The Mount: Week 7

As always, you’ll find everything you need to follow along with all the meets happening this weekend, including previews of the top matchups, Fantasy Gymnastics resources and every scoring and video link you could ever need.

Can’t-Miss Matchups

GymQuarters Invitational with No. 9 LSU, No. 18 Iowa State, No. 19 Missouri and No. 48 Lindenwood

When You Need to Tell Your Friends You’re Busy: Friday, February 14 at 7 p.m. ET (FloGymnastics)

Why You Should Cancel Plans For It: GymQuarters is always a fun Mardi Gras-themed podium quad, and this year’s matchup is quite interesting. Usually, the evening session is all Division I, with Division II and III teams competing in the afternoon. This year, Lindenwood is joining the big kids club in primetime. The real battle here is between Iowa State and Missouri, both of which have been cruising with pretty solid starts under their belts. Both hit near-197s away last week and will be looking to replicate those performances to count the big totals come NQS. Both also can challenge LSU if it has another off meet. For LSU, the challenge is vault. If Kennedi Edney and Sarah Edwards are still out, the middle of the lineup needs to be tidier to get LSU off to a good start here.

What We’re Watching: Andrea Maldonado is a breakout star for the Cyclones; look for her newly upgraded vault and Randi(!) on floor. Freshmen should sine here: Helen Hu is the easy favorite to take the beam title at this meet, and the all around is Kiya Johnson’s to lose, especially if Edney is still limited to two. Don’t miss Lindenwood freshman star Gayla Griswold, either.

What Else You Should Know Before Tuning In: GymQuarters, the invitational host, is the club where Lindenwood trains.

No. 21 Oregon State at No. 3 Utah

When You Need to Tell Your Friends You’re Busy: Saturday, February 15 at 3 p.m. ET (P12N)

Why You Should Cancel Plans For It: With its past two scores in the high 196s, Oregon State is much more of a threat than its No. 21 ranking suggests. However, the Beavers will be up against a Utah team that has outdone its previous best in every outing so far this season. The Utes will be aiming to capitalize on this home meet to continue to up their scores and challenge to become this season’s third team to hit 198.

What We’re Watching: Utah’s beam has been stellar this season, with freshmen Abby Paulson and Maile O’Keefe joining sophomore Adrienne Randall last week to provide a trio of 9.950s. Oregon State is also a strong beam team with Maela Lazaro having grabbed a few event titles so far in 2020 and Lacy Dagen notching a near perfect 9.975 as well.

What Else You Should Know Before Tuning In: This will be Oregon State’s third meet without head coach Tanya Chaplin who is taking an indefinite leave of absence due to health related issues. Associate head coach Michael Chaplin is acting as head coach in the interim.

No. 15 Nebraska at No. 8 Minnesota

When You Need to Tell Your Friends You’re Busy: Sunday, February 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET (BTN)

Why You Should Cancel Plans For It: Minnesota has really shot up to the top of the Big Ten this year, where it sits less than half of a tenth behind leader Michigan. Nebraska, the usual conference No. 2, has meanwhile fallen a step behind, largely due to two 195s early and its lack of a mid-197. Conference dynamics in the Big Ten are fascinating this year, and neither team can afford an off meet. For the Huskers, that mid-197 is the goal. For the Gophers, holding steady is the name of the game.

What We’re Watching: These teams have opposite strengths: Nebraska shines on vault and floor while Minnesota is at its best on bars and beam. That means we’ll have a good idea of where this is all going halfway through. Key routines for Nebraska come from Taylor Houchin on vault and Sierra Hassel on beam and floor. Minnesota will be looking to breakout all arounder Ona Loper and its entire beam squad to pull ahead. The third rotation is the most exciting: Will Minnesota’s beam squad outshine Nebraska on floor? That said, it’s the final rotation that will matter the most; both teams will be on weaker pieces, and it may come down to who has a cleaner hit there.

What Else You Should Know Before Tuning In: When these teams met in 2019, the Gophers upset the Huskers in Lincoln. Will they continue their winning ways, or is it comeback time for Nebraska?

Meets You Didn’t Know You Should Be Interested In

No. 38 Western Michigan at No. 23 Illinois

When the Meet’s Happening: Friday, February 14 at 8 p.m. ET (BTN+)

Why You Should See the Error of Your Ways: Western Michigan has been a great surprise this season, hitting big numbers even after star freshman Payton Murphy’s injury. The Broncos have had a few rough outings but overall are on a big upswing. Illinois has been very steady in the low-to-mid 195s but has yet to have a breakout meet. The Illini have battled injury issues all season and lean very heavily on exciting freshmen.

Need More Proof? NQS season looms. This matchup is an absolute must-hit for both teams before N-Day. (Yes? No? I’m trying it out.) Illinois’ season high is away; for that number to count toward NQS, the Illini need a higher total on the books. All the better if that drop score comes at home, leaving more opportunities for those critical road numbers to count. Western Michigan, on the other hand, has hit all of its biggest numbers at home. It needs to start putting up similar totals away to be relevant in the regionals conversation once we hit NQS-o’clock (yeah that one’s better).

No. 20 Southern Utah at No. 31 Utah State

When the Meet’s Happening: Friday, February 14 at 9 p.m. ET

Why You Should See the Error of Your Ways: Southern Utah is coming off a program record 197.225. The Thunderbirds have what it takes to be a great team, and last week’s performance shows it. A hit meet has enormous potential for the Thunderbirds, but half the excitement is watching to see if they can hit all four events at potential at once, as they tend to have one bad rotation at times. Utah State is also having its best season in recent years and has exceeded expectations thus far. Despite being composed of mostly underclassmen, the Aggies improved their scores each of the past three weeks. Freshman Sofi Sullivan has proven to be a star in the making and is a big reason for the team’s improvement. They’re not all there yet, but the Aggies are a team to watch for over both the rest of this season and in the next few years. 

Need More Proof? Sullivan stands out on beam, where she has already shattered Utah State’s program record with a 9.975. Teammate Autumn DeHarde is also a delight on beam and floor. SUU’s Shylen Murakami’s bars are a can’t-miss, and watch for Madison McBride on vault and floor and Hannah Nipp on beam and floor. 

Meets You Should at Least Record and Watch Later

No. 14 Arkansas at No. 6 Alabama

When to Find It on the TV Guide: Friday, February 14 at 7 p.m. ET (SECN)

Why You Should Clear Space on Your DVR: Two of the most improved teams from 2019 come together tonight. The Razorbacks spent much of the early weeks of 2019 in the 195s while Alabama was mired in the 196s for much of the year. Regularly a full point ahead of those marks in 2020, these SEC foes will meet in Coleman Coliseum with the shift to NQS rankings on the horizon. A big away total here could help Arkansas come NQS, while Alabama needs to hold steady at home. Don’t take your eyes off the floor in this one; both teams shine brightest there. 

What to Look for If you Missed It: At last week’s meet against Georgia, Sarah Shaffer did three events after competing two in almost every other meet previously. Keep an eye on Shallon Olsen as well, who did double duty last week, competing for Alabama and then at Elite Canada two days later. The all around title should be tightly fought between Lexi Graber, Makarri Doggette and Kennedy Hambrick, who are all capable of 39.5-plus numbers.

No. 2 Florida at No. 17 Auburn

When to Find It on the TV Guide: Friday, February 14 at 8:30 p.m. ET (SECN)

Why You Should Clear Space on Your DVR: This meet is less a thriller for the matchup—though Auburn is no slump of a team—but rather for NQS and ranking implications. Florida is absolutely in striking distance of Oklahoma, especially when considering how the big shift can alter the rankings. The Gators have one meets to go before they’ll have an NQS, and this away meet will count no matter what off the bat; it will be only their third road score, and it will almost certainly be dropping the high home 198.350 number. Best-case for the Gators is anything in the 198s. For Auburn, anything in the mid-196s is a win, and a season high will allow it to count the 196.700 from a few weeks ago when the change hits, which would be great news.

What to Look for If you Missed It: We’re watching for Nya Reed, whose presence on vault and floor is key for Florida and pulls in a few extra tenths. Floor is a key piece for Auburn as well. Look for a possible lineup shakeup after two misses from Skyler Sheppard.

No. 4 UCLA at No. 30 Arizona State

When to Find It on the TV Guide: Saturday, February 15 at 5 p.m. ET (P12N)

Why You Should Clear Space on Your DVR: All eyes will be on UCLA’s beam rotation, which has been rocky at times this season. The Bruins hit last weekend but have been prone to follow up a beam hit with a fall-fest this season. However, on the other three events, the Bruins look great. Arizona State has struggled a bit this season and is in need of a good score. This home meet provides a great opportunity to grab one.

What to Look for If you Missed It: As stated before, UCLA on beam will be interesting. There’s lots of questions marks in the middle of the lineup, but Grace Glenn has been stellar as a leadoff and Kyla Ross also has a 10-worthy routine that the Bruins often use strategically in the lineup. For the Sun Devils, look to see how many events Cairo Leonard-Baker competes. She’s the star of the team but has been limited to only select events this season, presumably in an effort to keep her healthy for the postseason.

No. 12 Kentucky at No. 9 LSU

When to Find It on the TV Guide: Sunday, February 16 at 3:30 p.m. ET (SECN+)

Why You Should Clear Space on Your DVR: The SEC has a fascinating clump of teams hovering around No. 10, and LSU and Kentucky are both in it. The Tigers’ high score is well above the Wildcats’, but recent injury woes have hampered LSU’s scoring potential. Vault in particular is in a precarious place since Sarah Edwards’ injury at Florida. With three vaults that live in the 9.7s in its rotation, LSU is vulnerable and leaves an opening for a Kentucky team that has been consistently good and getting better, led by its floor squad. LSU is comfy in Baton Rouge, but this is the second contest in a double meet weekend. Those can be especially perilous when depth and health are questionable. This meet is fully in the Tigers’ hands, an opportunity to right the ship or cede some ground.  

What to Look for If you Missed It: We don’t know Kennedi Edney’s status; if she returns on vault and bars, LSU will be in a much more secure place. If she doesn’t, the vaults from Lexie Nibbs and Maddie Rau are crucial: They absolutely need to hit 9.8s to help move this team forward while Edney and Edwards remain out.

Links and Things

These aren’t the only meets happening this weekend. To see all the matchups all in one place, take a look at our master schedule. You can also find live scoring and video links for all this weekend’s competitions below.

Date Time (ET) Teams Scoring Link Video Link
Thurs, Feb. 13 7 p.m. GAC at UWS Scores Live Stream
Fri, Feb. 14 3 p.m. UB, CC, SPU & SEMO (GymQuarters) Scores Flo
Fri, Feb. 14 6 p.m. PSU at tOSU Scores BTN+
Fri, Feb. 14 6:45 p.m. Ark at Ala Scores SECN
Fri, Feb. 14 7 p.m. Ball St & EMU at UGA Scores SECN+
Fri, Feb. 14 7 p.m. Iowa St, LU, LSU & Miz (GymQuarters) Scores Flo
Fri, Feb. 14 7 p.m. UM at Iowa Scores BTN+
Fri, Feb. 14 7:45 p.m. TWU & WVU at OU Scores FSOK
Fri, Feb. 14 8 p.m. WMU at Ill Scores BTN+
Fri, Feb. 14 8:30 p.m. UF at Aub Scores SECN
Fri, Feb. 14 9 p.m. SUU at USU Scores
Fri, Feb. 14 10 p.m. UAA at SJSU Scores Twitter
Sat, Feb. 15 1 p.m. Springfield at RIC Scores
Sat, Feb. 15 2 p.m. Ill St & Temple at BGSU Scores
Sat, Feb. 15 2 p.m. Towson & Yale at Pitt Scores ACCNX
Sat, Feb. 15 3 p.m. Hamline at UWO Scores Live Stream
Sat, Feb. 15 3 p.m. OSU at Utah Scores P12N
Sat, Feb. 15 4 p.m. UNH & UNC at NCSU Scores ACCNX
Sat, Feb. 15 4 p.m. UCD & UWW at USAFA Scores YouTube
Sat, Feb. 15 5 p.m. Ariz at UW Scores Live Stream
Sat, Feb. 15 5 p.m. UCLA at ASU Scores P12N
Sat, Feb. 15 9 p.m. Boise St. at BYU Scores BYUtv
Sun, Feb. 16 12 p.m. UB, WCU & W&M at Penn Scores ESPN+
Sun, Feb. 16 1 p.m. Kent St at CMU Scores ESPN3
Sun, Feb. 16 1 p.m. Brockport, Cortland & Ithaca at Cornell Scores ESPN+
Sun, Feb. 16 1 p.m. EMU at Ball St Scores ESPN3
Sun, Feb. 16 1 p.m. RU at UMD Scores (PW: terps) BTN+
Sun, Feb. 16 2 p.m. CC & GAC at LU Scores Live Stream
Sun, Feb. 16 2 p.m. Ill at MSU Scores BTN+
Sun, Feb. 16 3 p.m. Winona at UWLC Scores Live Stream
Sun, Feb. 16 3:30 p.m. UK at LSU Scores SECN+
Sun, Feb. 16 4 p.m. GW at DU Scores Paid Stream
Sun, Feb. 16 5 p.m. UAA at Sac St Scores Live Stream
Sun, Feb. 16 6 p.m. Cal at Stan Scores P12N
Sun, Feb. 16 7:30 p.m. UNL at UMN Scores BTN
Mon, Feb. 17 6 p.m. UNH at UNC Scores ACCNX

Fantasy Gymnastics Resources

Don’t worry! We haven’t forgotten about Fantasy Gymnastics players. Check out our weekly feature, Fantasy Central, for the latest injury news, find out which teams are one a bye, advice on who to trade for and more.

READ THIS NEXT: PHOTO ESSAY: Utah Remains Undefeated After Tight Win Over California

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Article by the editors of College Gym News

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