Turnover is the common theme with the bottom half of the Pac-12 Conference, with most teams needing to replace big senior classes. Thankfully, we’ll be introduced to numerous new freshmen, several with the potential to become stars for their respective themes. Stanford is the outlier, returning a majority of its routines and adding some international experience that could give the program the missing momentum needed to make a run toward the top half of the conference.
While there’s still so much uncertainty surrounding the upcoming season, it’s business as usual until we hear otherwise. That means it’s time for our annual potential lineups analysis! With preseason training in full swing for most teams, we’re breaking it all down and taking a look at every squad’s prospects for 2021—from who’s expected to contribute, holes that need to be filled and exciting upgrades fans should look out for.
No. 15 Oregon State
After an NCAA championships appearance in 2019, the shortened 2020 season was not the follow-up the Beavers were hoping for. The 2021 season could prove to be challenging for Oregon State as well, as it loses half of its routines from last season and will need to rely on its large freshman class to contribute right away. Thankfully, there are a few bright spots among the newcomers.
| Losses: | Halli Briscoe (UB), Destinee Davis (BB, FX), Sabrina Gill (AA), Jamie Law, Maela Lazaro (BB), Isis Lowery (UB, BB, FX), Alyssa Minyard (UB) | |||
| Gains: | Sydney Gonzales, Kaitlyn Hoiland, Grace Johnson, Julia Melchert, Anna Yeates, Ariana Young | |||
| Returning From Injury: | Lena Greene (achilles), Jane Poniewaz | |||
Vault
Potential Contributors: Lacy Dagen (9.860 NQS), Madi Dagen (9.835), Kaitlyn Yanish (9.810), Kristina Peterson (9.750), Kayla Bird (9.740), Niya Mack (9.600 AVG), Lexie Gonzalez (9.550), Sydney Gonzales, Lena Greene, Grace Johnson, Jane Poniewaz, Anna Yeates, Ariana Young
How It Looked Before: Not one of the Beavers’ strengths with consistency issues that dropped them to 27th in NQS on the event.
How It Looks Now: Lacy and Madi Dagen both return Yurchenko one and a halfs, while freshman Sydney Gonzalez, who has all around potential, will certainly make this lineup with her 10.0 start value Yurchenko full-on.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Trending up. Gonzales’ vault has the potential to score well immediately, while getting Lena Greene and Jane Poniewaz back from injury will also provide solid depth.
Bars
Potential Contributors: Kayla Bird (9.775 NQS), Colette Yamaoka (9.750), Sydney Gonzales, Lena Greene, Kaitlyn Hoiland, Grace Johnson, Jane Poniewaz, Anna Yeates, Ariana Young
How It Looked Before: Another inconsistent event for Oregon State, finishing 27th in NQS and scoring below the 49.000 mark in half of its meets.
How It Looks Now: The freshmen will be heavily relied upon early and often on bars to try and fill the giant lineup holes vacated by last year’s seniors. The Beavers only return their two lowest NQS’ on the event from the 2020 season, and it’s to be determined whether the team even has six up-to-level routines.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Trending down. Even if all the freshmen and injury returners have routines, depth is going to be an issue here.
Beam
Potential Contributors: Madi Dagen (9.885 NQS), Lacy Dagen (9.870), Jenna Domingo (9.840), Kristina Peterson (9.850 AVG), Kayla Bird (9.625), Sydney Gonzales, Kaitlyn Hoiland, Grace Johnson, Julia Melchert, Jane Poniewaz, Anna Yeates, Ariana Young
How It Looked Before: The second-best event for the Beavers still had its inconsistency issues but earned an 11th place finish in NQS.
How It Looks Now: Oregon State is returning some reliable options and is bringing in freshmen with lineup potential as well. Gonzales is a realistic option here, as is Julia Melchert.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Too early to tell. Experience should benefit the returnees, but we don’t yet know how the freshmen will score.
Floor
Potential Contributors: Kaitlyn Yanish (9.915 NQS), Madi Dagen (9.870), Savanna Force (9.835), Kristina Peterson (9.810), Kayla Bird (9.795), Niya Mack (9.675 AVG), Sydney Gonzales, Kaitlyn Hoiland, Grace Johnson, Julia Melchert, Jane Poniewaz, Anna Yeates, Ariana Young
How It Looked Before: In the second half of the season, floor was Oregon State’s highest-scoring and most consistent event, finishing 11th in NQS.
How It Looks Now: Nearly all the freshmen bring in potential routines, but expect only Gonzales to be in contention for the lineup as the Beavers return a handful of options from last season.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Trending up. Floor will be Oregon State’s deepest and most experienced lineup.
Overall Outlook
As with several other Pac-12 teams, the fate of the Beaver’s season relies on how well the freshmen will be able to contribute. With so many lineup questions on bars and beam, Oregon State may take another small step back before the Jade Carey era begins in 2022.
No. 21 Arizona State
Similar to Oregon State, inconsistency was an issue for Arizona State in 2020, limiting a team that showed quite a bit of potential. The Sun Devils do have a number of routines to replace but will have a fully-healthy Cairo Leonard-Baker and are returning several other key routines, as well as plenty of freshmen routines to choose from to fill lineups.
| Losses: | Jessica Ginn (VT, UB, FX), Morgan Hart (UB), Ashley Szafranski, Morgan Wilson (AA), Graycee Zaugg | |||
| Gains: | Cassi Barbanente, Sarah Clark, Skye Harper, Jada Mangahas, Cienna Samiley, Anaya Smith, Emily White | |||
| Returning From Injury: | Jordyn Jaslow | |||
Vault
Potential Contributors: Hannah Scharf (9.865 NQS), Gracie Reeves (9.855), Cairo Leonard-Baker (9.825), Juliette Boyer (9.740), Isabel Redmond (9.780 AVG), Alina Miller (9.600), Cassi Barbanente, Sarah Clark, Skye Harper, Jordyn Jaslow, Jada Mangahas, Cienna Samiley, Anaya Smith
How It Looked Before: Vault was the most consistent of any event for the Sun Devils, finishing in 17th in NQS but only showcasing one 10.0 start value vault.
How It Looks Now: Freshman Anaya Smith has a Yurchenko one and a half that should anchor the lineup right away, and Cienna Samiley has a Yurchenko full-on that needs some work but adds difficulty as well.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Trending up. Just by replacing one early lineup Yurchenko full with Smith’s vault will boost this lineup by a few tenths compared to last season.
Bars
Potential Contributors: Cairo Leonard-Baker (9.895 NQS), Juliette Boyer (9.850), Gracie Reeves (9.810), Isabel Redmond (9.795), Hannah Scharf (9.315), Cassi Barbanente, Sarah Clark, Jordyn Jaslow, Jada Mangahas, Cienna Samiley, Anaya Smith, Emily White
How It Looked Before: Several disastrous meets prevented bars from being an event that Arizona State could have excelled on, finishing 17th in NQS.
How It Looks Now: A handful of reliable options are returning, and freshmen Cassi Barbanente and Emily White look like they could fit well into the early part of it.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Too early to tell. Depending on how well the freshmen can score, Arizona State has the potential to improve slightly here with Leonard-Baker anchoring.
Beam
Potential Contributors: Megan Thompson (9.810 NQS), Gracie Reeves (9.795), Hannah Scharf (9.795), Isabel Redmond (9.765), Juliette Boyer (9.730), Cairo Leonard-Baker (9.750 AVG), Maya Williams (9.700), Jasmine Gutierrez (9.562), Cassi Barbanente, Sarah Clark, Skye Harper, Jordyn Jaslow, Jada Mangahas, Cienna Samiley, Emily White
How It Looked Before: The lowest scoring event for the Sun Devils, finishing 32nd in NQS.
How It Looks Now: A handful of lineup regulars return, and a healthy Leonard-Baker is a boost for the lineup. Most of the freshmen are options here, and Sarah Clark has looked good in training this fall—but none of them are standouts on beam.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Trending up. Consistency should improve with experience, and the Sun Devils should have a good amount of experience here.
Floor
Potential Contributors: Cairo Leonard-Baker (9.885 NQS), Hannah Scharf (9.840), Juliette Boyer (9.835), Gracie Reeves (9.755), Megan Thompson (9.720), Maya Williams (9.262 AVG), Alina Miller (9.088), Cassi Barbanente, Sarah Clark, Skye Harper, Jordyn Jaslow, Jada Mangahas, Cienna Samiley, Anaya Smith, Emily White
How It Looked Before: Another event hampered by inconsistency, finishing 28th in NQS.
How It Looks Now: The Sun Devils bring back a majority of their options and will also want to get full-ins from freshmen Jada Mangahas and Smith into the lineup.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Trending up. Arizona State will have plenty of choices for this lineup, as well as some new, powerful tumbling to showcase.
Overall Outlook
Things look promising for Arizona State, but can Leonard-Baker stay healthy? She made an impact even in her limited appearances in 2020 and will need to be at her best for the Sun Devils to capitalize on this year of experienced lineups and strong freshmen.
No. 26 Stanford
The injury bug was not kind to the Cardinal in 2020, postponing the debut of two anticipated freshmen and sidelining the powerful Rachael Flam. However, with the return of the injured trio and a freshman class with impressive international experience, Stanford can take a major step forward toward national prominence once again.
| Losses: | Kaylee Cole (VT, BB, FX), Ashley Tai (VT, BB), Aleeza Yu | |||
| Gains: | Irina Alexeeva, Sandra Jessen, Isabela Onyshko, Sze En Tan, Amanda Zeng | |||
| Returning From Injury: | Jade Chrobok, Rachael Flam, Addie Stonecipher | |||
Vault
Potential Contributors: Kyla Bryant (9.830 NQS), Chloe Widner (9.830), Madison Brunette (9.795), Lauren Navarro (9.770), Morgan Hoang (9.760), Grace Garcia (9.550 AVG), Irina Alexeeva, Jade Chrobok, Rachael Flam, Sandra Jessen, Isabela Onyshko, Addie Stonecipher, Sze En Tan, Amanda Zeng
How It Looked Before: The most consistent yet lowest-scoring event for the Cardinal with no 10.0 start value vaults, finishing 31st in NQS.
How It Looks Now: A healthy Flam brings back a 10.0 vault, but finding a second or third may not happen. Isabela Onyshko and Amanda Zeng have competed 10.0 start values in the past, but they were not strengths for either gymnast.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Too early to tell. Stanford will have plenty of Yurchenko fulls to choose from, but finding difficulty to stay on par with the top half of the conference will be difficult.
Bars
Potential Contributors: Kyla Bryant (9.850 NQS), Madison Brunette (9.815), Grace Waguespack (9.810), Grace Garcia (9.805), Taylor Lawson (9.795), Evelyn Micco (9.715), Chloe Widner (9.495 AVG), Irina Alexeeva, Jade Chrobok, Rachael Flam, Sandra Jessen, Isabela Onyshko, Addie Stonecipher, Sze En Tan, Amanda Zeng
How It Looked Before: Finishing 27th in NQS, bars was not a strength of the Cardinal.
How It Looks Now: Irina Alexeeva’s set helped her earn a spot on Russia’s World Championship team in 2018 and should anchor this lineup immediately. Stanford also returns its entire 2020 top six.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Trending up. Although it had its issues last season, Alexeeva’s routine and overall depth should see an improvement in scores.
Beam
Potential Contributors: Kyla Bryant (9.860 NQS), Chloe Widner (9.850), Taylor Lawson (9.835), Wesley Stephenson (9.805), Lauren Navarro (9.770), Morgan Hoang (9.730), Irina Alexeeva, Jade Chrobok, Rachael Flam, Sandra Jessen, Isabela Onyshko, Addie Stonecipher, Sze En Tan, Amanda Zeng
How It Looked Before: Beam had the potential to score well for Stanford, but inconsistency led to a 26th place finish in NQS.
How It Looks Now: A bulk of the lineup returns, and several of the freshmen have lots of promise. Onyshko made the event final at the 2016 Olympics for Canada, and Sze En Tan has impressed on the event at the world championships for Singapore. Alexeeva should contend for the lineup here as well.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Trending up. Overall depth and a year of experience should be beneficial for the Cardinal on beam.
Floor
Potential Contributors: Kyla Bryant (9.925 NQS), Morgan Hoang (9.860), Taylor Lawson (9.855), Chloe Widner (9.830), Madison Brunette (9.745), Lauren Navarro (9.475 AVG), Irina Alexeeva, Jade Chrobok, Rachael Flam, Sandra Jessen, Isabela Onyshko, Addie Stonecipher, Sze En Tan, Amanda Zeng
How It Looked Before: A number of disastrous meets limited the potential of the lineup that finished 19th in NQS.
How It Looks Now: Flam returns a routine that could be the perfect table-setter for Kyla Bryant’s set that many say was robbed of a perfect score last season. Plus, each of the freshmen tumble well enough to provide a lineup-ready routine.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Trending up. Stanford has the pieces to be a strong floor team in 2021.
Overall Outlook
An impressive freshman class has things looking up for Stanford for the first time in a while. But can the returning roster solve their inconsistency issues from a year ago? If they can, the Cardinal may find itself in the top 20 for the first time since 2016.
No. 27 Arizona
While inconsistency was a big issue for Arizona last season, the Wildcats also had no standout event to rely on when things started going south. This season could be similar for Arizona as it lost a majority of its lineup stalwarts and has a large freshman class to transition quickly into NCAA gymnastics. However, some of those freshmen have the potential to star right away for the Wildcats.
| Losses: | Christina Berg (UB, FX), Courtney Cowles (BB, FX), Haylie Hendrickson (UB, BB), Jenny Leung (VT, BB), Maddi Leydin (AA), Heather Swanson (VT, UB, FX) | |||
| Gains: | Jessica Castles, Madison Courney, Elena Deets, Caroline Herry, Halli Mayberry, Bailey McCabe, Taylor Raskin, Courtney Tsunoda | |||
Vault
Potential Contributors: Malia Hargrove (9.800 NQS), Kennedi Davis (9.790), Danielle Nosek (9.700), Payton Bellows (9.660), Jessica Castles, Madison Courney, Elena Deets, Caroline Herry, Bailey McCabe, Courtney Tsunoda
How It Looked Before: Finishing 23rd in NQS, Arizona struggled to put up any 10.0 start value vaults last season.
How It Looks Now: Freshman Jessica Castles, a Swedish elite with world championship experience, brings in a Yurchenko full the Wildcats will want in the lineup, and sophomore Malia Hargrove is back training the Yurchenko one and a half she competed as a level 10.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Too early to tell. Freshman Elena Deets also has a full that should make this lineup, but it all hinges on whether any 10.0 start values are able to materialize.
Bars
Potential Contributors: Mackinzie Kane (9.780 NQS), Zaza Brovedani (9.765), Sirena Linton (9.755 AVG), Jessica Castles, Madison Courney, Elena Deets, Caroline Herry, Halli Mayberry, Bailey McCabe, Taylor Raskin, Courtney Tsunoda
How It Looked Before: An inconsistent lineup contributed to an NQS finish of 31st.
How It Looks Now: Only two lineup mainstays return, leaving a bulk of the lineup in the hands of freshmen.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Trending down. Castles and Deets will again be able to easily contribute here, but many questions remain.
Beam
Potential Contributors: Kennedi Davis (9.860 NQS), Maila Hargrove (9.765), Zaza Brovedani (9.685), Avery Stauffacher (9.685 AVG), Sirena Linton (9.594), Jessica Castles, Madison Courney, Elena Deets, Caroline Herry, Halli Mayberry, Bailey McCabe, Courtney Tsunoda
How It Looked Before: An event that was trending up toward the end of the season, notching a finish of 23rd in NQS.
How It Looks Now: Half of the lineup returns, and Caroline Herry at her best is a freshman you want to contribute alongside Castles and Deets.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Too early to tell. Relying on freshmen on beam is never ideal, but Kennedi Davis was a welcome surprise here last season and has a routine to build a lineup around.
Floor
Potential Contributors: Malia Hargrove (9.835 NQS), Kennedi Davis (9.805), Libby Orman (9.790), Laura Leigh Horton (9.787 AVG), Danielle Nosek (9.700), Jessica Castles, Madison Courney, Elena Deets, Caroline Herry, Halli Mayberry, Bailey McCabe, Courtney Tsunoda
How It Looked Before: The weakest event for the Wildcats, finishing 35th in NQS.
How It Looks Now: Arizona returns more options here than on the other three events, but it will still need routines from underclassmen to complete the top six.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Too early to tell. Castles can shine here for the Wildcats, but the returners need to prove they’ve gotten more consistent.
Overall Outlook
Arizona sits in an uncomfortable position, having to replace a big senior class, but it has many options thanks to its freshman class of eight gymnasts. Like many other teams, how well the freshmen are able to score will dictate how the Wildcats’ season will go. But more specifically for Arizona, it hinges on how well Castles and Deets can score.
READ THIS NEXT: Potential Lineups: Pac-12 Part I
Article by Brandis Heffner
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