Elevate the Stage Big Five With No. 15 Nebraska, No. 24 Penn State, No. 32 Maryland, No. 40 Iowa and No. 43 Michigan State

Event Coverage, NCAA WAG
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It’s Big Five time! I’m in Toledo this weekend with Emily HF, who is photographing. Be sure to check our social media for her photos throughout the weekend.

For a refresher: The Big Five meets seed all of the Big Ten teams for the conference championship. The top three teams from this session and the top three teams from the Saturday session will be the six teams in the evening session of the championship. The bottom two teams in each session will compete in the afternoon in March.

At Big Tens, any team from either session can win, so being seeded in the evening is more about bragging rights and the perceived score bump in session two than anything else. Nebraska was second at the championship last year—and Megan Schweihofer won the all around—from the afternoon session.

For even more fun, rather than Big Fives being the week before the championship, they’ve been moved back so Big Ten conference play ends and teams can have fun, out-of-conference matchups the last few weeks of the regular season. Since this meet closes conference play, the regular season champion is decided this weekend. (Every team in the conference competes against each team once: The five teams competing here all competed against the five teams in the other session in dual meets throughout the preceding weeks.)

Because that isn’t enough chaos, the Big Ten decided to throw the whole thing on podium this year at an Elevate the Stage meet. Phew! It’s a lot.

Nebraska is the easy favorite for this session, but Penn State and Maryland are not going to roll over and let the Huskers run away with it. Nebraska has been inconsistent, and a few slips could mean another trip to the afternoon session of the championship.

Those are the three teams likely to land in the night session, but if Iowa can replicate it’s big floor performance last week and put together a hit on all four, it is a threat. Michigan State too can put up a big four rotations.

Seeding for this meet is as follows:
1. Nebraska, starting on vault, bye rotation four
2. Penn State, starting on bye, floor in rotation two
3. Michigan State, starting on bars, bye in rotation three
4. Iowa, starting on beam, bye in rotation two
5. Maryland, starting on floor, bye in rotation five

Some notes from warmups! Nebraska had a rough run on bars and beam. Lots of falls and frustration. Floor is looking better. We’ll see how the Huskers pull together for competition. Not helping things, it is very dry in here (#Midwestwinter), and both Sienna Crouse and Sarah Hargrove have been warming up with nosebleeds.

We saw MSU’s Molly Hoerner-O’Malley warm up floor, an event she hasn’t competed yet this year; Alaina Raybon, who wasn’t on floor last week, did not warm up the event. Nebraska’s Catelyn Orel warmed up bars; she has only been on floor since coming back from a preseason knee injury.

Iowa has way more fun than everyone else; Larissa Libby squad is loud and clearly having a blast, even in warmups. It’s impossible not to watch the team on floor.

Last warm up is just wrapping up now (6:46 ET), so we’ll see if these teams get changed and through march in and introductions by 7. I HAVE MY DOUBTS, but what else is new in the Big Ten.

Lineups are trickling in!

Well it’s 7! Judges are rolling in, and we’ve heard the Anthem. Time for intros! We’ll be starting actual gymnastics late, of course.

Oh. Apparently we’re watching all five teams’ intro videos before they march in. Good.

Looks like Sienna Crouse skipped march in, and she’s not in Nebraska’s tweeted vault lineup. Possible we won’t see her.

Iowa’s intro video is to a remix of “Toxic”. Yep the Britney song. Amazing.

Touch warmup is underway (7:15 ET)! We’re getting close.

Friends, Iowa is in a new leo and it is spectacular.

Rotation One: Nebraska vault, Michigan State bars, Iowa beam, Maryland floor (Penn State on bye)

Hassel (UNL): FTY, not huge distance, nice in the air, small hop.

Hoerner-O’Malley (MSU): Short first handstand, blind + Jaeger, feet, pak, little far but catches, half to sole circle. Blind full + double tuck, small step.

Peterman (UMD): Double pike, good landing. Missed part of her second pass, but low barani + shush to end it. Tour jete 1/2 + split 1/1, fine.Closed with 2/1 very shy on rotation chest down.

Verceles Carr (UNL): Y 1.5, nice distance, small step forward.

Gilchrist (Iowa): Bhs loay tow feet, small check. Switch to jump good. Side aerial steady. Side somi good. Gainer pike stuck.

Curtis (UNL): Y1.5 little offline small step.

MSU had a fall from Brown.

Rouse (UMD): Double pike, great landing! Fall on second pass, he combo. Tour jete 1/2 + popa, good. Double tuck, steps backward out and falls.

Saw Ewing stick her bars dismount out of the corner of my eyes.

De Jesus (UNL): Y1.5 small hop forward.

Houchin (UNL: Y1.5 flared out, big hop forward.

Shirley (MSU): Tkathcev + bail, good height some knees. Good handstands. Full-in, step forward.

Quinn (UNL): Y1.5, not enough and sits it.

Kaji (Iowa): Front aerial, solid. Bhs loso, gorgeous extension. Side aerial, good. Switch + split, great positions. She’s very solid so far. Full turn with some flair. Gainer pike leg sep but stuck.

Crouse just returned to the floor, lots of hugs from everyone.

Ling (MSU): Hect mount. Clear hip hand to Geinger + bail, great form. Full -in, small hop forward.

Barber (UMD): Good full-in. 3/2 + front pike. Team is SCREAMING for her dance sequences. Switch + popa + tuck 3/2, not quite around on the tuck. Double tuck, to close, excellent landing.

Sullivan (Iowa): Front aerial bhs, slightly long in the transition. Switch 1/2 + beat, steady. Side somi, bobbles but covers well. Very precise in her dance movements. RO 2/1, stuck, some knees.

Crouse is gripping up, whatever was going on seems to be sorted out.

Burgess (UMD): That 3/1 you’ve seen around twitter, so good! Switch 1/2 + tuck 3/2, good. Front through 2/1. Her twisting is so strong. Just want her to show the dance out a bit more. STUCK 5/2 to end. I mean stuck cold. Wow.

Robinson (UMD): Ha! Her nickname appears to be “ARob” I love it. IMMEDIATELY so into her dance yes yes! Double tuck, chest a touch low, but good in the air. 2/1 turn + tour jete + stag jump. 3/1 turn, so good! THIS SET GUYS. 3/2 + front lay, slight hop out. I love that routine so much.

AFTER ONE: Iowa 49.050, Nebraska 49.050, Maryland 48.925, MSU 48.875, 

Iowa looked very good on beam. Starting there and hitting 49-plus is a good sign. Starting out tied with Nebraska is stellar for the Hawkeyes. Not sure why Crouse missed vault, but she’s doing her bars touch so seems back.

This is clearly going to be a nail-biter. Michigan State and Maryland both had falls, but five hits to save the rotation. Hold onto your seats!

Rotaiton 2: Maryland vault, Nebraska bars, Michigan State beam, Penn State floor

Hosek (PSU): 2/5, really great landing, almost stuck and controlled lunge. 2/3 + front lay some knees. Double pike, another excellent landing. Solid, solid leadoff.

Caught an MSU beam fall out of the corner of my eye.

Rouse (UMD): FTY, some pike and twisted early on the table.

Shirley (MSU): Bhs loso, small check that sort of morphs into a bigger one, but she stays on. Split + beat + double stag, good. Front toss. Gainer full, some pike but stuck.

Barber (UMD): FTY, great landing, again twisted a bit early.

Verceles Carr (UNL): Hect mount, blind + pike Jaeger feet to bail. Blind full, little late double tuck, small step.

Crouse (UNL): Hop chant + weiler + Geigher to bail, great. Full in, small hop. Good to see her out here!

Hoerner O’Malley (MSU): BHS loso. Front aerial, nice. Split + straddle 1/4, good positions. RO 3/2 small hop. Good set!

Farina (UMD): FTY stuck!

Chinnery (PSU): Whip + double pike, good! Double tuck, bounces out a bit and OOB. Switch side Popa, not quite full 180s and cheated rotation. 3/2 + front pike, little weird in the air but good landing.

Taylor Houchin’s handstands are KILLER. KILLER.

Chung (UNL): Blind + Jaeger, good. Pak big leg sep, good catch. Great last handstand. DLO, leg sep deeeeeep knee bend big step forward. Not sure if her knees brushed the mat.

Bridgens (PSU): Double tuck, sky high, slides the front foot on her lunge. FHS front 2/1 SECOND pass hello! Switch 1/2 + wolf 1/1. 3/2 + front lay little arched but good landing.

Douglas (MSU): Very long wait for her to go. She has such gorgeous quality of movement. 2/1 turn + beat EXCELLENT. Missed jumps while reveling in the turn. Side aerial + loso and she falls. That’s rough, since MSU already has a fall. Side aerial 1/1 dismount stuck.

Astarita (PSU): Double tuck open, stuck and controlled lunge. That’s an opening statement! 3/2 + front lay, almost moved a foot to lunge and then decided nah I got this stuck and stayed. Switch side + Popa, good 180s. Double pike, low chest steps forward.

Douglas went 9.35 with a fall. Yeah it was that good.

Garcia (PSU): You know the face she makes for floor. She is HERE. Double tuck, good landing, very high. She’s ready for the full-in there. Maybe we’ll see it soon. Double pike, another good landing. And she is SHOWING them off. Switch side popa, not great but not a travesty. 3/2 front lay, good landing. AC Rob Drass punched the air when she lunged out. It was precious.

AFTER TWO: WHO KNOWS the stats broke.

Seriously of course they did. Only two MSU scores have shown up. But, let’s be real, it’s hard to look at teams scores when there are byes anyway. Nebraska competed much better than it warmed up. MSU had some struggles, but also some gorgeous work. When that rotation hits it will be fire. Penn State floor is looking very cleaned up and strong. This is a MEET.

Rotation 3: PSU vault, Maryland bars, Nebraska beam, Iowa floor

We finally got scores. I’ll update after this rotation because here we go again!

Astarita (PSU): FTY early twist and a step back.

Curtis (UNL): Wolf + front tuck, steps back and drops her shoulder, but stays on. Bhs loso, solid. RO 3/2 hops forward.

Bonsall (PSU): FTY big step back.

Hit bars for UMD.

Garcia (PSU): Yhalf, very good.

Glauber (UMD): off on a Tkachev. Clear hip hand bail hand. Off again, missed the skill. DLO, hands down.

Killina (Iowa): Great 3/1! Two in one meet! front 1/1 + front lay, good.  Missed her jumps. Double tuck, good. Great set.

Bridgens (PSU): FTY, near stick jumps right up on her toes and back down.

Sullivan (Iowa): 2/5 sort of wild, steps forward maybe OOB? Missed her second pass, but good landing. Switch ring switch 1/2 + popa. GREAT performance. Her dance is stellar.

Crouse hit beam and Peterman did on bars.

LaGuardia (PSU): FTY slightly early twist.

Chinnery (PSU): WHAT HER FTY IS ENORMOUS. Hops right up. EXCELLENT, best full we’ve seen.

Schweihofer (UNL): bhs layout two feet, drops chest. Switch + split 1/2. RO 2/1 STUCK.

Kaji (Iowa): SORRY I missed her floor because I was getting scores (YAS). I missed the important bits but let’s be real Kaji’s dance is what it’s all about. She is SUCH a performer and you need to see her in person.

Guerin (Iowa): full in-great! Chest up landing. Switch 1/2 + popa + popa, very good. Oh her set is fun. Libby the choreo queen. Front through double tuck, slides her feet a bit, but good cover.

Based on her demeanor, I think Houchin had a fall. It is getting LOUD in here.

Hit on bars for UMD.

Hassel (UNL): Bhs loso she has such good technique on it. Front aerial, bobbles but saves it. Hit jumps. RO 3/2 small hop.

Castle (Iowa): RO double pike, low chest and lunges forward. Her music is “Tequila”. Hop wolf 1/1 to switch side. FHS rudi, good landing but does slide the front foot a bit. Team yells TEQUILA as the beat drops. Iowa is LIVING in their corral (Which is a tape box). 3/2 + front lay her best landing. A really solid set.

I was wrong! No fall for Houchin. She was grump with herself for some other reason, but she went 9.775.

AFTER THREE: Nebraska 146.900, Maryland 146.900, Iowa 98.225, Penn State 98.125, Michigan State 96.700

Well, look at this! Nebraska and Maryland! Wow. Penn State and Iowa are also very much in this. MSU is back from the bye, we’ll see if the time has helped the Spartans reset from their rough beam rotation.

Rotation 4: Iowa vault, Penn State bars, Maryland beam, Michigan State floor

SORRY FOLKS, I mis-ID’d Emilie LeBlanc as Alicia Farina. LeBlanc led UMD bars. My mistake. Sorry, Emilie, Alicia and Maryland!

Chow (Iowa): FTY, some movement on the landing, good in the air.

McCracken (PSU): Big Tkatchev, little loose. Bail. GREAT Handstands. Stalder + double tuck, excellent, stuck.

Sullivan (Iowa): Yhalf, GORGEOUS body position, holds the stick. Wow!

Hit bars for Allen (PSU).

Ewing (MSU): Front 2/1, little offline but good landing stays in barely. Missed her combo pass, ends with a front lay, good landing. Tour jete 1/2 + wolf 1/1, traveled a bit far on the wolf. Rudi to close, good.

Guerin (Iowa): FTY good distance, big hop back and off the side of the landing mat.

Bonsall (PSU): Maloney BARELY caught some leg sep to pak, blind. Great last handstand. DLO leg sep but stuck cold. 9.9! Yep I buy it.

Killian (Iowa): FTY, little hip angle and a hop.

Politz (PSU): Lovely lines. Blind + Jaeger, good. Bail, shy of handstand. Blind + double front small step.

Barber (UMD): Bhs loso, small bobble but recovers. Front toss + split, solid. Switch + split. RO 2/1, low chest and a step back.

Garcia (PSU): Hect mount. Blind  + pike Jaeger. Bail hand little loose. Her handstands were all excellent. DLO, small step.

Caught Hoerner O’Malley going OOB on her first pass.

Wright (UMD): Split + split 1/2, very good. Pike front toss bhs, smallest check covered well. Sisonne, maybe didn’t connect to something? Gainer pike, maybe tiny step.

Hendershot (MSU): Double pike, good landing. Tour jete 1/2 + wolf 1/1, rough wolf position but good rotation. She’s a really engaging performer, making eye contact with the team and crowd. Front lay + rudi + stag, not the highest but solid.

Caught the end of LeBlanc on beam for Maryland, she’s so so solid.

Douglas (MSU): Double pike, bounces back, couldn’t tell if she went out, and the judge didn’t seem sure either. Front lay + front 1/1 great body position. Oh, her dance. Her dance! Such strong attention to detail. Tour jete 1/2 + split 1/1. Double tuck, slides back a bit in the lunge. One of my favorite NCAA floor sets anywhere.

Mitchell (MSU): She has a ballerina bun in her hair and dances like it. Just gorgeous. Double tuck, great controlled lunge. 3/2 + front lay. Straight into some spicier dance. So good. Switch side + popa + double stag, strong. Double pike, little low landing but sells it with the lunge. Great anchor set for the sophomore.

Iowa is taking photos with little girls in the stands while they wait. Very cute.

AFTER FOUR: Maryland 195.475, Penn State 147.375, Iowa 147.075, Nebraska 146.900, Michigan State 145.425

Well, look at this! A 195 road score for Maryland is nothing to sneeze at. This team now has to wait through the last rotation to see if it is enough to make it into the night session. Nebraska has to do work on floor to get back to the top, after the stellar Penn State bar and Iowa vault rotations. Michigan State looked very good on floor, the bye after beam worked some magic.

Rotation 5: MSU vault, Iowa bars, PSU beam, Nebraska floor

Shirley (MSU): FTY low chest and some hip angle on the table, but STUCK.

Orel (UNL): Double pike, good landing. Double tuck, low chest and steps forward. 3/2 + barani, very low on the barani and knees, low chest. She grinded it out thought and stayed up.

Hit bars for Iowa.

Garcia hit beam.

Hartzler (Iowa): Blind + pike Jaeger. Blind + straddle back HOLDS that handstand. Blind full little late stuck double tuck.

Ewing (MSU) YHalf step forward. she struggled in warmup so good to see!

Fall for Politz on beam.

Sullivan (Iowa): Ray, little close. Toe hand + bail hand, little shy. Good last handstand. blind 1/1 double tuck stuck.

Schweihofer (UNL): RO full -in little low. Front lay rudi, some legs but excellent landing. Front through 2/1, another great landing, Nebraska fans clapping along to the music.

Kampshcroeder (Iowa): Ray, HUGE caught close. Pak leg sep blind late. DLO hop forward.

Douglas (MSU): Yhalf good distance step forward.

Mitchell (MSU): FTY early twist but good in the air, good landing.

Hosek hit beam.

Chow (Iowa): HUGE Tkatchev, pak little shoulder angle. Switch kip. Blind full touch lat double tuck stuck cold. Iowa is here to play.

McCracken (PSU): Wolf 1/1 good. Front aerial bhs tiny bobble. Split + double stag. Solid front aerial. Cartwheel gainer 1/1 good landing.

Hassel (UNL): Front 1.1 good. Cartwheel loso. 1/1 + front lay little arched. Tor jete 1/2 + wolf 1/1. Rudi + split, more back than up but a solid finish.

SHOOT GUYS IOWA. Just went 196.400. That is MASSIVE.

Bastardi (PSU): She has such elegant fingers! Front aerial bhs some knees. Front toss + beat. Solid on jumps. Side aerial + 1/1 good landing.

Crouse (UNL): 2/1 + front lay, good.  Missed her jumps. 3/2 + barani + straight jump, nice. FHS rudi loso, lovely, great finish!

Bridgens (PSU): There is a LOT of noise in here. Iowa is pumped. No pressure! Hitch + front toss. Switch + tuck 3/4, little hesitant but lands well. Bhs loso solid. Missed the end, it was a hit.

Houchin (UNL): Pike full in, lands WAY Short and falls forward, her ankle is sore, but she keeps going. 3/2 + front lay, nice. Must have just been an ankle stinger. Tour jete 1/2 + split 1/1 good. Double pike, good landing. Glad she’s alright! That was a tough fall.

FINAL: 

Evening session:

1 Iowa 196.450
2 University Of Nebraska 195.900
3 Penn State 195.700

Afternoon session:

4 University Of Maryland 195.500
5 Michigan State University 194.525

Live blog by Emily Minehart

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3 comments

  1. @emily If Sienna Crouse was absent during Nebraska’s march-in, did you see her suffer any sort of injury during warmups?

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