9:00 ET/6:00 PT – Pac-12 Championship Session 2 (Salt Lake City, UT) (
Scores) (
Stream, w/ TV subscription)
10:00 ET/7:00 PT – MPSF Championship (Anchorage, AK) (
Scores) (
Stream)
It’s happening. And it’s going to be a long day. Make sure you have your provisions. Lots of snacks. More booze. Your shrine to Stella Umeh. The usual. I’ll start blogging in earnest around 2:00 ET with the start of the SEC Championship.
Note that the EAGL Championship isn’t until tomorrow, which will be surprising if you’re me and thought it was today. It was originally supposed to be today, as all conference championships are, but George Washington wasn’t able to host because of another scheduling conflict (why aren’t these things worked out in advance?), so now it’s tomorrow at Towson.
Week 10 rankings – (GymInfo)
Keep in mind that today we enter the land of four judges. The high and the low scores are dropped, and the remaining scores are averaged, meaning that individual judges who are a little too enthusiastic or a little too a-prune-with-legs will usually be thrown out in favor of a happy medium. Or unhappy medium because let’s be honest, we’re going to be unhappy.
The first session from Big Tens is already in the books, with Iowa snatching the victory with a very solid 196.500 that should probably beat a couple of the teams in the later session. That’s a season high and makes two weeks in a row of breaking 196.400 at away meets. They take the clubhouse lead over Maryland with a 196.075 (also a season high, spotting a trend?), Michigan State with a 195.650, and Rutgers with a 193.125.
A reminder, in the first session of SECs we have Georgia starting on vault, Arkansas starting on bars, Kentucky starting on beam, and Missouri starting on floor. Sadly for Missouri, Shauna Miller is still available on just bars and beam and not all the events, so we will be denied that vault.
Arkansas’s score is something to keep an eye on because the Razorbacks are currently sitting in the precarious 18th spot in the rankings, but we won’t really know anything about where they’ll finish until Minnesota and Cal have gone later in the day.
Bart is ready to go! Of course he is. A couple dozen people are waiting for the meet to start! It’s a four-ring circus! Amanda Two is reporting that Jay is back on floor.
Starting right away!
Rotation 1:
Persinger – VT – back into the lineup – very secure landing – basically stuck, but a large pike in the air. You can see why she’s in for Vaculik if she has been landing like that in training.
Marino – VT – The 1.5 has been touch-and-go lately, but this was one of her better ones in terms of completion of the vault and leg form. Still a pretty large bounce forward, though, so won’t be a big score.
They’re struggling a little with what routines to show/general facts early in the competition. So we’re just watching Katie Carlisle stand around for 15 hours like this is an NBC competition or something.
Carlisle – BB – solid loso series with good leg extension – full turn is fine – split jump and a pause before the split 3/4 with a check – very low on her punch front, can’t save it and comes off. Sticks gainer full.
Scoring update? Come on people.
Rogers – VT – Oopsie. Great height on her 1.5 but lunges 1100 feet out of the vault – not what they needed in these landings so far after Persinger.
Jay – VT – There’s a stronger 1.5 – just an average step forward on the 1.5, but the rest was her usual vault and it should be the strongest score of the routines we’ve seen.
Kappler – FX – Opens with a punch rudi, though struggles a bit to connect it to a bhs loso like it’s a beam series – finishes with a pretty solid double tuck.
We’re getting highlights of a Canizaro mistake on bars, so Arkansas is already counting a couple 9.7s on bars.
Wellick – UB – they need a big hit from her and she’s starting securely – handstands look close enough, hits the tkatchev – and just a small step on the double front. Their previous best score was a 9.800, so this should be good enough. Just 9.775. Thought it would get into the 9.8s. Spread was 9.700 to 9.900 from the judges.
Zaziski – UB – ACK! Arches her full turn but saves it – solid on the tkatchev – misses a following handstand in there – bail is clean – hop forward on the DLO, short, and then another step to salute. Pulled it out, but not one of her strong ones because of the arch on that pirouette.
Lots of 9.7s so far. We’ve seen no gymnasts score higher than 9.850.
“You can tell the judges are warming up as well in this first rotation.” The Kathy shade begins.
Heimsath – FX – Missouri is right in this with the scores in the first rotation so far – not mich height on the double pike put pulls it around – a larger lunge – leaps looked OK – 1.5 to layout, layout a little arched but good control – double tuck is nearly a carbon copy of the double pike landing with a little slide. Solid, not much invested in performance, but hit tumbling and acceptable leaps.
Amanda Two is interviewing Danna and asking about Persinger sticking, and Danna is like “but no one else did…so shut up.” She’s happy with the enthusiasm. Uh oh. Kiss of death. At least the vaults were big.
After 1: Georgia 49.125, Missouri 49.075, Arkansas 48.825, Kentucky 48.275
Remember that time yesterday I was singing Kentucky’s praises on beam? This is why I should never say anything. Kentucky counts a beam fall and is basically out of it now. Arkansas was able to avoid counting a fall on bars but couldn’t get out of those 9.7s. Thought Wellick’s routine was fine, but they needed a big score from Zaziski and she arched a handstand pretty majorly.
Georgia, Georgia. Needed those vault landings and they didn’t come. I thought Jay’s vault was pretty good, with just the medium step forward. That could have gone higher than 9.850, but overall it was more of the same story of the last few weeks, large lunges and getting stuck down in the 49.1s.
Still waiting on the final score from Missouri. Finally in, and it’s a 49.075 for Missouri on floor, which is a big deal for them.
Noticing a few large spreads so far in the scores. A couple routines have had .200 spread and a lot have had .150.
Rotation 2:
“Jay Clark was in charge for a few years before moving on.” Yeah. Moving on.
Jay – UB – hit first hs – strong Ray – focusing well on hs – clean on the bail – finishes with a big DLO and a small slide back. Good hit.
We’re definitely focusing on Georgia in this broadcast, which is understandable since they’re the strongest and most famous team here and at home-ish.
Vaculik – UB – a little late on a few of these early handstands – missing each of the first three – very nice on the jaeger and bail – and holds onto the stick on the tuck full. Solid on all the major skills but will get hit for the handstands.
Kappler – VT – Doesn’t have the same dynamics as the Georgia vaults, but clean form in the air, bounce back.
Schick – UB – How did I miss that she was back on bars? Interesting…nice hs – high and clean piked jaerger – good bail – don’t love her toe-on technique – one short hs at the end – sticks the DLO – nice work. Her best bars routine for Georgia? Well done.
Zaziski – BB – This is the vital rotation for Arkansas, even more so because of the low score on bars. secure on the switch side, slightly crooked but not extreme – clean on the loso series and secure – switch to straddle 1/4 are OK – covers a check on the full turn by pretending she was doing a 1 1/4 turn, like you do – check on kickover front – some small issues of tightness here, but this will be a good score – large step-salute forward on the 1.5, though.
Davis – UB – “Davis and Rogers kind of sounds like movie stars in a film.” KATHY JOHNSON. great opening hs and brilliant tkatchev – clean form throughout on the bail – good rhythm through the shoot – hits the hs – had a great one going, but then a large-ish bounce back on the dismount. Was going to be an amazing score before that. Bart tried to name check Usain Bolt. It went just OK.
Rogers – UB – Yes with the stalder and Ricna, obviously – excellent bail and shoot as well – also hitting these handstands – comes in a little short on her DLO with a hop. THESE LANDINGS LADIES. Still a strong rotation with great work on the bars themselves. But it needed to be a huge score, and the landings will mean it’s not a huge score.
Puryear – FX – punch rudi to solid loso with some ragged leg form on the twist – switch ring is fine – split leap is a little short – does an orphan straddle jump because why not – Good landing on the double tuck, comfortable chest position and controls that step back. Judges starting to throw the 9.9s here. Floor has seemed a little soft so far. Can’t wait until the evening session. KYTRAGETSA20.
Waltz – FX – Pulls around a big wolf 1.5 well to start – large double pike with a solid landing as well – also controlled on the front full to layout (some leg break on the layout) and the double tuck. Great comfort on those tumbling passes to land them with ease and good position.
Amanda Two is now talking to Shannon about Missouri’s performance. They have confidence after floor. He’s proud of them. He comes across well in interviews.
Georgia goes 49.375 on bars, which is fine. A good chance for the best rotation score we’ll see in this session, but they had a chance to take advantage of it for bigger scores. Davis went 9.875 and Rogers went 9.900 and you could argue that both gave away a full tenth on the dismount alone. Kentucky just had a gigantic floor score as well with a 49.300, capped by 9.900s from Puryear and Waltz. It’s what solid tumbling does for you. Good recovery after the beam problem.
Missouri continued the solid performance with a 48.850 on vault to stay around 196 pace for the moment, while Arkansas is well below 196 pace after two events. They just can’t get out of the 9.7s. They go through beam, which was the idea, but no one hit 9.800. We only saw the Zaziski routine, but I didn’t think it would be as low as 9.725. Once Georgia goes to beam we’ll get a better sense of whether the beam judges are really nailing the strictness in this session.
After 2: Georgia 98.500, Missouri 97.925, Kentucky 97.575, Arkansas 97.500.
Rotation 3:
Phipps – VT – Interesting that she’s starting – has GREAT distance on her handspring tuck half – and a strong landing as well. We’ll see if going with her first pays off in the rest of the scores. You know I love creative lineup orders. 9.725. I don’t think it worked.
A little bit of feels during the Shelby Hilton chant.
Furuyama – VT – larger lunge back out of the full – some piking and a low landing.
Kappler – UB – good first hs – nice finish on the full turn – leg break on the bail and a little arch but saved to pretend she was just really nailing the handstands – short on final handstand – step back on tuck full dismount – some errors.
Mitchell – VT – front handspring, handspring front pike – solid landing – smallish step forward – and better on the leg form than the bend she has shown previously.
Natalie Vaculik fell on beam. OVER.
Anyone else looking at the scores for MACs? They’re not dropping the high and low judge scores. Tori Garcia got a 9.713 on vault. OK.
Babalis – BB – Poor loso series – super tight – comes off the beam with no chance to save it. ALL THE FALLS. Counting a fall not. Very good switch – step back on pike jump – wobbles on choreography, so that’s where this routine is – nice kickover front. Hop on front full.
This reminds me of the beam rotation from Nationals in Jay Clark’s last year.
Zaziski – FX – Fine double pike – a little leg separation and a minor slide – short landing and crunches in the knees a little on the double pike with a step – switch side and wolf are just OK, could be closer to full split – layout to front full with a small stumble. Some landing issues there.
Rogers apparently had a big break on her beam routine as well. I’m dead.
Broussard – BB – Long wait for the Rogers score. Judges often have trouble with that routine composition. Can we see another routine please? This just makes me continue weeping over Georgia’s beam performance.
Yikes. Rogers broke on her bhs 3/4 and then came back onto the beam awkwardly. Deciding if it counts as a fall? This is the second time in a few weeks that has happened for her on beam. That one sad little pompom with the Georgia team.
Actually Broussard – BB – GET THIS – solid on the one-arm bhs and loso series – good switch and does well not to give away a check on the straddle 1/4 – strong full turn – wobble on side aerial – lands low on her gainer full with a hop. Breaks in that routine but she got it.
9.400 from Brittany Rogers. It just gets worse.
Box – BB – Very strong loso series from Box – solid secure – tight a little on the switch but fine – solid leaps overall – pretty full turn – very strong aerial with great leg form – sticks the 1.5. Great routine. Such an important hit. We’ll hear a lot of “the silver lining is Broussard and Box” about this rotation. 9.925. This was a “it’s not that hard guys, because I’m awesome” kind of routine.
Still, a counting 9.4 and a counting 9.2. Not helping.
Arkansas recovered on floor for a 49.200, featuring a 9.900 from Elswick. Missouri goes 49.00 with a bunch of 9.800s. Missouri still in this for 196, but they’ll need a strong beam. Tim Garrison is the state bird of Kentucky. Like Missouri, Kentucky also continues to get those 9.800s, they’re just working against an early beam fall.
You guys, Missouri is winning. YESSSSSS.
The interviews between the rotations with the coaches are always, “HOW PROUD ARE YOU OF THIS TEAM? SO PROUD, RIGHT?” I wish they would just ask pride-neutral questions and let the coaches tell us exactly how they feel. They’re usually not that proud.
After 3: Missouri 146.925, Arkansas 146.700, Georgia 146.650, Kentucky 146.450.
Rotation 4:
Georgia is still probably the favorite to take this thing, but floor hasn’t exactly been confidence-inspiring this year. Missouri still has to contend with beam. Arkansas is suddenly is pretty good shape as well since vault can be a high score for them with Eslwick and Wellick.
Reynolds – FX – soldi double pike with a fairly low chest on landing – good switch side and popa. Her music kind of sounds like someone spitting directly into a mic. front full to loso is secure as well. It’s vital that they have her back in the lineup because she’s such a reliable 9.850 of a hit. And strong on the 1.5 as well. Good work.
Elswick – VT – Arkansas starting with some solid 9.8s. Good vault but not her best control – bounces back. She can stick that.
Brown – FX – Nice power on the double pike but a small slide back – does keep it in bounds – strong double tuck – good security on the landing – just losing it in the feet – hits her split full and popa with a good position – 1.5 to layout – JUST pulls around that layout – does well to get it to her feet but will be a big deduction. No height and loses form.
Zaziski – VT – They’ll getting all the 9.8s they need. Excellent power and some of her best control. She has improved this vault a lot. Good form – small slide back.
Marino – FX – That DLO improves her routine so much – good control and body position on landing – controlled on her 1.5 to layout as well – good split full and popa. This routine has finally arrived. Slides back on double pike, but will be another helpful score. Cassidy is really proud of her.
Kentucky trying to come back from a bars fall now in the second position.
Casey Jo! Putting the beam magic into Missouri. And then points to the beam at the end of her talk. “Yep, that’s where you go.”
Bart’s lessons: We don’t say you had a bad rotation, you had a challenging rotation.
Schugel – BB – Completely loses herself right after the loso – looked like she landed securely but then couldn’t hold it – large wobbles but stays on – two switches series, which I hate on principle, but she hits it – sticks gainer full.
Arkansas just comes up short of 196 with a 195.950.
Box – FX – Great high double pike as always – 1.5 to layout – looked like she overdid the 1.5 a little so the layout wasn’t as big as usual – dances out of it a little to cover up a slide – excellent switch side and popa – enough control on double tuck. Good hit.
Kent State and Central Michigan appear to be in control at MACs so far.
Kentucky counting a fall on bars as well now. Missouri stuck in the 9.7s on beam, so this is Georgia’s meet (session) to lose now with just Jay to go.
Jay – FX – Good on the full out – much better chest position and just the controlled step – stays in bounds – front full to layout is solid – she cheats her wolf jump a bit – good straddle – bounces out of her double pike, so that will take the score down a bit, but she does stay in once again. They have desperately needed this routine back.
Waiting on Jay’s score. Other finals, Arkansas 195.950, Missouri 195.700, Kentucky 195.025.
Jay goes 9.850 on that routine because of the slide on the last pass, which puts them at a final of 196.000.
Well, that was a little meh for everyone except Missouri. All the teams in the second session should be able to beat these scores comfortably. Georgia had a useful bars rotation (though needed more sticks) and a solid floor performance that can get even better once Jay has more routines under her belt, but of course beam was the major disaster for a 48.150. Can’t afford that, and this score means Georgia can’t move out of 10th place and is still going to be pretty a nerve-wracking one to watch at Regionals.
Arkansas also would have hoped for a bit higher score. The 195.950 puts them in danger of losing their current 18th ranking spot if Cal and Minnesota have good meets.
Danna interview. “Do you think that score will hold going into the next session?” Danna is like, “UM NO OBVIOUSLY.”
Time for a short break before the first session of Pac-12s gets going.
Now I turn on the back Pac-12 Network and Amanda Two is looking at me again! She’s everywhere!
Kent State and Central Michigan still look to be fighting it out for the MAC title, with Kent State still just over 196 pace after three events and Central Michigan with two 49+ events already in the books.
Jim informs us that this has been a season of both successes and failures.”A lot of cheers, a lot of tears.” Apparently, we’ve had champions come out of this session before. We have?
Profile of how amazing Toni-Ann Williams is. It’s a lot of amazing.
Taylor Allex has the highest AA score in ASU history…over the last four years. So, not history. And now there’s a commercial for the championship showing Dabritz vault with a voiceover of Amanda going “She did the 1.5!” while she’s doing the full. Great.
Rotation 1: (Arizona vault, Cal bars, Washington beam, Arizona State floor)
Wobma – VT – Just coming back – just a layout yurchenko.
Richardson – UB – Getting the stare from Elise Ray in the background – nice height on tkatchev and good counter rotation – solid hs – also a large DLO with just a small hop back. Very nice start for Cal.
We’re going one routine at a time, so get your patient shoes on because this will be a long day.
Stowe – BB – clean aerial to bhs – fluid in the connection – switch to a beat jump is fine – straddle 3/4 was a bit short of 180 but no wobble – sticks gainer pike. Classic leadoff routine – solid work.
Miceli – FX – We’re just hoping for six people on each event in some of these rotation – gets through the double pike, low landing but retains enough control – just layouts middle pass and pretty arched in those layouts with not a ton of height – short of position on her split full and popa – rudi to straddle jump to front tuck – the straddle jump went awfully sideways but she manages to pull off the front tuck anyway. They got a hit routine, no major errors, so it’s fine.
Felix-Terrazas – VT – A little big of leg separation in the air and not a lot of distance – step back.
Widener – UB – a little tight on early hs – but another big tkatchev into a solid overshoot – just a bit short on a couple handstands – tuck full dismount with large lunge. Came in short there.
Goings – BB – has a wobble just walking along the beam, so get it together. Good loso series – nice position on the straddle and straddle 1/4 – that’s 180 – pretty finish on the full turn as well – split jump to gainer loso – side aerial to a stuck layout full. Good work after that weird opening wobble.
Levin – FX – slide back on a lowish double pike to start – front layout to front full, not maintaining the straight shape throughout – switch ring and split half looked fine – very low on her rudi, got negative height – pikes but pulls it through.
Laub – VT – Good height on yfull – some piking at the end – small hop back.
Takara – UB – Huge height on gienger and does well to keep her legs together and sticks the tuck full dismount. Great on the big skills – a couple handstand issues and a big elbow bend on her clear hip, but solid.
Fechter – BB – nice front handspring mount – a little tight in her full turn but fine – low on the ickover front but holds on without a wobble and connects into bhs – split 3/4 is OK – also does well not to check – minimizing the errors here and sticks the gainer pike. Good.
Borman – FX – Some bounce on the double pike but a little better finishing position – same on the double tuck – some sliding but hitting the passes – a little lack of control on her tuck jumps – solid on the 1.5 to layout. Not much amplitude in her skills but no big errors. They’re getting through.
Sisler – VT – Pretty controlled on the landing – also some piking and not huge distance, but just a small hop back.
Owens – UB – half turn to a bail hs – some foot issue there but fine – clear hip up to high bar – small hop back on a solid DLO. Cal is looking pretty good on bars –
Northey – BB – comfortable full turn – straddle 3/4 is good – also strong on the loso series – was a little off line on her kickover front with one foot hanging off the beam but solid to hold onto the landing and go right into the beat jump – too big a lunge out of the 1.5 to finish but good on the beam.
Salas – FX – “She needs to pop one here.” OK. front double full with a smallish stumble to the side – front layout to front full looked really nice as it was going – but a large lunge out of it an OOB – finishes with a fine double pike.
Edwards – BB – Good height on her vault – bounce back – still lacking a little bit in the leg form, which was a strength in the past – just breaks slightly at the end.
Williams – UB – Solid shaposh in the air but she doesn’t really get up to horizontal afterward – small leg break in the bail – UH OH – has to cast again after her bail to get back to the high bar – great stick on the tuck full –
Janik – BB – Grabbing her foot under the beam like a beast – aerial to bhs – saves the combination to continue moving into the bhs without a real check – switch to beat jump – nice full turn – check on the side aerial – sticks gainer full. Wish they had fewer gainer fulls, but they’re working for them.
Allex – FX – You so thought she was going to flash a U with her hands at the beginning didn’t you (DO THEY GET A BONUS FOR THAT?) – fine on the double arabian with a lunge – really good on the 2.5 to front full – completes the skills with a controlled landing – hits her straddles – nice rudi as well – SO clearly their best floor routine. Different league than the others.
Cindric – VT – Fine yfull as well – starts with pretty good form but has to pike at the end, medium hop back – lots of piking in the Arizona vault lineup and not getting the landings.
Ho – UB – Good toe shoot – hs look OK – another huge gienger with solid form – pulls in that tuc full a little but lands it with good control – not really a stick with a hop to salute – but more good work.
McCartin – BB – Love her furious beam face – incredibly short on her aerial and comes off the beam – not a single chance to save it. Tries again and falls again. Won’t count it anyway so it doesn’t matter if she doesn’t get the combination, so forget it – into bhs – split jump to stag – hits the side aerial. Sticks gainer full. Still a good beam for Washington.
Sundby – FX – Full in with strong control on the landing – split full to split jump full are both OK – around and somewhere in the vicinity of 180. 2.5 to front tuck just stays in – also well completed – bounces way out of her double tuck with multiple steps and an OOB. Shame.
After 1: Cal 48.950, Washington 48.900, Arizona 48.875, Arizona State 48.425
The first rotation is finally over.
Scores staying conservative and appropriate in that first rotation. I was impressed by Washington’s security and solidity on beam until McCartin. They hit their skills, gave away very little on wobbles. Cal was OK on bars, nothing serious but a few minor errors in most routines. Could have used a big hit from Williams, but she had the biggest mistake with having to recast after her bail.
The second session at Big Tens is beginning with 9.8 central from Penn State on bars and Nebraska on beam. Especially important for Nebraska on beam.
For the subsequent rotations of the first session of Pac-12s, I think I’ll do notes and reactions rather than going skill by skill. It’s a lot of routines. I’ll save my identifying of every leap series energy for later when things get real in the SEC and Pac-12s. I have no way to watch Big Tens, so to anyone watching, reactions are appreciated.
In my fantasy gym team news, I’m already having some problems. Babalis on beam, Toni-Ann on bars. I needed these scores.
Rotation 2: (Arizona State vault, Arizona bars, Cal beam, Washington floor)
Arizona State is the second team in a row starting vault with a layout yurchenko. What conference is this?
Howard UB – very clean on her giant full and double back – just a few foot form issues etc on the bars, but equivalent to what Cal was doing there.
Howe did quite well on BB. She’s doing a Peszek no-hands routine – and had a check or two but some lovely elements as well.
Podlucky FX- bounces out of her double pike mount a billion steps and goes OOB – the rest was OK. It’s an improvement over last year when they really struggled to get the routines out there on beam, but they’ll need to drop it.
Rene Lyst is bringing the cleavage realness this week. I think she got my notes. Another layout yurchenko for ASU. It’s not a yurchenko full!
Felix Terrazas – UB – She’s one of the big height tkatchev Arizona girls – also the small form breaks but sticks the dismount.
Owens shows hit work on beam with a check or two and a bounce on the double full dismount – but scores on beam have been tight and the first few Cal gymnasts are giving reason to go not-huge in the scores, which has been the problem this year.
Stowe’s floor work is similar to her beam work. It’s not big, and you can see the little issue on skills like the straddle jump in combination not being 180, but secure tumbling and should help them out.
Salas for Arizona State starts bringing the 10.0 SV, so that’s something –
Mills on UB needs to take a cue from Cal in the gienger legs deparmtent – a few short handstands and a step on landing.
Ho – BB – big break at the hips on a bhs – Oh, Cal. Better after that and a stuck gainer full, though.
Fechter – FX – The gymnast whose name sounds most like a curse but isn’t – Really good 1.5 to loso opening pass – she is aggressively confident in all her movements –
Big scores coming at Big Tens, led by Illinois on vault with a 49.400, but Minnesota goes in the 49.3s and Penn State in the 49.2s. The problem was Nebraska beam. The same old story. A 48.725 while counting a bunch of 9.7s and a 9.6. Ruh roh.
Love to see Sundby doing that tuck 1.5 vault – hop to the side, but good use of originality.
Laub’s tkatchev isn’t the usual Arizona tkatchev, and she has a hesitation in a handstand, but mostly hit. High DLO – she used to do a DLO 1/1 right? Or am I thinking of someone else?
ALL THE 9.6s for Cal on beam. Save it, Toni-Ann. Aggressive work on her acro and holding onto it – just a step back on front layout full. Errors but a good hit. They’re just barely getting through beam but need a big score lie yesterday.
Three layout yurchenkos for ASU on vault. Oh dear.
Love the height on Burleson’s double pike – pretty tumbling – she’s so lithe that she looks too fragile to do a floor routine (I’ve been watching too much NCAA) but good mix of form and power in that one.
Allex usually does a y1.5 but does the Sundy special tucked version this time – step forward.
Ortiz! I was just getting ready to praise her tkatchev and then she does an overshoot right to the ground. Don’t need the score, but it means they’re still going to struggle to get onto 196 pace.
This is more like it for Cal on beam from Palomares. Very solid on bher acro – and an attitude turn as well. The best way to my heart! a couple checks – on aerial, on straddle – sticks gainer full.
Janik is continuing the new trend of all Lindsay Sterling all the time for floor music. Odd on her opening double pike – got no height and just pulled it around with a very low chest. Also a staggered landing on the rudi.
cindric is in a pressure situation for Arizona and must hit her bars. Comes through it cleanly – leg break on the bail and just a hop on the double front. Good hit.
Minnesota is ON IT today to take that seeded spot away from Arkansas.
Cal was on the way to saving this rotation, but Draghi does have a big bend on her acro series, just like any of the people in this lineup. Sticks gainer full.
Music problems for Northey. A couple music problems already in this meet. Washington is definitely hitting so far for the most 9.8s of anyone. This is a good day for Washington so far. They’re Missouri-ing this meet. Northey can finally go now – a little short on the double pike with a hop forward, big high 1.5 to front tuck, the split full was the main question mark in this routine, but a solid hit. Washington should take the lead with that score.
After 2: Washington 98.000, Arizona 97.850, Cal 97.700, Arizona State 96.900
Washington has been the only truly solid team so far. Arizona with some general landing mistakes and Cal still very much falling victim to the beam monster with another 48.7, which has been the theme all season.
Expecting something similar to the first session of SECs here. Some people flirting with 196 but nothing to challenge to top teams. Cal does have the confidence of having finished the two weak event sand going now to the two strong events with just a .300 deficit.
In other news, Michigan nailed floor for a casual 49.450 after dropping an OOB from Casanova, to put them about on par with what Minnesota and Illinois are doing, a little ahead. Penn State with a 49.000 on beam, which is OK but not keeping up with the current 49.300 pace. Still with floor and vault to come, though, just like Cal. Vital floor rotation coming up for Nebraska now.
In rotation 3 in the first session of Pac-12s, Shelby Edwards is leading off Arizona on beam, and I’m obsessed with her attitude turn and general existence, as I’ve said many times. A step back on her series and a check or two but mostly solid. Small hop on front tuck full. Starting to make up ground with that. Boo to that 9.750. It was a solid routine. Some definitely tight beam scoring in this session. Saving it for Danusia?
Good clean yfull from Yacalis for Washington – step back – she was their best vaulter a lot of the time last season.
ASU still has a bit more depth on bars. This is the event where they have been able to put up 6 people consistently – Gades has a good full turn and a clean pak, which is work of a heightened level to most of the ASU rotations. Big cowboy on double front with a larger step back.
Shay Fox is up on beam now – floaty skills and a very nice style in her general movements and acro skills – sticks gainer pike with a HUGE college salute. I think it took my eye out.
Cal’s early floor work has been solid. A form issue here and there but some very solid landings to get those scores.
Alright, midway through the second rotation here now, but SEC Session 2 begins soon so I’m going to stop half-assing this Pac-12 commentary and take a short blogging break until SECs start. because that’s how I roll.
We’ve got a series fight going on at Big Tens right now, with Michigan, Illinois, and Minnesota all bunched tightly. Note, Minnesota still has to do bars and beam.
At SECs we’ll start with Florida on vault, LSU on bars, Alabama on beam, and Auburn on floor. Florida should be able to take the lead after one rotation. LSU and Alabama can’t afford to let the lead get too big.
Nebraska’s vault score is a fine 49.325, but that’s lower than the vault scores for Michigan, Illinois, and Minnesota, which shouldn’t be happening to Nebraska. Minnesota now counting a 9.6 on bars because of course.
Floor scores going pretty high at Pac-12s. Will be interesting to see how they fare in the second session.
SEC time! Time to relive Georgia’s disastrous beam. Bart has upgraded it from challenging to disastrous. I’m nervous. Why am I nervous? I’m none of these people.
Kathy says this is LSU’s year. Bold statement. The KATHY HAS SPOKEN. Everyone perform accordingly.
Rotation 1:
To bring Baker and Sloan back in on vault, Bridgey is out. Interesting call. Starting with Spicer now, fine form and a small bounce back. Solid opening.
Gnat – UB – It’s painful to hear all these cheers and not know what’s going on, but I do favor the speed of SECs over the plodding pace of Pac-12s. good first hs – nice finish on full turn – good legs on the gienger – a small leg break on the gienger and one short hs – sticks the DLO. One of her good ones.
Savona went 9.850 in the first spot.
9.900 for McNeer on beam.
Sloan – VT -Big big yfull as always – great form – just the small step back with one foot. Well done. 9.925.
Williams – BB – just pulls around her popa to complete the full turn – a little squatty on the punch front landing but no wobble – long pause before series, but very good – not quite as confident as last week, but OK – small check on full turn – small step on 1.5. Good.
We didn’t see it, but it appears both Hunter and McMurtry got 9.950 on vault.
Jordan – UB – good opening hs – lovely toe point and height on jaeger – hits bail – all handstands look good – step forward on DLO.
LSU hasn’t hit the 9.9 mark on bars yet.
Courville – UB – Opens with her excellent jaeger – clean handstands – small leg break on the bail – just bends a bit to hold onto the stick on the tuck full dismount. How much Courville helps this rotation. She saves so much ground. 9.925.
Beers – BB -Good switch – looked like she would come in short on the side somi but controlled it well with no wobble – good legs on the loso series and secure – split jump to sheep with a step – just short on her 1.5 with a step back. Good, but did give away a couple .050s.
49.625 on vault for Florida. That’s the kind of advantage they were looking for. No one else has very 9.9y.
Is Auburn in this meet? You wouldn’t know.
Clark – BB – Great on the leaps. She has the second-best leaps in this rotation after Sims. Solid on loso series Secure on the sheep jump, though I would like to see a bit more head release. Check on the kickover front with a bend to the side – 1.5 is off to the side with a step. She just screamed at the camera. Because you need to sometimes.
LSU went 49.375 on bars. Good score. It’s a multi-tenth deficit to Florida, but not devastating. Alabama’s 49.275 will be harder to come back from, but that was a good beam rotation, so if that’s consistent with the other beam scores, they’ll still be in it.
Floor the last event still going. Atkinson FX – massive tuck full mount with a bit of a slide – solid on the split and wolf – 1.5 to layout to a huge wolf jump – does well to control it and keep it in bounds – good form and exceptional amplitude – bounces back out of her double pike – JUST does stay in bounds. Kathy is all about this routine. Is her name Macadaeg?
Rhonda is telling us about Florida’s incredible start. It was their best vault rotation at SECs ever.
Sadly, Auburn has to count a 9.6 on floor, which is devastating for their chances of contending, in spite of Atkinson’s great routine.
After 1: Florida 49.625, LSU 49.375, Alabama 49.275, Auburn 49.075
Both LSU and Alabama are heading to a big event at this point, and it’s necessary that they keep pace with what Florida puts up on bars. From what we saw in that rotation, LSU had some very nice bars work. A minor form break from Gnat, a non-stick from Jordan, but small errors into a strong hit from Courville. Nothing to worry about in that performance. Same from Alabama. But the Tide did need to be a bit more sure in those routines and stick more dismounts to get the kind of 49.5 they got last time out.
The upgrade on Rheagan is that they’re taking it event by event for now to see if she does the AA today. How can you do that to our hearts, though?
This rotation break needs to last long enough for us to watch Toni-Ann Williams on vault. Plan these things well.They did plan these things well, but Williams does have a little bounce back this time. Cal will be good enough on floor and vault to break 196 at this meet, though. And Minnesota is counting a bars fall, so things are getting interesting in the top 18.
Rotation 2:
Did we really get a commercial during actual gymnastics? These people…
Frost – FX – finishes with a very strong double pike landing.
Guy – VT – Great height and power on the vault – a little bit of soft knees and a bounce back. Good work.
Hunter – UB -good firs ths – huge hindorff as always – toe on – clean form on the bail – rhythm through the shoot – borderline final hs – flings out her tuck full so far and still stuck it. She’s laughing. HA! So Kytra to screw up her dismount kind of and still stick it.
Hambrick – BB – We missed Macadaeg’s routine. KATHY WILL BREAK YOU. Lovely L turn and a strong aerial – clean on the switch to straddle 1/4 – good loso series (“That was the taj mahal of layout stepouts”) – just a step or two back on the 2/1 dismount.
Just a 9.725 from Macadaeg. World over.
Sloan – UB – Excellent Ray except for the feet as always – does have the break in the bail this time – strong handstands throughout – sticks the DLO cold. Great routine. Rhonda just flew into the sky and turned into confetti about that routine.
10 for Sloan. Again. Not as strong as her last 10. With the leg break on the bail. 10 from all four judges as well.
Courville – BB – Lots of 9.8s so far – compared for Florida’s 10 millions – lovely L turn – wobble on the arabian but held onto it – another check on the loso – a little tightness so far? – hits the sheep jump well – great switch and split – wobbles again on the aerial connection into sissone. Sticks gainer full. Tight routine, though. She hasn’t done beam in a while.
Beers – FX – Alabama is getting the scores so far on floor that LSU did not get on beam – big DLO, slides back a little – front layout to front full is solid – split full is very good, would like to see the front leg higher on the switch ring – excellent double back.
Michigan is destroying the meet at Big Tens BTW –
Three scores in the 9.7s for LSU on beam. Not good.
C Sims – FX – The usual DLO – big but comes in a little short – clean on the middle pass and good control on the landing – hits her leaps with solid extension – easy double pike with a good chest position. Nice hit. Alabama has delivered on floor. It’s just that Florida is building up quite a lead.
Halfway: Florida 99.200, Alabama 98.750, Auburn 98.375, LSU 98.350
Florida has exactly the meet they were hoping for through two events. And a Sloan 10 doesn’t hurt. The big disappointment in that rotation was LSU on beam, not getting the big score I expect from a rotation with that talent. They’re 0.850 behind Florida already, and it seems impossible to see a comeback from that without a Florida counting mistake. Alabama has performed pretty well so far through two events, couldn’t expect all that much better in the routines that we’ve seen, but it’s still almost a half point deficit. This Florida beam rotation will be decisive. For the rest of the teams to get back into the meet, Florida will have to show some cracks here. Otherwise, they’ll just be able to cruise to the title.
The good news for LSU is that it’s still their best two events to come.
Big comeback for Nebraska after beam to finish with a 196.875. It won’t challenge Michigan’s excellent final score of 197.825, but it’s about as good as they could expect.
Rotation 3:
Savona – FX – Needs a 13. The 1.5 to double back is rock solid as always – full in middle pass has great control as well and she finishes it basically in the middle of the floor – straddle position is great – does slide back on her double pike, which is uncharacteristic. Still gets a 9.900 so look out.
Fassbender fell on beam on a bhs. This is the opening Alabama needs. Will it be a thing? Florida knows how to make meets interesting (I’m talking to you, Super Six 2013).
These beam judges are having a bit of a time today. After the Rogers debacle earlier.
Williams – VT – Going back to the full, after so many weeks of 9.825s, it’s understandable. Huge vault. Great form. Steps back. Kathy is NOT OK with that downgrade. No deductions other than the step though. 9.875.
Spicer – BB – Small bend on her loso – not huge amplitude on the switch – the shush is good – round off gainer full with a bounce. Hit.
Clark – VT – GREAT. Excellent height and form, and just a bounce in place that’s almost nothing.
Jordan – FX – Hitting the floor in her choreo, presumably out of frustration over LSU’s performance so far. Nails the double pike as always – front full to layout is fien and her straddles are more than fine. Just great form and control throughout. No real errors there, should be a great score.
McMurtry – BB – perfectly solid on the punch front – but you could tell she was off line on that loso in the air and she comes off. Counting a fall now. BEAM, people. Short on the switch – sticks the 2.5
LSU and Alabama are nailing these rotations. Florida is counting a fall. It just. got. interesting.
Hugely important beam routines for Hunter and Sloan now. The LSU team is singing along to “22” because obviously.
Courville – FX – Good double arabian this time on her return to the lineup – well controlled – high on the double pike and just the smallest slide – great leaps obviously – front tuck through to double back is just a little short with a step forward – did she just fall on her ending pose? LOL.
Hunter got a 9.600. Oh god.
Sloan – BB – She has PISSED BRIDGET BEAM FACE – small check on the aerial into her bhs connection – good switch to split jump – pretty full turn – excellent side aerial – sticks the double full. Did have that early check.
Hall – FX – One of her strongest DLOs – great control – great on her switch side to popa again – Kathy doesn’t like the toe point, which is very valid, but if they’re starting to deduct for toe point on floor, everyone would get a 9.600. Great double tuck. One of her very good ones.
Alabama’s 49.500 on vault is a pretty big deal now. LSU goes 49.550 on floor to keep themselves in it to challenge Alabama. Florida goes 48.625 on beam, even with Sloan’s 9.950. It would have been manageable if not for the Kytra 9.600.
After 3: Alabama 148.250, LSU 147.900, Florida 147.825, Auburn 147.525
Alabama is the one with the big lead now, but it’s not over yet since they have had some struggles on bars over the weeks and LSU is going to a potential huge score on vault. And Florida is going to a potential huge score on floor. Alabama still has to deliver the sticks in this rotation. And the not-falls.
I was worried about that 49.275 on beam from Alabama, but it turns out that’s an amazing score because everyone else is sucking majorly at beam today.
Rotation 4:
McNeer – UB – Wonderful Ray – best in the competition – she arched a hs and Kathy GASPED IN PAIN. A little floppy on the bail – does stick the DLO, but that one mistake will be an issue.Still a 9.850. OK.
Ewing – VT – Big 1.5 – has a leg break on the block and then a hop forward, but pretty good.
Jetter – UB – Jetter is back on bars. Interesting. How is that double front going to be? Good Ray as well but not as big and clean as McNeer’s nice down to the low bar – and just a step back on the double front. Not too bad.
Jordan – VT – Big and clean full – just a bounce in place. Her usual great vault.
Spicer – FX – Solid on the piked full in – though staggered as always – very strong front full to front pike – good security on the landing – way short on her split leap full – a little bounce on the double pike –
Gnat – VT – Just the full, which is sensible, and just a small bounce in place, coming off a 9.950 from Hambrick. LSU getting these vaults.
A Sims – UB – Kathy is warning us that the form will be a problem. It is trhoughout – but the weiler half and bail are solid – along with a small slide on the DLO. Great on the skills, but every one had a leg separation, especially the DLO. 9.900 because WTF.
Are LSU’s 9.9s going to be enough to beat Alabama’s 9.8s now? I wish the scores updated faster because it makes it basically impossible for us to follow what is happening. If you can have quick updating of scores in every meet during the year, why not at SECs?
Beers – Just a bit of a leg break on the bail after the shaposh but well hit – handstands look fine – bends a lot to hold onto the double front landing and then slides to salute – not a stick. 9.900.
Alabama basically just needs one more hit.
LSU finished 197.450.
Clark – UB – toe on – also some leg breaks in the shaposh to bail – not quite as sure as the Beers routine, and then the DLO was high and huge and then she still managed to land on her knees. What? They didn’t need it, though.
I love how Florida’s floor rotation doesn’t even exist anymore.
197.525 is the final score for Alabama, just holding off LSU.
Hunter – FX – Excellent DLO – great on the new middle pass as well – excellent control – Florida hasn’t had the scores in the first few routines, but the floor score to win actually may have been doable with some huge home-style scores. Nails the double back as well. Wonderful. Her usual great routine. 9.975. Because only Sloan gets 10s.
Caqautto – FX – She’ll get an 11 so that Florida can win, front double full to punch front is back in the routine this week (look how that worked out) – rudi to a huge split jump as well – very strong stick on the double pike. Well, it’s better than the routine she got a 9.950 for at Super Six last year, so that’s something. Waiting on the final scores now.
Bart keeps saying she needed a 10 for that routine. Wrong. Just so wrong. Bridgey couldn’t mathematically catch Alabama at that point.
Alabama’s 197.525 is enough for the win. Huge accomplishment after those disappointing losses this season.
FINAL: Alabama 197.525, LSU 197.450, Florida 197.400, Auburn 196.925
Not having a rotation that you screw up. That’s the lesson on how to win this SEC title. Alabama was consistent and everyone else had a poor beam rotation.
Note that Auburn finished with a great 49.400 on beam.
The good news for Florida is that they were going to dominate this meet with a hit beam rotation, which shows that they have established some distance from the rest of the SEC even in spite of this performance.
Interviewing Dana now. She’s a little bit happy. Just a little.
PHEW. Exhausting. And we still have Pac-12s in an hour or so!
As for Oklahoma in the Afterthough Championships, they’re in line for the strongest score of the day so far, challening Michigan, even after a low number on bars because beam and floor have been so high.
While we wait, it’s time for some RQS figuring.
Penn State got a 196.725 today, finishing with an RQS of 196.665.
To move ahead of Penn State, Oregon State needs a 196.850 tonight, and Stanford needs a 196.900. Denver is just getting underway now but will not be able to catch Penn State.
#16 Illinois finishes with an RQS of 196.515, which could put them as high as #14 if things fall their way.
In a big result for #19 Minnesota, they will pass Arizona and Arkansas and finish with an RQS of 196.450.
#17 Arizona finishes at 196.445, and falls behind Minnesota but can still pass Boise State depending on BSU’s score.
#18 Arkansas finishes at 196.285. #20 Cal finishes at 196.240.
So, Minnesota and Arizona hold onto their top 18 spots, while Arkansas and Cal will not break the top 18 and will be #4 seeds at Regionals.
Note that there’s a separate link for the live scoring of the second session at Pac-12s, which I have added at the top.
Right now Oklahoma has the highest score on the day, just outpacing Michigan. The theme of Michigan’s season has sort of been “don’t be sucky at anything,” and it’s working really well. They’re never sucky at anything.
Pac-12s is almost upon us. Lineups are starting to come out. UCLA is starting with Honest and Meraz on vault, before going to Cipra, Bynum, Peszek, and Williams. Is this the best vault lineup this team can do? I’m still very unsure. I need some more Pinches in my life. And interesting that Irvin isn’t making it. For now. There will be 16 changes in the next 7 minutes.
PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIPS
Opening broadcast highlights are Dabritz and Ebee being excellent on vault. And then that time Honest did a Shayla.
A retrospective now on Arizona’s victory in the first session, coming back to top Cal and Washington.
Star profiles now. Dabritz. Peszek. Gardiner. Taylor Rice because Taylor Rice. PRICE IS DOING BARS AGAIN.
This UCLA tennis player in this commercial is spouting all the UCLA gymnastics quotes. It’s funny to hear it from another sport.
Rotation 1: (Utah vault, UCLA bars, Oregon State beam, Stanford floor)
Lothrop – VT – (in instead of Rowe or Lewis) – Good landing on the full – a leg break on the balck and then a hop back –
THESE UCLA LEOTARDS YOU GUYS.
Francis – UB -good first hs – strong shaposh and perfect on the bail – shoot well to high bar – and then sticks the double pike like every single time. Great start.
Witherby – BB – OK on the aerial – a bit slow into the bhs connection – good height on the switch side – wobble on full turn – double pike dismount with a hop back. The opening they needed.
Shapiro – FX – Shapiro is doing floor! Stanford is bringing it with the good lineups today. 1.5 to half with a little short landing on the half – gingerly landed – just a front layout to front tuck middle pass – I hope that wasn’t intentional. Marvelous leaps obvious – moves gracefully – gets a solid double pike to finish.
Partyka – VT – Good height and distance – small hop back – great form. The judges already backed themselves into a corner by overscoring Lothrop’s vault with a 9.850, because all the rest of these vaults are going to be better, as this was.
Meraz – UB -toe on – smaller leg break in the bail this time – handstands look OK – tkatchev is lower but hit – that wonky straddled DLO with a pike and a larger lunge back.
SCP – BB – “This is a very savvy gymnastics crowd.” Because they cheered a big score for the home team? Good position on the switch – wobbles on the loso series but saved it – tight on the full turn – this routine is a little tight so far, but a good finish with a side aerial to layout full stuck. Florida could have used that today.
Daum – FX – low chest on the double pike but secure – split positions look fine – 1.5 to layout is hit – coming back from her injury, she still doesn’t have quite the same oomph in her floor work this year, but this is pretty solid so far – same on the double back as double tuck. Lower chest but secure landing.
Lee – VT – Great height and form and just a little bounce. Excellent vault and landing. Better than Partyka’s, so let’s see where we go from here. 9.950. Here we go.
DeJesus – UB -good full turn – those legs on the gienger though – those legs – very clean on the bail and shoot to the high bar – basically a stick on the tuck full this time, though she did lean back into the salute. She usually improves the legs on the gienger as the year goes on, but not this time.
Perez – BB -solid on the aerial to bhs – nice full turn – good sheep jump and displays of flexibility. Gainer full finish.
Dear camera people, you need to have people’s feet in the shoot so we know how the landing is.
Vaculik – FX -High double tuck, great landing, secure and chest way up – 1.5 to layout to stag is well done – hits her leaps as well – strong start – also secure on the double pike – a good, clean Vaculik routine. Much needed.
Wilson – VT – The way the scores are going, she doesn’t need to stick for a 10. Looks like a bounce in place, but once again we can’t even see the landing. Yeah a bounce in place – doesn’t move that much. 10.000 Because why the hell not?
Mossett – UB – Big jaeger, very well done – sluggish on the pak with a leg separation but works through it – steps back on the tuck full but a solid hit for her as well.
McMillan – BB – excellent kickover front to bhs – tight on the full turn – wonderful front handspring to her knees – switch with a pause to the straddle 1/4, bothj are OK – small bounce on gainer full – good hit.
Rice – FX – Another strong double pike, not quite Vaculik level but solid and hit – layout half to front full. We’re already seeing the lack of Ebee in this lineup tonight in the difficulty department, though. Switch ring and switch side. Just slightly short on double tuck with a lunge.
Delaney – VT – Should get an 11. Comes in a little shorter this time. Really wanted the stick there – small hop to the side. She gets a 9.850, which is like an apology score for Wilson’s 10.
Peszek – UB – great full turn – amazing gienger as always – great hs and strong on the bail – shoot to hb is the most improved part of her routine – the DLO was better in teh air but she hopped forward. She’ll be pissed about that landing. Just a 9.875? Come on. Just.
Tang – BB – Off line on her kickover front – one foot was almost entirely off the beam and she has to check – nice on the gainer loso – wolf turn is fine for a worf turn – fine switch to straddle 3/4 – hops forward on gainer full. OK routine but too many wobbles for the score they needed.
Hanset – FX – front 2/1 is fine – a little ragged in the legs with a step to the side – 2.5 into front tuck that got one inch off the ground but was comfortably around – 2.5 dismount – another solid enough hit. Stanford it getting the benefit a little bit on floor so far.
Dabritz – VT – Sticks her yfull – well now you have to, don’t you? Because that was actually a really great stuck vault. Doesn’t bring her feet together on landing, though. Ooh, on replay leans back to salute.
Lee – UB – Excellent Bhardwaj – misses her shaposh half. BUUUUUHHHHH. No point. Shut it down. Still got a 9.400 with a fall. PENG.
Gardiner – BB – Hits her wolf turn – nice leaps – very clean aerial and solid on her loso series as well – this is the hit they’ve been looking for – strong side somi as well – sticks the gainer full. Well done.
Spector – FX – Short on her double arabian with a step back – switch side and popa are around – front layout to front full with a stumble to the side – low chest on the double tuck –
After 1: Utah 49.675, UCLA 49.275, Stanford 49.275, Oregon State 49.000.
How did Stanford manage that 49.275 on floor? But really, how did Tory Wilson get a 10 for that vault? That she didn’t stick. I was because Lothrop got a 9.850 and there was nowhere else to go. Still some great, great vaults for Utah in that rotation, doing exactly what they needed to do to open up a huge lead after one event – Partyka and Lee couldn’t have done much better, and Dabritz was almost there. Peszek got a little hosed on her bars score, but they couldn’t take advantage of the Peng number, which hurt a ton. A few too many wobbles for OSU on beam (especially from Tang which could have been a great score), but they too did what they needed to do. Gardiner and McMillan could have gone higher, don’t you think?
Utah is in good shape. The way this meet looks so far, they’ll probably need to pull a Florida to get it back to interesting.
Rotation 2:
Hanset – VT – Sticks her front pike half – low chest but a great landing – very well done. 10? 20? 30? 9.850.
Hughes – UB – nice half turn – high tkatchev but needs more distance from the bar and counter rotation – short handstand or two – large-ish lunge back on tuck full. Fine, not amazing, but fine.
Meraz – BB – very solid punch front – and strong on the loso series as well. She has been an important addition to this lineup because she isn’t fragile to wobbles like so many of her predecessors – solid on switch half to wolf as well. Sticks the 1.5. Form issues, but no wobble issues at all. Good start.
Radermacher – FX – nice front 2/1 into a punch front with a hop – good, regular, solid leadoff work, and a strong front full to front tuck ending, which is stuck. Good.
D McNair – VT – Fine full – bounces up and to the side – others will have more distance.
Rowe – UB – good full turn – a bit more distance from the bar on her tkatchev – hits the bail well – short on final hs – whips around her DLO a little with a hop back.
Williams – BB – Very strong a secure on loso series – holds onto the straddle 3/4 well also – pretty full turn – she is like a different person on beam this year – and just as I say that, she’s off on her kickover front. Oh, UCLA. Sticks gainer full. Some serious pressure on these routines now.
Witherby – FX – tuck full is solid to start, good chest position and a small step that stays in bounds – high 1.5 into layout – a little crooked on the switch side – nice popa – stumbles back on double pike and goes OOB.
Vaculik – VT – Good distance – a little piking – small slide/hop –
Wilson – UB – good full turn – OK legs on the gienger into the overshoot – tuck full dismount with a hop back. One of her medium routines. Better in the legs, but didn’t stick the dismount. 9.900.
DeJesus – BB – Good aerial – small hesitation into bhs – switch to split – kickover front is solid – small check on the full turn (Sophina!) – hop back on gainer front full. You needed to stick that.
Perez – FX – Lands a little low on the opening double pike – but overall solid on the tumbling work – a little too much open-mouth work in this floor routine but otherwise it is legitimately fun – 1.5 to half – a little ragged in body shape, but a good routine.
Rice – VT – Full – good form in the air – step back, fairly large compared to the other steps we’ve seen tonight.
Lopez – UB – very late on her full turn, finishes at horizontal – hits tkatchev – some foot form on the bail – sticks the DLO – good after that early mistake on the full.
Francis – BB – beautiful side aerial – small hesitation on the aerial into the bhs – switch to split jump is very nice as always – check on the y spin – just seems a little tighter than usual but nothing major – side aerial to full is the best one she’s ever done – great rhythm and better chest position on landing.
Tang – FX – High double pike with a strong landing – split full position is nice – solid 1.5 to layout as well – she has had to come back slowly this year, but this routine is back. Finishes with a clean rudi.
N McNair – VT – Best height and landing so far – just a bounce in place but works to hold the landing – strong laidout form.
Lothrop – UB – Not as much height on the jaeger but solid – very nice on the bail, clean legs throughout – whippy on the DLO with a small step on landing. 9.950. OK. Sure. Fine.
One judge gave Danusia’s beam a 9.800. Don’t talk to me.
Peng – BB – Excellent flares as always – huge switch and split jump – great on the layout to two feet as well – nails the punch front – double turn is exceptional this time – just the dismount left. Just a small shuffle on the 2/1, but that’s really it. 9.925. Sanity restored.
Gardiner – FX – a little stumble on the 2.5 – 1.5 and has to pike her layout connected out of it – got no rebound into that connection and did well to save it from being a problem – we can downgrade it to an issue. Low chest on double pike but secure.
Price – VT – Almost sticks it. Amazing and huge as always – just a small step forward. Haven’t you learned, Ebee? It you bounce back it doesn’t count. You just can’t step forward.
Dabritz – UB – Basically has to get a 10 at this point right? Great on the comaneci and the jaeger 0 clean bail – hit handstand – doesn’t stick – hops forward, pretty big too, which will bring the score down a bit. 9.925 still.
Peszek – BB – Good aerial to back tuck and does well to dance out of the back tuck to avoid a wobble – switch and straddle are solid – strong full turn – combo dismount into layout full with a small hop. Good Peszek routine, but she and Peng needed to stick those dismounts for the huge, huge scores. still 9.950.
McMillan – FX – front 2/1 to front tuck with a smaller stumble back – good split full position, definitely 180 – back 1.5 to layout is strong – excellent rudi to finish, great landing.
One judge gave Peszek a 10! LOL. Trying to make up for the Utah scores? Final is a 9.950.
After 2: Utah 178 BAJILLION, UCLA 98.700, Stanford 98.550, Oregon State 98.325
Utah giving relatively nothing away in these routines, but it doesn’t matter even when they do. UCLA recovered on beam for a good rotation score to keep themselves around 0.500 back and in position to hope for a Utah beam disaster. Stanford endures the weaker events well and is still in contention for a big result if they hit bars and beam the way they can. Given the standard, we should see a lot of 9.9s for Stanford on bars. Oregon State uses a bunch of 9.9s to stay fairly close on floor.
Rotation 3: (Oregon State vault, Stanford bars, Utah beam, UCLA floor)
Dessaints – VT – Nice yhalf – fooled the camera people that that – good height and clean form – pretty big step forward.
Utah crowd cheering because I’m sure someone else got a 9.950 before the event started.
Wing – UB – good first hs – very clean form on the shaposh and just the slightest leg break on the pak – nice handstsnds – full into the stuck double tuck – lovely routine.
Wilson – BB – very secure on the two loso series with some mushy legs – switch leap=nope – hits straddle 1/4 – short on split jump as well, but the acro is very solid – sticks the 1.5 – pretty much as good as she can do. Didn’t give away anything beyond the built-in deductions.
Gerber – FX – Fine double back – could use a little more control – solid on the 1.5 to front pike to leap – good control through it – switch ring to split full and wolf full – pretty low on the double back dismount but maintained enough control.
Jimenez – VT – Really strong distance on that vault, but a pretty big bounce back as well.
N McNair – UB – good first hs – great height on that pike jaeger – clean form on the bail – perhaps one borderline hs there – sticks the tuck full – great routine again. This is what Stanford needs.
Dabritz – BB – good full turn – balance check on loso series – secure on the switch half though iffy – hits the side aerial as well – switch to straddle 1/4 is hit as well. So glad she has turned into a beamer this year. It’s just right. Sticks 2/1. A couple checks, but very good work.
Hall – FX – big cowboy on the doubel arabian and a pretty uncontrolled lunge out of it – just stays in bounds – I’m not feeling that pass – OK front full to pike but another slight slide – good on the leaps – solid and secure double pike, low chest.
Gardiner – VT – Good form on the full – medium sized step back – doesn’t give away much of anything except for the step.
Vaculik – UB – clear hip hect – GIENGER – hitting all the handstands – smallest leg break on the bail hs – leg separation on the DLO but a great stick.
Stover – BB – nice aerial to start – secure on the loso series – htis the switch and straddle 1/4 well – she started the season wobbly but has developed much more confidence. Sticks the gainer full.
Francis – FX – whip to a stuck double back – that’s the Danusia floor we know – strong landing on the 2.5 as well – with an acceptable level of stepping out of it – excellent on the leaps – shoots the camera. I’M JUST DEAD OUT OF LOVE. Noooooo Nush. Very short on dismount with a large lunge. Girl.
Aufiero – VT – Bounces back on her full this team. She has stick capabilities, but not this time. Oregon State has improved the form and power on vault quite a bit lately, though.
Shapiro – UB – Great shoot to high bar – half turn – to a huge jaeger with great toe point – hitting the handstands – clean on the pak as well – almost sticks the DLO with a hop forward to salute. Still, great work.
Lee – BB – If you’ve already given Dabritz a 9.925, what are you going to give Lee? A 50? Full turn is strong – check on her two loso series – strong switch and straddle 1/4 – that’s how you do it, rest of the team. Hits her side aerial – bounces back on 2/1. A few errors there, which means she won’t get rewarded for the superior quality of her execution.
Cipra – FX – Solid on the double tuck – fine on the 1.5 to layout as well – this is an easy set of tumbling for her talent level, though, so it should be perfect – leaps are quite good – FALLS ON DOUBLE PIKE WHY.
Keeker – VT – good half – also quite high and maintaining good form – larger hop forward.
Price – UB – GET THIS. strong shapish to clear hit – excellent Church to bail – hitting all the handstands – just a hop back on the DLO. Needs more time with that dismount, but the rest of it was amazing.
Rowe – BB – full turn – slight hesitation between switch and straddle 1/4 – hits her loso series but leg form could be better – does very well to save her kickover front because she was well sideways – large break, though – sticks 1.5. 9.775 anyway, in spite of a gigantic wobble dance.
Peszek – FX – Big on the DLO and a very controlled landing (some piking in the second salto) – her best DLO in a while – front full to a slightly whippy front layout – switch ring and split full are fine ish – this routine is called “My name is Sam Peszek, you don’t need anything else from me” – strong double pike – good control. She’s getting back.
McMillan – VT – Excellent power and height on the full – just a hop in place, good form. SOOO glad she’s finally able to vault. Same landing as Wilson. Just saying.
Hong – UB – Tkatchev is fine – it’s never been her best skill but it has improved – bail is amazing as are all the handstands – lands her DLO squatty with a bound forward. Boo.
Lothrop – BB – switch side half is good – solid landing the loso series as well – switch side is the usual slightly crooked – height on leaps is a thing in this routine, but she’s giving away no wobbles – step on 1.5 dismount. Good hit. They got through beam. Ignore the scores, it’s a positive that they got through those routines.
Bynum – FX – Good DLO. She has improved that so much. Front to double back is OK with a slide on the double back – split full was not there – Strong double tuck to end. Pretty good on the passes and should manage a strong score.
UCLA behind Stanford after three. EEEEEEnteresting.
After 3: Utah 148.625. Stanford 148.075, UCLA 148.050, Oregon State 147.600
This meet is too long. I’m so gymnastics-ed out after this whole day.
“The Red Rocks currently lead” Ya think?
Too many landing mistakes in that UCLA floor rotation. Stanford’s bars rotation was magical. I wish Ivana Hong had hit her dismount, though. But so clean and great work.
Utah basically has to cough on the floor to get a 198 in this meet.
I figured out UCLA’s leo. If So You Think You Can Dance existed in 1993, this is what you would wear to your audition.
Rotation 4:
Honest – VT -UCLA changing the lineup because obviously.
Showing Cory. “He’s no longer allowed on the floor.” LOL.
Honest – VT – One of her better vaults – good height – smallish bounce. Better on the toes as well.
Keeker – UB -Nice half to turna hit piked jaeger – not huge height – some handstand issues – small shuffle on DLO.
Wing – BB – hits her bhs 1/1 – was a little off line but fulled her feet back not to wobble – good aerial but big wobble on her loso to follow – swims to save it – boo – strong full turn – finishes with a stuck gainer full. Shame about the wobble.
Rowe – FX – short on double pike with a lunge forward – double full to loso – split full is good – 1.5 to layout is fine – pulls it together after a weaker first pass.
Cipra – VT – Her best landing ever. She always bounces. I’ve never seen her land with that control. Very small hop and piked a little at the end.
Keeker – UB – very clean on teh bail to stalder shoot – good finishing position on the full turn and then slides her feet together on the double tuck landing. Pretty work. Didn’t give away much.
McNair – BB – very strong loso series – secure side somi – check on the full turn – nice side aerial as well – great height on her switch and straddle 1/4 – pretty big hop back on 2/1.
Lee – FX – Her 3/1 – good landing – front layout to front full with a bouncy slide forward – switch ring and split half are nice – another bounce on her double tuck – so much the control she has shown in a couple of these passes, but not much else to take.
Peng – VT – Great height and form, but not the landing – pretty big bounce on this one. Her best vault of the season came that time she was in the lineup, got taken out, and then nailed her exhibition. Maybe just tell her she’s doing exo?
SCP – UB – stalder to start – a fiarly Utah tkatchev – a little crooked on the bail – high DLO with a stick. That DLO was one of the things that kept her down Florida’s bars depth chart last year, but she got it here.
Rice – BB – This is exactly what I need to reinvigorate me for another half rotation – check on the sheep jump – pretty full turn – kickover front is hit – I feel like Taylor Rice could fit in a teacup. NOOOOO. Ouchie. Splits the beam on her loso series and then slams to the ground. That hurt like whoa. Sticks the gainer full.
Wilson – FX – She just did a DLO to her face. So that happened. Stops the routine. Picking her up and carrying her off the floor. Clearly a major injury. Well now I feel like shit for giving so much shit about that 10.
Irvin – VT – Huge height on her vault but doesn’t stick this time. Another pretty big hop back.
Tang – UB – Late-ish on the giant full – clean on the bail with a bit fo foot form – nice tuck full with a hop in place. Good routine.
Hanset – BB – nice loso series – mostly secure on the leaps – check on her aerial when connecting to the wolf jump – just bits of tightness here and there – good full turn – sticks the 1.5. Good ending after a couple medium issues at the beginning.
Lothrop – FX – Pressure now on this routine to drop the Wilson score. Worried for Utah about what they’re going to do without Wilson, she’s so essential to these lineups as a sure hit – small slide on tuck full – 1.5 to layout is hit well – good straddles – strong double pike with a stick. Good recovery routine.
Oooh, she’s in tears. I might be feeling an emotion you guys.
Peszek – VT – Just a bit short on her full this time – rare to see her short on that full – step forward –
McMillan – UB – Good jaeger to overshoot combination – one ify handstand – small hop back on DLO. Oregon State is quietly putting together a solid meet, just not the big scores.
Vaculik – BB – Great switch into rulfova – good loso series as well – hitting a very clean and secure routine. She has come a long way as an NCAA beamer – bounce back on double full, but good work.
Dabritz – FX – Good piked full in – finishes with solid chest position – just the smallest slide – rudi to loso is great – hits split and wolf – and nails the triple full. One of her better ones.
Williams – VT – She also lands just a bit short on her full with a hop forward, but strong distance and form.
Aufiero – UB – good full turn – tkatchev is solid – short on a hs or two in there but otherwise solid – sticks the DLO. Pretty good work. Oregon State will be happy with this score in spite of the finish.
Hong – BB – Everything, obviously – lovely onodi to bhs – excellent and high loso series as well – fluid full turn – real sheep jump as well, and sticks her gainer pike. Wonderful finish for Stanford there.
Tutka – FX – Final routine of the meet – good tuck full, bounces back and does well to keep it in – layout to punch rudi is solid – and a strong double tuck – nice hit – secure and finish the meet.
Well, that was a weird meet. It was all crazy scoring, and then it was all Tory Wilson injury. ‘
FINAL: Utah 198.150, UCLA 197.350, Stanford 197.175, Oregon State 196.900
Rounding things up with those shifting RQS rankings beginning at #11, Stanford finishes with a 196.720, Oregon State finishes at 196.680, Penn State at 196.665, Illinois is next on 196.515, then Boise State on 196.495, then Denver on 196.455, followed by Minnesota at 196.450, then Arizona in 18th at 196.445.
Higher up the rankings, Utah moves to 197.670, which goes ahead of LSU’s 197.650.
