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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

Saturday Live Blog – February 11, 2017

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Saturday, February 11
 Scores Watch
1:00 ET/10:00 PT – Bridgeport, Ithaca, Brockport @ Cornell Ivy $
1:00 ET/10:00 PT – Springfield @ West Chester
2:00 ET/11:00 PT – [7] Michigan @ Michigan State LINK BTN+
2:30 ET/11:30 PT – New Hampshire @ Bowling Green LINK FB
4:00 ET/1:00 PT – [19] Nebraska @ Minnesota LINK BTN
4:00 ET/1:00 PT – [18] Ohio State @ Penn State LINK FREE
5:00 ET/2:00 PT – Stanford @ [5] UCLA LINK P12
5:00 ET/2:00 PT – [4] Utah @ [11] Oregon State LINK P12
5:00 ET/2:00 PT – [21] Illinois, UIC @ [22] Iowa LINK? BTN+
5:00 ET/2:00 PT – Arizona State @ [17] Washington LINK P12
7:00 ET/4:00 PT – Maryland, Yale, Penn @ Rutgers LINK
7:00 ET/4:00 PT – BYU, Centenary @ TWU LINK FREE
8:00 ET/5:00 PT – [8] Boise State @ [12] Denver LINK DU $
8:00 ET/5:00 PT – UC Davis, Seattle Pacific @ Air Force FREE

It’s Pac-12 day! The other top teams did not keep their 9.9s to themselves like proper children last night (but we’re so sickkkkk, we have pollliioooo), so there’s a lot of crazy 197 work to do for the others to keep pace today. When you’re giving out 18 scores of 9.950-10.000 in a single day, the standard of evaluation just isn’t strict enough. Continue reading Saturday Live Blog – February 11, 2017 →

Season Preview

Minnesota 2017

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MINNESOTA ROSTER 2017
Seniors
Bailey Abernathy
  • Provides weekly VT, FX routines
  • 2016 RQS: VT – 9.840, FX – 9.835
Bailie Holst
  • Competes weekly VT, BB, FX, competed BB once for 9.525 in 2016
  • 2016 RQS: UB – 9.885, VT – 9.770, FX – 9.765
Kaitlin Rahon
  • Provided weekly FX and frequent BB in 2016
  • 2016 RQSL FX – 9.810, BB – 9.730
Juniors
Abby DeMuse
  • Weekly VT, UB, FX and occasional BB in 2016
  • 2016 RQS: FX – 9.850, UB – 9.840, VT – 9.815
  • 2016 average: BB – 9.370
Ciara Gardner
  • Competed AA in every meet in 2016
  • 2016 RQS: FX – 9.875, BB – 9.820, UB – 9.805, VT – 9.770
Hannah Hitchcock
  • Provided backup UB routine in 2016, competed VT once for 9.500
  • 2016 RQS: UB – 9.690
Rachel Rowland
  • Has not competed a routine in first two seasons
Steph Shields
(redshirt)
  • Transfer from UW-Stout
  • Competed BB, FX in 2015 for Stout
  • 2015 average: FX – 9.333, BB – 8.820
Sophomores
Rachel Cutler
  • Made final UB lineup in 2016
  • 2016 average: UB – 9.645, FX – 9.650
Selena Ung
  • Competed BB 3 times in 2016 for 9.658 average
Freshmen
Casey Betts
  • Gold Medal AZ
  • 2015 JO Nationals 19th AA
  • 2015 Arizona state AA champion
Julie Huebert
  • Eagles MO
  • 2016 Missouri state AA 2nd
Ivy Lu
  • Gymnix
  • 2012 Junior Pan American team
  • 2015 Canadian open division AA champion
Kristen Quaglia
  • Classic MN
  • 2016 Minnesota state AA 3rd
Ryan Stach
  • Galaxy NY
  • 2016 JO Nationals VT 15th
  • 2016 NY state AA 2nd
Becca Taylor
  • Twin City
  • 2016 Minnesota state UB 3rd
Paige Williams
  • Metroplex
  • 2016 JO Nationals AA 2nd

Recent History
2016 – 12th
2015 – 23rd
2014 – 14th
2013 – 8th
2012 – 24th
2011 – 22nd
2010 – 25th

Minnesota managed a critical result last season by advancing to nationals when not favored to do so, but expectations for 2017 are not all that high given the depletion of the roster (losses which tend to focus on the 9.9s of Lindsay Mable but also include Nordquist, Hanley, and Haines, leading to the decimation of some of the lineups, and by some I mean beam).

A large freshman class featuring a few rather accomplished gymnasts will be counted on to minimize the damage and keep the Gophers in the national conversation, though the most likely final ranking for Minnesota appears closer to those 22-25 seasons. Continue reading Minnesota 2017 →

Season Preview

2017 Freshman Preview: Minnesota & Arkansas

Returning Routines – Minnesota
VAULT
Abernathy – 9.840
DeMuse – 9.815
Holst – 9.770
Gardner – 9.770
Hitchcock – 9.500		 BARS
Holst – 9.885
DeMuse – 9.840
Gardner – 9.805
Hitchcock – 9.690
Cutler – 9.646
BEAM
Gardner – 9.820
Rahon – 9.730
Ung – 9.658
Holst – 9.525
DeMuse – 9.370		 FLOOR
Gardner – 9.875
DeMuse – 9.850
Abernathy – 9.835
Rahon – 9.810
Holst – 9.765
Cutler – 9.650

Obviously, the worst part for Minnesota is the no-Mable part. But losing Nordquist, Haines, and Hanley doesn’t help the situation much either. Just…be generally concerned about everything you see there.

But for now, let’s focus on Paige Williams. Jenny Hansen casually added Williams to the class just this April in a very “Oh, didn’t I mention…?” kind of way.  Williams is the strongest gymnast in Minnesota’s hefty incoming septet and will need to compete the all-around. Also maybe more than that, if possible.

Here’s her double front on floor and even more impressive 90-foot straddle jump amplitude. I’m excited for Minnesota to have a big floor routine this year.

The ease of completion on that Yfull will also be a mighty fine addition. Just, you know, cross fewer state lines on landing. Continue reading 2017 Freshman Preview: Minnesota & Arkansas →