Michigan and Alabama meet again! Last year in Tuscaloosa, the Wolverines missed out on qualifying to nationals. Cue dramatic music. They also missed out in 2016, the last time they hosted. You know they’re hungry for it. Will the just-missing-when-it-counts curse continue?
Well, maybe, because that has been the story for Alabama too after missing Super Six last year, then missing the SEC night session—but finishing third anyway—this year. Hold onto your hats, because these two teams need to hit here to advance to Saturday, and then hit again to advance. This new format is brutal. Brutal!
Don’t sleep on Penn State or Ohio State either. This Big Ten love-fest of a regional could have some surprises. Ohio State was stellar to start the year, and if it finds its footing again, it could be a shocker here. Penn State on the other hand has quietly cruised its way into the top 25, and overlooking it would be a mistake.
Essentially, what I’m saying is eternal screaming no matter what happens, which is a very regionals-weekend mood.
HELLO THERE! These are stunning.
We're rolling into the #NCAAGymnastics Championships round two at the Ann Arbor Regional in style with a new leo!!!#EarnIt #LegacyOfChampions #RollTide pic.twitter.com/BTKBrgwjbF
— Alabama Gymnastics (@BamaGymnastics) April 5, 2019
We have word from an editor in the arena that senior Jamie Stone is in a boot and on a scooter, which is a tough break for the Buckeyes. She has had a stellar career, and I will certainly miss watching her gymnastics tonight.
Ooo we’re getting a PSU intro video that’s fun. Maybe we’ll have better production quality today. Maybe. But also, even if we do, what the heck. The play-in teams deserved a strong stream, too.
Word is that Sam Peszek will be joined by Michigan alumna Nicole Artz today and tomorrow. Both are strong commentators, so that’s a promising duo.
Quick individuals refresher. In this session we have:
Emili Dobronics, EMU (AA, with Ohio State)
Riley Mahoney, UIC (VT, with Michigan)
Allie Smith, EMU (VT, with Alabama)
Dara Williams, KSU (UB, with Penn State)
Emerson Hurst, Tow (BB, with Alabama)
Mia Lord, NIU (BB, with Penn State)
Mary Elle Arduino, Tow (BB, with Michigan)
Alisa Sheremeta, UIC (FX, with Penn State)
March-ins are underway, so we should be starting four-minute touch right at 2 ET.
It is…still not crowded in Crisler. Can’t really blame people; midday on a Friday isn’t the easiest time to head to a meet.
UIC co-head coach Mary Jansson just high-fived the Michigan squad as they came off the floor, because Mahoney was with them for march-in. It was cute. Watching individuals interact with other teams is one of my favorite parts of postseason.
https://twitter.com/PennStateWGYM/status/1114225998634074113
Michigan in the black “M” starburst leo.
Our projected lineups heading into today's meet. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/4lI9XcI9Zj
— Michigan Women’s Gymnastics (@UMichWGym) April 5, 2019
https://twitter.com/BamaGymnastics/status/1114226194826846210
Our editor in Crisler says the entire UIC squad made the trip. Are we all crying yet?
Well okay, the sound quality sill sucks, so that’s the same. Oy vey.
Rotation 1: Michigan vault, Ohio State bars, Alabama beam, Penn State floor
Hosek (PSU): Oh cool nevermind the stream cut away as she started tumbling. Good start!
Heiskell (UM): FTY, gorgeous body position, just a small step.
Hinterberger (tOSU): We got her Blind 1/1 + double tuck, looked good, no idea what the rest of the set was like!
Klopfer (UA): We’ve seen bits and pieces, it is a hit. Side aerial + 1/1 was nice, just a small step.
Abando (tOSU): Good first handstand. Maloney, smooth. Bail hand, very floaty. Blind 1/1 some leg sep + double tuck step back. Just tiny errors.
Bonsall (PSU): Double tuck good landing. Feed cut awayyyyy. Caught her double pike, low chest.
Oslen (UA): Bhs loso loso good. Switch + wolf, nice. She seems quite calm. Front aerial, maybe a small form deduction for knees. Bhs lay to double pike, chest down and a step.
Huang (tOSU): Sam telling us she’s been out because of a lock-legged landing on floor. She’s alright, but that’s why she was rested for awhile. Very long wait. Blind + Jaeger, good. Bail hand. Full-in, swung it waaaay out and landed low chest.
Chinnery (PSU): Double pike, step back, stays in bounds barely. Double tuck low chest.
McLean (UM): Massive FTY!
Childers (UA): Her Liukin was strong, as was her landing. that’s all we saw.
Karas (UM): Y1.5, tiny foot shuffle, great chest up position.
Armbrecht (UA): Front aerial + beat, good. Bhs loso, solid. Okay stream stay still for TWO seconds please. Let’s watch a whole routine.
Bridgens (PSU): Double tuck, good landing. FHS 2/1, little wild, she stumbled out of it, maybe two steps. I think she got it rotated around enough to get credit. Switch 1/2 + wolf 1/1, good. FHS front 1/1 + front lay, step out was a little uncontrolled.
Miller (tOSU): We got to see her land, just a little step.
Wojcik (UM): Based on screams I’m going to guess she just nailed a vault. Artz called it a stick.
Gaskins (UA): Stuck her gainer 1/1 off the side.
Graber (UA): Her details are so strong. Bhs layout two feet, small check, leg up a touch. Switch + straddle 3/4, good. Wolf + beat. Liukin, good. Gainer 1/1, small hop forward.
Dobronics (EMU): Maloney, good. Bail hand. aaaand we cut away to watch Garcia wait to salute.
Garcia (PSU): Double tuck, great landing. Double pike, carbon copy of the landing. She’s on. Switch side + wolf 1/1. 3/2 + front lay, little short but recovered.
Sheremeta (UIC): FHS 2/1, stepped to the side a bit. Switch side + Popa, great 180s. 3/2 + front lay stepout, very pretty. Her toes are a thing of beauty. FHS rudi + straddle, great. Big cheer from PSU, which I love.
AFTER ONE: UM 49.425, UA 49.225, tOSU 49.050, PSU ???
Well, Garcia’s score is taking a million years to come in, and apparently we’re not going to get individual scores in the livescores. Not like they could be qualifying to nationals, or anything! Anyway, that’s the start Michigan and Alabama wanted. The Crimson Tide will be happy to have beam out of the way with that very good total. Ohio State and Penn State (I assume with Garcia’s score when it drops) aren’t out of this thing. Those are solid scores that position them well to pounce if the top two have mistakes.
The sound quality is getting worse! There is buzzing! Everything is fine. We’re also waiting a full hundred years to start rotation two touch.
I TAKE IT BACK. Individuals’ scores have been added to the score link. So far, unfortunately, nothing that seems likely to qualify.
48.850 for Penn State with Garcia’s score.
Rotation 2: PSU vault, UM bars, tOSU beam, UA floor
Astarita (PSU): FTY, some piking, step.
Heiskell (UM): Tkatchev, feet. Toe hand to pak, loose back. Blind 1/1 double tuck, small step.
Desch (UA): Double pike GREAT landing. Missed her combo pass. Tour jete 1/2 + split 1/1, good rotation. Double tuck, STUCK!
Mariani (UM): Clear hip hand to HUGE Tkatchev. Bail hand, touch over but saves it. Short last handstand. Full-in, small step back.
Garcia (PSU): Yhalf, small step back.
Olsen (UA): Double double, good landing. Front through double tuck some cowboy and a hop. Tour jete 1/2 + split 1/1, good amplitude. Double pike, another good landing. Great set.
Brenner had a fall on bars.
Gilson (tOSU): Bhs loso, good. Cat + split 1/2, small check. Sheep. Gainer 1/1, step to the side.
Karas (UM): Good last handstand and a stuck DLO.
Mahoney (UA): Strong combo pass. Tour jete 1/2 + popa, good. Closes with a double pike, short and she hops forward.
Wojcik (UM): Hect mount, Toe 1/2 + pike Jaeger, little close. Bail hand. DLO, she landed in front of coach Sherman, might have stepped.
Arbmrecht (UA): Double pike, small foot slide but great chest. Ended with a good rudi to double stag.
Farley (UM): This is a tough position for Farley. Hect mount. Blind + pike Jaeger close, hit her foot. Bail hand, good. Blind + double front stuck.
Perez (tOSU): She had a tough fall on her switch ring.
Graber (UA): Full-in, great landing! Wolf 3/2, good rotation. FHS front lay front 1/1, and we cut away.
Miller (tOSU): Got switched into this lineup just today. Bhs loso, and she falls. Buckeyes counting one now. Beat + tuck 1/1, and she falls again. Cat + side aerial, good. Gainer pike, small hop forward.
Guerra (UA): Double lay, low chest but pulls it up quickly. Switch side + popa, cheated rotation a bit. 3/2 + front lay, landed on her heels a bit, but didn’t step. Double pike, her best landing. Good anchor set!
Dobronics (EMU): Bhs bhs loso, tiny check. Split, good. Pike + pike 3/4, excellent. Love that combo. RO 3/2, small hop. What a great set!
AFTER TWO: UA 98.650, UM 98.475, PSU 97.500, tOSU 96.700
Alabama! That was a stellar floor rotation, and the Crimson Tide takes the lead! Michigan won’t be thrilled with the fall and steps, but better to get them out of the way today than have those errors tomorrow. Penn State is hanging in, but counting a fall on beam has left Ohio State a pace behind.
Emili Dobronics is warming up her big pike full-in to huge cheers from her tOSU rotation-mates. My cold dead heart loves it.
Rotation 3: UA vault, PSU bars, UM beam, tOSU floor
Farley (UM): bhs loso loso, turns to the side but covers it well with a pose. Switch + split, good. 3/2 turn, solid. Side aerial + split, little shy of 180. Gainer pike, Artz calls it stuck, I’d say it was a foot slide.
Mahoney (UA): FTY, great body position, short and steps forward.
Video quality is now glitchy and straight garbage. yay. OK, seems to be coming back in. We’ll see.
Osman (UM): Bhs loso, small check. Punch front + beat, steady. Quick, snappy dance. Split + wolf 1/1, not the best wolf position. Gainer 1/1, good landing.
Hinterberger (tOSU): FHS 2/1, landed back on her heels, stayed on her feet. Cut away for Olsen vault, or to watch her wait rather. Back for her Combo pass, great landing.
Olsen (UA): DTY, chest a bit low and a foot shuffle, but great otherwise.
Karas (UM): BHS loso beat, good. Switch + pike, very steady. Gainer loso + beat, good. Bev fist pumped. Rudi, deep knees but stuck.
Mariani (UM): Beat + switch side, good. Bhs loso, solid. RO 3/2, stepped and tried to cover with the salute.
Guerra (UA): Y1.5 stuck!
Sorry Penn State, we’re just not getting anything here! Because watching people wait is more fun I guess?
Caught Aepli sticking her double pike to end.
Politz (PSU): Blind + Jaeger. bail shy of handstand. Short last handstand. Blind + double front, step back.
Abanto (tOSU): Double pike, very high and good landing. 3/2 + front lay, nice landing. Switch ring + tour jete 1/2, very nice, cleaner than many tour jetes we see. Double tuck, stepped forward.
Wojcik (UM): Front aerial, picks one leg up. Switch + split, good. Bhs loso, solid. Cat + side aerial, very good. She has her composure back after that first bobble. RO 3/2 stuck.
McClelland (tOSU): Ends with a double tuck, flexed feet but spot on landing.
Arduino (TOW): Really quick work. Bhs loso loso so solid. Switch + split, good. This routine holds up after Wojcik, which is a big compliment. Side aerial + 1/1, stuck. Wow!
Perez (tOSU): The sound is off of the video which is getting…quite weird. Double pike, low chest and steps forward. Front lay + front 1/1, lunges to the side a touch. Switch ring, low front leg to switch 1/2. Double tuck, short and steps forward.
Dobronics (EMU): BIG “Come on, Em!” cheers and she gets the stage to herself. Chest a bit low on pike full-in landing. Front lay + front full, good. She has a great smirk in this choreo. Switch side + Popa. Double tuck, much better landing. She’s having herself a day here!
AFTER THREE: UA 147.875, UM 147.825, PSU 146.625, tOSU 145.550
Well this one is close! Michigan is gaining ground on Alabama; the Tide is heading to the event that has been most tightly scored today, while Michigan is about to take its home floor, so we’ll see how this all pans out! All of the event cameras are being weird and coming in and out. Floor is the worst. We’ll see if that holds up through one more.
Karas is notably not in the floor lineup. That means coach Plocki must feel confident that Michigan will advance, because not competing AA today means Karas would need to qualify on an event if Michigan does not go to nationals.
Rotation 4: tOSU vault, UA bars, PSU beam, UM floor
Aaaaand the sound just went out. HAPPY DAY.
McClelland (tOSU): Yalf, lovely! College stick.
Heiskell (UM): Double pike, good landing. Front lay to rudi, not quite around and steps to the side. AND we cut away cool.
Hit bars for Dickson with a stick.
Verdeflor (PSU): wolf 1/1, good. Still no sound! Front aerial small check bhs swingdown. Side aerial. Split, double stag, very nice. Side somi + 1/1, small step. Great set!
SOUND IS BACK HOORAY.
Abanto (tOSU): Yalf, small hop.
Osman (UM): Great landing on her full-in! Switch side + Popa, good. Now the sound is BEHIND. everything is super. Front trough double tuck, short landing and she steps forward. Rudi to end, good landing and rotation.
Politz (PSU): Fall on her front aerial. Gainer 1/1 stuck.
Aepli (tOSU): FTY, good distance, small foot shuffle.
Brenner (UM): Strong full-in. Oooh, Artz’s fiance cuts the Michigan floor music. Front through 3/2, good. Dear future Mr. Artz, LESS TECHNO PLEASE. Switch side + Popa. Double pike, another strong landing.
Alabama spent awhile resetting the bars.
Dobronics (EMU): Good FTY, small hop.
Mahoney (UA): Toe hand to bail hand, nice. Tkatchev, YES GREAT TOES. Full-in stuck! Alabama is here to PLAY.
McLean (UM): Double tuck, stellar landing. She’s still keeping the bhs out of her tumbling to protect her shoulder. Fhs front lay front 1/1, great body position. Tour jete 1/2 + split 1/1, good. Double pike, excellent. Wow. Michigan is on it as well.
We’re hearing that Emily Gaskins hit a great set for Alabama. Tomorrow is going to be a battle!
Wojcik (UM): We missed her opening pass, by the screams I assume she did the full-in. FHS 2/1 + front pike good. Ah, Artz said she did the double pike. Rudi to straddle to end.
Bastardi (PSU): Front aerial bhs, good. Front toss + beat. Side aerial 1/1, good.
Bridgens (PSU): Hitch + front toss. Switch + tuck 3/4. Bhs loso, solid. RO 3/2, small hop. Good finish for Penn State!
Funk will not do floor, since UM has qualified.
Lord (NIU): Pretty press mount. Front aerial bhs loso, good. Split + double stag, steady. She seems confident. RO 2/1 stuck! What a set for her after waiting all day!
UM is having McLean’s score reviewed.
FINAL: UA 197.225, UM 196.950, PSU 195.750, tOSU 194.725
Michigan and Alabama will advance! And they’ll fight it out to qualify to nationals. Both teams have little things to clean up before tomorrow, steps and clenliness. This wasn’t a perfect meet from either team, which is good news for both.
Individual scores to keep an eye on from non-advancing teams:
Sabrina Garcia, UB, 9.9
Jessie Bastardi, BB, 9.9
Live blog by Emily Minehart
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