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Nebraska Regional Preview

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Next stop, Nebraska. Or, as it should more accurately be known, the Air Force Regional of Nebraska, starring Air Force.

Let’s just get through that nonsense so we can talk about the actual competition. Because of a geographical quirk, Air Force is the only (non-DIII) team in the North Central region that did not qualify a full team to regionals. That means Air Force was the only team eligible to receive individual spots here and qualified the whole competition roster, including a gymnast for beam who didn’t even make her own team’s postseason beam lineup but had an RQS from earlier in the year.

Meanwhile, gymnasts like Lindsay Lemke (Michigan State, 9.845 RQS on UB), Jordyn Penny (Ball State, 9.840 RQS on UB), India McPeak (Bowling Green, 9.825 RQS on BB), Kayla Rose (Bowling Green, 9.850 RQS on FX), Kaitlyn Menzione (Ball State, 9.850 RQS on FX), Katey Oswalt (Lindenwood, 9.825 RQS on FX), Erin Alderman (TWU, 9.845 RQS on FX), and Anna Martucci (Northern Illinois, 9.845 RQS on FX) didn’t qualify to regionals only because their schools are located close to other schools and for no reason related to gymnastics at all. Almost like this system should be fixed…

The NC region is always sparse, but typically either Iowa State doesn’t qualify and sends a bunch of individuals as well, or the DIII sides qualify people to mix things up. But this year, Iowa State is going as a team and DIII nationals conflicts with regionals (what is WRONG with everyone?), so the DIII schools can’t send anyone.

Anyway, rant over. To the competition.

April 1, 2017 – 5:00 ET/2:00 PT

Teams (starting event)
[2] LSU (bars)
[11] Boise State (vault)
[14] Nebraska (bye before floor)
[25] Arizona (bye before bars)
[29] Iowa State (beam)
[36] Minnesota (floor)

Individuals
Mariana Murphy, Air Force (AA)
Kara Witgen, Air Force (AA)
Anna Salamone, Air Force (VT, UB)
Riley Hill, Air Force (VT, BB)
Jamie Lewis, Air Force (VT, UB, FX)
Darby Germain, Air Force (UB, FX)
Brittney Reed, Air Force (UB, BB, FX)
Rita Koenigbauer, Air Force (BB)
Chelsea Grimison, Air Force (BB)
Casey Bell, Air Force (FX)

The favorite – LSU
LSU occupies an identical position as Oklahoma when it comes to regionals, placed in what should be a very competitive meet but so much stronger than the other teams that it’s going to be a cakewalk, barring a multiple-fall disaster. All things mirroring the regular season, LSU will expect to be about a point clear of the peloton.

Like Oklahoma’s vaulting, LSU’s bars is a strong lineup that nonetheless looks like it could give away valuable tenths in the title hunt, at least in its current state. It has also been LSU’s lowest event score the last four meets in a row, so stepping up the precision on the difficult landings (Zamardi, Harrold) and the form (Harrold, Priessman) will be a critical development looking toward nationals on an event that doesn’t have to be the biggest score but still needs to be over 49.4.

Floor should be right there with the other very top teams, but LSU is spoiled for choice and still has some decisions to make about that lineup. Do you go with the big routine from Edney or play the execution card with Finnegan? (Or go with Priessman if she’s OK again, but it’s unlikely to be worth the risk.) It’s one of those decisions where they’ll probably be fine either way, but it will be revealing about how risk-averse/risk-embracing they’re feeling. Continue reading Nebraska Regional Preview →

Live Blog

Friday Live Blog – March 10, 2017

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Friday, March 10
 Scores Watch
7:00 ET/4:00 PT – [22] West Virginia @ [3] Florida LINK SEC+
7:00 ET/4:00 PT – Towson @ NC State LINK ACC+
7:00 ET/4:00 PT – Ball State @ Kent State LINK FREE
7:00 ET/4:00 PT – Temple @ William & Mary LINK FB
7:00 ET/4:00 PT – Winona State @ UW-Eau Claire LINK
7:30 ET/4:30 PT – UW-La Crosse @ Gustavus Adolphus LINK
8:00 ET/5:00 PT – [12] Kentucky @ [15] Missouri LINK SEC+
8:00 ET/5:00 PT – Pitt @ [20] Auburn LINK SEC+
8:00 ET/5:00 PT – San Jose State, Centenary @ Arkansas LINK
8:00 ET/5:00 PT – Lindenwood @ Illinois State FREE
8:30 ET/5:30 PT – New Hampshire @ [2] LSU LINK SEC+
8:30 ET/5:30 PT – Iowa State @ [6] Alabama LINK SEC+
9:00 ET/6:00 PT – [8] Denver @ [10] Boise State LINK FREE
9:00 ET/6:00 PT – [21] Southern Utah @ [23] Utah State LINK FREE
9:00 ET/6:00 PT – Arizona @ BYU LINK FREE
9:00 ET/6:00 PT – Sacramento State, Bridgeport @ Arizona State LINK FREE
10:00 ET/7:00 PT – Air Force @ UC Davis LINK FB

Today is made for bopping around from meet to meet as they become interesting (or the opposite of that). West Virginia/Florida is the primary meet starting off the slate, but keep an eye on the scores coming from Ball State and Towson as well. Both teams are teetering on the edge of falling out of regionals contention but could save themselves with mid-195s today and remain in  contention on the final weekend.

Here is our key group:

With those mid-195s, Towson and Ball State would move up to the 194.9 territory. It’s still out, but it’s at least within striking distance. Arizona State is in action later on and in a similar position, but what’s really hurting their chances is a low road score, which can’t be dropped until Pac-12s. To give themselves a chance at Pac-12s, though, they’ll need another good beating-Arizona-level 195 today. Continue reading Friday Live Blog – March 10, 2017 →

Season Preview

Boise State 2017

BOISE STATE ROSTER 2017
Seniors
McKenzie
Bennion
  • Regular VT, UB routines in 2016
  • 2016 RQS: VT – 9.840, UB – 9.810
Mary Frances Bir
  • VT specialist, competed weekly in 2016
  • 2016 RQS: VT – 9.820
Diana Mejia
  • Returned to UB lineup in second half of 2016
  • Provides backup BB
  • 2016 average: UB (hit) – 9.879, BB – 9.413
Paige Urquhart
  • Anchor BB, frequent VT, occasional FX in 2016
  • 2016 RQS: BB – 9.790, VT – 9.765
  • 2016 average: FX – 9.763
Juniors
Sandra
Collantes
(redshirt)
  • Competed AA in majority of meets in 2016
  • 2016 RQS: FX – 9.925, UB – 9.840 BB – 9.800, VT – 9.790
Alex Esmerian
  • Has not competed a routine for Boise State
Ann Stockwell
  • Weekly VT, UB and backup FX in 2016
  • 2016 RQS: UB – 9.860, VT – 9.845
  • 2016 average: FX – 9.740
Abby Webb
  • Has not competed a routine for Boise State
Sophomores
Sarah Means
  • Competed only BB in 2016
  • 2016 RQS: BB – 9.800
Shani Remme
  • Competed AA in most meets in 2016
  • 2016 RQS: FX – 9.865, BB – 9.860, UB – 9.845, VT – 9.740
Freshmen
Isabella Amado
  • Panama
  • 2016 Olympics 44th AA
  • 2016 JO Nationals 7th AA
Courtney
McGregor
  • New Zealand
  • 2016 Olympics 41st AA, 16th VT
McKenna
Morrell
  • Wallers’
  • 2016 Region 1 FX 4th
Maddi Nilson
  • GymCats
  • 2016 Region 1 AA 9th, UB 4th
McKinley
Pavicic
  • Salcianu
  • 2016 Nevada state AA champion
  • 2015 JO Nationals 4th AA

Recent History
2016 – 16th
2015 – 20th
2014 – 19th
2013 – 23rd
2012 – 14th
2011 – 13th
2010 – 17th

Boise State’s relatively low-ish ultimate ranking in 2016 obscures the leap the Broncos made during the regular season, from the third tier of also-rans to the second tier of potential nationals contenders. For much of the year, BSU’s squad recalled that 2011 team that came a whisker from knocking out Florida.

Maintaining that level after losing the team’s best routine on each event (from either Krentz or Jacobsen) will be a challenge, but the DID YOU HEAR WE HAVE TWO OLYMPIANS (yes, we did) of a freshman class should expand the team’s depth and help replicate the success of early 2016, continuing the march toward the better side of the teens and becoming a more realistic upset threat to knock off a top-12 team. Continue reading Boise State 2017 →

Season Preview

2017 Freshman Preview: Denver and Boise State

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Oh, mountain time zone, we haven’t forgotten about you. Yet. (Give it a week.)

In Denver, the motto of the season is “Oh thank god Maddie Karr is here.”

Returning Routines – Denver
VAULT
Fielitz – 9.850
Chesnok – 9.830
Ross – 9.820
Addison – 9.785
Schou – 9.755		 BARS
Ross – 9.880
Chesnok – 9.860
Kern – 9.830
Addison – 9.800
BEAM
Ross – 9.860
Hammen – 9.835
Schou – 9.815
Fielitz – 9.725
Chesnok – 9.556		 FLOOR
Addison – 9.870
Hammen – 9.855
Schou – 9.840

Now that Nina McGee is gone, there is no joy in the world and all the flowers have wilted and died, but if you were worried about who’s going to be Denver’s star and get all the 9.9s to fill out the paltry routine-scape you see above, it’s Maddie Karr. No pressure or anything.

Karr won JO Nationals this year with the highest score of any gymnast in any session (the only one to break 39), and then also this vault.

Get in the anchor spot.

Vault is Karr’s jam, but she will be an all-arounder who’s expected to record among the top scores on the team on each piece. At JOs this year, Karr didn’t show huge floor tumbling, but she does have a piked full-in resting in her pocket as well, which should help restock that lineup’s supply of power. Her amplitude on dance elements is also a plus, helping her reach 180 on that split full and actually get it all the way around too. Continue reading 2017 Freshman Preview: Denver and Boise State →