Only four of the fourteen USAG Nationals-eligible teams competed this week, so this will be a fairly brief introduction to the new format while we wait for the rest of the ECAC teams to join us in 2019.
We wanted to show more love to the non-top teams in college gym in 2019, so we broke out our Dismounts into DI, DII (all USAG nationals teams) and DIII. Each week, we’re also dishing out a few superlatives for some of our favorite moments, looks and results from the weekend of competition. Below those, you’ll find your typical results and highlights from every DII and USAG nationals-eligible team’s meet. For reference, teams eligible for USAG nationals include those with less than seven and a half full scholarships. They include Ivy league schools, all DII teams, Air Force, Centenary, SEMO and UIC.
(Note that UIC is a new addition to the USAG ranks this year, per its season preview press release!)
Routine of the Week
Alisa Sheremeta (UIC) – Beam (9.850)
The freshman went into first place in USAG individual beam standings and picked up third place in a quad meet of big-conference opponents with this fluid and gorgeous beam performance. She was a highly anticipated recruit, and it’s great to see her so successful so early.
Surprise Individual Performance of the Week
Bria Northrop (TWU) – Floor (9.850)
Texas Woman’s junior Northrop was restricted to bars for much of 2018. We expected her to be targeting the all around with a vengeance this year, but we didn’t expect her to come out so strong that she would be able to pick up a floor title against a top 10 opponent.
Surprise Team Performance of the Week
Bridgeport – Floor
The Purple Knights had an absurd rotation on floor this week, beating two of their Division I opponents on the event and ranking No. 11 in the nation in the inaugural rankings.
Top Scores
| Gymnast | Team | Event | Score |
| Maya Reimers | Bridgeport | Floor | 9.850 |
| Bria Northrop | Texas Woman’s | Floor | 9.850 |
| Alisa Sheremeta | UIC | Beam | 9.850 |
The Highlights
| Northern Illinois, SEMO, Temple at No. 6 Alabama | ||||
| Full Results | Alabama: 194.750 | NIU: 193.325 | Temple: 191.925 | SEMO: 187.800 |
| VT: Olsen 9.875 | UB: Gaskins 9.875 | BB: Graber 9.750 | FX: Graber 9.825 | AA: Graber 39.125 |
The Big Storyline: SEMO had a rough start to the season, scoring its lowest mark in a season and a half, but it should be pleased with the introduction of Anna Kaziska who went straight into the all around and hit three of four routines. Kaziska also registered the team’s highest individual score, a 9.725 on floor.
Implications: SEMO’s introductory score puts it within easy reach of Division II teams like West Chester, as well as the Ivy League, so unless the Redhawks come back strong next week at Iowa, expect them to sit near the bottom of next week’s rankings.
| No. 10 Kentucky at Texas Woman’s | ||||
| Full Results | UK: 195.975 | TWU: 192.600 | ||
| VT: Hyland 9.850 | UB: Hyland, Korth 9.825 | BB: Kyland, Dukes 9.875 | FX: Northrop 9.850 | AA: Hyland 39.375 |
The Big Storyline: Texas Woman’s is within touching distance of getting junior star Bria Northrop back in the all around—she competed three events and performed an exhibitioned on beam—which is absolutely essential for its success this year.
Implications: The Pioneers rank 13th in the country after week one and second in USAG standings. The mark they achieved is comparable to their results in January 2018, allaying our fears about their depth following the graduation of their extremely successful senior class that year. However, only two of TWU’s six-strong freshman class competed this week, and likely injuries to Natalie Payne prior to the competition and Megan Gentry during it could cause things to tighten.
Records: Freshman Isabel Goyco impressed with strong routines on bars and beam, worthy of 9.700 and 9.600, respectively, in her freshman debut.
| No. 19 Missouri, No. 23 Minnesota and UIC at No. 20 Arizona State | ||||
| Full Results | Miz: 195.450 | ASU: 195.000 | Minn: 194.150 | UIC: 193.925 |
| VT: Ramler 9.900 | UB: Leonard-Baker, Ramler 9.900 | BB: Ward 9.950 | FX: Leonard-Baker, Tucker 9.900 | AA: Ramler 39.525 |
The Big Storyline: UIC shone in its first meet of 2019, benefiting from a stellar day by newcomer Alisa Sheremeta and registering an opening score that the 2018 squad didn’t equal until February. The Flames also came within a few tenths from upsetting ranked Minnesota on the road. Senior Mikailla Northern returned triumphantly to the all around after being treated for thyroid cancer in the fall. She finished third with a 38.850.
Implications: The Flames step into an early lead in the USAG standings in their very first week in the division, and Sheremeta could make a case for herself as MIC Newcomer of the Year.
Records: Kayla Baddeley made her all around debut with a score of 38.825.
| No. 22 Illinois, No. 33 Arizona, Bridgeport at No. 30 Central Michigan | ||||
| Full Results | CMU: 194.875 | Ariz: 194.750 | Ill: 192.850 | UB: 192.575 |
| VT: Leydin 9.875 | UB: Berg 9.925 | BB: Pedrick 9.850 | FX: Reimers, Pedrick 9.850 | AA: Leydin 39.050 |
The Big Storyline: Bridgeport soared on floor, registering the 11th-highest event total in the country and beating two Division I opponents with a 48.950. Junior Maya Reimers topped the rankings with a 9.850 while two freshmen made impressive debuts on the event with a pair of 9.800s. The Purple Knights’ total was held down a little by some difficulties on beam, usually a strength for them, but the final total was still comparable with previous years.
Implications: Bridgeport didn’t graduate a devastating number of routines in 2018, and having three freshmen in lineups already is a very positive indication for the rest of the season. Its week one total fell just barely short of TWU’s, but we’ll have to wait until next week to see how it matches up with the rest of Division II. It did total a higher score than Division I conference-mate Temple.
Records: Freshman Julianna Roland made her all around debut with a 37.475.
READ THIS NEXT: Road to Nationals Rankings: Week One
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Article by Rebecca Scally
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