Leotard Rankings: Week 3

Another week with way too many leotards to judge! Plus, another week with some great designs debuted. Which leo will reign supreme at the top of the standings? You’ll have to read on to find out. The criteria is the same as always: up to three points for design, two points for fabric and sparkle, two points for school spirit and three points for overall appearance. This week Jenna and Kalley are joining Elizabeth to help judge.

Nebraska: 9.233

Photo Credit: @huskerswgymnastics, Instagram

	Design	Fabric/ Sparkle	School Spirit	Overall Appearance	Total
Elizabeth	2.8/3	1.8/2	1.8/2	2.9/3	9.3/10
Jenna	3.0/3	1.8/2	1.8/2	2.8/3	9.4/10
Kalley	2.5/3	2.0/2	2.0/2	2.5/3	9.0/10

Elizabeth: I’ve liked Nebraska’s new 2020 leos fine so far, but this one is gorgeous. That’s how you do a “belt.” I also love the black, swooping stripes on the chest and how they sort of ombre out as they go toward the sides. Plus, can we talk about the hidden corn? That sort of engagement with fans should get a gold star, or maybe a gold corn cob.

Jenna: I really love this leo–I think it’s my favorite of the year so far. I particularly love that the gray stripes continue onto the back of the leo rather than being cut off at the sides.

Kalley: I loved this! I really liked the belt, which surprised me as that isn’t typically my favorite design. Everything about this just tied together really well, and it was a unique design.

Bowling Green: 8.833

https://twitter.com/FalconGymn/status/1218565696617156609?s=20

	Design	Fabric/ Sparkle	School Spirit	Overall Appearance	Total
Elizabeth	2.2/3	1.6/2	1.7/2	2.3/3	7.8/10
Jenna	2.8/3	1.5/2	1.8/2	2.8/3	8.9/10
Kalley	3/3	2/2	2/2	2.8/3	9.8/10

Elizabeth: I really love the front. The back chandelier-like design is a big weird, but I appreciate the hole. Plus, apparently it was hella sparkly in person, which I’m all about. On top of that, Bowling Green managed to do a black and orange leo and not make it screen Halloween, so I call that a win.

Jenna: This is nearly a perfect leo. My only complaint is the back—the snowflake-like sparkle design feels a little random to me, but that’s being super picky.

Kalley: I love this one! I am a sucker for a black leo, and also a sucker for a well done ombre situation; this has both. It also had the perfect amount of sparkle. The only piece I didn’t really get was the snowflake design on the back but otherwise, this was perfect.

Centenary: 8.167

#LeoWatch@collegegymnews_ pic.twitter.com/E5xJG6jwKi

— Centenary Gymnastics (@Centenarygym) January 21, 2020

	Design	Fabric/ Sparkle	School Spirit	Overall Appearance	Total
Elizabeth	2.6/3	1.7/2	2.0/2	2.5/3	9.0/10
Jenna	2.8/3	1.8/2	2.0/2	2.6/3	9.2/10
Kalley	2/3	1/2	1.8/2	1.5/3	6.3/10

Elizabeth: I know this is kind of out there, but I really like it. If you’re in Louisiana, I say lean in. I love the use of white, the sparkle black band and the open, strappy back.

Jenna: This one has grown on me since I first saw it. The mesh doesn’t bother me too much since it’s still a good contrasting color from the rest of the leo, and I like the belt and the fleur-de-lis design. The straps on the back are great too.

Kalley: I am torn on this one. There are aspects I really like about it, like the back, sleeves and color scheme. But this kind of looks like three leos combined to make one, and something about that just doesn’t quite land for me.

Arizona State: 7.767

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7bwaVAJ2-Y/

	Design	Fabric/ Sparkle	School Spirit	Overall Appearance	Total
Elizabeth	1.9/3	1.4/2	1.4/2	2.0/3	6.7/10
Jenna	2.5/3	2.0/2	1.8/2	2.5/3	8.8/10
Kalley	2.0/3	2.0/2	2.0/2	1.8/3	7.8/10

Elizabeth: This is OK, but rather boring if comparing it to some of Arizona State’s other gorgeous leos. It’s a little too stock design for my liking, but I appreciate the effort.

Jenna: I really like this leo. The maroon and gold ribbons are a nice design, and my only complaint is that I wish they featured more into the back.

Kalley: This is a very simple leo, and I am a fan. I like the way the red and gold accents carry down the side of the leo, and I am also a fan of the understated sparkle.

San Jose State: 7.733

	Design	Fabric/ Sparkle	School Spirit	Overall Appearance	Total
Elizabeth	1.5/3	1.4/2	1.6/2	1.6/3	6.1/10
Jenna	2.5/3	1.5/2	2.0/2	2.2/3	8.2/10
Kalley	2.6/3	1.5/2	2/2	2.8/3	8.9/10

Elizabeth: I really love the shade of blue used here. It’s a great color that should be utilized more. The rest is a little boring though, but I appreciate the effort.

Jenna: This is a gorgeous shade of blue, and I love the design of the sparkle. It still feels a little plain but it somehow works in this leo.

Kalley: Love the shade of this blue, it’s really pretty. I also love the simplicity of this, actually. It’s understated in a great way.ci

Illinois State: 7.633

	Design	Fabric/ Sparkle	School Spirit	Overall Appearance	Total
Elizabeth	2.0/3	1.5/2	1.4/2	2.2/3	7.1/10
Jenna	2.2/3	1.8/2	1.5/2	2.5/3	8.0/10
Kalley	2.0/3	1.8/2	2.0/2	2.0/3	7.8/10

Elizabeth: While I’m never a fan of the inverted V neckline, I actually don’t mind it here. It fits in with the back ribbon criss-cross design with the red, and I love a good black and white ombre.

Jenna: I adore the front of this leo; it’s simple in a beautiful way. I do wish the sleeves weren’t so plain, and I would like the ombre to extend onto the back of the leo, but I like this overall.

Kalley: This is really simple, but I like it. I love the black to white ombre effect, and I also like the way they tied the red in with the ribbon-esq design.

Maryland: 7.500

Photo Credit: @TerpsGymnastics, Twitter

	Design	Fabric/ Sparkle	School Spirit	Overall Appearance	Total
Elizabeth	2.8/3	1.8/2	2.0/2	2.9/3	9.5/10
Jenna	2.5/3	1.0/2	2.0/2	2.0/3	7.5/10
Kalley	1.5/3	1.0/2	2.0/2	1.0/3	5.5/10

Elizabeth: I love it every single time Maryland does a state pride leo, and it the designs just keep getting more and more clever with each passing year. This leo is basically perfection, and the concept isn’t kitschy in the slightest—a feat when you hear “sleeves with the Maryland flag on them.”

Jenna: I really want to love this because I like the sparkle on the front and the Maryland flag sleeves—but I just can’t get past the mesh. 

Kalley: I did not like this in the photo preview, but I did like it more once I saw the full leo. The sleeves have a really cool subtle nod to the Maryland flag, which I liked, but the body had WAY too much sparkle for me.

Arkansas: 7.400

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7ZsFu_hqKn/

	Design	Fabric/ Sparkle	School Spirit	Overall Appearance	Total
Elizabeth	2.2/3	1.4/2	1.6/2	2.3/3	7.5/10
Jenna	2.5/3	1.0/2	2.0/2	2.0/3	7.5/10
Kalley	2/3	1.5/2	2.0/2	1.7/3	7.2/10

Elizabeth: I really like this; it’s way better than the first new leo we saw from the Razorbacks. I appreciate how the rhinestones and the design they’re in makes sense with the overall look—like the bottom line of the side triangles flows directly into the diagonal cut of the sleeves. Also, I’m loving the grey. I feel like it’s super trendy to use that color, and we’ll be seeing a lot more of it in the future.

Jenna: I like the design of this a lot, particularly the ombre sleeves and the “ARKANSAS” across the back. But there’s just too much mesh!

Kalley: There were things about this I really liked (the grey and red ombre sleeves and overall design), but something about it just left me wanting a little more. Also, there was a LOT of mesh happening.

Alaska: 7.400

	Design	Fabric/ Sparkle	School Spirit	Overall Appearance	Total
Elizabeth	2.0/3	1.7/2	1.9/2	2.2/3	7.6/10
Jenna	2.5/3	1.5/2	2.0/2	2.4/3	8.4/10
Kalley	1.5/3	1/2	2/2	1.7/3	6.2/10

Fun Fact: Alaska gymnast Rachel Decious designed this leotard for the Seawolves.

Elizabeth: When I first saw this leo in pictures on Instagram, I didn’t care for how the side logo colors didn’t match the green on the sleeves. But these shots from Emily make it look WAY better. I love the ombre logo and the subtle incorporation of yellow.

Jenna: Green is one of my favorite leo colors and it’s no exception here. The sweetheart design is nice, as are the yellow straps on the back.

Kalley: I mentioned before that I’m a fan of green, and that applies here as well. I like the way yellow is worked in as an accent, too.

Eastern Michigan: 7.233

https://twitter.com/EMUGym/status/1218935488049897472?s=20

	Design	Fabric/ Sparkle	School Spirit	Overall Appearance	Total
Elizabeth	1.6/3	1.4/2	1.9/2	2.2/3	7.1/10
Jenna	1.5/3	1.0/2	2.0/2	1.8/3	6.3/10
Kalley	2/3	1.5/2	2/2	2.8/3	8.3/10

Elizabeth: I want to like this a lot, but it’s not executed to the best of its ability. The seam right in the middle of the mesh part of the chest really deters me from scoring it higher. It’s the little things that can make or break a leo for me. But overall I do really like it.

Jenna: I love the bodice with the big E. Chest cutouts are a big no for me, as are visible straps under see-through mesh. I do like the ombre, but it isn’t enough to win me over.

Kalley: I loved this one. First of all, the Eastern Michigan green is such a pretty color, so I tend to like almost any leo that features it. Second, I like the simplicity of the black body with the E on the chest, and the added element of sparkles. The only thing holding me back on this is the way the white straps on the back carry over the shoulder to make it kind of look like bra straps.

Oklahoma: 7.033

https://twitter.com/OU_WGymnastics/status/1218345913690791937?s=20

	Design	Fabric/ Sparkle	School Spirit	Overall Appearance	Total
Elizabeth	2.6/3	1.9/2	1.9/2	2.7/3	9.1/10
Jenna	1.5/3	2.0/2	2.0/2	2.0/3	7.5/10
Kalley	1.0/3	1.0/2	1.5/2	1.0/3	4.5/10

Elizabeth: This leo is GREAT. The upclose on the sleeves isn’t my favorite how the words are printed on almost, but the good thing is I’m never looking at the arms that close when I’m watching gymnastics. I love how the top design flows well into the solid bottom, and how the rhinestones and other sparkles do a good job accenting the underlying elements. A solid leo from the Sooners.

Jenna: When I first saw the team tweet about this leo, I hated it; the design on the front looked a bit like a skeleton. However, seeing it in action on the TV helped a lot. It’s still not one of my favorites, but I do like the patterned sparkles and the big OU.

Kalley: Why does every single Oklahoma leo have to be so…much? There is just too much happening, and while I appreciate the attention to detail, I don’t love how there is so much happening that it’s hard to focus on any one piece of it.

Utah State: 7.000

	Design	Fabric/ Sparkle	School Spirit	Overall Appearance	Total
Elizabeth	1.6/3	1.3/2	1.8/2	1.7/3	6.4/10
Jenna	2.2/3	1.0/2	2.0/2	2.0/3	7.2/10
Kalley	1.0/3	1.0/2	1.0/2	1.0/3	4.0/10

Elizabeth: This isn’t bad, which is a win for Utah State if we’re being honest. I like how the almost tye-die design elements lead to the logos on the front and back, accenting them and drawing attention.

Jenna: I like this overall, but I think it needs a little more color to stand out. And I think the design would work better if the logos were a little bigger.

Kalley: This was…fine? Nothing terribly exciting about this one, I’m afraid.

Iowa State: 6.867

https://twitter.com/CycloneGYM/status/1218245806811176966?s=20

	Design	Fabric/ Sparkle	School Spirit	Overall Appearance	Total
Elizabeth	2.1/3	1.6/2	1.5/2	2.2/3	7.4/10
Jenna	2.4/3	1.5/2	2.0/2	2.5/3	8.4/10
Kalley	1.3/3	1.5/2	1.0/2	1.0/3	4.8/10

Elizabeth: There are parts of this leo I really love—the color and material used in the red/yellow/orange band—and parts that are a bit boring—the cartoonish nature of the cyclone and the mesh chest triangle. WIth a few tweaks, this leo could have been a real standout, but A for effort.

Jenna: There are parts of this that I absolutely love, namely the rust-colored belt and the cyclone. I don’t love the mesh cutout on the front, and I wish the belt continued through the entirety of the back, but otherwise I really like this.

Kalley: My favorite part of this leo is the cyclone on the back; otherwise there are design aspects I just don’t get or like. Why nude mesh and not black? Why the gaps on the shoulder with zero crystals?

Missouri: 6.500

https://twitter.com/MizzouGym/status/1217485038029197312

	Design	Fabric/ Sparkle	School Spirit	Overall Appearance	Total
Elizabeth	1.8/3	1.3/2	1.4/2	1.9/3	6.4/10
Jenna	1.8/3	1.5/2	2.0/2	2.0/3	7.3/10
Kalley	1.5/3	1.8/2	1.0/2	1.5/3	5.8/10

Elizabeth: I like the skeleton of this leo, meaning I like the shape of the design where the black meets white on the body. However, I don’t care for a lot of the extra elements that were included: the chest diamond, the large cuff Tigers logos.

Jenna: There are parts of this that I really like—I love the black bodice and the sparkle accents—but the white sleeves and upper torso seem very plain in comparison. I do very much like the sparkle “MIZZOU” though!

Kalley: I want to like this more than I do? I like the sparkle and the back of it, but something about the design on the front just isn’t doing it for me.

Pittsburgh: 6.367

Photo Credit: @pitt_gym, Instagram

	Design	Fabric/ Sparkle	School Spirit	Overall Appearance	Total
Elizabeth	1.8/3	1.4/2	1.8/2	1.9/3	6.9/10
Jenna	1.8/3	1.2/2	2.0/2	2.2/3	7.2/10
Kalley	1.0/3	1.0/2	2.0/2	1.0/3	5.0/10

Elizabeth: I like how the look overall is athletic with the arm stripes, and the bold colors. I also like the script Pitt on the chest, but I’m not a huge fan of the color combo. This is better than the black one last week though.

Jenna: I like the athletic look of this leo, but the back is a bit plain and I wish there was more of a contrast between the white sleeves and the yellow trim.

Kalley: There isn’t much about this leo that appeals to me if I’m being honest—but it represents the Pittsburgh colors well, so I have to give credit there.

Lindenwood: 5.867

Photo Credit: @LionsGymnastics, Instagram

	Design	Fabric/ Sparkle	School Spirit	Overall Appearance	Total
Elizabeth	1.8/3	1.4/2	1.2/2	2.0/3	6.4/10
Jenna	2.0/3	1.2/2	0.0/2	2.0/3	5.2/10
Kalley	1.5/3	2.0/2	1.0/2	1.5/3	6.0/10

Elizabeth: I really like this, but I also feel like it was a real missed opportunity not to use some sort of gold rhinestone instead to up the school spirit factor even more. Right now it’s just a really nice black leo.

Jenna: I like the sparkle accents on the neck and sleeves—and the design on the front is nice—but the back seems really plain to me. It also feels like any team could wear this; it doesn’t scream Lindenwood to me.

Kalley: This is…fine? Kind of boring, but fine. I like the black, but I am never a huge fan of necks that look like dog collars. 

Rutgers: 5.733

https://twitter.com/RUGymnastics/status/1218611917096464385?s=20

	Design	Fabric/ Sparkle	School Spirit	Overall Appearance	Total
Elizabeth	2.2/3	1.5/2	2.0/2	2.3/3	8.0/10
Jenna	1.0/3	0.5/2	2.0/2	1.2/3	4.7/10
Kalley	1.0/3	0.5/2	2.0/2	1.0/3	4.5/10

Elizabeth: Normally I wouldn’t like a huge logo on the front like this, but it works in this instance. I think because the logo blends well with the rest of the design and kind of ombres into the rest of the leo? If I stare at a picture of the leo, it’s not as good, but I’m not doing that when I’m watching them compete, so it’s not an issue. I could also do without the weird neck strap, but I’m being picky.

Jenna: I really like the bodice of this leo, but that’s literally the only part I like. Sorry, Rutgers.

Kalley: I think I would like it better without the cut-out front. Overall this one just isn’t my favorite.

BONUS! Pittsburgh: 8.300

https://twitter.com/mburton2016/status/1219465275940265995

	Design	Fabric/ Sparkle	School Spirit	Overall Appearance	Total
Elizabeth	2.6/3	1.7/2	1.8/2	2.8/3	8.9/10
Jenna	2.5/3	1.8/2	2.0/2	2.5/3	8.8/10
Kalley	1.4/3	1.8/2	2/2	2/3	7.2/10

Elizabeth: This needs to be a competition leo ASAP. I’m obsessed with the delicate back; it reminds me of the open back Arkansas leo from last year. I also love the muted blues and yellows used. It’s not in your face, but rather “prettier” if that makes sense.

Jenna: I’m not normally a fan of open backs, but I LOVE this one. And the color scheme overall is just perfect.

Kalley: I love the color, I love the material, I love the sparkle design – but I just do not like backless leos, so I have to knock some points there.

READ THIS NEXT: Leotard Rankings: Week 2

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Article by Elizabeth Grimsley, Jenna King and Kalley Leer

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