The DIIIsmount: Week Nine

We saw some big scores this weekend with two WIAC teams breaking 190 for the first time this season and two NCGA-East teams breaking school records. Were these scores a reaction to a certain vault video that went viral last weekend? Maybe. But regardless, it was exciting to see good gymnastics getting big scores that we don’t see too often in DIII.

Also, speaking of a certain viral vault video, we wanted to give a shoutout to Stephanie Mager of Brockport who also competed a Yurchenko 1.5 for the first time last weekend and Brockport alum Lauren Gildemeyer who competed a Yurchenko tucked 1.5 back in 2010.

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 NCGA meet.

Routine of the Week

Sidney McConnell (Cortland) – Bars

After suffering a concussion earlier this season, McConnell returned to competition last weekend and hit an incredible bar routine. She followed it up this weekend with a big win in a tough field that included conference rivals Brockport and Ithaca.

Surprise Performance of the Week

Stephanie Mager (Brockport) – Vault

In the uproar surrounding Shadae Boone’s vault, Mager’s success got a bit lost in the shuffle. It should be known that she also competed and hit a Yurchenko 1.5 last weekend and followed it up with another successful vault in the team’s meet against Ithaca and Cortland.

Best Hairstyle

UW-La Crosse

The entire UW-L gymnastics team wore Peng-Peng-esque buns for its meet against Gustavus this past Friday.

Top Scores

Gymnast Team Score
Candis Kowalik Brockport 9.850
Kaira Hammond UW-Oshkosh 9.825
Nicole Jackson Brockport 9.825
Victoria Gery Ithaca 9.800
Candis Kowalik Brockport 9.800
Carolyn Nichols Ithaca 9.800
Tali Twomey Springfield 9.800
Alexis Castellaneta Brockport 9.775
Jessica Clemens Springfield 9.775
Ali Rushlow Springfield 9.775
Baylee Tkaczuk UW-Oshkosh 9.775
Olivia Keller UW-Oshkosh 9.750
Stephanie Mager Brockport 9.750
Emily North UW-Whitewater 9.750
Mikala Bugge UW-Stout 9.725
Acacia Fossum UW-Whitewater 9.725
Heather Gomes Springfield 9.725
Sarah Murphy Springfield 9.725
Kimberly Musall Brockport 9.725
Jamie Sklenar Brockport 9.725
Jessica Clemens Springfield 9.700
Rachel Filipski Cortland 9.700
Emma Grant UW-La Crosse 9.700
Kaira Hammond UW-Oshkosh 9.700
Taylor Keough Brockport 9.700
Kaylin Knapsack Ursinus 9.700
Amanda Malo Gustavus 9.700
Lauren Marshall UW-Whitewater 9.700
Emma Schulz Cortland 9.700

The Highlights

No. 61 West Chester at No. 77 Ursinus
Full Results West Chester: 191.150 Ursinus: 186.825
VT: Johnson 9.650 UB: Marshall and Wojewoda 9.750 BB: Nodarse 9.850 FX: Kissinger 9.725 AA: N/A

The Big Storyline: In the final regular season meet, the Bears fielded a full lineup on every event and scored a season high. The team honored its seniors Matisen O’Brien and Lindsay Rush who both had great days. Rush contributed the team’s top score on vault and bars, and O’Brien hit solid sets on both beam and floor.

No. 68 Brockport, No. 76 Cortland at No. 69 Ithaca
Full Results Brockport: 190.975 Ithaca: 188.400 Cortland: 186.375
VT: Jackson 9.825 UB: McConnell 9.675 BB: Kowalik 9.650 FX: Kowalik 9.850 AA: Kowalik 38.700

The Big Storyline: After falling to Ithaca last weekend, Brockport put up a much better meet and took the win. The meet concluded almost exactly how we would have expected it to with the only small surprise being Cortland finishing closer to Ithaca than Ithaca to Brockport. This finish for the Red Dragons definitely helps keep them in the national qualifier conversation as a potential threat to Springfield for the third spot.

No. 71 UW-Stout at No. 81 UW-Eau Claire
Full Results UW-Stout: 187.525 UW-Eau Claire: 182.600
VT: Boone 9.600 UB: Lewis 9.675 BB: Terry 9.600 FX: Bugge 9.725 AA: Bugge 37.675

The Big Storyline: The Blue Devils bounced back from their first conference loss last weekend with a nearly five-point win against the Blugolds. Mikala Bugge continues to shine in the all around putting her in solid contention for a title at the upcoming conference championship. Hannah Lewis earned the Blugold’s sole title this weekend, but they had plenty of other great performances, including a beautiful Tsuk tuck full from Victoria Perron.

Implications: Some higher scores around the conference this weekend forced UW-Stout down to No. 2 in the DIII WIAC rankings behind UW-Oshkosh.

No. 82 Rhode Island at No. 72 Springfield
Full Results Springfield: 190.725 Rhode Island: 184.350
VT: Rushlow 9.650 UB: Clemens 9.650 BB: Clemens 9.775 FX: Twomey 9.800 AA: Clemens 38.750

The Big Storyline: Five school records were broken at this meet—Springfield broke four and Rhode Island one. Though Springfield obviously had a stellar meet and claimed all the titles, there’s something to be said about this Rhode Island team. The Anchorwomen have improved greatly this year, breaking a total of five school records throughout the season and maintaining an SAS over 180 for the first time in at least the last three seasons. Their performance here was no exception as they improved their team score over last week by five points.

Implications: The top three teams in the NCGA-East have all broken 190 now, so we could see some big scores at the conference championship next weekend.

Records: Rhode Island broke its team record by one and a half points. Springfield broke its team, beam, floor and all around records.

No. 73 UW-La Crosse at No. 80 Gustavus Adolphus
Full Results UW-La Crosse: 185.550 Gustavus: 183.800
VT: Weyker 9.525 UB: Mortenson 9.600 BB: Mortenson 9.500 FX: Grant and Malo 9.700 AA: Mortenson 37.925

The Big Storyline: Just a few weeks ago the Gusties came within a point of UW-Stout, and this week they came out just over a point and a half behind UW-La Crosse—an extremely solid finish that should boost their confidence heading into the conference championship next weekend. On the other hand, La Crosse had a slightly rough meet. Though the Eagles scored season highs on both bars and floor, they had to count multiple falls on vault and beam.

Implications: La Crosse dropped in the DIII rankings, falling from No. 4 to No. 7.

No. 74 UW-Oshkosh at No. 75 UW-Whitewater
Full Results UW-Oshkosh: 191.850 UW-Whitewater: 190.675
VT: Marshall 9.700 UB: Fossum 9.725 BB: Hammond 9.825 FX: Finin 9.675 AA: Bernardo 37.925

The Big Storyline: In a case of what seems like déjà vu, UW-Oshkosh took down UW-Whitewater for the third week in a row. Both of these teams also became the first WIAC teams to break 190 this season with the Titan’s 191.850 crushing the previous school record. UW-O also continues to impress on beam, scoring an impressive 48.450, which looks like it could be a school record as well. UW-W had a great day and has really improved since the beginning of season, becoming much more consistent on bars and beam.

Implications: After three strong weeks, UW-Oshkosh snuck into the top spot in the WIAC and is No. 3 in the DIII rankings. UW-Whitewater moved ahead of UW-La Crosse, sitting in the third spot in the WIAC heading into conference next weekend.

Records: UW-Oshkosh broke its team record and possibly its beam record.

No. 79 Winona State at No. 78 Hamline
Full Results Winona: 188.000 Hamline: 187.000
VT: West 9.475 UB: Hasebe 9.600 BB: Johnston 9.750 FX: Webb 9.775 AA: Johnsen 35.950

The Big Storyline: Neither of these teams could have really asked for a better ending to the regular season. This was a huge season high for Winona, crushing its previous season high by over four points. Hamline also had a great score, and although it wasn’t a season high, it was the highest score the team has reached at an in-conference meet this year by over three points.

Implications: Both teams jumped two spots in the DIII rankings with Hamline now ranked No. 9 and Winona No. 11.

READ THIS NEXT: The Dismount: Week Nine MAG

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Article by Rachel Riesterer

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