LIVE BLOG: No. 7 Kentucky, Lindenwood and Oregon State at No. 29 Illinois

Event Coverage, NCAA WAG
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There’s a lot going on in this quad meet, and I won’t know where to look for most of it. I’m already irritated about which routines the BTN+/Flo team decided to show, and at the time I’m writing this intro, the competition is still three days away.

Kentucky’s opening score might not look fantastic on paper, but it was a steady and promising performance that was arguably underscored in places; it puts the Wildcats in a great position for the rest of the season. We’re watching the status of sophomore Ella Warren, who didn’t compete because of a broken hand in the preseason, but apart from that there aren’t too many trouble spots for this team. Illinois on the other hand had a devastating first week for no reason at all. Its bars meltdown is likely (hopefully) a one-off, and it shouldn’t take much work for this talented group to surpass its opening mark, but we had the Illini down as a team that could excel in 2019, and I’ll be keeping a close eye on their leaders to get an idea of whether that’s still likely.

Oregon State has had an exciting preseason with a sequence of injuries resulting in the big names playing musical chairs in the Beavers’ lineups. I’m very interested in the status of Sabrina Gill and excited for a possible all around debut from Isis Lowery. Don’t be surprised if bars turns into a bit of a situation for this team though—at last count it only have five up-to-level routines on the team, so it’ll likely be using a lower difficulty set from Kaitlyn Yanish or Madison Dagen. And don’t take your eyes off of Lindenwood! The Division II powerhouse topped out at a mid-196 last year and added far more routines than it lost with the help of some fascinating injury returns, as well as a strong freshman class. The Lions are more than capable of collecting some Division I scalps today.

Well, I just got to Starbucks, where I’m hanging out because my BOYFRIEND SPILLED WATER ON OUR INTERNET MODEM WHILE I WAS IN ANAHEIM LAST NIGHT and now there’s no internet at home. The Flo stream hasn’t woken up yet, but these things are mercurial and I’m being zen about it. Here’s some lineups.

https://twitter.com/IlliniWGym/status/1084540954189676548

 

ROTATION 1: ILL VAULT OSU BARS UK BEAM LU FLOOR

OTTO – ILL: Really nice full with a hop straight back.

LOWERY – OSU: Double lay on bars with a hop back.

ANGENY – UK: Triple series, great front aerial, switch to beat, full turn, steady and beautiful. Side aerial back tuck full, gorgeous

BIXLER – ILL: Mistimed… does a Yurchenko back tuck. It looked okay onto the table.

LEMAN – LU: Saw her nail her front lay front double full, nice little round off bhs loso thing for requirements, she’s got some fantastic choreo. Also shout out to her hair for making her unmistakable even when I can only see a tiny bit of her in the corner. Just under on her closing Rudi but good.

BALTHAZOR – ILL: Beauuuuty of a full, laid straight out with a hop back.

BRISCOE – OSU: Beautiful lines, nice Jaeger, great bail, bits of feet on the double layout and a tiny hop in place.

MEEKS – ILL: Full is pretty and STUCK. That’s fantastic for the Illini.

COLUSSI-PELAEZ – OSU: Touch short on first handstand, blind change to Jaeger is a little too far and can’t get it with her  fingertips. Double lay is nice with a step.

Howell in the exhibition for Illinois, can’t tell if it was a layout or a full but the landing was good.

KORTH – UK: Just caught the double full with a little hop back.

Weirdly Lindenwood is the team I’m most secure with IDs at this meet.

GILL – OSU: Maloney to Pak with a bit of straddle. Double lay is beautiful with a hop back.

DUKES – UK: I really don’t know shit about the SEC you guys. Flic loso is really gorgeous. Front aerial with a lean, I think she meant to connect out of it but leaves it for now. Switch to straddle 1/4 lovely, sheep a bit short of position but good for NCAA. One and a half dismount stuck. Completely fabulous.

In exhibition from OSU I saw a bail, full turn to double back a bit underrotated with two steps forward. Educated guess is that was Colette Yamaoka.

ALEXANDER – LU: She’s the MOST dramatic on floor, so obsessed. Great leap series and a double pike to close a little underrotated.

HYLAND – UK: Beautiful work here, missed something, cat leap side aerial back full short with a hop forward. Nice!

MITCHELL – LU: Double pike fabulous. She is very precise and pointy and we stan. Switch ring to I think tj1/2. Front full front lay, fantastic control, really getting the dance. Rudi, almost sticks it with her chest a little down, and pulls out a good lunge. GOOD. LU is on top of it for the first meet, with the exception of a bit of a mishap from Breanna Franklin but what are you gonna do.

HENRY – LU: Overrotates her double pike and hangs on with two steps. This is such an expressive routine. Double back under with a step forward. Switch side to Popa, one and a half front lay is great, Lions aren’t messing around.

KENTUCKY 48.875, ILLINOIS 48.575, OREGON STATE 48.450, LINDENWOOD 48.150

Some definite Big Ten scoring happening here, Kentucky was lowballed on beam and Lindenwood on floor. There were also a few wonky things that happened, but it’s not bad for a first meet.

Lindenwood is chasing a 193.925. If it can do that it will immediately go into first in USAG standings. Oregon State and Illinois have gotten their worst events out of the way and should clean up from here.

ROTATION 2: LINDENWOOD VAULT, ILLINOIS BARS, OREGON STATE BEAM, KENTUCKY FLOOR

DWYER – ILL: Blind to pike Jaeger, form a little funky but okay, to overshoot.Full turn with legs splitting out to a stuck double back! Great lead.

UK: Lol I don’t know who anyone is on this team BUT THEY’RE REALLY PRETTY. Front full front tuck, I’ve seen a lot of people do that pass accidentally this week but I think hers was intentional.

BIONDI – ILL: It’s clear hip time people!! Weiler to Jaeger with just a touch of feet, bail is great, blind full double back and another stick.

LOWERY – OSU: Flic loso beautiful, switch straddle 3/4 nailed. She’s following a great hit from freshman Kristina Peterson, who is a Seattle girl so lifelong loyalty. Cat leap side aerial STUCK front full dismount. NICE.

DONOVAN – ILL:  Nice handstands, blind to pike Jaeger really nice, a touch short  on a handstand there, blind full double back and had to hop but fought for the stick.

FRANKLIN – LU: Big handspring pike 1/2 with a step out! That can be inconsistent but great hit.

ROSA – UK: Got lost in a front full and landed on her side in the last pass unfortunately.

HOWELL – ILL: Pike Jaeger, gorgeous Pak, ooh almost loses her swing after that but kips out of it fine. Blind to double front with a hop.

OTTO – ILL: Maloney to Pak is beautiful. Great van Leeuwen, handstands are spot on, full out STUCK with just a tiny foot split.

STUART – UK: Missed her first pass, really nice Rudi, she’s a fun dancer too.

BALTHAZOR – ILL: Great toe on, Tkachev… can’t quite catch it and rolls forward out. Creativity points.

LAZARO – OSU: Walkover onto the end, flic loso with a bit of a lean. Pretty leap series. Full turn, another little check, side aerial back full airy and stuck.

Bixler in exhibition for Illinois throws a Deltchev with a bit of feet but so cool.

Caught the end of what looked like a really clean hit from Singley on beam and a good floor routine from Dukes but was having some internet fritziness.

Davis in exhibition for OSU! Love her. Front aerial, awkward landing. Flic loso nice, love her choreo, switch leap with a check… split split 1/4. Smart girl. She does beam with a really light touch considering the scale of her personality haha.

KORTH – UK: Rudi-LOSO is really nice and double pike with a little shift of her front foot to close.

Hey hey hey Illinois. That was a great bar rotation. UK was a rocky on floor while the other two DIs were fabulous, but the top three are within a tenth obviously. Lindenwood had some rough scores on vault, but I think some was questionable judging since I saw some good ones.

ROTATION 3: KENTUCKY VAULT, LINDENWOOD BARS, ILLINOIS BEAM, OREGON STATE FLOOR

JACOBSEN – OSU: She kept the Irish dance routine god BLESS. Double pike great, one and a half front lay. Right on top of the landings, great leap series that I lost track of.

ROE – ILL: Beat jump straddle 3/4 gorgeous. Cat leap gainer LOSO, nailed. Full turn, one and a half… really tried to pretend that was stuck, step into salute.

KWAN – UK: Really nice full and an almost-stick.

OTTO – ILL: Full turn is beautiful, flic loso great. Switch tuck 1/1, side aerial back full. She’s been incredible today.

ROSA?? – UK: Yurchenko full with a hop back.

M. DAGEN – OSU: Front lay front full, a little wonky but makes it work to close. She’s having a great debut today!

BIONDI – ILL: Clean through leap series, flic loso with legs… bends over and she’s off. Cat leap front aerial is really nice. One and a half with a hop forward.

FORCE – OSU: Double pike with two steps back, beautiful positions on her leap series. Front lay front full, a bit of a hop, great presentation. This’ll be great in a few weeks, OSU floor in front of a crowd that knows what’s what is fantastic. Double back to close is great.

NOONAN – ILL: Triple series is great with a step. Sissone to gainer LOSO, really pretty, switch split. Cartwheel gainer full is pretty.

SINGLEY – OSU: Great double pike, almost stuck, and I think Rudi to close.

HOWELL – ILL: Two foot layout!! Really good, had to retry her dance series after being a little off but no biggie. Pretty choreo, gainer pike with a hop back.

Believe this is Katie Bailey for Lindenwood in the exhibition, huge Jaeger and fell.

LOWERY – OSU: SO glad we got to see this one. Great landing on her second pass and great leap positions but the dance is so amazing that I’m struggling to concentrate on skills. Rudi to close, fantastic. Rockstar.

BALTHAZOR – ILL: Kickover front I think, beat to straddle 3/4 and bends forward but hangs on. Gainer pike stuck.

Shaylah Scott in beam exhibition for Illinois, she’s great, but I can hear Kaitlyn Yanish on floor in the background and I’m a bit antsy about it. Love Shaylah’s pike kickover and she sticks the dismount. Let’s get her in lineup next week ok?

ROTATION 4: OREGON STATE VAULT, KENTUCKY BARS, LINDENWOOD BEAM, ILLINOIS FLOOR

SCOTT – ILL: Front double full, big cross step but hangs on, one and a half front layout. She’s a gorgeous dancer. Rudi to close is beautiful.

L. DAGEN (I think) – OSU: Huge full with a step back.

ALEXANDER – LU: Switch to split 3/4 is gorgeous. I love her so much. Side scale choreo, gainer pike and basically stuck.

M. DAGEN – OSU: Yurchenko full, not as big as her sister’s but stuck!

ROE – ILL: Lol is she doing Ice Ice Baby too? Tour jete 1/2 wolf full is really nice, missed some stuff, double back to close is great.

JACOBSEN – OSU: Holy tsuk full. That was spectacular.

BIONDI – ILL: Missed her first pass, double back is looow but she gets it around fine. Switch side wolf full is nice, front pass to close. My concentration is slipping guys I got home late from Anaheim last night

BALTHAZOR – ILL: She’s gorgeous. Double tuck to open, bit of a shuffle back. Her leaps are exquisite. One and a half front lay, has to get that around FAST but gets it done.

Caught a one and a half beam dismount stick from my girl Ryan Henry.

HOWELL – ILL: This routine is EVERYTHING. Starts with Apologize by One Republic and it turns into Fix You later. Front thru double back, nailed, switch side to Popa, Y turn drop to split YAS. Double pike hop to lunge, ugh perfect. Beautiful.

FRANKLIN – LU: Just saw a gainer pike with a hop back. It’s a good thing I’m good on my Lindenwood IDs because otherwise I’d be lost with these routine fragments.

NOONAN – ILL: Just saw a phenomenal Rudi, Starbucks is betraying me, but 9.9!!

MILLIET – LU: She’s soooooo prettyyyyy full turn in arabesque, scale choreo, split to sheep is actually acceptable, gainer front full stuck AHH.

Looks like a judging conference for Milliet on beam, judges put up a 9.6 and a 9.2. Incorrect it was a 10.

I believe Lindenwood’s exhibition is freshman Hadley Roberts, her triple series is fab with a bit of a bend check… and off line on her side aerial and she’s off.

FINAL: OREGON STATE 195.225, ILLINOIS 195.175, KENTUCKY 195.100, LINDENWOOD 192.525

VAULT: Mollie Korth 9.850
BARS: Mary Jane Otto 9.875
BEAM: Mary Jane Otto 9.875
FLOOR: Kylie Noonan 9.900
ALL AROUND: Korth 39.075

Oregon State was icy cool today and was definitely held back by the scoring. It’ll need more healthy bodies to push for 197, which is where a team of this caliber will want to be by the end of the season, but really promising start.

Illinois upsetting Kentucky is such a big deal! The Wildcats were likewise hurt by the scores, especially on beam where they were stunning, but had a clean meet for the most part. The Illini showed their potential this week after a devastating start to the season. I didn’t see enough Lindenwood to assess the situation there, but it sounded like there were some flukey mistakes, which aren’t uncommon for Division II in January but which don’t stress me out too much. What I saw had a lot of potential, and there’s no reason to think the Lions won’t be pushing for 196 again by March.

Live blog by Rebecca Scally

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