ahead of Denver. Look how that worked out. If Stanford had showed up today we would have had a conversaaaaation about this result. But Stanford would not have been up there today even without that counting fall.

Walker – FX – Stanford – high double pike, bounce back – good completion on her wolf fulls – front tuck through to double tuck, good control.

Looks like Ulrich will have the AA spot here if Utah and UCLA go through, as she just beats out Roberts.

Boris – UB – EMU – blind to piked jaeger to overshoot, solid – very short hs on high bar – FTDT, bounce back

Brushwood – FX – EMU – front lay to rudi, good height, just a bit fo leg crossing – switch side to straddle – straddle to double stag – double tuck, slide back

FINAL: Utah 197.650, Denver 197.625, Stanford 196.500, BYU 196.000

This one brings us our only upset of the day, as Denver advances to the regional final over #13 Stanford.