[UPDATE 1/19 10:90 a.m.: Maryland will compete with Illinois at Rutgers on Jan. 23 at 11:00 a.m.]
Fantasy gym—like everything since March—is a little different this season. The official game isn’t running because of all of the uncertainty. We know a number of you are playing in private leagues, so Fantasy Central lives on!
We’re keeping the College Fantasy Gymnastics weekly cadence as our guide: As far as we’re concerned, the fantasy “week” begins with any Wednesday meets, and ends with Tuesday meets; that’s why you’ll find us here every Tuesday talking about “next week”.
Reminder: Alaska, Bridgeport, Brockport, Brown, Cornell, Cortland, Ithaca, Penn, Southern Connecticut, UC Davis, Ursinus, West Chester and Yale are not competing this season.
Injury Updates
- Retirement/Left Team: Sadie Bish – TWU – removed from roster (1/12)
- Unknown: Caroline Williams – Nebraska – on crutches (1/15)
- Unknown: Victoria Nguyen – Georgia – on crutches (1/15)
- Unknown: Faith Lerro – Pitt – injured on bars; arm in sling (1/15)
- Unknown: Grace Johnson – Oregon State – on crutches (1/15)
- Unknown: Amanda Elswick – Arkansas – ankle injury (1/15)
- COVID-19: Megan Verceles Carr – Nebraska – opted out (1/15)
- Short Term: Carly Woodard – Oklahoma – minor leg injury; out 4-6 weeks (1/17)
- Long Term: Audrey Lynn – Oklahoma – season ending leg injury (1/17)
- Long Term: Lauren Bridgens – Penn State – torn Achilles (1/17)
Where Is She?
This year more than ever, we’re seeing mysterious absences. Some are likely due to contact tracing or keeping the traveling group low, meaning some lightly injured gymnasts may not be attending away meets. Whatever the reason, these folks were AWOL, and we’re working to figure out why.
| Gymnast | Noticed Missing |
| Lacy Dagen (OSU) | 1/15 |
| Colette Yamaoka (OSU) | 1/15 |
| Alexis Stokes (BSU) | 1/15 |
| Talia Little (BSU) | 1/15 |
| Courtney Blackson (BSU) | 1/15 |
| Ella Warren (UK) | 1/8 |
| Cassie Stevens (Auburn) | 1/15 |
| Julianne Fehring (OU) | 1/10 |
| Cienna Samiley (ASU) | 1/10 |
| Megan Monfredi (UK) | 1/8 |
| Sarah Hargrove (UNL) | 1/15 |
| Kaitlyn Gilson (tOSU) | 1/16 |
| Ella Sirjord (Minn.) | 1/15 |
| Dani Castillo (Iowa) | 1/15 |
| Danica Abanto (tOSU) | 1/16 |
| Allyson Steffensmeier (Iowa) | 1/15 |
COVID Schedule Changes
Michigan State has pulled out of its scheduled dual with Maryland on January 23; both schedules list the event as “postponed”. The team did not specify a reason other than preparedness. Maryland has not yet indicated whether it will join another Big Ten meet or take a bye.
Week 3 Byes and Doubles
Byes: California, Gustavus Adolphus, Hamline, Iowa State, Michigan State, Stanford, UW-Eau Claire, UW-La Crosse, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stout, UW-Whitewater, Winona State
Doubles: Northern Illinois, SEMO
Deep Cuts for Deep Leagues in Week 3
Tips for those of you in leagues with 10-plus players, where you need to be a little more creative to fill out lineups; especially in SEC bye weeks.
Vault
Iowa’s Bridget Killian had a great season opener. She was especially strong on vault and floor, and she’ll get you a decent beam number, too. If Maryland does indeed compete this week, Alexsis Rubio has an excellent vault. Towson’s Nikki Borkowski had a great start to season last week. Aleah Turon is back for Lindenwood after missing 2020, and she started with a 9.850.
Bars
Freshman Kaitlyn Ewald stunned on bars for Illinois, notching a 9.900. She also vaulted an excellent front handspring pike exhibition that might break that lineup in the future. Anyssa Alvarado is turning out to be quite a bars sensation for BYU.
Beam
Ohio State freshman Emma Pritchard had a good first meet; she’s a solid beam worker, with room to grow into her bar and floor sets as well. Classmate Hannah Oliveros stole the beam show at Michigan. Penn State’s Natalie Cross was also excellent here, and she brings a good vault, too. Maryland’s Reese McClure had a breakout beam showing last week. Bridgeport transfer Julianna Roland is settling into DI life for Temple, already anchoring beam. Western Michigan is back in action this week, which means the return of Payton Murphy is nigh.
Floor
Kent State had a great first meet. We all know Abby Fletcher is a floor star, but teammate Karlie Franz also was strong here. She’ll get you a decent vault number, too. Iowa’s Alex Greenwald has really stepped up her game this year; she debuted with a 9.900.
Starts, Sits and Pickups for Week 3
Are you playing in a smaller league and still looking for advice about big names? Are you in a deep league but not sure what to do with that OU beam specialist? These tips are for you!
Vault
Mikayla Magee tweaked her foot in Georgia’s warmups last week and was pulled. It didn’t sound serious, but start her at your own risk. Kentucky has been stellar on vault, with Cally Nixon leading the way.
Bars
Boise remains a bars team; the Emilys, Lopez and of course Muhlenhaupt are your ticket to big numbers. Don’t miss comeback kid Katrina Coca on bars for Pittsburgh either. Don’t lose sight of Maddie Mariani in all the Michigan talent; she’s a strong and steady bar and beam worker. Alisa Sheremeta is back in action for Missouri.
Beam
Nicoletta Koulos quietly had a stellar day for Michigan, but she did it largely in exhibition spots, only counting a score on floor. Given that her 9.825 exhibition beam set was steadier than and outscored four competition routines, we have to assume she’ll be in this lineup next week. UCLA is in action this week; you know what that means. It’s Frida Esparza time. Utah State’s Autumn DeHarde was back on beam in practice.
Floor
Emily Gaskins has just not been on for Alabama; we’d hold her out this week to see if she can get settled. Shallon Olsen added back floor last week for a solid 9.800. Jenny Hansen said she’d be resting Halle Remlinger one more week; hold onto her, though, because she should be in lineups the following week at Penn State. Karrie Thomas was in the floor lineup for the injured Carly Woodard and pulled after warmups; given that was KJ Kindler’s shakiest lineup, we have to assume Thomas will get the start at some point. The question is, when? She has also mentioned she expects to see Kat Levasseur in the all around “at some point.”
Notes from the Fantasy Roundtable
We’re not sure why Iowa State’s Emilie Hong isn’t competing. She has been around, though. It’s a mystery.
Article by Emily Minehart with additional reporting from Kalley Leer
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Is there anyway you can find out the score for Kaitlyn Ewald? I know the front pike starts from a 9.9 so I’m interested what a score would be for a good pike. My daughter is starting her season with that vault..
I don’t see a score for vault for her on Road to Nationals. Did she exhibition?