The criteria is a little different this season as we tweak some of our point totals to better analyze the designs. There will be up to three points for design, up to one point each for fabric and sparkle, school spirit and uniqueness and up to three points for overall appearance. This week Claire, Kalley and Jenna are joining Elizabeth to help judge.
Alabama: 8.500
Elizabeth: 7.700
Design 2.2/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle0.8/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.4/3
I love this a lot. It reminds me of the stock design that Centenary has with the rushing at the top. The ombre sleeves, band and chest triangle are great, and I love the open back. Plus, the design overall is very flattering and so sparkly.
Claire: 8.500
Design 2.3/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
The white next to this shade of red is stunning. The inverted ombre triangle on the chest doesn’t work for me, but the sleeves and belt are so fabulous that I can overlook it. The sparkles are gorgeous, and the red piping around the neck and sleeves are the perfect finishing touch.
Kalley: 8.600
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.6/3
This is gorgeous. I love the shade of crimson used here, I love the ombre mesh (and ombre sleeves AND OMBRE BELT—all the ombre). The amount of sparkle is perfection. Just beautiful.
Jenna: 9.200
Design 2.8/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
I love this leo! I especially love the ombre insert above the beltline; it’s a nice change from the deep V design we’ve seen over and over in recent years. And the ombre sleeves are gorgeous as well.
Oklahoma: 8.100
Elizabeth: 8.800
Design 2.8/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.8/3
I absolutely adore this leo and have since I spotted it in Oklahoma photo shoot pics at the start of preseason. The crimson body with white mesh sleeves combo is always going to be a winner, and the sparkles on this look fantastic in motion.
Claire: 8.200
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 2.7/3
My usual complaint with Oklahoma leos is that they’re too busy, but this is so stylish and (comparatively) simple! The bodice is great, but the sleeves are a knockout. The raining crystals against white mesh is fantastic, and that giant red OU logo stands out much better than it would on the back.
Kalley: 7.100
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 0.71, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
This might be the first Oklahoma leo that I actually really like, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that it is also one of the simpler designs. Crimson and white is such a lovely color combination, and I appreciate the subtlety of this design.
Jenna: 8.300
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.4/3
I too really like this leo. The sleeves are elegant, and I really like the sparkle design on the bodice. I’m not a huge fan of the belt but that’s really the only fault I can find.
Northern Illinois: 7.125
Elizabeth: 7.200
Design 2.2/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
This is hands down Northern Illinois’ best leo. I love the shiny ombre and the sparkle design on the black mesh. The only thing I wish was different was the inverted V neckline.
Claire: 7.200
Design 2/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.3/3
The tri-colored ombre is fantastic, the black mesh sleeves are the perfect contrast to the body and the sunburst of crystals adds just the right touch of sparkle without being overpowering. I’m with Elizabeth on the inverted V neckline; it doesn’t work.
Kalley: 7.400
Design 2.2/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
I mean, it’s ombre. It’s also black ombre. Obviously this is right up my alley. I wish this leo had a little more pizazz, but all in all I thought this was simple and lovely.
Jenna: 6.700
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
This is a little too simple of a design overall, but it’s still lovely.
Iowa: 6.925
Elizabeth: 6.900
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
I really like this one. Black with white mesh will always be a winning combo to me, and I like the sparkle design on the front as well. I wish the white chest wasn’t solid compared to the mesh eyes, but that’s a minor gripe.
Claire: 6.300
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 1.7/3
There are a lot of elements about this leo that I really like: The crystal patterns are really striking, the open back with “Hawkeyes” strap is great and black and white is hard to beat (although I’d love to see some yellow one of these days). I even like the studded collar! However, the crazy deep V on the bodice is throwing me off, as are the two different white fabrics.
Kalley: 6.300
Design 1.9/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
OK. There are elements of this that I LOVE (the back, specifically) but overall it just wasn’t the most exciting design I’ve seen from the Hawkeyes. I love a good black leo, but I really wish Iowa would mix in yellow more often.
Jenna: 8.200
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
This is very elegant, and I love the “Hawkeyes” band on the back. Black and white is a great combo when done well.
Nebraska: 6.725
Elizabeth: 6.600
Design 1.8/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
This reminds me too much of Arkansas’ SEC leo, which I also didn’t love. I like this design a little better, but it’s not amazing. The red body shape is nice, but I can’t get on board with the printed sleeves. I know the AD is pushing for more red with white, but I think this design could have benefitted from black accents instead.
Claire: 8.200
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.3/3
I love damask, so this is right up my alley! Pairing such dramatic sleeves with a relatively simple bodice and back was a great choice, and the sparkles enhance the overall design. My only question is where they hid the husk…
Kalley: 5.600
Design 1.0/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 1.7/3
This leo is fine, it just isn’t my favorite design. I don’t love the color combo, and I also am not a huge fan of the floral pattern. I do love the sparkle design on the back, though.
Jenna: 6.500
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 1.8/3
I’m with Kalley; I just don’t really enjoy floral designs on leotards. The shade of red is nice, though.
LSU: 5.600
Elizabeth: 4.800
Design 1.2/3, Fabric 0.3/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 1.2/3
Meh. To me this looks like a stock design with added sparkles and a Rebecca’s Mom UCLA neckline. I think I would have liked it a lot more without the side cutouts, but with them, I just can’t get on board.
Claire: 5.300
Design 1.3/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 1.5/3
“Meh,” is also the first word that came to mind for me. Maybe I still have Easter on the brain, but the negative space created by the sparkles looks like a bunny, and that’s all I can see.
Kalley: 5.100
Design 1.3/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 1.5/3
This was…OK? Nothing in particular I didn’t like, just not particularly memorable either.
Jenna: 7.200
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
I love bits and pieces of this—the neckline, the sleeves, the sides—but it doesn’t really come together as a whole for me; particularly the chest design.
Michigan: 5.100
Elizabeth: 4.500
Design 1.6/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 1.8/3
Rebecca pointed out how the front looks like Kent State’s new leo, and now it’s all I can think of. Generally, this design looks like a lot of other Michigan leos. It’s nothing special, but it gets the job done. I do like the unique straps on the back though.
Claire: 4.500
Design 1.3/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance ⅓
This looks like they took pieces of three or four leos and sewed them all together. The back is so chaotic and incohesive while the front just looks unfinished.
Kalley: 5.800
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 1.5/3
I honestly didn’t even realize this was new at first, that’s how similar to other Michigan designs it is (to me, at least). It’s a fine leo, just not particularly exciting.
Jenna: 5.600
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.3/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 1.7/3
The front is fine, but I dislike the yellow design on the back. Michigan is usually pretty good about incorporating yellow into its leos well, but this is a miss for me.
Georgia: 4.975
Watch the regionals video to see the back.
Elizabeth: 4.600
Design 1.0/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 1.2/3
Sigh. What’s the recent fascination with holes, not just from Georgia but all teams? This leotard has six holes, not including the normal arms, legs and neck ones, and that’s five holes too many. I especially hate the tramp stamp hole at the bottom with the weird red stap, for lack of a better description.
Claire: 5.800
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.3/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 2/3
It’s an inoffensive but ultimately forgettable design. I also don’t get the holes. It literally looks like it’s coming apart at the seams.
Kalley: 4.100
Design 0.8/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 1.0/3
Why are there so many holes? That’s my main question. This design just does not work for me whatsoever, which is a shame—usually I am a big fan of Georgia leos.
Jenna: 5.400
Design 1.0/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 1.5/3
The holes are weird, but even setting that aside, I don’t understand this leo. It’s boring, and the cut of the design on the front is strange to me.
READ THIS NEXT: The Dismount: NCAA Regionals
Article by Elizabeth Grimsley, Claire Billman, Kalley Leer and Jenna King
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definitely agree that the Michigan leo isn’t super unique, I just thought it was cool that the back matched the football helmets! a fun ode to a less successful team lmao