Sam Ogden | Balance Beam Situation

DENVER ROSTER 2017
*Seniors*
Rachel Fielitz	Injured after first meet in 2016 Top VT, weekly BB, FX in 2015 2015 RQS: VT 9.905, FX – 9.840, BB – 9.790
Leah Lomonte	Did not compete in 2016 because of injury Weekly BB, backup UB in 2015 2015 RQS: BB – 9.820 2015 average: UB – 9.663
Julia Ross	Top UB, weekly VT, BB in 2016 2016 RQS: UB – 9.880, BB – 9.860, VT – 9.820
*Juniors*
Nikole Addison	#2 team FX routine in 2016 Weekly UB and occasional VT 2016 RQS: FX – 9.870, UB – 9.800, VT – 9.785
Claire Hammen	Staple of BB and FX lineups in 2016 2016 RQS: FX – 9.855, BB – 9.835
*Sophomores*
Grace Broadhurst	Did not compete in freshman year
Diana Chesnok	Weekly VT, UB, backup BB in 2016 Preseason ankle injury 2016 RQS: UB – 9.860, VT – 9.830 2016 average: BB – 9.556
Claire Kern	Competed leadoff UB in 2016 2016 RQS: UB – 9.830
Kaitlyn Schou	Regular early-lineup on VT, BB, FX in 2016 2016 RQS: FX – 9.840, BB – 9.815, VT – 9.755
*Freshmen*
Maddie Karr	Twin City 2016 JO National AA, VT, UB, BB champion
Courtney Loper	Chow’s 2015 JO Nationals AA 14th, FX 8th
Sam Ogden	WOGA 2014 Classic, 9th AA

Recent History
2016 – 15th
2015 – 15th
2014 – 18th
2013 – 20th
2012 – 23rd
2011 – 17th
2010 – 15th

It’s difficult to escape the feeling that 2016 was the year for Denver: entering regionals ranked an unexpected 11th, facing a kind draw, and ultimately needing just a 49.0 on beam to get to nationals. Those opportunities don’t come around constantly, and it’s a shame that Denver’s final 15th place finish is just sort of normal for them and doesn’t reflect the accomplishments of the season.

Denver lost 11 routines from last year’s regionals slate, including best-on-each-piece sets from Nina McGee, which is tragic. Although, there’s still reason to be optimistic that Denver can replace the majority of these routines and return to a similar level, floating in and out of the better half of the teens. Top JO recruit Maddie Karr, former elite Sam Ogden, and the return of some previously injured seniors should combine to provide enough routines to fill the gaps on the majority of events. Continue reading Denver 2017 →

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 →

Because gymnastics is a comedy, not a drama