Elite. How does that go again? And did Cottbus already fulfill our quota for landing a dismount and then tripping on the side of the mat and falling over?

15 senior elites have traipsed to Kentucky this weekend to try to get an international assignment while we all watch and point.

The competition is streaming for free on USAG’s youtube, and the live scores are on that cat website that works 59% of the time.

I also intend to have UCLA @ Illinois up at the same time, so if Winter Cup starts to lag, this will serve as a Did Jordan Chiles Get Another 10.000 tracking app.

Claire Pease had a balance check on introductions. Paul Jude opens with a loose hot mic “OH MY GOD” to introduce his commentary. Nailing it.

Paul Juda: THERE’S A DOG HERE
Trinity Thomas: I literally do this professionally

Rotation 1

Sath – BB – switch mount to split ring, wobble, won’t get ring position credit – mount combos 5ever – bhs loso loso – switch, small pause before switch 1/2, arm wave check – aerial, larger leg up wobble – side aerial, foot movement check – wolf double, hit, arms it around – bhs bhs 2/1, chest down, gets it to her feet. Stays on.

Other Bald Coach here with the GAGE athletes

Pease – VT – strong on the DTY, chest a little forward, small hop, good one

Pease – VT 2 – Lopez is hit, pike at the end but shows the layout early, big bounce back, solid

Krob – UB – weiler 1/2 to stalder full, a little past, connects to maloney to clear hip to Ray, nice combo there, fingertips maloney but keeps going – pak – van leeuwen, larger leg separation – DLO, leg sep, little lean to hold it. Solid. 13.750 is a significant number.

Moreau – VT – Yfull is high and open, ready for more, bounce back

Milton – BB – switch mount to split leap, under split – wolf 1.5, pulls it out – side somi, keeps it on, lean forward – bhs loso, pretty solid, some soft knee – switch to switch side, arm circle – sissone to split, hit – 1.5 dmt, hop forward

Anzola – VT – yfull, fine, some pike. lunge back

Richardson – UB – maloney to giant full to pak, some leg separations in here but hit – toe shoot to high – blind to jaeger, slightly close – cast 1/2 is past handstand – DLO with a full straddle, hop

Esponda – VT – DTY is very good, just a little hop up. She’s ready. 14.300

Trinity pretending she doesn’t know what it’s like to stick. Paul is pretending like he doesn’t know what gymnastics is.

Rivera – VT – DTY is landed to her feet, a little shorter than the Esponda or Pease vaults, chest farther forward, but hit, not too large on the hop

Stassi – BB – loso mount, wobble, keeps it on the beam – side aerial to loso, hit, bends the knee in loso – switch to straddle to bhs, secure, no check, short positions – aerial, under rotated, big save, large lean wobbles to both sides but stays on – switch side, small adjustment – double tuck, landed, bounce back

Bullock – UB – front stalder 1/2 to inbar shap to pak, good, legs together – inbar full to van leeuwen, good height – inbar 1/2 to jaeger, hit – small back position adjustment on hs – FTDT, gets it to her feet, lunge back. Really strong on the bars, gave away some on dismount, but good. 14.400

Looking back at Rosa on bars – piked jaeger is close but hit – stalder to pak – shorter hs on high – toe on to van leeuwen, small leg greak – giant full FTDT, step back

Damelio – UB – she was off right from the start – short handstand into a tight weiler and has to hop off – resumes and gets the weiler 1/2 – now does the Seitz, hits it, into pak – maloney to gienger, a little low but caught – toe full, past vertical – blind to double front, sits it down. Got the Seitz but felt like the whole world was about the Seitz and missed the rest of the routine.

Fulcher – BB – bhs mount, hit but arm wave and knee position – bhs loso, secure, tucked position – aerial to split jump to straddle – side aerial, hit – wolf double is very solid – sideward straddle roll – switch, good attention to back leg – switch 1/2, also nice amplitude, not tight rushing like most have – double tuck, a couple steps back. The back leg is getting her in a lot of places but some good amplitude/leap moments

Rose – BB – switch mount, hesitation, wobble – switch to split, a little under – wolf triple is comfortable – side aerial to loso, confident, small goot adjustment – aerial, holds it, small waver, avoids major issue – straddle jump from side – 2.5 dismount, bounce forward. Good hit. Started tentative but pulled it together for a hit.

Looks like UCLA/Illinois does not have functioning live stats, but UCLA got stuck in the 9.8 zone for their bars rotation, Chiles struggling on a cast hs on low and had to recast. UCLA stuck on 49.250 on bars. Illinois had to count a short Y1.5 lunge back on vault to go sub 49.

After 1
1) Bullock 14.400
2. Esponda 14.300
3) Pease 14.250
4) Rivera 14.150
5) Krob 13.750

Bullock’s bars the win of that first rotation. Got a little off on dismount, but very strong inbar elements to build the difficulty. Krob also competitive on bars, a routine to keep an eye on. Esponda winning the DTY race in that rotation group was also a big deal for her season.

Rotation 2

Milton – FX – popa is around well – DLO, gets it to her feet, shuffles back, possible OOB couldn’t see the line, pikes down at the end – switch and tor jete 1/2 – front full to lay, comfortable – switch 1/2 – wolf single – front pike to double tuck, chest down, step forward

Moreau – UB – weiler 1/2 to maloney to clear hip to Church to pak, ooooh it was going so well but tucks and straddles the pak and hits the mat – resumes with van leeuwen and hits – giant full – DLO is solid, little hop. Alllmost a very impressive combination to start, just got away from her at the end. But the pieces were there.

Anzola – UB – stalder full, a bit late – hits hs on low – maloney, gets it into stalder – Ricna, can’t get the grip and falls – resumes with pak – van leeuwen – hit, some leg separations – DLO, step forward

Richardson – BB – bhs loso, small check – wolf double, gets it around but tucks at the end to do so – aerial, small adjustment – side aerial, chest down, somewhat bigger wobble – switch to split to bhs, nice – double pike, bounce back

Esponda – UB – toe full, solid finish into maloney to gienger, some form but through it – short hs on high – blind to jaeger, hit – pak, straddles it – van leeuwen, caught – double tuck, hop forward. Kind of a leg separation and handstand adventure but survived it.

Fulcher – FX – wolf double comfortable – front full to double tuck, chest down, hop forward – switch ring to switch full, nearly around, solid height and air position – 2.5, some leg crossing, hop to the side – gogean lands staggered and a bit under but not bad – double pike step back

Bullock – BB – full turn – bhs loso, wobble – switch to split 1/2 to bhs, gets the connection, a little tight in split – switch 1/2, secure – side aerial, hit – aerial to split to korbut will also get the series there – side somi, arm wave circle correction – 2.5, step forward

Meanwhile Ashlee Sullivan stuck a Y1.5.

Rivera – UB – weiler 1/2, good form to stalder full to show to Ricna, good – pak, solid leg position – maloney to tkatchev, low but hit – 1/2 turn on high, solid position to finish – FTDT, gets it to her feet, chest down with step. Good one.

Rose – FX – whip to FTDT, lands it, step back – split jump full, around – back 1.5, pulls around a tucked barani out of that, gets something to her feet? – wolf triple, around well – switch 1/2 is abbreviated into tour jete 1/2 – double pike,c hest down, hit

Pease – UB – front stralder 1/2 to inbar full, some back position but hit – to inbar shap to tkatchev – pak, good height – stalder shap 1/2 – a bit short hs on high – double front a major struggle, deep squat, a couple lunges back to try to save, ends up with hand down

Jordan Chiles vaulted a Lopez today, hop back.

Damelio – BB – immediately falls on loso mount – Onodi is nice, good split elements –

Sath – FX – DLO, a little jarred on the rebound out – wolf double is hit – back 1.5 to front full, comfortable twisting – leans out of double L turn – switch ring – tries to pretend she did a gogean but landed a tour jete 1/2 and then did the other half turn after landing – 2.5 is too much to ask as the end, short landing and sits it down

Rosa – BB – switch mount, arm wave to control – switch 1/2, under split, breaks connection into korbut – switch side aerial like Keira Wells – bhs loso, tucks back leg, keeps it on the beam – switch to sissone, good – full turn, tentative – aerial, nice amplotude – breaks connection into split and straddle – bhs bhs double tuck, chest down, lunge forward, gets it to her feet

After 2
1) Rivera – 28.450
2) Bullock – 28.200
3) Pease – 27.400
4) Esponda – 27.200
5) Krob – 27.000

Rivera looking pretty well prepared for this one through two events. She looks back and ready. Bullock shows two competitive hits on bars and beam. We didn’t see Krob’s beam but she’s staying competitive, just ahead of Rose.

Rotation 3

Anzola – BB – wolf double, a little tentative – bhs loso loso, good height, some leg bending through – aerial, breaks combo into split straddle – side aerial, comfortable and secure – switch to switch, little adjustment – doubel pike, deep landing, saves it with lunge back. Knees and splits will get her but a pretty secure hit

Stassi – VT 2 – ro 1/2 on front pike is landing, hop forward, coming after hit Y1.5, hop

Bullock – FX – FTDT, hits, bounce back, some leg separation – back full through to 2.5, larger slide forward – memmel, falls out of it at the end – tour jete 1/2 to switch 1/1, just a tag under rotated on landing – front 2/1, knees, crossover step – split jump full.

Esponda – BB – side aerial to loso, keeps it on the beam, turn to the side arm wave – switch, pause before switch 1/2, little check after – back tuck – split to straddle – wolf double, teetering, pulls it around – double pike, high, lunge back. Through it.

Damelio – FX – whip to 3/1, under, lunge forward – memmel turn, drops earlu – switch ring to tour jete 1/2, also hops around 1/2 turn after – back 1.5 to front full, hit, a little low, step forward – wolf double, around a little – double tuck, pulls it around, chest down but got it. Through a hit.

Milton – VT – Y1.5, to her feet, under with a shuffle back but landed it

Rivera – BB – wolf triple, comfortable – side aerial to split jump to straddle jump, connected – bhs lay 2 feet, secure, deduct for lay position but solid – aerial, to her toes, breaks combo into split ring jump and korbut – switch ring, good – switch, back leg got a little weird – bhs bsh double pike, chest down, step forward. OK Hezly. Broke a couple combos, low dismount, but very solid for February.

Rose hits Y1.5, hop forward.

Rosa – FX – popa, around – DLO, hits it, bounce back OOB, pikes down at the end – tour jete 1/2 – front full to double tuck, chest down, hop forward – switch ring to switch 1/2 – double pike, bounce back

Look back at Krob hitting double back, front tuck through to 2/1, hop back, leg separation – switch ring, switch full, loses footwork but gets it – double pike, leg separation, step back – wolf triple, a little slow but confident position and definitely around

Pease – BB – candle mount, good – wolf triple, smooth – switch to split to onodi, big wobble bend over at the hips to keep it on – bhs loso loso is solid – aerial to straddle to bhs, smooth – side aerial, hit – switch 1/2, under split but secure – 2.5 dmt, hit, a little under-twisted, hop to the side

9.975 for Chiles on floor.

Moreau – BB – hits switch mount – switch 1/2, tight of position, into back tuck, solid landing – wolf turn triple is strong – side aerial loso, secure, loses back leg form in loso – aerial, hesitation before split and straddle, good split positions – double pike, kind of close to the beam, lands it, chest down, only small hop to the side. Lots to like in that routine, high potential.

After 3
1) Rivera – 42.650
2) Bullock – 41.600
3) Pease – 41.250
4) Rose – 40.200
5) Esponda – 40.150

Rotation 4

Esponda – FX – whip to DLO is strong, small bounce back – open FTDT, little bounce back and leg separation, chest up well – wolf triple, around and then some for credit – whip 1/2 to double tuck is stuck, that’s ready – tour jete 1/2, switch 1/2, a little under – double pike, chest down, hop – split jump full. Nice one.

Bullock – VT – Yfull is high, plenty of amplitude, hop back. 13.600

Bullock is done on 55.200 AA. These are some loosey goosey E scores, but a very strong meet.

Rosa – VT – DTY, pulls it around, lunge back, larger leg separation on block

Rivera – FX – DLO 1/1, hits it, some pike throughout, little hop to the side – DLO, chest lower, hop forward – switch full to knee – wolf double – front tuck through to double tuck, step back – split ring to switch ring, shows the ring positions – 2.5, lunge forward. Very well hit AA today.

Esponda is done with 54.000 AA. Rivera 56.750.

Sath – UB – toe 1/2 to jaeger, close but hits it – pak, legs together solidly – toe full, past – van leeuwen, hits it, leg separation – goes for a clear hip back tuck dismount (Mukhina FTW) but basically falls, very deep landing

Pease – FX – double double, gets it to her feet but deep, big lunge forward – double pike, bounce back – switch ring to switch 1/2, can attack the split more on switch 1/2 – back 1.5 to rudi, bounce back, adjusts to keep the bounce in bounds – wolf double, smooth – 2.5, leg crossing but solid, small hop to the side

Milton – UB – short first hs – van leeuwen, just catches, late twist – jaeger, hit – toe full to pak, catches, legs apart – maloney to gienger, through it – short hs on high – DLO, gets the basically-a-stick, some pike down

Look back at Fulcher’s bars, finishes double tuck step back

Moreau – FX – switch full looks around – DLO, pretty solid layout position, slide back – FTDT, slide back as well – small leg separation – switch ring to tour jete 1/2, good completion – wolf triple, pulls it around with some arms – popa, good – front tuck through to double tuck, chest down, little hop. Good.

Stassi’s arm slips off on initial Weiler. Finally the Winter Cup arrived! I’ve been missing our silly misses, but that was the content we’re looking for from Winter Cup. None of this “I got a 56.750 AA”” business.

A second fall on her pak. And now a scarier peel off on a toe on attempt. You can just salute now, we all understand. Still does a DLO 1/1 dismount and gets it to her feet.

Anzola – FX – DLO, pikes it down, just lands it, hop forward – back 2.5, gets front tuck in combo – tour jete 1/2 to a switch 1/1 knee like Hezly, doesn’t quite sell the rotation as much beforehand, it’s a total fake so that you don’t have to complete the rotation, but we have to want to go on the journey – wolf double – double tuck, bounce – switch – double pike position is very open, doesn’t quite show a shape.

FINAL
1) Rivera – 56.750
2) Bullock – 55.200
3) Pease – 54.350
4) Esponda – 54.000
5) Moreau – 53.450