Saturday, April 18
4:00pm ET/ 1:00pm PT	Championship [1] Oklahoma [2] LSU [3] Florida [13] Minnesota	SCORES	ABC Teams1 Teams2

It’s time to don your most formal sparkle pants, pick only your 1800 classiest crystals, and spray on your orangest tan. The NCAA national championship has arrived.

Oklahoma comes to the table as the #1 team, clear winner of the semifinal day, and the defending champion. LSU comes in as the #2 national seed, Florida comes in as the SEC champion and first semifinal winner, and Minnesota comes in as the people’s champion.

Intro videos: Oklahoma has an AI horse in walking through a palace, Florida has Tim Tebow doing a voiceover about sticking landings, LSU has levitating crowns, and Minnesota has…an outline of the state of Minnesota. I’m worried Minnesota wasn’t invited to the Most Unhinged Award zoom planning session.

Rotation 1

Oklahoma has rotated out Elle Mueller for the vault rotation today.

Blessey – VT – Oklahoma – step back on handspring pike 1/2. 9.8375

Gerdes – UB – Minnesota – maloney leg sep into bail- hits hs on high – FTDT, chest forward, hop. 9.800

Draser – BB – Florida – bhs loso, secure, some leg position – switch, little pause before switch 1/2, solid landing – full turn, balance correction – 1.5 dmt, stuck. 9.8375

Innes – FX – LSU – front 2/1, step forward, controlled – back 1.5 to front lay, a bit more of a bounce – under split on tour jete 1/2 and popa – rudi, forward into double stag, controlled. 9.825

Wells – VT – Oklahoma – little hop forward on y1.5 today. 9.8875

Ostrum – UB – Minnesota – blind to piked jaeger, hit – solid hs on high – pak, good position – little body position but good vertical on final pas – DLO, holds onto landing well. 9.900

Blakely – BB – Florida – in the 2nd spot, arana moved to anchor – wolf triple is hit – aerial to bhs, connected comfortably – switch 1/2 to beat, solid – stuck dmt. 9.9125

Ballou – FX – DLO, hit, chest pretty well down, controls the step – switch side, overturns a little into combo – front lay to rudi, leg crossing, good control. 9.8750

Scheible – VT – Oklahoma – handspring pike 1/2, solid stick. 9.9625

Crump – UB – Minnesota – small arch on first hs, pulls it back into toe on to maloney, small leg break, good pak – 1/2 turn on low – hits hs on high – DLO, deep lean forward on landing, chest past horizontal. 9.7875

Frazier – BB – Florida – little balance check on full turn – aerial to loso, larger wobble, lean and arm wave – split and split ring, good positions, another small adjustment on landing – 1.5 dmt, stuck. 9.800

Coen – FX – LSU – front 2/1, secure landing, a bit of knees – front lay to front full, hit, a little low on amplitude – tour jete 1/2 to popa popa, clear rotation. 9.8625

Torrez – VT – Y1.5, good height, small hop forward onto toes to lean hold it. 9.900

Saltzmann – UB – Minnesota – hits hs on high – toe 1/2, small leg separation into jaeger, caught – a little rushed on hs – good bail vertical – hits hs on high – DLO, lower, step forward. 9.8375

DiCello – BB – Florida – wolf double hit, knee slightly soft, secure rotation – switch to split, comfortable – bhs loso, lean correction – aerial, holds with another small lean – gainer full, stuck. 9.900

Drayton – FX – LSU – DLO, good height and chest position – switch ring to switch 1/2, excellent – double tuck, good control, chest a little forward. 9.9375

Estep – VT – Oklahoma – Y1.5, hit but a medium lunge forward. 9.8625

Slevin – UB – Minnesota – maloney to pak, good – van leeuwen, legs together well – a bit short on hs on high – DLO, nearly holds stick but ends up with a step back

Harris-Miranda – BB – Florida – bhs loso bhs, very solid – switch to straddle 1/4, secure as well – 1.5 dmt, stuck

Chio – FX – LSU – FTDT, little lean to hold landing control on step – switch ring to tour jete 1/2, around – 2.5 to front tuck, lands a little under rotated with a step back. 9.900

Pederson brings bac the landings for Oklahoma on vault with a stick on Y1.5. Mostly 10s come up for 9.9875

Arana falls on beam in the anchor position. They’ll drop that number.

Lyden – UB – Minnesota – maloney to bail, good toe point, legs together – hits hs on high – DLO, chest low with a big hop forward. 9.8375

Lincoln – FX – LSU – high DLO, controls the step back – switch to gogean, ends up slightly under rotated on the gogean, but pretty close – front lay to front full, little slide. 9.9375

After 1
Oklahoma 49.600
LSU 49.5125
Florida 49.3875
Minnesota 49.2625

Oklahoma did not have the vault rotation of the semifinals but still came through with a 49.600, which is a useful pace. LSU will thank the final three on floor for getting them the 49.5 everyone definitely needs on floor. Florida was able to drop the fall but was too checky overall in that beam rotation and has work to do on floor.

Moving Arana to the anchor spot after struggling in the semifinal didn’t work out for Florida there. Moving the gymnast you’re afraid might fall to the anchor spot is a January decision, not an April decision. You need to put your sure-fire 10 last.

Rotation 2

Zeiss – VT – LSU – Y1.5, hop forward and some knee position. 9.8375

Pederson – UB – Oklahoma – Ray, hit – pak, good leg form – solid 1/2 turn on low – hits hs on high – DLO, can’t stick it, leans forward with a step. 9.850

Ostrum – BB – Minnesota – bhs loso, check – switch to straddle 1/4, solid -sticks gainer full. 9.875

Disidore – FX – Florida – rudi, pike down at the end, into double stag – switch side 1/2 to straddle 1/2 is around – back 1.5 to layout, hit. 9.8625

McClain – VT – LSU – high yfull, little hop back. 9.8875

Murphy – UB – Oklahoma – toe on to maloney to pak, nice – giant full into double tuck is stuck. 9.9125

Stewart – BB – Minnesota – hits korbut connection and wolf single – gainer full, stuck

Ferris – FX – Florida – FTDT, some leg separation – switch side 1/2, a little in between, into straddle – back 1.5 to layout, leans into a dance out, doesn’t really show control

Roberts – VT – LSU – handspring pike 1/2, solid height, bounce back. 9.875

Moraw with a wobble on bhs loso series, sticks gainer full. Estep finishes bars with giant full to FTDT, holds onto landing.

Frazier – FX – Florida – DLO, chest a little down – good leap combination – front tuck through to double tuck, little bounce. 9.8875

Lincoln – VT – LSU – lands kind of locked on her Y1.5 today with a step back. 9.800

Rowray – BB – Minnesota – bhs loso is solid – switch to straddle 1/2, good –

Scheieible – UB – Oklahoma – hits jaeger – bail, legs together – some small angles on verticals – strong final cast hs – FTDT, good position, little hop forward

Drayton – VT – LSU – great power, kind of out fo control on the step, and the mat slides on her again like SECs. 9.875

Blakely – FX – Florida – double front to stag jump, feet but good control – tour jete 1/2 is out of control, misses position, which is unusual for her, and not in control of combination – back 1.5 to layout is solid. 9.9125, but…leaps?

Smith – UB – Oklahoma – toe on to maloney to pak, leg separation – past on 1/2 turn on low – DLO, stuck

Pearl – BB – Minnesota – back in the lineup, solid loso series – switch to straddle 1/4, strong – front aerial, big wobble, large bend forward at the hips – gainer full, step.

DiCello – FX – Florida – good control on FTDT, chest down – switch ring to switch 1/2 – wolf double –

Chio – VT – LSU – saves LSU with another stuck 1.5, some of her best amplitude as well. Unanimous 10.

Torrez – UB – Oklahoma – Ray, good amplitude – toe on to pak – hits hs on high – DLO, shorter with a step forward. 9.875

Harris-Miranda – FX – Florida – double tuck, some leg separation and chest position on landing, shows control – switch side 1/2 to straddle – back 1.5 to 1/2 to double stag, not under control with a travel back

Lyden – BB – Minnesota – candle mount, good – wolf double, hit – bhs loso, comfortable landing – cat leap to switch side, a little under, solid landing again – 1.5 dmt, somewhat off to the side, stuck. 9.9125

After 2
Oklahoma 99.0875
LSU 98.9875
Florida 98.8375
Minnesota 98.7125

Everyone scored almost the same thing in that rotation, from 49.450 to 49.4875. Once again Oklahoma wins the rotation but gains basically nothing. In comparison, Florida behind LSU on floor, LSU behind Oklahoma on vault, Florida behind Minnesota on beam, Minnesota behind Oklahoma on bars.

Rotation 3

Pilgrim – VT – Florida – large bounce out of Y1.5. 9.825

Zeiss – UB – LSU – toe on to maloney to pak, good positions – 1/2 turn on low – strong hs on high – FTDT, little leg separation, stuck. 9.925

Fatta – BB – Oklahoma – bhs loso, secure – side aerial, hit – cat to switch side – solid full turn – switch to split, hit – gainer full, chest wayyy down hop forward. 9.7375

Saltzmann – FX – Minnesota – double pike, little rebound – front lay to front full, dance out – double tuck, chest forward, step

Draser – VT – Florida – Y1.5, hop forward and step salute, some knees. 9.825

Cowan – UB – LSU – sticks DLO. 9.925

Wells – BB – Oklahoma – cat leap to switch side aerial and falls – OKLAHOMA –

Good rudi to straddle jump from Rowray on floor – front lay to front full, controls the step

Frazier – VT – Florida – DTY, pretty solid, medium hop back, some knees. 9.875

Ulrich – UB – LSU – hits hs on low – toe on to maloney to pak, good positions – solid hs on on high – DLO, some pike down, hop back. 9.8875

Murphy – BB – Oklahoma – candle mount, hit – bhs loso series, strong. good foot positions – aerial., hit – full turn – beat to split ring jump, holds it – gainer full, stuck. 9.9375

Swartzmiller – FX – rudi to straddle jump, hit – switch side 1/2 to popa – back 1.5 to layout, solid

DiCello – VT – Florida – Y1.5, pretty big hop forward from her as well, knees. 9.850

Chio – UB – LSU, maloney to bail, hit – hits hs on high – blind to khorkina, hit – shorter hs on high – FTDT, trieesssssss to hold that college salute for as long as possible but leans back into a step salute.

Pederson – BB – Oklahoma – full turn – bhs loso, solid – switch side is tighter in split but fine – 2/1, holds onto the stick back on her heels. 9.950

Gonsiorowski – FX – Minnesota – FLO, leg separation, good chest up control

Ferris – VT – y1.5, short landing with a step back. 9.800

Blackson UB – LSU – hits bail, some hip angle in vertical psoitions – nice high khorkina – better hs on high bar – DLO, pike down, little step back. 9.9125

Mueller – BB – Oklahoma – full turn, wobble – bhs loso series is solid – side aerial to side, hit – another check on straddle 1/4 but pulls it back – 1.5 dmt, holds the stick

Ostrum – FX – Minnesota – front tuck through to double tuck, under control –

Harris-Miranda – VT – Florida – Y1.5, nearly sticks but a step to the side. 9.875

McClain – UB – hits Chruch well – leg separation into pak – good hs on high – FTDT, good. 9.950

Torrez – BB – Oklahoma – side aerial to loso is strong – switch to straddle jump, good – gainer full, stuck. Oklahoma survives beam?

Lyden – FX – Minnesota – back 1.5 to front full dance out, some softer knees – switch side 1/2 to straddle 1/2, a little precision in landing –

After 3
LSU 148.600
Oklahoma 148.525
Minnesota 148.100
Florida 148.075

Big news is Florida dropping way back after a weak vault rotation with lots of hops forward. Other big news is Oklahoma having issues on beam. They got through it with a score, but LSU’s hit bars rotation allowed them to move ahead. And Minnesota’s hit floor allowed them to move into third. Less than a tenth in it at this point. Can LSU’s beam beat Oklahoma’s floor.

Rotation 4

Stewart – VT – Minnesota – Y1.5, a little deep, step forward. 9.8375

Frazier – UB – Florida – toe on to maloney to pak, leg separation – DLO, good stick. 9.9125

Coen – BB – LSU – aerial to beat, secure – bhs loso, also solid landing – switch to split jump – holds onto stick on 2/1 – 9.9125

Murphy – FX – Oklahoma – front through to double tuck – switch 1/2 to wolf full – back 1.5 to lay, whipped over with some body position at the end – switch full. 9.875

Moraw bigger bounce back on yfull –

Pilgrim – UB – maloney to tkatchev, hit – pak, small leg break, a little past on 1/2 turn on low – hits hs on high – FTDT, slide back

Pederson – FX – Oklahoma – front 2/1, little off the to the side but keeps the step forward in bounds – back 1.5 through 2/1 good twisting position, little rebound. 9.9375

Zeiss – BB – LSU – side aerial and falls – finishes up with an aerial to bhs, hit – switch to split, little waver – switch gainer tuck full. Some big beams coming up.

Blakely with a small step to the side on double front 1/2 out and a 9.950

Crump – VT – Minnesota – y1.5, step forward

Wells – FX – Oklahoma – front tuck to through to double tuck, some chest position and rebound – switch full to wolf full – back 1.5 to front lay, hit. 9.900

Drayton – BB – LSU – switch 1/2, hit – bhs loso series, holds securely – switch to split, holds that one as well – full turn – little scoot back on dmt. 9.875

DiCello – UB – Florid a- short hs – into church, hit – pak, toe on to van leeuwen, hit – solid hs on high – FTDT, small step back. 9.8875

Slevin yfull with a hop back

Mueller – FX – Oklahoma – front tuck through to double tuck, little bounce back – front lay to rudi, under control on step back – tour jete 1/2 to popa, a little out of control but around – 9.9375

Lincoln – BB – LSU – aerial, tentative through to bhs but gets the combination – switch 1/2 to beat jump, hit – full turn – sissone to split – 1.5 dmt ahhh, under with a step back. 9.8375

Estep – FX – Oklahoma – front 2/1, controls step, a bit of knees – switch 1/2 to wolf full – 2.5 bounce forward out of it – 9.9125

Gerdes hits y1.5 with a step forward –

McClain – BB – LSU – sissone to switch 1/2, little lean to the side into beat jump – aerial to bhs is solid – hits side aerial – gainer full, holds the stick. This is going to come down to it. 9.950

McCusker’s hits stakder shap to pak and van leeuwen – stalder to double tuck, deeeeep landing with step forward. Florida did not have it.

Torrez – FX – Oklahoma – DLO, good height, little rebound – good completion on leap combination – front tuck through to double tuck, bounce back. Door open. 9.950

Chio – BB – LSU – bhs mount, solid, looked soo off line from out angle, but good – bhs loso, solid – little tentative on full turn – aerial, works into split jump – switch to split, no trouble – 1.5 dismount, ooooh arm swing with a little hop forward. AH that’s probably decisive.

9.900 for Chio, LSU will finish on 198.075 to Oklahoma’s 198.1625.

Wild finish.

FINAL
Oklahoma 198.1625
LSU 198.075
Florida 197.6875
Minnesota 197.375

Well, you can sure debate it. I don’t have a strong take yet but am trying to create one because, you know. LSU had the more satisfying hit because they didn’t have to count a score like Fatta’s beam, but LSU had enough lower 9.8s in critical positions to counter balance it. Then you’re playing, were the overscores on LSU’s bars more than the overscores on Oklahoma’s floor? And then you have to parse all the other events. And then you turn crazy.

Very strong meet for both teams, either way, with little mistakes. No one had an overwhelmingly championship performance. Basically the whole difference was how the teams did after their second-position fall on beam, and Oklahoma stuck more.

Florida finishes third and will need to once again look at not bringing it to the final day and falling out of contention despite having more than enough talent to win. Minnesota finishes 4th but a strong competition to keep pace with the top teams after their run of upsets.

8th championship for Oklahoma, moving ahead of UCLA on the all-time list.