Schedule makers were so generous to ease us into the start of the 2021 season this week with just six competitions—because they did it for us, no other reason. And honestly, six meets was about all we could take. Safety protocols were analyzed, fitness measured and, of course, even a perfect 10. Catch up on all the highlights, lowlights and controversies in the recaps below.
Our expectations were low for use of gold-standard safety protocols but were pleasantly surprised with the teams that turned out. Florida, Arkansas and Utah all set a good example in week one, but our favorite mask moment came when Utah sophomore Maile O’Keefe pulled her mask out of her leotard to put on after vaulting.
We had high expectations for LSU freshman Haleigh Bryant’s NCAA debut, and boy did she not disappoint. This superstar came out swinging, notching a sky-high 9.975 for her debut floor routine (and a 9.900 for her vault).
Most Heartwarming Comeback
Griffin James (Alabama)
After tearing her Achilles in competition during the 2020 season, Griffin James came back strong less than a year later for Alabama. The comeback queen finished her floor routine filled with pure emotion, and her teammates followed suit. It was such an emotional moment, she forgot to salute the judges. We gave it a pass, but the judges weren’t so friendly and deducted one-tenth from her initial score of 9.900.
There were a number of good stuck vaults this week, but our personal favorite was this nailed Yurchenko 1.5 from Georgia junior Mikayla Magee. The performance even landed her on SportsCenter’s Top 10 at No. 4.
Best Fall
Meredith Sylvia (Auburn)
Sylvia was almost through her nearly flawless beam routine when she had a little mishap on her back handspring swing down and fell off the beam. Whoops!
Most Frustrating Fan Moment
Oklahoma meets continuing to be largely inaccessible
It is long past time for the Sooners to find a better TV/streaming contract than Fox Sports. It should not be this difficult for fans across the country to watch one of the best teams in the country. Imagine if this were the case for NCAA football and the majority of fans couldn’t watch Alabama or Clemson? It would never happen.
Click and expand the events below to see results, recaps of top meets or particularly exciting matchups and even links to watch archived broadcasts.
The Big Storyline: Victoria Nguyen made her AA debut for Georgia, and it was everything we could have asked for. She is the recruit Georgia desperately needed after many of its former elite and level 10 stars have been plagued with injuries. Nguyen scored a 39.400 in the AA and showcased her difficult, unique skills on bars, beam and floor. She’s one to watch for the next few years and could challenge Haleigh Bryant for SEC Freshman of the Week or Year.
Implications: Georgia came out of the gate strong for the first time in years. It had a higher team total on bars (49.325) than in any competition in 2020. The rest of the SEC should keep its eyes on the Gymdogs as they continue to get healthy. Missouri is a young team and lacked roster depth for the opening meet. It may not have its best year, especially with Helen Hu out for the season, but this team has a bright future with star underclassman.
Records: Mikayla Magee scored a career high on her stuck Yurchenko 1.5 (9.925), and Sienna Schreiber had a career high 9.900 on balance beam to close out the meet for the Tigers.
Preview
Current Rankings: No. 16 Missouri at No. 10 Georgia
Why You Should Clear Space on Your DVR: This meet could indicate potential breakout stars for both teams. Missouri lost 2020 SEC Specialist of the Year and AA competitor Helen Hu to a season-ending injury, and fifth year Morgan Porter to graduation. Georgia said goodbye to Sabrina Vega but may see athletes like Megan Roberts, Amanda Cashman and Emily Schild back to full strength.
You Can Fast Forward, but not Through This: Georgia freshman Victoria Nguyen is expected to make her debut on potentially three events for the Gymdogs. Balance Beam was her speciality in elite, and she appears to have brought a unique series to college: an onodi to a side aerial. Georgia’s Rachel Baumann is also one of the top balance beam workers in the country and is beautiful to watch. Keep an eye out for a strong performance from Roberts this season as well. Roberts has been limited throughout much of her college career due to various injuries, but she has been seen training a Y1.5 on vault. Missouri is looking for a big debut from freshman Jena Swanson with her Y1.5. She is expected to compete in the AA. Junior Alisa Sheremeta will compete her unique Rudi dismount on bars, which is always a treat to watch. Georgia may be favored to win, but the team has a history of first-meet jitters that could lead to an upset by Missouri.
The Big Storyline: After a slightly wonky bars rotation, Florida roared back to take the meet and earn its highest season opening score in program history. The Gators looked especially polished on vault, scoring the highest event total since 2017. Auburn had a solid performance that culminated in some unfortunate misses on floor. The Tigers welcomed Drew Watson on her key events (an uncertainty given her absence from pre-meet projected lineups).
Implications: Florida is on track to remain at the top of the rankings after Friday’s breakout performance.
Records: Trinity Thomas set a career high mark of 9.975 on her excellent Yurchenko one and a half. Ellie Lazzari’s 9.950 on beam was the highest ever score for a Florida freshman in her beam debut. As for the Tigers, their 195.725 was the third highest season-opening score in program history.
Preview
Current Rankings: No. 1 Florida at No. 14 Auburn
Why You Should Cancel Plans for It: This is our first look at the Florida Gators since they finished the 2020 season ranked No. 2 nationally and then grabbed the No. 1 spot in the WCGA preseason poll. The Gators have looked imperious in preseason training footage despite the deferral of three 5-star recruits. However, preseason No. 2 Oklahoma starts the season at home later this weekend and is unlikely to produce merely a modest first week score, so there is some pressure on the Gators to produce a big number and prove their competitiveness at the top level is not merely theoretical. We’ve seen very limited full routines in training for Auburn this preseason, so it’s hard to get a read on how ready the team is for 2021, but the Tigers have an opportunity to jump in the SEC rankings this year, as several teams previously ranked above them wrestle with major injuries and the graduation of critical 2020 seniors.
What We’re Watching: Former elite Olivia Hollingsworth is one to watch from the Auburn freshman class. Her open full out on floor (yes, full OUT) is nothing short of breathtaking, and we’re sure Kathy Johnson Clarke will be gasping about it. Auburn’s fate is closely tied to its slate of three or four mercurial Yurchenko one and a halfs. With almost limitless depth across all four events and lots of difficulty to play with, Florida lineups will be very interesting. Alyssa Baumann has looked strong on bars in preseason and might finally make her debut in the all around, while Payton Richards’ Yurchenko one and a half, ranked No. 25 nationally in 2020, has been missing in favor of a Yurchenko full for no clear reason.
What Else You Should Know Before Tuning In: Florida freshman Ellie Lazzari has been spotted in a walking boot lately. She’s continued to train, so don’t start panicking about an Achilles tear or anything like that, but something’s probably not 100%. And once again, we really haven’t seen a lot of footage from Auburn, so we’ll be watching for absences among major contributors.
The Big Storyline: LSU left a lot to be desired while Arkansas performed better than many expected. Haleigh Bryant had a spectacular debut performance for the Tigers. She wasn’t to be outperformed by Kiya Johnson, though, who scored a 10.000 on floor to end the meet after Bryant’s 9.975. Beam was not pretty for LSU, and early miscues on vault and bars meant the meet was closer than Tigers fans likely expected it would be. Arkansas started out great on bars and carried the momentum through the meet. Vault was the weak point for the Razorbacks, and balance checks on beam sealed their 196.350, just two tenths below LSU.
Implications: LSU and Arkansas will be No. 3 and No. 4 in the SEC after Friday’s performances. Arkansas proved that it can hang with the best while LSU will need to put in some serious work if it wants to compete up to its typical standards. It’s the first week. There’s time. But this was not it.
Records: Amanda Elswick’s 9.900 on vault is a career high, as is Kennedy Hambrick’s 9.925 on beam. Kiya Johnson’s 10.000 on floor is her first on the event. Bridget Dean’s 9.900 on beam is also a career high.
Preview
Current Rankings: No. 15 Arkansas at No. 3 LSU
Why You Should Clear Space on Your DVR: All eyes will be on Baton Rouge as we try to make sense of what COVID protocols and LSU’s lineups look like after the infamous preview meet. The past few years have seen LSU play host to a Pac-12 opponent and win handily in week one, so it will be interesting to see if score discrepancies are similar against a conference foe.
You Can Fast Forward, but not Through This: Several editors projected Kiya Johnson to be the first gymnast to score a perfect 10 in 2021, so make sure to tune into her events. The same goes for Haleigh Bryant, whose vault could also vie for that coveted score. Arkansas junior Bailey Lovett’s floor routine will also be a must-see.
The Big Storyline: This meet was insanely close throughout, with mere hundredths of a point separating the two teams until last rotation.
Implications: Kentucky proved it should not be overlooked despite graduating Mollie Korth and having a relatively young roster (five of the six gymnasts on floor were competing the event for the first time). Alabama demonstrated what it is capable of and will continue to build on the momentum created in this first meet for what should be a very competitive presence in the SEC, as well as NCAA as a whole.
Records: There were five total career bests achieved at this meet: Shealyn Luksik (9.875 on bars), Josie Angeny (9.900 on bars), Cally Nixon (9.900 on vault), Makarri Doggette (9.925 on beam) and Alonza Klopfer (9.850 on floor).
Controversies: In a truly disappointing moment, the judges deducted a tenth from Griffin James’ final score for failing to salute at the end of her routine. This was particularly heartbreaking to see after watching James become overwhelmed with emotion at her first routine back following an Achilles tear.
Preview
Current Rankings: No. 12 Kentucky at No. 6 Alabama
Why You Should Clear Space on Your DVR: This SEC matchup may not be getting the same attention as its counterparts, but it should. There has been a lot of mystery around Kentucky this preseason, and we are anxious to see which routines will be making lineups. Both teams are capable of big numbers if they hit, with Alabama especially poised to be the dark horse of the SEC if it reaches its full potential.
You Can Fast Forward, but not Through This: Alabama is boasting some big routines from star-in-the-making freshman Shania Adams (who was featured on all four events plus the all around in our Most Anticipated Freshmen series). Expect to see her jumping in right away to fill the gaps left behind by seniors like Shea Mahoney and Maddie Desch. Shallon Olsen is another gymnast we have our eye on; the junior had a late arrival on campus after spending the fall training in Canada, and it is unclear how much she will be contributing for the Crimson Tide to start. For Kentucky, we have our eye on freshman Isabella Magnelli, who has the potential to shine on each event—but especially keep your eye on her gorgeous beam routine.
The Big Storyline: While the quad meet was far from glamorous, Utah ended it strong on its final three events to finish on top and post the third best score of the weekend. Freshman Lucy Stanhope and sophomore Jaedyn Rucker both made strong Utah debuts on vault and floor, while freshman Alani Sabado saw action on bars. Utah State and Southern Utah both suffered from beam disasters to finish third and fourth, respectively, and will want to clean up those performances to be competitive in the MRGC moving forward. Oh, and who is Mayson Bentley? The junior Thunderbird was the surprise of the evening with her 9.900 bar routine that won the event title; it was her first time competing the event. BYU also struggled with some misses on beam, but had a strong performance from Abbey Miner-Alder, as she was able to tie for the event title on floor and pace the Cougars to a second place finish.
Implications: Utah lived up to its preseason ranking and appears to have what it takes to make nationals if not finals this season with a strong 196.900 on the road right out of the gate. The MRGC battle brings up several questions with key athletes opting out of the season for Utah State, but Southern Utah did not look polished here either. It might simply be a back and forth battle all season long. With primarily conference matchups this season, keep your eye out for a continued battle between these two teams.
Preview
Current Rankings: No. 4 Utah vs. No. 17 BYU vs. No. 23 Southern Utah vs. No. 32t Utah State
Why You Should Cancel Plans for It: The annual Best of Utah quad matchup returns with all four teams competing ranked in the WCGA preseason top 32. The first meet of the season should give a preview of what’s to come for the MRGC competitive field. Utah is also expected to see some big scores from its returning sophomore class and make run for the 2021 national title.
What We’re Watching: Lucy Stanhope will likely be making her freshman debut for Utah; she showed routines on all four events in the Utes’ December intrasquad. Sophomore Jaedyn Rucker is also expected to make her debut after missing her freshman season with an injury. Utah State has been on the rise for the past few seasons and should put up a battle against its conference rivals Southern Utah and BYU, with the help of seniors Leighton Varnadore Autumn Deharde. Anique Greiner joined Utah State’s roster as a junior and could be a potential contributor for the Aggies on bars.
What Else You Should Know Before Tuning In: This will mark the first meet for the teams since the cancellation of the end of the 2020 season due to COVID-19. It’ll be interesting to watch how the gymnasts handle COVID-19 precautions and overcome offseason obstacles. This event in particular should pose more challenges with four teams. Also of note, Utah State sophomore’s Sofi Sullivan and Tori Loomis have opted out of competing this season. Gracie Kramer, 2020 UCLA grad, will be making her coaching debut as volunteer assistant coach at Utah State.
The Big Storyline: Oklahoma had no problem winning its first meet of the season over Arizona State while posting the second highest score in the country for the opening weekend. Senior Anastasia Webb won two events and the all around in a Sooner sweep, with freshmen Katherine LeVasseur and Audrey Lynn also taking home wins.
Implications: The Sooners looked strong across the board even with the absence of Olivia Trautman, showing they have the depth to challenge for a championship. Arizona State’s performance scored on par with its season openers from the past few years, showing the promise of this team when it is able to hit a beam rotation.
Controversies: Oklahoma junior Emma LaPinta received a 9.900 on floor despite several significant errors. There was a lot to like in LaPinta’s routine; it’s unfortunate that the judges’ failure to do their jobs is overshadowing that.
Preview
Current Rankings: No. 21 Arizona State at No. 2 Oklahoma
Why You Should Clear Space on Your DVR: While it won’t be the most competitive matchup of the weekend, both teams had strong 2020 s and will be looking to carry that momentum into the new season. Oklahoma’s lineups will also be interesting to watch as it will be the Sooners’ debut in the post-Maggie Nichols era.
You Can Fast Forward, but not Through This: In addition to stars Olivia Trautman and Anastasia Webb, keep an eye out for Oklahoma freshman Katherine LeVasseur, who should factor into the vault and floor lineups but could be used on any event. After dealing with injuries in 2020, senior Cairo Leonard-Baker appears to be fully healthy and is one to watch for the Sun Devils, along with Juliette Boyer, who will be looking to capitalize on momentum from an impressive freshman season.
The Cardinals deviated from their typical Intrasquad format and hosted a single-team meet on Sunday, bringing in judges to score the routines. All four freshmen had the opportunity to show their skills on at least one event, with Hannah Ruthberg competing in the all around. Victoria Henry also competed on all four events (with beam being in exhibition) and won vault with a 9.775, tying Taylor Waldo for the highest score of the day (Waldo earned the mark on floor). Notably absent from competition were both Bri Slonim and MAC Specialist of the Year Claudia Goyco.
Illinois State
The Redbirds intrasquad gave us some insight into their lineups and allowed us our first look at where the freshmen will most likely fit in. Isabella DeCroo competed on the vault and bars, as well as in exhibition on beam and floor. J’Chelle Heard had a strong showing on vault, also showing exhibition routines on bars and beam. Carly Hawksworth performed on all four events, looking most likely to make an appearance in the bar lineup to start.
Also noteworthy: Savannah Remkus is still coming back from injury, but showed a strong beam routine and a floor exhibition. Sofia Irribarren upgraded her vault to a Yurchenko full, which will be a welcome addition to the lineup. Irribarren, Angelica Labat and Alaska transfer Isabelle Fox all competed all around, and all three had strong showings.
Minnesota
Minnesota showed off its depth at its Intrasquad on Saturday, giving plenty of freshmen opportunities to show full routines with definite lineup potential. Vault, which historically has been a weaker event for the Gophers, was a highlight, with four 10.0 starts and a handful of strong fulls to choose from; we expect this to be a strong event this season. On the flip side, the Gophers still have some work to do on bars; that lineup appears to be the most influx of all the events. Notably absent was Ella Sirjord, who has been featured heavily in training videos on this event in particular.
On beam, the queens reign supreme, with strong showings from lineup staples Lexy Ramler, Ona Loper, Mary Korlin-Downs, Tiarre Sales and Ali Sonier—and strong options for that sixth spot, with Mya Hooten, Abbie Nylin and Lexie Montgomery being the most likely contenders. Emily Koch and Katie Horak also had strong showings here, so keep an eye on them as well. The other big highlight of the Intrasquad was floor; there are so many strong lineup options that it’s difficult to tell who will make the final cut. Hooten and Halle Remlinger were both particularly noteworthy here, showing off strong full-ins. Koch and Erin Fortman also had lovely routines with impressive difficulty, and could certainly see some lineup time.
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