The Dismount: Week 10

With few top matchups on the schedule, fans turned their attention to exciting non-conference duals and the RQS picture heading into the final weeks of the regular season. Five perfect 10s, senior nights and crazy scoring amounted to some exciting competitions, and you don’t want to have missed any of it. Catch up with scores and event winners from each meet, as well as highlights and recaps of the top showdowns.

No. 12 Arizona State, No. 10 Arkansas and No. 15 Denver at No. 1 Oklahoma
Full Results OU: 198.100 DU: 196.525 Ark.: 195.700 ASU: 195.700
VT: Dowell, Webb, 9.925 UB: Lehrmann, 9.950 BB: Nichols, 9.975 FX: Jackson, 9.950 AA: Nichols, 39.725
  • Denver tied the second-highest bars score in program history at 49.400.
  • Oklahoma set a program record for number of regular season meets above 198.

This meet was almost all we hoped it to be. Oklahoma was victorious by a large margin while Denver overtook Arkansas and Arizona State for second place. The battle for second wasn’t as close as we thought it would be after the Razorbacks totaled just a 48.425 on beam. They weren’t the only team with a shaky beam rotation, either—the Pioneers and Sun Devils each had their missteps as well, though not to the same extent. Even the Sooners had a fall. But the Sooners were the stars of this meet, from Maggie Nichols to Brenna Dowell to freshman Anastasia Webb. Denver’s Maddie Karr took second in the all around behind her clubmate Nichols with a 39.550, including a 9.900 on every event except beam, while Arizona State freshman Cairo Leonard-Baker continued her solid freshman campaign and Razorback redshirt freshman Sarah Shaffer continued to be a steady competitor on her events. We knew the race for second would likely be a battle of who had the best meet on that day, and that was certainly the case. The Pioneers came out with the second place edge, and while Arkansas and Arizona State tied, it was the Sun Devils who had the more consistent meet all around.

No. 2 LSU at No. 24 N.C. State
Full Results LSU: 197.575 NCSU: 196.100
VT: Harrold, 9.950 UB: Priessman, Finnegan, 9.975 BB: Hambrick, 9.950 FX: Knight, 9.925 AA: Fillard, 38.950
  • LSU has gone 34 straight meets with a score of 197 or higher.
  • NCSU’s 49.450 on floor is a season high and the top floor score in the EAGL this season.

It was senior night for N.C. State, and it ended its 2018 home season with multiple career highs and an impressive season best on floor. The Wolfpack began the meet on vault where senior Mackenzie Itcush tied her career high with a 9.800. Likewise, LSU continues to prove itself to be a bars team as Lexie Priessman and Sarah Finnegan tied their career highs with a 9.975. While the night started off strong, the third rotation proved to be a sore spot for both teams as they struggled to recover from lineup changes and multiple errors. The Pack was forced to count a fall and a major error on beam, bringing the team to a 48.525. Notably missing during LSU’s floor were last week’s perfect 10 recipients Finnegan and Myia Hambrick, who were being rested. The Tiger’s tested depth with backups Ashlyn Kirby, Ruby Harrold and Julianna Cannamela but failed to get above a 9.850 as Kennedi Edney went out of bounds. Both teams brought it back on the final rotation, but it was NCSU who had had an outstanding performance on floor, notched a 49.450 season high and besting LSU’s weaker number. The rotation was made sweeter by senior Chelsea Knight hitting a career high 9.925 on the event and winning the title while Alexa Phillips and Drew Grantham put up their own 9.900s to go along with it. LSU will pulled out the win, but it wasn’t in as dominate a fashion as it might have hoped.

No. 3 UCLA at No. 27 Stanford
Full Results UCLA: 197.800 Stanford: 196.650
VT: Price 9.975 UB: Ross, Lee 10.000 BB: Lee 10.000 FX: Price 10.000 AA: Price 39.825
  • Price tied the program record in the all around.
  • It was the second time this season UCLA has back-to-back perfect marks on an event.

UCLA and Stanford both recorded strong scores in a patchily scored affair in Maples Pavilion on Sunday. Elizabeth Price won the all around easily. After putting in performances on vault and bars that many felt should have earned 10.0, she had a check and a dismount step on beam that were her only undeniable errors of the day and gave nothing away on floor to finally pick up the elusive 10 in her last home routine. The Bruins gave a little away on bars as Nia Dennis jumped off after tweaking her shoulder, forcing them to count a later mistake. Anna Glenn had to take an extra swing after an awkward catch on her pak salto, scoring only in the 9.500s. Scores swung wildly around throughout the meet, padding both teams on bars only to be bizarrely conservative on vault, but nowhere was it more apparent than floor where gymnasts in both leotards were minimally deducted for major landing errors. But with a road season high for the Bruins and an outright high for the Cardinal, both teams showed good form leading into the Pac-12 Championship in two weeks.

No. 50 San Jose State at No. 3 UCLA
Full Results UCLA: 198.275 SJSU: 194.850
VT: Hall 9.975 UB: Ohashi, Ross 9.950 BB: Lee 9.950 FX: Ohashi 10.000 AA: Chan 39.125
  • UCLA scored its highest team total since March of 2004.

It was UCLA and senior night, so you knew something big was going to happen. And the Bruins wasted no time getting the ball rolling with a massive 49.625, which included six convincingly stuck landings and a 9.975 from senior Pua Hall. The Bruins followed it up with another strong performance on bars, adding another 49.625 to its total. Both marks on vault and bars were season highs. The rotation was highlighted by five scores at 9.900 or above and 9.950s from Katelyn Ohashi and Kyla Ross. San Jose State impressed on its first two events as well, putting up five hits on bars and showing why it is No. 1 in the MPSF on vault with a strong 48.925, capped by a 9.900 from Taylor Chan. Things really started to get emotional in the third rotation as Peng-Peng Lee performed her last routine in Pauley Pavilion, scoring a 9.950 and breaking down in tears as her teammates lifted her into the air. The lineup also featured 9.900s from both Grace and Anna Glenn. On floor, the Spartans drew the Bruin fans into their routines, particularly with Taylor Chan’s 9.900-worthy Uptown Funk performance, featuring a stellar piked full-in. In the final rotation, San Jose State stayed on beam for all six of its routines, wrapping up a complete road performance. But it was UCLA that stole the show and for good reason. Senior Sonya Meraz was added to the floor lineup and she closed out her Pauley career great with a 9.900. She was supported by a 9.900 from Gracie Kramer, as well as a 9.950 from Felicia Hano and a perfect 10 from Ohashi. The strong finish gave the Bruins a 198.275—the team’s highest score since March of 2004.

No. 4 Utah at No. 7 Michigan
Full Results UM: 196.950 Utah: 196.800
VT: Skinner 9.925 UB: Zaziski 9.950 BB: Skinner 9.925 FX: McLean, Skinner 9.950 AA: Skinner 39.700
  • Michigan set a new attendance record with 7,212 in the Crisler Center.

This one turned out be every bit as exciting as we had hoped! Utah and Michigan faced off in front of a record-breaking senior night Crisler Center crowd that included a solid—and loud—Ute contingent. The atmosphere was electric from start to finish as the teams traded the lead back and forth every rotation. Scoring was lower than expected for a top 10 senior night matchup but in most cases wasn’t unduly low, with the exception of some perplexing vault scores for both teams, including Syd Townsend for Michigan and the first three Utes. Utah led after one, but the Wolverines came back to take control by 0.075 after a bar rotation, highlighted by solid handstands and big sticks. The Utes took back the lead after a well-performed and difficult floor rotation, featuring MyKayla Skinner’s always-exciting anchor routine with two E passes. Meanwhile, a wobbly six on beam kept the Wolverines barely over 49.000. The wobble bug bit the Utes on beam as well, though, allowing Michigan to roar back on floor. MyKayla Skinner needed to post a 9.975 on beam to take the lead for the Utes with just Emma McLean’s floor to go, but her strong set only turned up a 9.925, ensuring the victory for Michigan and allowing McLean a pressure-free victory lap to the Crisler Center’s delight. The Utes have now dropped two in a row on the road, both upsets, and Michigan bookended the season with home wins over top opponents, defeating Alabama at home to open the season. With her all around win, Skinner tied Missy Marlowe for the most all around titles for a Ute gymnast, with half of her career still to go. After the meet, coach Bev Plocki said the team is looking to go all the way to the Super Six. Senior Brianna Brown echoed the sentiment, adding that this senior class has been so close so many times.

No. 13 Nebraska at No. 5 Florida
Full Results UF: 197.925 Neb.: 196.700
VT: Crouse, McMurtry, 9.950 UB: McMurtry, 9.975 BB: McMurtry, 9.975 FX: McMurtry,  9.925 AA: McMurtry, 39.825
  • Alex McMurtry tied Florida’s program record all around score.
  • McMurtry also became the first Gator since Ashanee Dickerson in 2011 to win at least a share of every event title.
  • Florida set a new program record for average home attendance with 8,304.
  • Jazmyn Foberg set a new career high on uneven bars at 9.950.

In its final home meet of the season, Florida defeated Nebraska by a significant margin, sending the Gator seniors off with a bang and giving themselves a great boost of confidence point for their next meet, the SEC Championship. This near-198 didn’t raise the team’s RQS much higher, but it did cap off the home career of one of the top senior classes in the country. Alex McMurtry did her part by winning every event and tying the school all around record—without even scoring any perfect 10.0s. Rachel Slocum turned in stellar performances on her two events, including a floor routine with one of the best double layouts she’s done all year. Grace McLaughlin performed exhibition routines on both beam and floor, allowing her one last time to perform in the O’Dome and showing just how deep this Florida team is. Plus, Kennedy Baker, in what she said will be what she remembers when she reflects on her career, gave one last Gator Chomp on the floor after a night of pep talks and cheering on her teammates as the loudest voice in the crowd. Not to be forgotten, Nebraska turned in some fantastic performances as well, keeping the meet close in the first rotation with strong bars scores, including a 9.900 from Taylor Houchin and a 9.925 from Sienna Crouse. Crouse also led the Huskers on vault, tying McMurtry for the event title with an essentially stuck Yurchenko one and a half. Crouse and teammate Megan Schweihofer came back after a fall from teammate Sierra Hassel to turn in a pair of 9.900s on floor where Nebraska is one of the few teams in the country to have five out of six routines feature an E pass. The team was on track for a huge score, but struggles on beam forced the Huskers to count a fall, leaving them just shy of the 197 mark.

Elevate the Stage with No. 6 Alabama and No. 16 Auburn
Full Results Ala: 197.300 Aub: 196.900
VT: Ambrecht, Guerrero, 9.875 UB: Day, 9.950 BB: Krippner, Graber, Winston, 9.900 FX: Milliet, 9.950 AA: Winston, 39.450
  • Shea Mahoney (Ala) had a scary fall on vault and is being evaluated for injury. She was later pulled from the floor lineup.

Auburn was able to rebound after last week’s weak performance, but it was Alabama who was able to get the win in the final Elevate the Stage competition in Huntsville this weekend. The Crimson Tide garnered a fantastic road score to add to its RQS and put in the books its second highest score of the season. Alabama started off the night with a fantastic bars performance made all the more impressive by Lexi Graber and Kiana Winston’s 9.925s on the event. But things took a scary turn on vault when Shea Mahoney had a fall on the event in the second position, leaving the remaining four gymnasts to hit strong. Auburn meanwhile started shakily vault where scores didn’t go past 9.800 but were able to recoup on bars where Gracie Day reached a career high 9.950. Abby Milliet continued her fantastic year where she anchored floor with a career high 9.950. Alabama ultimately took the win and recovered from Mahoney’s injury, but the Tigers had an impressive night and showed that it isn’t through putting up a fight in the SEC.

No. 63 Brown, No. 8 Kentucky and No. 57 Yale at No. 32 New Hampshire
Full Results UK: 196.800 UNH: 194.675 Yale: 194.675 Brown: 193.525
VT: Korth 9.900 UB: Korth 9.925 BB: Lauter 10.000 FX: Korth 9.950 AA: Korth 39.625
  • Casey Lauter received the first perfect 10 on balance beam for New Hampshire since 1996.

It was an exciting and historic night of gymnastics as Kentucky just edged out New Hampshire for the top spot in Sunday’s quad meet. The afternoon began with shaky routines on beam and floor for Yale and Brown where the Bulldogs were forced to count a fall and the Bears’ leadoff position fell on a floor pass. Kentucky slid into the lead with a solid bar rotation while New Hampshire struggled with landings. Moving onto beam, UK struggled with confidence after Alaina Kwan fell and Sidney Dukes broke at the hips, leaving usual anchor Alex Hyland to get the team back on track. But even Hyland had major wobbles. Meanwhile, UNH wowed the audience with its high flying bar routines, and the afternoon only got better when the Wildcats moved to beam. Senior Casey Lauter scored a perfect 10 in the anchor spot on senior day, earning her first career perfect 10 and the first of its kind on beam for UNH since 1996. UK came back from its less-than-stellar beam rotation with solid floor scores and ended the afternoon on Mollie Korth’s 9.900 vault. The Ivy League duo of Yale and Brown also rebounded from their mistakes: Yale’s floor was highlighted by sophomore Jade Buford’s 9.825 along with a stellar vault from Rebecca Chong. Brown remained consistent on vault but suffered from lower start values. But it was able to end the night well on beam, with a standout performance from freshman Rose Domonoske.

No. 65 Seattle Pacific and No. 45 UC Davis at No. 9 Washington
Full Results UW: 197.400 UCD: 195.500 SPU: 192.700
VT: Hoffa, Burleson, 9.850 UB: Riley, 9.950 BB: Roberson, Burleson, 9.925 FX: Burleson, 9.925 AA: Burleson, 39.600

A career day from senior standout Hailey Burleson led Washington to an easy victory at home and its highest team score since 2004. Burleson set career highs in the all around and on bars, and Monica Riley was the only gymnast to surpass Burleson in any individual event, picking up the bar title with a 9.950 that included a 10.0 from one judge. UC Davis had a strong day, recording its third-best road score in program history, and freshman Kyla Kessler tied her career high of 39.250 to finish second in the all around. Seattle Pacific’s Darian Burns claimed a podium finish on vault with a 9.825, the Falcons’ highest score on that apparatus in 2018.

No. 43 Michigan State at No. 11 Oregon State
Full Results OSU: 196.800 MSU: 191.350
VT: Davis, Yanish 9.850 UB: Dessaints 9.900 BB: Davis 9.900 FX: Davis, Singley, Yanish 9.875 AA: Singley 39.300
  • Dani Dessaints (OSU) returned to the bar lineup for the first time since Feb. 10.

Oregon State’s senior night was highlighted by another strong home performance for the Beavers, including Dani Dessaints return to the bar lineup for the first time in a month. The Beavers excelled on floor but were kept under 197.000 by a vault rotation that was heavy on 9.7s early in the lineup. Michigan State continued to struggle with depth. Roya Shirley’s absence has been a blow to an already depleted team. The Spartans counted three falls on beam, including an uncharacteristic mistake by Hailee Westney and one score under 9.000. A scary fall for Ashley Beatty on floor meant the Spartans counted a fall there as well since they only put up five routines. The highlight for the Spartans was Westney’s unique bar set, which scored 9.850.

No. 14 Boise State at No. 17 Georgia
Full Results UGA: 197.525 BSU: 196.625
VT: Johnson 9.925 UB: Snead 9.950 BB: Babalis 9.900 FX: Dickson 9.950 AA: Dickson 39.550
  • Jordyn Pedersen (UGA) made her collegiate debut on floor.

Senior night for Georgia turned out to be a magical one as it earned a season high 197.525 to overtake No. 14 Boise State. The Gymdogs were able to put up six gymnasts on each event which contributed to season high scores on vault, bars and floor and career and season highs for a plethora of individual gymnasts. Georgia started the night off on vault where all six (!) gymnasts hit a season or career high, beginning with Marissa Oakley’s 9.825. Senior Jasmine Arnold vaulted for the first time in her career, sticking a full-twisting Yurchenko, and Lauren Johnson and anchor Sydney Snead reached 9.900 to wrap up the strong start to the competition. The momentum never stopped and the night was highlighted by a floor performance of 49.475. Sophomore Jordyn Pedersen made her collegiate debut on floor, becoming the sixth member of the lineup and notched a 9.850 to bring the Gymdogs to victory. Boise State, meanwhile, had a strong showing. But after Georgia’s season high performance on bars, the Broncos weren’t able to catch up despite landing four 10.0 start value vaults. Shani Remme remains Boise’s MVP as she came in second in the all around to Rachel Dickson with a 39.500 while Sandra Collantes landed season high marks on floor and beam.

No. 41 Pittsburgh and No. 31 West Virginia at No. 18 George Washington
Full Results GWU: 196.875 WVU: 196.425 Pitt: 195.500
VT: Drouin-Allaire, Koshinski 9.900 UB: Cluchey 9.925 BB: Zois 9.900 FX: Koshinski 9.950 AA: Drouin-Allaire 39.475
No. 29 Iowa and No. 19 Missouri at No. 25 Iowa State
Full Results ISU: 196.700 Miz: 196.050 Iowa: 195.600
VT: Young, 9.875 UB: Huber, 9.925 BB: Ward, 9.875 FX: Young, 9.925 AA: Sievers, 39.425
No. 71 Alaska, No. 20 California and No. 22 Minnesota at No. 56 Sacramento State
Full Results Cal: 196.650 Minn.: 196.475 Sac St.: 191.175 UAA: 191.925
VT: Belkoff, Gallarzo, Robinson, Williams, Hitchcock, Ramler, 9.850 UB: Ramler, Lu, 9.950 BB: So. Seilnacht, 9.950 FX: Williams, 9.925 AA: Ramler, 39.575
  • Minnesota tied its program record on bars with a 49.450.
No. 20 California at No. 45 UC Davis
Full Results Cal: 196.375 UCD: 194.925
VT: Robinson 9.925 UB: Schank 9.900 BB: Gallarzo 9.900 FX: Hebert 9.950 AA: Hebert 39.275
No. 35 Central Michigan and No. 24 N.C. State at No. 23 Ohio State
Full Results NCSU: 196.800 tOSU: 196.525 CMU: 195.175
VT: Knight 9.925 UB: Kaplan, Plaska, Mattern, Hofland 9.900 BB: Knight, Stone, Swartzentruber 9.925 FX: Stone 9.925 AA: Knight 39.550
  • N.C. State scored its highest total since 2004.
  • Chelsea Knight (NCSU) tied the program record in the all around.
No. 25 Illinois, No. 64 Illinois State and No. 39 Northern Illinois at No. 55 UIC
Full Results Ill: 195.025 UIC: 194.725 NIU: 194.400 Ill St: 188.550
VT: Bartemio 9.850 UB: Prentice 9.850 BB: Hodan 9.850 FX: Hodan, Prentice 9.850 AA: Balthazor 39.275
No. 28 Penn State, No. 38 Utah State and No. 52 Texas Woman’s at No. 21 BYU
Full Results PSU: 196.675 BYU: 196.5 USU: 195.725 TWU: 194.925
VT: Tsang, 9.875 UB: Bridgens, 10.000 BB: DeHarde, 9.925 FX: Evans, Tsang, 9.925 AA: Bridgens, 39.375
  • Lauren Bridgens’ 10.000 was Penn State’s first on bars in program history.
  • Penn State tied its program record bars score.
No. 32 New Hampshire at No. 53 Bridgeport
Full Results UNH: 195.050 UB: 193.500
VT: Diggan, 9.775 UB: Mulligan, 9.875 BB: Lauter, 9.850 FX: Doolin, 9.900 AA: Doolin, 38.975
No. 33 Maryland and No. 60 Penn at No. 48 Temple
Full Results MD: 195.975 Temple: 195.800 Penn: 193.625
VT: Barber, 9.900 UB: Barber, 9.925 BB: Aragan, 9.850 FX: Barber, 9.900 AA: Barber, 39.475
  • Temple set a new program record by nearly a point, having never before even scored a 195.
  • Temple set a new program record floor score.
No. 53 Bridgeport, No. 59 Cornell, No. 66 Southern Connecticut and No. 62 West Chester at No. 33 Maryland
Full Results UMD: 196.325 WCU: 193.325 Cornell: 193.225 SCSU: 192.000 Bridgeport: 191.900
VT: Farina 9.825 UB: LeBlanc 9.900 BB: Barber 9.850 FX: Farina 9.925 AA: Barber 39.200
No. 54 Air Force, No. 37 North Caroline and No. 50 San Jose State at No. 34 Arizona
Full Results Ariz: 195.725 SJSU: 195.025 UNC: 194.85 UAF: 194.275
VT: Nettles, Hislop, Pascoe-Long, 9.850 UB: Berg, 9.900 BB: Cindric, Ortiz, 9.900 FX: Chan, 9.900 AA: Cindric, 39.200
No. 40 Bowling Green at No. 36 Kent State
Full Results KSU: 196.625 BGSU: 195.400
VT: East, 9.875 UB: Stypinski, 9.925 BB: Mitchell, 9.950 FX: Fletcher, Stypinski, 9.925 AA: Stypinski, 39.575
No. 42 Ball State at No. 47 Western Michigan
Full Results WMU: 196.075 Ball St.: 195.400
VT: Underwood 9.850 UB: Mohler 9.925 BB: Hoy 9.900 FX: Underwood 9.925 AA: Underwood 39.350
  • Western Michigan’s 196.075 is the second highest score in school history.
  • Rachael Underwood (WMU) set a school record in the all around with a 39.350.
  • Amelia Mohler (WMU) tied a school record with a 9.925 on uneven bars.
No. 44 Towson at No. 58 William & Mary
Full Results Towson: 194.200 W&M: 192.350
VT: Baker 9.850 UB: Pakshong, Waldman 9.800 BB: Pakshong 9.825 FX: Yarussi 9.850 AA: Waldman 39.025
No. 46 Eastern Michigan, No. 49 Lindenwood and No. 51 Rutgers at No. 48 Temple
Full Results LU: 196.400 Temple: 196.050 EMU: 195.725 Rutgers 184.500
VT: Sokolowski, Gipson 9.875 UB: Valentin 9.950 BB: Sokolowski 9.950 FX: Everett 9.925 AA: Edwards 39.125
  • Lindenwood broke a program record by scoring its first 196. It also broke its program record on bars.
  • Temple also broke the program record is set two days prior, hitting 196 for the first time after never going above 195 before this weekend.
  • Due to injury, Rutgers only put up four gymnasts on bars.
No. 55 UIC at No. 47 Western Michigan
Full Results UIC: 195.475 WMU: 198.275
VT: Northern 9.875 UB: Alicke, baker 9.950 BB: Juncaj 9.925 FX: Underwood 9.950 AA: Underwood 39.175
  • Jessica Juncaj (WMU) scored the second highest beam score in program history and she received a 10 from one judge.
  • Rachael Underwood (WMU) scored the second highest floor score in program history.
  • UIC hit a season high with its 195.475.
No. 72 Centenary at No. 61 SEMO
Full Results SEMO: 191.950 Cent.: 189.125
VT: Brawner 9.775 UB: Brawner 9.875 BB: Jordan 9.775 FX: Brawner 9.900 AA: Austin 37.200
NCGA Regionals with No. 68 Brockport, No. 73 Cortland, No. 69 Ithaca, No. 82 Rhode Island, No. 75 Springfield and No. 74 Ursinus
Full Results Ithaca: 191.475 Cortland St.: 190.300 Brockport St.: 190.225
Springfield: 189.525 UC: 188.400 RIC: 182.400
VT: Mager 9.825 UB: McConnell 9.825 BB: Szembrot 9.675 FX: Gery 9.825 AA: Kowalik 38.425
  • Ithaca’s 191.475 broke the program record for the third time this season.
  • Sidney McConnell (Cortland) broke the school record on uneven bars with a 9.825.
  • Springfield’s 189.525 is a school record.
  • Ithaca’s head coach Rick Suddaby was named NCGA East Coach of the Year. Jess Clemens (Springfield) was named NCGA East Gymnast of the Year.

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Article by the editors of NCAA Gym News

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