Saturday, January 7		SCORES	STREAM
3:00pm ET/ 12:00pm PT	Super 16 C: [8] Cal, [18] Iowa, [22] BYU, [24] Arizona St	LINK	BTN+
4:00pm ET/ 1:00pm PT	[15] Arkansas @ Nebraska	LINK	BTN+
9:00pm ET/ 6:00pm PT	Super 16 D: [1] Oklahoma, [4] Michigan, [5] Auburn, [10] UCLA	LINK	BTN

Just three meets on the schedule today, but it’s three goodies, culminating in the January Championship—the final session of the Super 16.

After the first day in Vegas, Stanford owns the top team score with a 196.175, followed by Georgia’s 195.950, then Southern Utah’s 195.800. So that Stanford number will be the minimum aim for the teams in the third session coming up. It’s a similar opening score for Stanford to last season, which they’ll take given the fairly sizeable roster turnover. Of particular note, first year Anna Roberts went 9.900 on vault. Georgia very much improved on last season’s 194 opening meets with it’s basically complete roster turnover, so that’s a win, though the potential injury to Soraya Hawthorne after she got lost in the air on her vault is a major worry.

Dana Duckworth is joining John on the broadcast today. Tell us about Alabama, Dana.

“This event makes me want to coach” – DD. She’s like, I saw LSU lose to Utah yesterday and I am nnottttttttt.

Nick – UB – Iowa – short first hs – piked jaeger, goes to full straddle on catch, lots of form – bail, leg separation – pretty DLO with a stick. Gets out of there with a 9.750.

Li – VT – Cal – struggles on her yfull, chest down, hop forward and some direction. 9.725

ASU got 9.775 from Lee in the first spot on beam. Harper in the second spot, immediately falls on her kickover front. Repeats into bhs to have an acro series – cat leap to switch 1/2, somewhat under – bhs gainer full, step back.

DeSouza – VT – Cal – She’s following a couple 9.7s – good stick on her Y1.5, nice one – some knee form deduction and some leg separation on repulsion. 9.900

Reeves – BB – ASU – bhs bhs loso series is secure – switch to split jump, low back leg on split – full turn, small check – aerial, solid – 1.5 dismount, small hop forward.

Lauzon went 9.925 on vault for Cal, which we didn’t see.

Frazier – VT – Cal – DTY is landed but short, chest down, large lunge forward. Didn’t get quite the block she would have wanted but still got pretty solid height. 9.750. Annnnnd Dana called her “Margzetta”

McSweeney – UB – Iowa – shortish first hs – piked jaeger to overshoot, some knees on piked jaeger – short cast hs on high – high FTDT, nearly stuck, small shuffle back and two small steps.

49.150 for Cal on vault, a couple 9.9s but also three 9.7s. Three 10.0 starts in the lineup. We’ll see how the score goes as Frazier’s DTY progresses.

White – BB – ASU – bhs loso series, pretty – full turn, slight hesitation – aerial, holds it with a small squeeze – split jump to stag ring – bhs to 1.5 dismount, step. Good one. 9.900

Scharf – BB – ASU – hits her wolf double – bhs loso, large break, bends over at the hips, keeps it on – side somi, lean forward to hold it – switch to split, OK – 1.5 good height, some knees, step forward. 9.550 and has to count.

Schooley – FX – BYU – they are currently counting a 9.6 and two 9.7s – switch side 1/2, a little under rotation – 1.5 to front lay, under control, knees in 1.5 – switch ring to switch side, solid split positions – double tuck, around, just a tad short, step forward.

A look back at Lauzon on vault, held the stick on her Y1.5, just a tad deep but did well to hold it.

I very much appreciate John giving the play-by-play on Liz’s double fist pump.

Ripley – FX – BYU – “So she’s acting like a Barbieeeeee” I agree with that tone of voice – double tuck, bounce back – very nice amplitude through a three leap combination – double pike is quite deep with a lunge back but saved the landing.

She also goes 9.675, and every counting score for BYU on floor is 9.700 or 9.675.

After 1:
Cal – 49.150
Iowa – 48.850
Arizona St – 48.775
BYU – 48.450

Rotation 2

DeSouza – UB – Cal – a bit tight on first hs – hits piked jaeger to overshoot, good amplitude – solid final cast hs – FTDT, little rebound. Solid start. 9.850

Henderson – BB – Iowa – good full turn – bhs loso, great amplitude but falls – switch to straddle 1/4, a bit tight on switch, good straddle position – double tuck dismount, hop.

Cesario goes 9.875 in the second spot for Cal, two good scores in two events for someone we didn’t see last season.

Mason – VT – BYU – pretty clean position on yfull, medium bounce back

Lee – FX – ASU – following a 9.525 for Reeves – front 2/1, does get it around, crossover step – back 1.5 to front lay, gets a little low on the lay, lunge forward, stays in bounds – switch ring to ring jump 1/2, not sure if she was intending split but front leg quite low – rudi, chest down, secure

Williams – UB – Cal – good first hs – maloney to pak, great amplitude, crooked on 1/2 turn on low bar, some body position deduction – nice hs on high – DLO, lunge back. 9.825

Zuhlke – BB – Iowa – good full turn – bhs bhs loso, large break, bend at the hips, keeps it on – swtich to split leap 3/4, nice toes maintained – gainer full, finds the stick.

Li – UB – Cal – slight arch in first hs – great Pak – van leeuwen, crisp, legs together – good hs on high – giant full, nice vertical finish position into double tuck, holds the stick with a little lean. Lovely.

Welllll, and she gets 9.975. Not a 10 for me with the first handstand and the sligggght hesitation to hold the stick.

ASU is already counting a 9.5 on floor.

White – FX – ASU – front 2/1, pulls it around, good twisting position – back 1.5 to layout, not the highest layout but great form – 1.5 to layout, controls the landing. Should help the scores for ASU.

Frazier – UB – Cal – short first hs – Church to pak, some legs apart on pak – rushes her cast 1/2 on low bar and peels off on her toe on. Looks a little shaken. Resumes up to high bar – finishes with DLO, great position. Don’t need the score, already with a 49.425.

Rojas – BB – Iowa – bhs loso, secure, some knee position – punch front, deeper but connects well into beat jump – split jump to split 3/4, solid – gainer full, step back. Good one.

Mangahas – FX – ASU – FTDT, pulled around, chest a bit down – front tuck through to double tuck, slight rebound – swtich 1/2 to wolf full to wolf full, pretty solid wolf positions and clearly around – 9.875

Kenlin – BB – Iowa – joining in progress – split jump to split 3/4 is hit – side aerial, covers her wobble with a leg-up style-out – gainer full, stuck.

Scharf – FX – ASU – front tuck through to double tuck, secure landing, foot flexing – front full to front tuck, good,just a bit steppy – switch 1/2 to wolf full, slightly under wolf position – double pike, slight bounce back. 9.900

After 2:
Cal – 98.575
Iowa – 97.900
Arizona St – 97.725
BYU – 97.300

Cal extends its advantage after a big bars rotation. Iowa also over 49 on beam after dropping the opening fall.

Arkansas and Nebraska getting started shortly but still in intros now.

Rotation 3

DeSouza – BB – Cal – cat leap to aerial, a bit of knees – bhs loso, secure landing, some feet – beat to sheep jump, check but looking like improved hip and closure position on that element this year – smooth full turn – 1.5 dismount, finds the stick. 9.875

Smith – VT – ASU – She’s back on vault this year – just a full today, lunge back –

Williams – BB – Cal – Dana still 50% salty that she didn’t go to Alabama – wolf double, hit – aerial to split jump, good extension on legs on that aerial – bhs loso, holds the landing – switch to beat jump, nice – gainer full, small hop back. 9.900

Frazier – BB – Cal – full turn, hit – aerial to loso combo, hit, a bit of knees in aerial – switch ring, small hesitation into split jump but will get combo credit – cartwheel to 1.5 dismount, stuck landing. Good solid hit on a risssskky routine for SV purposes. And it’s 9.950 for Frazier. Cal moving on up.

Scharf – VT – ASU – nice open position on her yfull, medium step back. 9.825

We didn’t see Libby the Younger on floor but she went 9.825.

Li – BB – Cal – aerial, small adjustment but turns it into continuing her arms into jump – bhs loso, solid landing – full turn, covers into 1.5 turn but a definite wobble – beat to sheep jump, secure – gainer tuck full, stuck. A couple adjustments but another good hit. 9.850

Nick – FX – Iowa – front 2/1, lunge forward for a small control deduction – switch ring to switch 1/2 to straddle jump, a bit short of closure on switch ring – rudi to loso, pretty loso –

Eaquinto – UB – BYU – toe on to maloney to pak, pretty pak position – 1/2 turn, solid finish on low bar – a bit short on cast hs on high – DLO, small movement. Good one.

Lauzon also with a 9.850 on beam for Cal. And now we’re going to see Perea do an actual real life beam routine.

Perea – BB – Cal – wolf double, pulls it around, a bit tight – kickover, pauses before back tuck as her acro series – switch to split to beat is hit – side somi to back tuck 1.5 dismount, gets it around with a shuffle back. I was wondering how the world of side somi dismount combinations would do with the new beam rules, but it works if you have a 1.5. We’ll see if they give her a series, but it will probably be the drop score either way since everyone else was 9.850+. She goes 9.775, so she got the acro series, which is……far kinder than I would have been.

Kenlin – FX – Iowa – front 2/1, slide forward – lovely position on a twisting ring element, which is ugly on almost everybody – back 1.5 to a solid front lay. 9.900

They thought they were showing Lauzon on beam but we’re really seeing Perea again so I can agree with myself that I would not have given the acro series.

Henderson – FX – Iowa – FTDT, high but comes in chest forward, step forward – switch side to popa to straddle jump, good – front tuck through to double tuck, nice landing.

Cal gets another 49.425, this time on beam, to be on solid 197 pace heading to floor. Will need 49.300 on floor to move into second place in the current rankings, ahead of Utah.

After 3:
Cal – 148.000
Iowa – 146.975
Arizona St – 146.625
BYU – 145.650

Meanwhile, Arkansas had to deal with an 8.6 from Hambrick but got a pretty hit from Flatley in the bars anchor position to save the rotation score. Lovely stick on DLO. Arkansas 49.100 on bars to Nebraska’s 48.850 on vault.

Rotation 4

Reeves – UB – ASU – great amplitude on jaeger to overshoot – short cast hs on high bar – DLO, stuck landing. Excellent. 9.850

Perea – FX – Cal – double tuck, bounce back – double pike, good toes, controls her step back – wolf turn double – switch 1/2 to wolf full, a little under on wolf position – 1.5 to front lay, controlled step, softer body position there. 9.850

Zuhlke – VT – Iowa – fhs on, Tsuk tuck full, great landing too, nearly stuck, step back into salute.

Mangahas – UB – ASU – shortish first hs – blind to piked haeger to overshoot, also good form there – short cast hs on high – FTDT, slide back

9.850 for Williams as well on floor.

DeSouza – FX – Cal – punch rudi, large lack of control, big bounce back but stays in bounds – double tuck, chest down, another bounce back – switch side to wolf full, around -1.5 to front full, a bit under, stays in bounds and on her feet. 9.675

Clark – UB – ASU – nice position on jaeger, high – pak, large straddle and close on the catch – DLO, clean, solid landing, little rebound

BYU counting a fall on beam with misses in the 2nd and 3rd spot.

Arkansas gets 9.850 from Weaver in the second spot on vault with a clean showing on yfull. Just a bonce up and some direction. Flatley follows her in the 3rd spot, clean full, just a little pike, hop back.

Zivat holds the stick on her Tsuk 1/1 on vault for Iowa. Good. And goes 9.925.

Li – FX – Cal – following a 9.925 for Lauzon – front 2/1, holds the landing, slight pause before stag jump, pretty – front full to front lay, step forward, stays in bounds – switch 1/2 to wolf full, good feet. Strong work.. Pretty movement. 9.900

Frankie Price with good form on a yfull for Arkansas but a large bounce back. She followed Backsay’s debut bars for Nebraska – some legs on her pak – hit a maloney to clear hip 1/2, just a little back position but strong work to get to vertical. DLO, piking and legs apart there with a bounce back, which will be the main reason she went 9.6.

Henderson with a bounce back on her Yfull for Iowa to finish. Goes 9.850.

Frazier – FX – Cal – Comfortable DLO, solid landing – great ring and split positions – front tuck through to double tuck, chest up, controlled step. Will be a big score. 9.950 for the second time today.

Cal is done on 197.475. That’s the first time Cal has gone 197 in the first meet. That will move ahead of Utah.

Rollins – BB – BYU – switch to straddle 1/4, nicely done – aerial, connects to bhs loso, strong landing – just a bit of knees – gainer full, little bounce.

Iowa finishes on 196.225, which is the #2 score at the competition so far, moving ahead of Stanford, so that’s a win.

FINAL:
Cal – 197.475
Iowa – 196.225
Arizona St – 195.775
BYU – 193.775

Big showing for Cal in that first meet, one of the most prepared teams we’ve seen so far.

Meanwhile,

After 2:
Arkansas – 98.050
Nebraska – 97.550

Rotation 3

Hall – BB – Nebraska – full turn, hit – bhs loso, solid extension, secure – aerial, good height – split jump to split ring jump, right on – 1.5, little lean forward to hold the stick. Really nice one. 9.800

Hickey – FX – Arkansas – double pike, just a bit steppy – 1.5 to front lay, controlled – switch side to popa, maybe a bit under but we’re also seeing this from a blimp so – double tuck, large bounce back and then an additional couple steppies to retain balance. 9.575

Gard – BB – Nebraska – bhs loso, smooth – split jump to split 3/4, small check, looked under split position – side aerial, holds it – switch to immediate gainer pike, step back. 9.775

Jones – FX – Arkansas – nice front 2/1, controls her step – switch ring, lower on switch 1/2 amplitude – 1.5 to layout, good straight layout shape – rudi, chest forward, step. 9.775

Bacskay – BB – Nebraska – bhs bhs loso series, hit, knee position in loso – switch to split jump, on – full turn, hit – sticks her 2/1, well done, just a little foot stagger. 9.750

Gamiao – FX – Arkansas – high double pike, bounce back – back 1.5 through to 2/1, excellent landing – split leap full to jump full, looked under – double tuck, chest forward, step. 9.775

Colombo – BB – Nebraska – aerial is hit but tries to connect into bhs loso, gets increasingly off line and falls -finishes with cartwheel 1.5 with a hop. 9.000

Williams – FX – Arkansas – FTDT, good secure landing, chest up – back 1.5 to front lay, some knees in 1.5 but good straight position in layout – switch side to popa, a little bounce on landing but around – double tuck, controls step back. Nice one. 9.875

Spence – BB – Nebraska – wolf double, good – aerial to bhs bhs, larger break, bend and lean to the side but quickly pulls it back – switch to beat, hit – 1.5 dismount, holds the stick. 9.825

Smith – FX – Arkansas – very open piked full in, good control on landing, just some legs once she goes into the piked position – switch side and popa, great amplitude – front tuck through to double tuck, chest forward, hops up to cover. 9.850

McClelland – BB – Nebraska – transfer from BYU – wolf turn double, very solid – bhs loso series, secure – straddle jump to beat jump to stag ring, comfortable – bhs tuck 1.5, stuck landing. Strong work. 9.900

Price – FX – Arkansas – big DLO, just a bit too much on it with a bounce back, stays in bounds – switch side to popa, clear finish positions, good height – back 1.5 to front pike, controls the step – double pike, open position, chest just a bit forward with a hop. Going to be a big deal. 9.875

Nebraska goes 49.050 on beam for its first 49 rotation of the day. Arkansas gets strong 9.8s from the final three to go 49.150 on floor and extend the lead after three.

After 3:
Arkansas – 147.200
Nebraska – 146.600

Rotation 4

Gamiao – BB – Arkansas – standing loso loso series, bend at the hips, keeps it on the beam – side somi, holds it under control – switch to split, hit – 1.5, nearly holds stick, controlled step into salute. 9.775

Hall – FX – Nebraska – double tuck, chest up, small slide back on landing – rudi, larger slide back – split leap full to jump full to wolf full, gets it around clearly, got slightly out of control on wolf full but pulled it around – front lay to front full, good rise into the front full. 9.825

Williams – BB – Arkansas – bhs loso, good height – switch to straddle 1/4, lean forward, brings it back – aerial to beat jump, nice – 1.5 dismount, looked under with a step. 9.675. I feel like her score and Gamiao’s should be swapped?

Piringer – FX – Nebraska – double tuck, bounce back –  back 1.5 to layout, clean layout position – switch side to popa, rises into a solid position on the popa – double pike, chest down a bit, controls the step back. 9.825

Lovett – BB – Arkansas – aerial, check, leg goes up a hair – aerial, redoes it to connect into the loso, which she gets the second time around – switch to split to beat, nice combo – gainer tuck full dismount, small step. 9.800

Rourke – FX – Nebraska – front tuck through to double tuck, controls the landing – double pike, large stumble back OOB multiple steps – switch 1/2 to popa – front lay, didn’t get much on that and falls on the subsequent full attempt. 8.750

Hambrick comes through with a strong hit on beam for Arkansas and apparently I deleted what I was writing about it. Good amplitude on gainer full. 9.825

Spence – FX – Nebraska – front tuck through to double tuck, controlled well – wolf double around into immediate dance roll out – switch ring to split leap full, good ring position, a bit low on front leg – double pike, secure step back. 9.875

Weaver – BB – Arkansas – bhs loso loso series, very solid – swtich to straddle jump, good positions – 1.5 dismount, hop forward. 9.825

McClelland – FX – Nebraska – the PA announcer introduced her with “hopping on floor for Nebraska…..” and I’m like, I mean not yet…. – front 2/1 first pass with a bound forward, large, nearly OOB – back 1.5 to layout, slide – switch 1/2 to popa – rudi to a bit of a double stag, not super clear in position. 9.775

Flatley – BB – Arkansas – aerial to bhs loso, nice speed in combiantion between the aerial and bhs, pretty – L turn, holds it with a lean to the side with leg still up at horizontal – switch to split, pretty – bhs lay 1.5 dismount, small step back. 9.800

Comin – FX – Nebraska – FTDT, chest up, shows control on landing – split leap full looked somewhat out of control – still connects it in leap combo – back 1.5, overcooked it a little and didn’t get much into the connected front full and falls, which will have to count and will make this not a keeper score for Nebraska. 9.050

FINAL:
Arkansas 196.225
Nebraska 195.000

Arkansas’s total here matches Iowa with a you-definitely-take-it road 196 to start the season that is currently tied for 7th. The counting fall on floor drops Nebraska to 195 flat, though that is their best opening meet score in three seasons. But not what they were looking for after the first three rotations. Got a hit in the exhibition spot too.

OK meet back here for the final session of the Super 16.

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Let’s go, for what I assume will be a calm and normal affair.

UCLA has Frazier, Chiles, Campbell, and Harris in the all-around, Emily Lee on everything but floor, Malabuyo on beam and floor, and then Padurariu on bars, McNamara on floor, and Anyimi on vault. No Moors. No Alipio.

Oklahoma has Torrez in the AA, Siegfeldt on beam. No Trautman. Davis and Bowers also in the AA. Levasseur only on vault, which is interesting.

Laurie Hernandez is John’s partner for the final session.

All of these commercials are for rehab or chicken.

I think this was DD’s first time calling him Jeff instead of Jess. But that’s really what you get when you give your twins such similar names.

Rotation 1

Stern – VT – OU – Y1.5 – a bit short, ends up coming in stiff with a couple steps back. 9.800

Morrison – BB – Michigan – candle mount, solid – bhs loso series, good amplitude but a large correction, leg up to horizontal, which is at least a .100 – cat leap to switch 1/2 is hit – good stick on 1.5 dismount. 9.700

Hollingsworth 9.850. McLaughlin – Ub – Auburn – maloney to pak, clean pak position – gets her 1/2 turn up to vertical on the low bar – solid final cast hs position – giant full with a rather late finish, into double tuck, stuck. 9.850

Sievers – VT – OU – improvement in hers, medium step forward, good position and direction. “9.8, that’s almost a 10.” No. 9.875

Malabuyo – FX – UCLA – double tuck, chest up, small rebound – back 1.5 to front lay, dance out, maybe some leg separation in the 1.5 – switch ring to switch 1/2, good positions – double pike, bounce back. She followed 9.775 from McNamara in the first spot. 9.900 for Malabuyo feels high for those rebounds. 

Bowers – VT – OU – finds the secure landing on her Y1.5 – just a tad deep to absorb the landing, but not too extreme on replay. Pretty vault. And it’s 9.975. So we’re here. Welcome.

Harris – FX – UCLA – FTDT, chest down but controlled step – double tuck, good chest up landing, shows control – split full and popa, lovely positions and good amplitude – back 1.5 to lay-pike 1/2 to high double stag, good control, lost some body position in the 1/2. 9.900

Lee – UB – Auburn – blind to jaeger, giant into pak to maloney to gienger, crisp, excellent – good cast hs – giant full is late into double tuck, leans a little to hold the stick. Was perfect until the giant full. Good progress from Laurie, actually pointing out the deductions in this routine.

Frazier – FX – UCLA – whip through to double tuck, large bounce back OOB – split leap full to straddle full split full, still a bit indistinct in landing position but good improvement there, hitting those 180 positions more clearly than she used to in that three dance element combo – double pike, well short, chest down, lunge forward. 9.500

Suni goes 9.950 and Auburn is on 49.400 for that first bars rotation.

Sounds like Brooks must have fallen on beam for 9.200.

Heiskell – BB – Michigan – cat leap to side aerial, check – switch to switch combination, another wobble, tentative – bhs loso is smooth, good one – 1.5 dismount, holds the stick long enough before saluting. Got it together for the second half of that routine.

Chiles – FX – UCLA – DLO, big bounce back, we can’t see OOB from this angle – front tuck through to double tuck, only a small rebound on that one – split leap full to wolf jump full, good finish position – dive roll – great double pike, controlled step, chest up. 9.875

Wojcik – BB – Michigan – aerial, check, leg up – switch to split, hit – bhs bhs loso, small squeeze check there as well – full turn – 1.5, holds the stick, just a bit deep.

Campbell – FX – UCLA – FTDT, chest just a bit forward, which causes a small step forward – split leap full to popa, good height and elegant positions – front lay to front full, under control – double tuck, strong, controls the step. Really just the first pass landing. 9.950.

After 1:
Oklahoma 49.425
UCLA 49.400
Auburn 49.400
Michigan 48.875

No one was perfect, but everyone will take the score except Michigan, which will be disappointed by how tight that beam rotation was. The ones we saw were tentative and checky, even from someone like Wojcik. Scores predictably, um, enthusiastic.

Jess is like, “You know who I liked, Auburn, a surprising new team I have no connections to whatsoever.”

John lets us know that Levasseur has a back issue.

Rotation 2

Sievers – UB – OU -maloney to pak, good and clean – 1/2 turn on low bar crooked – FTDT, good clear stick. 9.875

Anyimi – VT – UCLA – following a 9.800 from Frazier – hits a yfull but a pretty large bounce back and some pike throughout. 9.775

Brusch – BB – Auburn – she’s following 9.675 for Hollingsworth – aerial into split jump, short back leg and an arm wave afterward – solid loso series – switch to straddle 1/4, hit, again some back leg on split positions – gainer full, good stick. 9.800

Lee – VT – UCLA – hits her yfull, small step back, not the most distance but a solid vault. Good clean position. 9.850

Sievers 9.875, Torrez 9.875, Fletcher 9.900 on bars for Oklahoma.

Campbell – VT – UCLA – beautiful yfull, high as usual, just a little hop of heels together and some direction. 9.925, one judge went perfect, which is something…

Smith – UB – OU – Ray, a bit close on catch – clean Pak – good 1/2 turn position on low bar – FLO, somewhat whippy, hop forward

Harris – VT – UCLA – good Y1.5, medium bounce forward, nice amplitude –  9.900

Groth – BB – Auburn – They’re also having some score trouble on beam – bhs loso bhs, good lift – switch, hesitation, pdoes not connection – does a solid switch 1/2 to split jump instead – full turn – side aerial, secure – gainer pike, stuck.

Chiles – VT – UCLA – hits a strong DTY, chest up, another medium bounce back, a bit of leg crossing. 9.900

Bowers and Smith on 9.850 on bars for OU.

Davis – UB – OU – good first hs – higgins to piked jaeger, excellent – pak, legs together well – hits her vertical on the 1/2 turn on low – perfect final cast hs – higgins – double front 1/2 out, some legs but better, sticks it, covers the stagger, brings heels together.  9.950

Brooks – FX – Michigan – FTDT, chest up, great control – split leap full to split jump full, solid finish position – front tuck through to double tuck, controls the step. Should be another big score after three 9.925s. 9.950

Lee – BB – Auburn – wolf double, smooth – split jump to sissone, hit – switch to switch 1/2, real switch 1/2 – doing the hard one, side aerial loso loso, securely on – gainer tuck full dismount, stuck. Excellent.

10.000. Not surprising. You could maybe do feet on the last loso if you wanted but they never would.

Wilson – FX – Michigan – open full in, chest up, controled step, perfect – front lay to front full, holds the landing mostly under control – switch side to popa, great height and position – double tuck, large bounce back, no OOB but looked a little worried about her foot, but it seems fine. 9.750, almost entirely because of that last pass.

Oklahoma goes 49.450 on bars, Auburn 49.150 on beam, Michigan 49.525 on floor to bring it back, and UCLA 49.375 on vault.

After 2:
Oklahoma 98.875
UCLA 98.775
Auburn 98.550
Michigan 98.400

Michigan’s big floor makes it a four team meet again. Auburn drops back a little after beam. Oklahoma with the lead but a small one.

Rotation 3

Wojcik – VT – Michigan – only does a Yfull, rebound up in place – 9.825

Campbell – UB – UCLA – maloney to bail, solid – good hs on high bar – blind to double front some cowboy but holds the landing – some of her best bars. 9.825

Guggino – VT – Michigan – hits her Y1.5 today, comes in short with a slide back, so they’ll need to (should) take at least .150 just for that, but landed it – also legs in the air. 9.850 is high, as all the vault scores have been.

Siegfeldt – BB – OU – she’s following 9.850 for Dunn – bhs loso, good leg positions, small correction on landing – full turn, hit – cat leap to aerial, hit – beat to split ring jump – gainer full, stuck landing. So she’s an Oklahoma beamer. 9.925

Brooks – VT – Michigan – excellent stick on her Y1.5, great direction, brings heels together. Very good. 9.950

Harris – UB – UCLA – small arch in first hs – Ray is solid – bail, good vertical position – nice final cast hs – fiant full on high bar is perfectly finished – DLO, stuck. Excellent. 9.900

Bowers – BB – Oklahoma – full turn, smooth – hits her loso series well, good extension – split leap to switch 1/2, smalll hesitation after split leap but nothing to jeopardize the combo, good split position on her switch 1/2 – 2/1, small rebound. Good one. 9.925

Chiles – UB – UCLA – good first hs – piked tkatchev to pak, no trouble – maloney to gienger is hit, solid – hits final cast hs – FTDT, small hop. Great. 9.975. So, um, she didn’t stick that dismount though?

Michigan 49.400 vault score.

Lee – FX – Auburn – DLO, solid landing, controls the front foot – switch ring to split leap full, good split positions, crisply around -1.5 to front full with a hop forward – 9.900

Frazier – UB – UCLA – maloney to pak, strong – 1/2 turn position on low is OK – solid cast hs on high – DLO, small movement on landing, another strong one. 9.950

Torrez – BB – OU – wolf jump, real position – side aerial to loso, very solid – switch to switch 1/2, hit – double tuck dismount, good amplitude, step back. Solid. 9.900, so they only took for the dismount step.

Gobourne – UB – Auburn – choreography starts with her receiving adoration, as it should – open double tuck, chest up, minor step – switch side to wolf jump full, good positions and height – front full to front lay, elegant position on that layout – double pike, right on. Great one. 9.900

Smith – BB – OU – bhs loso series, great height – aerial, pretty – straddle 1/2 to korbut, excellent as always – bhs gainer full, tries to lean to hold the stick but ends up hopping forward. 9.875

Oklahoma solves beam for a 49.525, while UCLA goes 49.500 on bars, Michigan 49.400 on vault, and Auburn 49.300 on floor.

After 3
Oklahoma 148.400
UCLA 148.275
Auburn 147.850
Michigan 147.800

UCLA still right there with Oklahoma, UCLA going to beam and Oklahoma going to floor.

UCLA’s 49.500 on bars is higher than any bars score they got last season.

Rotation 4

Lee – BB – UCLA – lovely full turn – bhs loso series, good leg position, right on – switch, check, breaks combination into straddle jump, also a little slow into her wolf jump attempt at the dance series – aerial, pause before split jump, another broken connection – gainer full is nice. Great positions, but some checks and multiple start valueies.

Groth went 9.825 on vault, now Hollingsworth – yfull, medium bounce back, solid position and direction. Laurie is more interested in talking about Harry Styles for some reason.

Heiskell opens with 9.925 on bars for Michigan. Koulos 9.900.

Davis – FX – OU – front 2/1 hit, under control, crossed legs – switch 1/2 to wolf full, around – someone tell Laurie that artistry deductions didn’t just start – back 1.5 to front full, also some soft knees but controls her step –

Lee gets 9.300, so they probably didn’t give dance combo in addition to her aerial split combination.

Campbell – BB – UCLA – hits loso series, good height, maybe a bit of feet – better foot position on side aerial but a large check, bend at the hips, turn to the side – split leap to switch 1/2 to beat jump, hit – gainer full, hop back. Tight routine but stayed on. Just 9.650 and that will count. 

Lee – VT – Auburn – ro 1/2 on tuck full is the vault of choice today, good height, step back – good toe point. 9.900

Chiles – BB – UCLA – bhs loso loso, secure series – switch to wolf jump, solid – full turn, comfortable – side aerial, solid – double pike, holds onto the stuck landing, just a bit of a lean so keep it secure.

Gobourne finishes vault with 9.950 for Auburn as they go 49.500 there for a 197.250.

Smith – FX – OU – double tuck, chest up, comfortable – back 1.5 to front lay, lands slightly short on her lay, which I think surprised her, some she ended up begetting a little steppy – solid leap combination – double pike, chest a bit forward, covers it.

Chiles 9.9000 on beam, Wojcik 9.975 on bars which we did not see.

Brooks – UB – Michigan – blind to piked jaeger, solid – shortish hs – toe on to bail, holds it in vertical, small arch shape – great hs on high – DLO 1/1, stuck landing. Excellent DLO 1/1. 9.950

Wojcik – UB – Michigan – toe on to her huge deltchev to overshoot, which is so high she risks someone thinking she was trying a bail handstand – DLO, holds the landing. I’m not 10 on this one, but lovely.

Michigan ends up on 49.600 on bars to go 197.400, which brings them ahead of Auburn’s 197.350.

Harris – BB – UCLA – bhs loso bhs series, very nice – switch to split leap to full turn, hit – side aerial, squeezes to hold it – 1.5 dismount, short landing with a hop back. 9.800

Torrez went 9.950 on floor, which we did not see, and means Oklahoma will win with the highest score of the weekend, before Bowers goes.

Bower – FX – OU – double pike, pretty, super high, good toes – switch, nice –  front 2/1 to front tuck, good in the air, bounce forward.

Malabuyo – BB – UCLA – bhs loso, small check, good toe position – aerial to beat jump, good work to connect it despite being a little off – split jump to split ring jump, strong – gainer full dismount, little slide of heels together. Good save for the rotation, but they’ll drop away with this beam score.

Oklahoma done on 197.925 to win, waiting on the Malabuyo number.

That’s a 9.900 for her which will pick UCLA up into the 197s with a 197.275.

FINAL:
Oklahoma – 197.925
Michigan 197.400
Auburn 197.350
UCLA 197.275

Oklahoma was the only team that figured out beam. That was the story of this meet. Michigan a big result to come back to second place after the weak opening beam rotation, but Auburn and UCLA had similar times there.

197.275 is UCLA’s highest first-meet score since 2005. 197.400 is Auburn’s highest first-meet score ever.

Quality wise this weekend I think we’ve seen fewer teams looking really first meet. Better floor preparation overall.

OVERALL SUPER 16:
1 – Oklahoma – 197.925
2 – Cal 197.475
3 – Michigan – 197.400
4 – Auburn – 197.350
5 – UCLA – 197.275
6 – Iowa – 196.225
7 – Stanford – 196.175
8 – Georgia – 195.950
9 – Southern Utah – 195.800
10 – Arizona State – 195.775
11 – Washington – 195.475
12- Oregon State 195.450
13 – Rutgers 194.700
14 – North Carolina – 194.625
15 – BYU 193.775
16 – Fisk – 186.700

Friday, January 6		SCORES	STREAM
5:00pm ET/ 2:00pm PT	Super 16 A: [21] Washington, Southern Utah, North Carolina, Fisk		BTN
7:00pm ET/ 4:00pm PT	[12] Michigan St @ [7] Alabama	LINK	SECN
7:00pm ET/ 4:00pm PT	West Virginia, Ball St, Lindenwood @ [2] Florida	LINK	SEC+
7:00pm ET/ 4:00pm PT	Penn St, Temple, Penn @ Pitt	LINK	ACC+
7:00pm ET/ 4:00pm PT	Winona St, Gustavus Adolphus, Hamline @ [16] Minnesota	LINK	BTN+
9:00pm ET/ 6:00pm PT	[6] LSU @ [3] Utah	LINK	ESPN2
11:00pm ET/ 8:00pm PT	Super 16 B: [14] Oregon State, [17] Stanford, [20] Georgia, Rutgers		BTN

Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in. Welcome back for another season of NCAA live blogging. I’ll be starting out today with the opening competition of the season, the first session of the Super 16, then on to Michigan State against Alabama (while keeping an eye on Florida), then on to LSU’s visit to Utah.

Following that meet, I’ll be heading over to talk to some alcohol about it on GymCastics’s live post-game show, which is open for everyone this week.

As for the latest news, Savannah Schoenherr broke her foot yesterday. It’s a blow to Florida, though the team should have the depth to withstand it, just making it more likely that we’ll see characters like Payton Richards on vault and Riley McCusker/Victoria Nguyen on bars. We may also see more of the “depth options” in the early meets before everyone is ready/healthy. 

There are allegedly live scores available for the Super 16 meets on MeetScoresOnline, but it currently links to their paid subscription, and over my dead body am I paying for live scores. Hopefully we’ll get the gist from BTN.

Broadcast underway, we’re discussing the historic nature of Fisk’s program, while showing gymnasts from Southern Utah.

Rotation order is UW on vault, SUU on bars, UNC on beam, and Fisk on floor.

Jess Graba and D-D Breaux are on the floor talking about Suni I mean the meet and how important it is to first meet while you first meet.

Rotation 1

Muhammad – FX – Fisk – transfer, notable for competing in unitard last year for Brockport – front full to front lay, good control, just a bit of knees in the full – switch full, a bit short of split but around – split leap full to split jump full, good toe point, just a bit short of split – double tuck, mostly secure landing, just a bit chest forward. Very solid opening routine. 9.600

We are getting some scores from MSO on the non-pay page. 9.700 for Davis of Washington on vault.

Greenlow – BB – UNC – 2nd up on beam – bhs loso, large break, leg up to horiztontal and a couple arm waves – cat leap to side aerial, bends way over at the hips but stays on and doesn’t grab the beam, grabs her legs – hits leap combination – 1.5 dismount, hop forward. 2 big breaks will be near equivalent to a fall.

McClain – UB – SUU – good first hs vertical – strong amplitude on gienger, legs together – a bit of body position on bail catch – a couple borderline hs – DLO, chest forward with a hop. 9.825

SKW – VT – Washington, following 2 9.800s – pretty form on her yfull in the air but jarred back on landing – chest forward. 9.725

Fisk with 9.475 for McDonald in the second spot on floor.

Coleman – FX – Fisk – front tuck through to double pike, bounce back OOB – shows good amplitude on her straddle work in leap combination – double tuck, super deep landing, saves a fall but very deep and a couple ginger steps to the side to make sure she stayed on her feet.

Cunningham – VT – solid work on Yfull, bounce back, some feet, good one.

Washington 48.825 on vault, which is lower than any vault score they had last season.

SUU got a 9.900 on bars from Goodman in the anchor spot to go 49.025 for a solid first rotation number.

Culton – BB – UNC – they’re already counting a 9.3 – bhs loso series, good extension – cat leap to switch side, arm wave correction, good toes on cat leap – aerial, good extension, keeps arms moving to split jump – full turn, leg up style out – gainer full, holds the landing, slightly staggered. Good one.9.825

Mora – FX – Fisk – front lay to front full, controls step, some knees – split jump full to wolf jump full, shorter positions – switch ring to switch 1/2, better, some feet – double pike, chest down but controls the landing, should be a usable score. 9.475, higher than Coleman’s, so that will count.

We’re going back to see Goodman on bars – blind to high piked jaeger, pretty – pak, shows good amplitude – a bit short on final cast hs and some body position on giant full finish, connects to a stuck double tuck.

Price – FX – Fisk – double pike, nice amplitude but overcooks it and sits it down – front lay to front full, pretty secure – switch 1/2 to wolf full to split jump full combination was excellent, great positions – 2.5, controlled step. Great ending to the routine, will be a huge deal for them when she hits.

After 1:
SUU – 49.050
Washington – 48.825
North Carolina – 48.325
Fisk – 47.550

So seems like the non-paid scores are updating fairly rapidly, still with multiple links above them trying to trick you into paying for this, which is chill and good.

UNC had a miss from Schulze on beam so had to count the Greenlow 9.3 with two major breaks for that 48.325, which would tie their lowest beam score from the 2022 season.

Rotation 2

SKW – Washington – UB – hop change to piked jaeger to overshoot, solid positions – crisp cast hs – blind to front giant 1/2 to double tuck, small hop in place on landing. Very clean start. 9.850

Murakami – BB – SUU – full turn – bhs loso, securely on – cat leap to side aerial, also fairly smooth – split jump to sheep – cartwheel gainer full – a little low on amplitude and a step. 9.800

Coleman – VT – Fisk – ylayout, solid height – legs apart, bounce back. 9.525

Shinohara – FX – UNC – front tuck through to double tuck, bounce back – switch side opens her dance combination and it was super high, but she lost control into her wolf full, which was low and bouncy – double pike, larger lunge back

Brooks – UB – Washington – following a couple 9.7s from Moody and Oppegard after the 9.850 from SKW – short first hs – shaposh, bit of legs into clear hip to bail, hit – better final cast hs on high – giant full, small leg separation into double tuck, little hop forward.

Reed-Hammon – VT – Fisk – brings out a yfull from Fisk and its pretty solid, good control, chest a bit forward and a step. 9.725

Brewer – VT – Fisk – good amplitude on yfull but well out of control on landing, a lunge back and then a couple additional steps connected right into hugs – 9.500

Cacciola – BB – SUU – clean full turn – bhs loso, pretty solid amplitude – standing loso also good toe position maintained there – switch to switch combination to split jump, a bit lower on split jump – 1.5, small step forward.

Culton – FX – UNC – double tuck, controls the step back – switch ring and switch 1/2 are well done – front lay to rudi, also controls the step, not the highest pass – switch side and popa are nice – 9.875

Price – VT – Fisk – the most beautiful Yfull, great landing, good layout shape. 9.900, excellent.

Forbes – FX – UNC – full-in first pass, chest forward with a step, some leg separation in the air – front lay to front full, very clean leg position in twisting – split leap full to popa, a little under on split leap full, good rise into popa – double tuck, stuck landing. Strong finish.

Fisk 48.175 on vault.

SUU counting a couple 9.7s right now with 2 to go.

McClain – BB – SUU – bhs loso, solid – switch to split, low – cat leap to side aerial, nice side aerial, cat leap possible amplitude deduction – split jump to straddle 1/4, some knees – 1.5, small hop. 9.750

Washington went 48.825 on bars, led by the Killough-Wilhelm leadoff 9.850.

Knower – FX – UNC – double pike, great foot position, controlled – front full to front lay, pretty form again but steps forward OOB – split leap full to split jump full – double tuck, chest forward and a step.

Schwartze – BB – SUU – hits loso series – beat to standing loso, small arm movement to control – split jump to sheep (not a ton of closure) to beat, small hesitation before beat – gainer full, small lean forward to hold it. 9.800

SUU goes 48.850 on beam to stay on top.

After 2:
SUU – 97.900
Washington – 97.650
UNC – 96.950
Fisk – 95.725

No one blowing it out of the water so far, also no judges too drunk so far, which is cool.

I was thinking the 190 mark would be a reasonable goal for Fisk in their first meet, and they’re above that level so far on floor and vault. But bars is typically the hardest event for the smaller programs to keep pace on.

Rotation 3

Schwartze – FX – SUU – front 2/1, solid control on landing – swtich to split leap full to wolf full, pulls it around – rudi to loso, good legs on loso, a little steppy on landing. 9.850

Shinohara – VT – UNC – follows a leadoff 9.700 – hits yfull, small hop back, some closed hips – 9.775

Cacciola – FX – SUU – double tuck, slide back, feet – front full to front pike, pretty much controls the step forward – swtich ring to switch 1/2 is well done – rudi to split jump, under control

Russon – BB – Washington – follows 9.700 from Brooks – aerial, knee, arm wave correction – bhs loso and falls – switch to split jump full, pulls it around with some low back leg – 1.5, a bit deep, small hop forward

Wiggins – UB – Fisk – she’s following an 8.4 and 9.0 – toe on to maloney, low and falls – resumes with solid toe on – connects to a straddled overshoot, probably not getting hs credit there – gaint full, late with legs, into double tuck, hop.

Bowles – BB – Washington – side aerial to bhs, hit, small lean – pretty full turn – split jump with small hesitation before straight jump full, a bit low on amplitude – beat to side aerial, hit – gainer front full off the end, pulls it out, slide back. 9.675

McClain – FX – SUU – FTDT, good secure landing, chest just a bit forward – back 1.5 to front lay, good layout position – switch 1/2 to wolf jump full, nice positions on landing – double tuck, pretty large bounce back but stays in. 9.850

Navarro – BB – Washington – bhs bhs loso series, right on – beat to switch side, lean forward at the hips – 1.5 dmt, just very small movement, strong control on dismount. 9.825

UNC went 48.825 on vault, same as Washington.

Ingrassia – FX – SUU – front tuck trhough to double pike, bounce back OOB – switch side to wolf full to wolf full, got out of control on those wolf jumps and under position – double tuck, controls step back – 9.675 will count.

Davis – BB – Washington – bhs bhs loso series is very nice, maybe the smallest lean – beat to straddle 3/4 is secure – 1.5 is pretty out of control, large bounce forward. 9.750

Smith – FX – SUU – whip double tuck, chest well down with a step forward – split leap full to split jump full to shushunova – rudi, chest forward, connects into a split jump on an angle –

SKW – BB – Washington – aerial, check – bhs loso series is hit – full turn – kickover is strong, connects to beat jump – swtich to split, some back leg – sdie aerial to layout 1.5 and sticks it. 

SUU went 48.950 on floor, which is the top floor total so far.

Fisk had a couple 9.0s and a couple 8s on bars, but did get 9.700 from Price and 9.500 from Richmon. The total is 45.625, which will drop Fisk’s pace.

Washington goes 48.850 on beam after Killough-Wilhelm’s 9.900, so they drop a little more ground to SUU but are staying within sight for the last event, going to floor while Southern Utah is on vault.

After 3:
SUU – 146.850
Washington – 146.500
UNC – 145.775
Fisk – 141.350

Rotation 4

“No, it definitely is”

Vultaggio – VT – SUU – pretty solid yfull distance, fairly large bounce back – 9.700

SKW – FX – Washignton – front 2/1, around, slight lack of control – “She does feel extra power when she has Chipotle.” – swtich to switch ring 1/2 –  back 1.5 to front layout, solid layout position. 9.800

Cacciola – VT – SUU – good height on her yfull, not as much distance, step to the side – while the stepped over the line, they’re using the lines to judge direction where you land, not where you ultimately step. 9.775

Innes – FX – Washington – front 2/1, lands somewhat under with a crossover step – switch to wolf jump full to wolf jump full, under horizontal – back 1.5 to front lay, some knees, step – rudi, nicely controlled. 9.575

Kho – VT – SUU – hits her Y1.5, fairly awkward landing with locked legs but nothing dire happened – knee position in teh air and a crossover step

Reed-Hammon – BB – Fisk – follows a 9.225 – full turn, small check – kickover, connects to bhs, arm wave correction – hesitation on cat leap, pauses – redoes it to side aerial, huge break at the hips but fights to save it and keep it on – split jump to split jump 3/4, secure – gainer full, step back. 9.350

Navarro – FX – Washington – double tuck, under control step back – switch side to popa, solid elevation – back 1.5 to layout, controlled, could take a bit for amplitude – double pike, nice toe point, keeps step in bounds, a bit of chest position. 9.875

SUU 48.950 on vault, ends on 195.800.

Daniels – BB – Fisk – bhs loso series and falls, lots of leg – resumes with split jump, check – beat to split 3/4 and falls for a second time – switch to straddle 1/4, hit well – gainer pike, bound forward. 7.925

Roberts – FX – Washington – transfer from Lindenwood – double tuck, a bit forward – back 1.5 to front lay, under control, a bit low – switch 1/2 to wolf jump full, gets it around in the end – double pike, chest forward again but not large on the landing. 9.775

Richmon – BB – Fisk – loso series is hit, dances back out of it – switch to straddle 1/4, a bit under position but secure – side aerial, magic apparently on the huge save – lots of leans and steps and movement but stayed on – 1.5, small hop in place. Will get hit for that large error but good potential score there in this lineup. 9.275

Cunningham – FX – Washington – front tuck through to double tuck, solid control – high amplitude on her three dance element combination – double pike, maintains foot position, controlled step, a tad chest positiony. Should be a strong score. 9.900

UNC finished with 48.850 on bars and a 194.625 total, but the broadcast was like, “We’re done with you”

Price – BB – Fisk – aerial, check, breaks connection – bhs loso series, falls, good extension on bhs legs – side aerial, nice amplitude, arm wave correction – 1.5, stuck landing. 9.125

Davis – FX – Washington – seh needs 9.900 to tie SUU – rudi problems, has to connect to just a back handspring instead of a loso and does the entire bhs out of bounds – split leap full to popa, some travel, good feet – attempts a front 2/1 and was way underrotated, twisted into the ground and falls, but looks like she’s OK

Mora – BB – Fisk – aerial, keeps moving into back tuck with an arm wave – side somi, holds it – switch to sheep jump, not back – cat leap to gainer full, small hop, nice one to finish.

9.675 by far their best beam number.

FINAL
Southern Utah – 195.800
Washington – 195.475
North Carolina – 194.625
Fisk – 186.700

Southern Utah wins the session with a solid opening meet total of 195.800, though it’s probably a first meet of the year drop score for all of the top three teams here. Moments of exciting potential for Fisk there on vault and floor, beyond just the “well, they’re a new team” business. Bars and beam will be more of an over-time kind of process. This 186.700 does surpass the opening 185.925 from Lindenwood’s debut in 2013.

MOVING ON!

On to Alabama/MSU and the Florida quad meet.

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We’re now introduced to Bridget Sloan’s decorative plates.

Rotation 1

Olsen – VT – Alabama – only does the yfull, it’s solid – small hop back, some pike position. And it goes 9.850. So, welcome to judging!

Jackard – UB – MSU – blind to jaeger, close catch but works through it – good handstand – nearly an awesome bail position but has to go over the wrong way – strong final cast hs – giant full to double tuck, good stick. Pretty work. 9.700

Doggette – VT – Alabama – she brings out the Y1.5, full tenth bounce forward, a bit of direction as well – pretty solid form in the air, slight knee position. And that goes 9.900 somehow in a way I don’t understand.

DiCello debuts for Florida on vault with a Yfull, great distance, pretty large bounce back and some pike. 9.775

Stephen – UB – MSU – toe on to maloney – bail is hit, just a bit of hip angle and loose back here and there in this one – finishes with FTDT, bounce back. 9.725

Rachel Baumann does her first vault for Florida, holds the stick on her Y1.5 with a notable leg break on her block and not the most height. Still goes 9.900

Hudson – VT – Alabama – hits her Y1.5 – hop to the side – 9.850

Payton Richards for Florida on vault lands short on her Y1.5 with a step back to save it. Still goes 9.750

Zsarmani debuts for MSU on bars with a strong landing on her DLO, just a bit of legs.

Blanco – VT – Alabama – beautiful Y1.5 but lands a bit short with a bounce back. 9.875. You have to take .100 for short landing and .050 at least for the bounce, so it wasn’t possible to go higher than 9.850 for this vault.

Wong hits her ro 1/2 on pike 1/2 for Florida, but chest down, bounce back. 9.850

Schulte – UB – MSU – shaposh to bail, short of vertical on bail – good toe point throughout – DLO, little hop in place. 9.800

Paradise – VT – Alabama – solid direction on Y1.5, just a bit deep and a hop forward.

Thomas hits her Y1.5 for Florida, medium hop forward, great amplitude and distance as always. 9.925

Nikki Smith – UB – MSU – toe on to maloney to pak, clean work – solid handstand positions – DLO, stuck landing, excellent debut. Pretty routine. 9.875

Florida 49.300 on vault. They’ll be find with that score and performance, very first-meet landings but to be expected.

Gladieux – VT – Alabama – pulls out the Y1.5, great distance, some leg position in the air, a little deep on landing, hop to the side. 9.825. More reasonable scores for Paradise and Gladieux here. 

Harkness – UB – MSU – toe on to gienger, good position – hits hs – bail, clean vertical position – FTDT, some leg position at the beginning and a small hop. 9.850

Alabama 49.325 on vault, similar rotation to Florida in that they’ll be comfortable with the progress, very first-meet landings. Some gifties.

MSU 49.075 on bars, which is fine but not huge, mostly because of some errors early, but the toe position is there to expect big things as we go.

Lindenwood’s floor score will be ahead of the WVU bars and Ball State beam after one rotation.

Rotation 2

Nyah Smith – VT – MSU – solid power on yfull – a bit of hip position, and the bounce back. 9.800

Paradise – UB – Alabama – blind to jaeger, solidly done, just some feet – holds vertical on bail well – DLO, legs apart, small slide back. 9.800

Schulte – VT – MSU – also hits a pretty clean yfull, larger bounce back for her, could take a bit for shoulder angle if you wanted, but that hasn’t seemed the theme.

Hudson – UB – Alabama – toe on to maloney, small leg break, connects to bail, a bit of position in the air but gets to vertical in the end – giant full, not bad into a stuck double tuck, pretty finish. 9.850. 

Garcia – VT – MSU – secure yfull, one step back – slightly chest forward position

Waligora – UB – Alabama – good first hs – blind to jaeger, hige, flexed feet, connects to overshoot – DLO 1/1 is back, lunge back, just a bit of foot crossing in the air. 9.800

Kellerman – VT – MSU – pulls out the first 10.0 start for MSU, a handspring pike 1/2, gets it around, bounce back – some chest position, not the most distance. 9.900, which is also a very high vault score, so at least the same benefit that Alabama got.

Machado – UB – Alabama – maloney to pak, solid – toe on to van leeuwen, slightly crooked body position – short cast hs – toe full to double tuck, brings heels together on landing. 9.850

Nikki Smith – VT – MSU – hits her Y1.5 but is a bit short, step back. Great height. 9.850

Doggette – UB – Alabama – pretty tkatchev to pakcombination – small hesitation in 1/2 turn on low – DLO, stuck landing, legs together well, pretty routine. Would merit going into the 9.9s. 9.900

Stephen – VT – MSU – lovely yfull, stuck landing, excellent. 9.900

Blakely sticks her double front bars dismount leading off for Florida.

Blanco – UB – Alabama – pretty pak – toe on to van leeuwen, gorgeous position – a bit short on final cast hs – FTDT, very tiny foot movement. Wonderful. 9.875

Very reasonable bars scoring today. In Alabama at least.

Those final two 9.9s pull MSU to 49.300 on vault, just shy of Alabama’s score there. Alabama goes 49.275 on bars thanks to a full lineup of 9.8s and the one 9.9 from Doggette.

Nguyen – UB – Florida – maloney to pak, pretty clean, good toes, very small leg break – finishes DLO, stuck, legs a bit apart. Nice one.

DiCello – UB – Florida – Ray – nice – good toes – pak to toe on to van leeuwen, clean, legs together – FTDT, stuck landing. Well that was stronger than Nguyen’s 9.9, so let’s see where we start to go. Ah, 9.925. Hello, score bunching, our old friend.

Thomas – UB – Florida – good first hs – maloney to pak, clean – good hs – toe on to van leeuwen, hit – solid final cast hs – DLO, small hop of legs together. Excellent. And that goes 9.950, presuming they took for landing and nothing else. Florida no score lower than 9.900 on bars so far.

Wong – UB – Florida – good first hs – maloney to pak, solid – van leeuwen, good toes, hit – strong cast hs – DLO, nearly holds the stick but doesn’t, step salute. Still goes 9.950, so I guess another would-be 10. I would have been 9.900 on that one.

Florida already at 49.625.

Hurd – UB – Florida – short first hs – Ray to pak is well done – very short full turn attempt on low bar – tries another cast 1/2…? I think? Also goes over to make it a full and hops off – very short handstand on high bar and peels off – YIKES – they’ll just have her salute and stop.

Well, um, her first college routine is out of the way…
The release combination was lovely. But the handstands and pirouettes are not there yet.

Alabama started with 9.850 on beam from Hudson in the third rotation. Doggette up second – bhs loso, secure, good feet position – beat, small hesitation but continues into switch 1/2, and then an extra beat jump – split jump a bit short into tucked korbut – 1.5, small movement. 9.775

Garcia started with 9.675 for MSU on floor.

Nyah Smith – FX – MSU – front tuck through to double tuck, good control on landing – switch side to popa, good height, a bit crooked in switch side split position – 1.5 to front lay, solid landing – double pike, short landing, lunge forward. 9.750

Olsen – BB – Alabama – switch to switch 1/2, secure, a bit low – bhs loso, small lean correction, some soft knees – front walkover for her front requirement – bhs bhs double pike, brings her chest up quickly, step back. 9.775

Harkness – FX – MSU – FTDT, mostly controls her step back, chest up – switch to split leap full to wolf full, around clearly, solid positions – front tuck through to double tuck, shorter landing, step forward. 9.775

We’re seeing some final pass struggles early in this lineup for MSU.

Waligora – BB – Alabama – bhs loso, wobble, leg up – side aerial, holds it – split jump to tuck jump full, underrotated and has to lean and walk a little to save it – 1.5 dismount, hop – 9.675

Stephen – FX – MSU – front tuck through to double pike, good amplitude, bounce back, keeps it in bounds – switch 1/2 to wolf jump full to straddle jump, elegant positions there, pretty work – 2.5, just a bit of knees, crossover step – 9.900

Gladieux – BB – Alabama – bhs to lay-pike, secure – let Bridget know that a lay-pike is its own skill in NCAA, it’s a D, while the layout 2 feet is an E, and she’s intending to get D credit for this element – aerial to beat jump, clean – switch, small pause before split jump, slight lean – ro double tuck dismount – step back. 9.825

Meanwhile, Hurd is up on beam for Florida – aerial to bhs series, keeps it moving, covering a check on aerial – split to split ring jump, check, holds onto it – pause before dismount, round off 2/1 bounce back. Stayed on for this one, which will be a victory after bars, some tentative moments. 9.775

Nikki Smith went 9.850 on floor for MSU.

Blanco – BB – Alabama – aerial, lovely, great toe point – bhs loso series, check, great form – switch ring, pretty, into beat jump – 1.5 dismount, holds onto the landing, excellent. 9.900

Lazzari back to the beam lineup for Florida – strong bhs loso loso series – aerial, solid –

Schulte – FX – MSU – good amplitude on FTDT, controls her step – switch 1/2 to popa to straddle jump, nice elevation – front tuck through to double tuck, also well controlled on landing.

Over to Dicello on beam for Florida – wolf double, hit – swtich to split is comfortable – bhs loso series, small lean correction – aerial, good knee position – bhs, some knees, into gainer full, bounce back. Still gets 9.900, a little high for me.

Alabama went 49.125 on beam, only OK for a somewhat tentative rotation. They would have wanted more there. MSU gains a little ground with its 49.175 on floor, saved with the last three excellent routines after those struggle-passes in the first three spots.

After 3:
Alabama 147.725
MSU 147.550

Alabama’s lead is small but will have the advantage going to floor.

Richards with a large leg-up check on beam for Florida but keeps it on for 9.750.

Ball State has gone 49.000 on beam and floor after a beam issue in the first rotation.

Thomas – BB – Florida – lovely switch mount combination – clean full turn – one-arm bhs to loso, secure – aerial to two feet is a fun twist, hits it – beat to korbut, solid – side aerial to 1.5, stuck landing. Well done.

Annnnd we have our first 10 of the season for Triity on beam. I didn’t have a 10 there but lots of great stuff.

We missed most of Wong’s beam as a result, but the aerial was good – 2/1 dismount with a bounce back.

So that’s 21 for Thomas now.

Wong looked like it was the end of the world after her beam, so obviously that means she went 9.850. Florida 49.425 beam rotation. Baumann doing exhibition beam.

Rotation 4

Waligora – FX – Alabama – front 2/1, leg crossing and a crossover step – also thought her wolf full in combination was short of position, a theme – 1.5 to front lay is clean. 9.850

Schulte – BB – MSU – check on full turn – swtich, hesitation before switch 1/2, adds a beat jump afterward to get her dance combination – bhs loso, large break, bends both ways, keeps it on – swtich to gainer full, solid landing. 9.750 is pretty high for that huge break.

Olsen – FX – Alabama – piked full in, controls the landing step – front tuck through to double tuck, chest down, hop forward. 9.775

“They are your family, whether you like it or not” – Bridget on the truth.

Zsarmani – BB – MSU – kickover piked, small pause into bhs, secure – swtich to switch side, good horizontal position on switch side but an arm wave correction swim to hold it – 1.5 dismount, high, great stick. Tons of potential in this routine. 9.750

Doggette – FX – Alabama – FTDT, hit, a bit forward with a step – split leap 1.5, looks like she just did pull it around – switch ring to switch 1/2, under on split position – 1.5 to front lay, legs apart on lay. 9.800

Nyah Smith – BB – MSU – bhs loso, great amplitude but huge break, bend over at the hips to horizontal, so an automatic .2 there in addition to the other deductions – swtich to straddle 1/4, good height there – high double tuck dismount, step back. 9.625

Gladieux – FX – Alabama – secure landing on FTDT, some legs apart in the air – high dance element combination, slightly out of control in the air but holds onto the landing – front lay to rudi to split jump is well done, clean twisting, good elevation. 9.900

Stephen – BB – MSU – aerial to 2 feet, another theme – secure landing, a bit of knees in the air – bhs loso series, good, extended position in los – beat to split jump 1/2, nice split position, step correction on landing – 2/1, nearly stuck, step back into salute. 9.825

Florida has Brubach into the floor lineup leading off for them – slide back on rudi – split full to popa, a bit under on popa landing position – double tuck, chest down, holds it with a step – 9.850. I had 9.700, so that will be interesting for this floor rotation score.

Blanco – FX – Alabama – double pike, very small movement of front foot – double tuck, chest up well – front full to front lay, dances out. 9.925

Nguyen – FX – Florida – something we were not expecting to see at Georgia… – front 2/1 and tries to lunge forward and connect to a split jump at the same time which…kind of worked?…very low split jump – back 1.5 to front lay, a little lower on the lay. Still goes 9.900

Garcia finished MSU out with a 9.900 on beam for a 49.00, there, so they broke 49 on every event.

Hudson on floor finishes the meet for Alabama – front lay to front 2/1, out of control on landing, huge bound forward and an additional step OOB. Good stick on 2.5 though.

DiCello – FX – Florida – front 2/1 with some leg crossing and a crossover step – switch ring and switch 1/2 are fine – 1.5 to front full, good control, some soft knees. 9.875

Alabama drops Hudson’s floor to go 49.250 there.

FINAL:
Alabama 196.975
Michigan State 196.550

Solid opening meet scores but not anything Alabama will hope to keep around by the end of the year. Probably same for MSU given how last season ended in the scoring department. Mid 196 is suddenly just OK for them instead of an amazing score.

Richards on FX – chest down on DLO landing, lunge forward – solid straddle positions – back 1.5 to front tuck full and hilarious face out of it because she would have been intending a layout position, lunge forward. I assume Jenny is telling her right now that the tuck front 1/1 is the same value as the layout so it works out. Still have some questions about this 9.850, but not from a start value perspective.

Baumann – FX – Florida – wolf double is around – back 1.5 to front full, controlled step, pretty solid leg position – switch side to straddle jump, very high- good double pike, nice work. 9.925, Florida at 49.400 now with Thomas to come.

I mean with Blakely to come. No Thomas on floor today.

Blakely sits down her opening double Arabian, so that means Florida is done on 49.400.

Yikers, and now a second fall on her second pass that looked like an injury and she has to stop. Florida, I know you have depth, but you can’t just keep having 85 injuries per day.

FINAL:
Florida – 197.750
WVU – 194.925
Ball State – 194.100
Lindenwood – 193.125

Big score for Florida, as we expect. Most of the bars lineup was the highlight in this one. Some really pretty routines. Also Thomas being Thomas. Lots of moving pieces to figure out in all these lineups still, and I’m not sure we got final answers on, say, Hurd today. DiCello very solid in debut, with some moments of being downright elegant on bars.

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Let’s get going, the big one for today, LSU against Utah.

Kathy and Bart on the call tonight to make us feel safe regardless of how these scores go.

Utah will have Smith on 3 events and Brenner 2 on two. LSU has Bryce Wilson on one event (beam).

Rotation 1

Hoffman – VT – Utah – solid yfull in the air but a pretty large bounce back. 9.825, so one judge only took for the landing.

Kiya Johnson – UB – LSU – a bit short on first hs – maloney to bail, solid bail vertical position – better final cast hs – toe on – DLO, bounce back. 9.775

Brenner – VT – Utah – hits her Y1.5 pretty well, small shuffle to the side, some soft knee position. Good height, you can/should deduct for distance in addition to the knees and hop. 9.875

Arenas – UB – LSU – good first hs – tkatchev, hit, solid height – high pak, large straddle though, got way over the low bar – good final cast hs – DLO, legs apart, slide back. 9.750

Stanhope – VT – Utah – good distance on her y1.5 – medium hop forward – not as high as Brenner but way way farther. 9.875

These 9.875s are a little high for me, but not excessive. You could sell me on 9.850

Jeffrey – UB – LSU – good first hs – maloney to pak, small leg break – 1/2 turn on low is fine – a bit short on final cast hs – FTDT, deep landing but holds onto it. Strong. 9.875

Smith – VT – Utah – Omelianchik is nearly stuck, small hop forward, good distance. Well done. 9.900. Would have liked more separation between her and Brenner.

Finnegan – UB – LSU – good first hs – piked deltchev, very nice – toe on to bail, maybe a little past hs, good feet – arch in the back on cast hs but works through it – double arabian dismount, step forward. Things to take but impressive. 9.750

McCallum – VT – Utah – She’s on the Y1.5 today – lands it short and sits it down, was pretty locked coming into landing. 9.300

Shchennikova – UB – LSU – short first hs – Ray with some foot flexing into a pretty pak – solid 1/2 turn on low – short final cast hs as well – DLO, the usual, pikes it down to find the landing control. 9.775. Wellllll, it was almost like they took for things.

Rucker – VT – Utah – Y1.5 solid dynamics – medium pace forward. 9.875

Bryant – UB – LSU – great piked jaeger – bail, good vertical – hits final cast hs – blind to double front 1/2 out, a little short, step forward. Nice one. 9.825

Utah goes 49.350 on vault, LSU on 49.000 on bars.

Utah with mostly good first-meet vaults with steps, similar to Florida and Alabama, right in that 49.3 zone. Smith definitely the most impressive vault there for the best score. They’ll have to figure out what they’re doing with McCallum’s vault.

Bars judging definitely tighter than vault judging so far, but LSU opened the door and gave things away, and the judges were willing to take them. Also some shorter handstands for LSU today than usual, for people like Kiya Johnson and Shchennikova, which is not where they typically lose tenths but did today. Bryant could certainly have lost .150 on the dismount with .05 for chest down and .10 for step, which is why her score was what it was, but the routine seemed comparatively stronger. 

“I’m pretty sure Jay’s very pleased.” Mmmm don’t know about that.

Rotation 2

Arenas – VT – LSU – beautiful full as usual, just small movement with the foot. 9.850

Smith – UB – Utah – toe on to maloney, good legs into pak, very pretty – 1/2 turn on low – solid final cast hs – toe on to double arabian dismount, staggered landing for .05 but good stick. Strong start.

Shchennikova – VT – LSU – hits her Y1.5, medium hop forward, good distance, not the highest, solid. 9.825

Brenner – UB – Utah – jaeger to overshoot, hit, just some feet, was not intending a bail to handstand, intended an overshoot – short cast hs on high bar – DLO, small slide back and additional step salute. 9.800

Finnegan – VT – LSU – also the Omelianchik for her, similarly strong distance and direction to Smith, larger step forward. 9.850

Thompson – UB – Utah – shortish first hs – good amplitude on pak – maloney to geinger, some feet and not the highest but solid for an inbar gienger – good hs on high – DLO, hop back. 9.800

KJ Johnson – VT – LSU – huge yfull, nearly stuck it, small hop – also one foot was over the line on landing so they should take in direction deduction in addition to the hop, not much else to take. 9.775

We’re seeing the evidence of the OOB lines right there. Last season that’s probably 9.875.

O’Keefe – UB – Utah – maloney to bail, good feet – not her best vertical psoition day but gets the stick on her double arabian very well.

Kiya Johnson – VT – LSU – hits her DTY, very well under control, just some small movement on landing and a bit of legs on the block. 9.875.

Would have been fine with 9.900 there, but you really do have to take for leg form regardless of the difficulty.
But then you look at some of the vaults that went 9.900 at the Alabama meet, and how can you say this was worse?

Isa – UB – Utah – so she’s back for the first meet – Ray, somewhat close with elbows – slight hesitation in hs, hits bail, saves it with an arch – seems rusty on the handstands today – giant full into DLO no trouble there thought. 9.775

Bryant – VT – LSU – hs pike 1/2, her usual perfection, just the medium bounce back. 9.900. So they only took for hop.

McCallum – UB – Utah – maloney to pak, solid – good hs on low – van leeuwen, very small foot break – hits hs on high – FTDT, stuck landing. Really nice.9.925

LSU with another of our 49.3s on vault, very similar to the other top teams so far, the difficulty is there, the landings not so much yet overall, but a couple closer to sticks for LSU there.

Utah goes 49.225 on bars to retain the lead, but gives back a little ground to LSU.

After 2:
Utah 98.575
LSU 98.300

Difference maker on bars between the two teams was landings. We saw some actual sticks for Utah, more postseason level even though they weren’t quite there on the handstands either, while LSU wasn’t really sticking on bars.

Rotation 3

Morgan – BB – Utah – she’s doing the front walkover mount, always a favorite – bhs bhs loso, securely done – split jump to split jump 1/2, some feet but super secure again and hit her 180s – check on full turn – front gainer full off the side dismount, stuck landing. Good start. 9.825

Ballard – FX – LSU – DLO, step back, under control, keeps her front foot down, some leg separation – back 1.5 to front lay to stag, good straight body position on layout – switch ring and switch 1/2 – double pike, chest up, nice control again. Some leg and feet things but one of her best ones. 9.825

Isa – BB – Utah – candle mount, hits vertical – bhs loso loso series, right on, feet – commitment to showing choreography in squat, NO LEVEL DEDUCTIONS FOR ME – beat jump to straddle 1/4 is solid – gainer full dismount, small movement. 9.875

Shchennikova – FX – LSU – front 2/1, slight crossover dance out, mostly covers it – back 1.5 to front lay, good straight layout position -switch to switch ring 1/2, a little low but fine – rudi to split jump, out of control on travel. 9.825

McCallum – BB – Utah – triple wolf hit, but a bit of arm correction – double wolf, hit – bhs loso, holds it, arm wave to secure it but did well to get herself on line – split to straddle jump, hit, some feet – gainer tuck full off the end is nice, stuck landing. 9.875

KJ Johnson – FX – LSU – FTDT, great secure landing – back 1.5 to front lay, does well to maintain a straight shape on that layout because she mistimed the punch but you wouldn’t have really known – switch side to popa, a little under on popa – double tuck big struggle, stumble back, multiple lunges and OOBs. 9.500

Paulson – BB – Utah – side aerial to loso, secure, some feet – switch to sissone, a bit short on split position but sissone was nice – beat to side aerial to 1.5, holds the stick, a bit of knees. 9.875

Finnegan – FX – LSU – double arabian to stag, very well done – 2.5 to front tuck, good control – switch ring to split leap full, pretty switch ring position – back 1.5 to front lay, a bit more of a step out there but covers it into dance. Really, really good one. 9.950.

Eaker – BB – Utah – switch leap mount, good – switch to split leap, good 180 postions and toe point – side aerial to loso, holds onto it without giving away a check, good composure – gainer full is the only problem really, bounce back and somewhat low on amplitude. 9.900

Bryant – FX – LSU – double front, controls the step forward – front lay to rudi, great chest up position, and super straight layout – switch ring to switch 1/2, solid height – front 2/1, that dance out was a big lungier than Finnegan’s for me. 9.875

O’Keefe – BB – Utah -side aerial to loso, holds it securely – switch to split leap, a little low on split leap amplitude but hits her 180 –  bhs gainer full, stuck landing. Good. 9.950.

Kiya Johnson – FX – LSU – FTDT, small slide back – back 1.5 to front lay, shows the stick for 85 minutes before the controlled step – swtich 1/2 to popa, nice toes and split positions – double pike, stuck landing. Another excellent routine. 9.900.

49.375 for LSU on a strong floor rotation overall. Scores kept themselves in their pants (in a good way, while some of the vault comparisons were annoying, the scores have been non-drunk for the most part today and you know there are LSU home meets we’ve seen where those last three floors would have been 10, 9.950, 10), but I think they’ll be pleased about the quality of the rotation. Finnegan, Bryant, Johnson looking very much prepared.

Utah goes 49.475 on beam so extend their lead, with Eaker and O’Keefe showing very pretty work. That lineup also looks ready.

After 3:
Utah 148.050
LSU 147.675

Rotation 4

Rivers – BB – LSU – bhs loso series, large arm wave break, a couple swims – switch 1/2, secure, a bit under split – switch to straddle 1/4, good 1/4 position, horizontal split – 2/1 dismount, small bounce. 9.700. Ouch.

Paulson – FX – Utah – front tuck through to 2.5, controls the step, some leg crossing – front lay to front full, deep landing with the step – switch full to sissone, did a good job getting the full twist around today – back 1.5 to front lay, clean, also a little deep in landing. 9.800

Wilson – BB – LSU – bhs loso series, solid, pretty good back leg extension – swtich to straddle 1/4, good height, still some low back leg, but huge – aerial, a little flat but securely controlled – full turn, slight hesitation – bhs bhs 2/1, bounce back. Some formies but a comfortable beam showing. 9.775

Gilstrap – FX – Utah – front lay to rudi, little bounce up, good leg form of course – switch is excellent to switch ring 1/2, a bit low on front leg – front lay to front full, just got a little soft in that last pass but lovely presentation of course. 9.850

KJ Johnson – BB – LSU – so this is a new lineup member, getting her straddled Kristie Phillips on in the mount department – switch to straddle 1/4, short on split position but nice high straddle – bhs loso series is very solid – side aerial, holds it but pause before sissone, which was short of split – bhs 1.5, small step back. She can get destroyed in the score on those leaps. 9.725

O’Keefe – FX – Utah – double pike, just a bit deep – front lay to front full, secure – switch to split leap 1.5, pulls it around – back 1.5 to layout, slight legs but again quite solid. 9.850

Bryant – BB – LSU – aerial to bhs, connected pretty quickly – switch to straddle 1/4, good positions and elegant extension there – full turn, hesitation – standing front tuck, step forward but easily completed – punch rudi dismount, hop back. 9.850

Smith – FX – Utah – front 2/1, controls the step out, solid twisting form – rudi to loso, good toe point on loso – split leap full looked a little under, popa was OK – 2.5, step, just does keep it in bounds. 9.875

Finnegan – BB – LSU – opens with the candle 1/2 – bhs loso loso series, lovely, right on – switch to split, strong – hits her aerial – gainer full, stuck. And then basically college saluted herself into the step. 9.900

McCallum – FX – Utah – FTDT, just a bit deep in landing, controls the step – split leap full to popa – front lay to rudi, also controls the step, just some soft knees and feet in places here. 9.850

Kiya Johnson – BB – LSU – full turn, hit – bhs loso, secure – swtich to switch, to split jump – a bit of bent knee in the back leg on those switches – kickover, arm wave – bhs 1.5 dismount, step. 9.800

Rucker – FX – Utah – double arabian is different for her, way short and stumbles back to fall.

So that will do it for the meet.

FINAL:
Utah 197.275
LSU 196.725

Congratulations to the judges for not getting drunk before the meet and keeping the scores very reasonable overall. Neither team will love the score, but we haven’t seen much in the 197 zone so far, so Utah won’t mind that and will enjoy the win.

Off to GymCastic!