LIVE BLOG: No. 25 Penn State at No. 3 Florida

Event Coverage, NCAA WAG
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It’s Florida. It’s the O’Dome. It’s senior night. You know there will be fireworks.

Despite the disparities in the rankings, Penn State and Florida need similar things out of this meet: a big hit for a big number. Florida has only one 198 so far, and that’s not going to cut it when push comes to shove against Oklahoma and UCLA. If it scores another 198, Florida will finally be able to count one in its NQS, though it won’t move up or down in the rankings regardless of its performance here. Penn State is looking for a 196. It has scored two at home—but none on the road—and is looking to drop a 194.800 from its NQS. It’s getting to be rankings crunch time, and Penn State will be pushing to land as high as possible by regionals assignment time.

Consensus is we think this is going to be a new leo, but verdict to come.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Buwwq7nD87x/

Penn State bringing us an all-white number!

https://twitter.com/pennstatewgym/status/1104157135728975872?s=21

Some lineups incoming!

Interesting! Looks like Ava Verdeflor is a last-minute add to the beam leadoff spot, meaning no Sabrina Garcia in the all around.

While we’re all here waiting for this thing to roll on International Women’s Day, shoutout to the strong ladies we watch compete every week, the ones who coach them, and all of you, out there reading!

Rotation 1: Florida vault, Penn State bars

Hi friends, had some technical difficulties with Sling, missed the first two. Jumping in.

Alexander (UF): FTY, big and stuck but some leg issues throughout.

Chinnery (PSU): Hindorff+ bail, excellent. Good handstands. Blind full + double tuck, small hop.

Reed (UF): Y1.5, low and takes a step back, twisted early on the table.

Politz (PSU): Blind + Jaeger + bail, great form throughout. Blind + double front, low chest steps forward.

Thomas (UF): Y1.5, near stick, tiny hop.

Bridgens (PSU): Maloney to bail hand, some arch. Toe shoot. Blind full + double tuck stuck. Very clean.

Schoenherr (UF): Y1.5, hop forward some knees.

Bonsall (PSU): Maloney leg sep to good pak. DLO, low and a small hop back.

Boren (UF): Y1.5, hop to the side.

Garcia (PSU): Hect mount. Arched first handstand blind + pike Jaeger. Toe hand. Bail hand, nice toes and body. Good final handstand. DLO, small hop. Good finish.

Cheney (UF-exh): Getting to vault on senior night! FTY, hop back. Good vault.

AFTER ONE: Florida 49.475, Penn State 49.200

That’s a season-high for Florida! A good start on its problem event. Penn State will be very pleased with that total as well; a 196 is the name of the game, and the Nittany Lions are right on track.

So far, the crack isn’t too drunk. There was some benefit of the doubt scoring, but overall that is the best the Gators have looked on vault this year.

A note: if you’re trying to use Apple TV or Sling to catch this meet, something has gone wrong. Try going here and logging in with your provider: http://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=536918d2-772c-4d1f-9f44-e70690e43da1.

Rotation 2: Florida bars, Penn State vault

Astarita (PSU): FTY, low chest, hops. Some bent arms on the table.

Boren (UF): You know her Tkatchev. Clear hip hand to bail hand, nice. Great lines as always. DLO, small hop back.

Bonsall (PSU): FTY, small step and offline. Not the best distance.

Gowey (UF): Ray, great catching position. Toe hand to pak. Good final handstand. DLO, hop back. Very nice.

Garcia (PSU): Yhalf, some whippiness, deep landing but didn’t sit.

Hundley (UF): Maloney to pak some leg sep. Van Leeuwen, her usual great catch. half in half out, low chest but holds a stick.

Bridgens (PSU): FTY, great body position, good landing, small hop.

Schoenherr (UF): Toe half to Jaeger, good. Toe hand to bail hand, very strong. Blind + double front half out, small step. Her toes and lines are excellent.

LaGuardia (UF): FTY, Good distance, big hop back.

Skaggs (UF): TOES. Tkatchev to pak, some leg form and a close catch on the pak. Stellar last handstand. DLO, small hop.

Chinnery (PSU): FTY, very big small hop back.

Thomas (UF): Maloney to uprise to pak, great flow. Toe hand to van Leeuwen, good. DLO small hop.

Chant (UF-exh): Short first handstand. Tkatchev, good. Clear hip hand to bail hand, some pike in the hips. Better final handstand. DLO, hop back.

AFTER TWO: Florida 98.950, Penn State 98.125

I’d love to give some insight into the scores but naturally they’re broken. Got these totals from the broadcast. That’s a big total for Penn State after two, but if the Nittany Lions are going to fall apart, it’ll be on beam, so light the candles now.

Florida is so gorgeous in all of its work on the bar, and then there are hops on every. single. landing. It’s almost too frustrating to watch! Just throwing away the really big scores the team is capable of. That’s definitely something for the Gators to clean before SECs.

Rotation 3: Florida beam, Penn State floor

Hundley (UF): She’s calm and steady as always. Front aerial + sisonne. Bhs loso, bit of a pause going in and a small check that she covered will. Hitch + switch side, good. RO 3/2 feet apart but stuck.

Hosek (PSU): 5/2, some leg sep and lunged to the side a touch. The camera angle for floor is, uh not the best. 3/2 + front lay, good control. Tour jete 1/2 + popa. Double pike, good landing.

Skaggs (UF): Wolf turn 2/1, she’s one of like three people who I don’t hate doing this skill. This one was a little wobbly though. Switch + split, excellent oversplits. Bhs loso, good control. Cat + side aerial + 1/1, stuck. Great!

Bonsall (PSU): She’s capable of some huge tumbling. Double tuck, bit of a foot slide on the landing. Switch 1/2 + popa, some feet form. 3/2 + front 1/1, looked like a foot slipped. I cannot convey how annoying this far out camera angle is. Double pike, deep landing but controls the lunge out, feet in the air.

Boren (UF): She even approaches the beam with pizzaz I love it. Gainer front toss solid. Bhs loso, some arm bend on the bhs but no wobbles. Switch + straddle. Cat + gainer loso, dances right out of it. Cartwheel gainer 1/1 stuck. Ooop I suspect scores are about to sky rocket.

Florida wants a 10.0.

Chinnery (PSU): Whip + double pike, low chest but controls it. Double tuck, lunges forward. Most expressive dance yet. Switch side + popa cheated the rotation. Boos from the crowd for Boren’s score, so no 10. 3/2 + front pike, some hip angle in the twist.

Clapper (UF): She has such great attention to details, toes, lines, rhythm. Bhs loso loso, solid. Switch + split, back leg a touch low. Side aerial + 1/1, drops her chest to hold the stick.

Bridgens (PSU): Double tuck, very high and good control. FHS 2/1 second pass! It amazes me every time. Switch 1/2 + wolf 1/1, some wonky positions in the air. FHS front 1/1 + front lay, slides her feet.

Thomas (UF): Her use of head positions to finish movements is so gorgeous. Switch 1/2 + beat. One hand bhs loso, excellent. Front aerial, steady. RO 2/1 small hop back.

Astarita (PSU): Open double tuck, good landing. 3/2 + front lay good height. Switch side + popa some loose feet. Double pike, hops back, one foot OOB.

Baumann (UF): She’s attacking this set. Bhs loso, solid. Switch + switch 1/2, no movement on the landing. Side aerial good. She is ON. RO 3/2, moves a foot but they miiiight give her the college stick.

Garcia (PSU): Double tuck, good height and great landing. Really expressive dance. Double pike, little short on her ankles but she covers it well. Switch side + popa, best leaps we’ve seen yet. The crowd is clapping along, love it. 3/2 + front lay, arched the lay, but a good landing.

Cheney (UF-exh): Bhs bhs loso, ah, slightly off and she falls. HUGE cheers from the crowd for the senior. Switch + shush, good. Side aerial + 1/1, low chest and a small step.

Allen (PSU-exh): Double pike, some leg form and separation. Switch side + popa + popa, missing the 180s. Front though double tuck, chest low and steps forward.

AFTER THREE: Florida 148.500, Penn State 147.150

Scores have loosened a little, but we haven’t seen any truly horrific crack yet. Florida was very clean in that rotation. Both teams are right on track for big scores, and possibly season highs. A 49.500 on floor gets Florida to 198.

Rotation 4: Florida floor, Penn State beam

Alright, this should be something folks. Penn State beam is feast or famine, and you know about Florida home floor.

Verdeflor (PSU): No pressure, she’s only done exhibition beam so far this year, and finds herself the leadoff. Wolf turn 1/1, some weird chest position but not hideous. Front aerial bhs swingdown, long pause before and in between skills. Side aerial, small check. Split + double stag, her oversplit is divine. Side somi + back 1/1 off the side! VERY cool dismount. Great start!

Skaggs (UF): Her first floor of the year! Ooh, better camera angles for the home team. Double pike, big, good landing. FHS rudi, some messy legs in the air, good landing. Tour jete 1/2 + split 1/1, good. She has great musicality. 3/2 + front lay good. Skaggs is baaaack.

Politz (PSU): Front aerial, has to step back and drops her chest but stays on. Cat + Switch side, good. She moves with great calm. Cat + front aerial bhs, steady. Gainer 1/1 stuck. Good finish.

Hundley (UF): Whip double tuck, rolls back out and OOB. Double pike, nails that landing. Switch side shush 1/2. 3/2 + front lay.

Hosek (PSU): Bhs loso, wobble with some knee bend on the bhs. Switch + gainer loso. Split + straddle 1/4. Front aerial, good. Cat + gainer 1/1 stuck.

Reed (UF): DLO, huge, tiny adjustment on the landing and OOB. Switch 1/2 + wolf 1/1, good. FHS front lay rudi, good landing. She’s a great performer. Huge double pike, her best landing.

McCracken (PSU): Wolf 1/1, good. Front aerial small wobble bhs. Shows great flexibility. Split + double stag, steady. Cat + front aerial, good. Bhs Gainer 1/1, small hop.

Thomas (UF): Her excellent performance quality off the top. DLO, MASSIVE and perfect control on the landing. FHS front 1/1 front lay, good. Switch ring through to tour jete 1/1, very nice. Double pike, so big, maybe bounces out a touch. We’ll see how high they go on that one.

Bastardi (PSU): Front aerial bhs. She’s staying steady while the crowd is losing it waiting for that score. Front toss + beat small check. Switch + straddle, good. Side aerial 1/1, stuck. Good!

Baumenn (UF): Double tuck, good landing. 3/2 + front 1/1, bounced a bit. Switch 1/2 + popa, good. Double pike, steps forward.

Bridgens (PSU): Hitch + front toss, good. Switch + tuck 3/4. Bhs loso, solid. She’s very calm. RO 3/2, stuck. Wow!

Boren (UF): DLO, lovely. 3/2 + front lay, great twisting form. Switch 1/2 + wolf 1/1, good. Double tuck HUGE she even kicks out of it, stellar landing. I mean. They have to do it. 9.975, I’m not amused.

FINAL: FLORIDA 198.025, PENN STATE 196.325

Success for both teams! A really great meet all around, even if we will mourn that Boren score for awhile.

Live blog by Emily Minehart

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