The Mount: Week 5

Recap

The Big Storyline: Penn State was able to hit bars and beam, showcasing beautiful form and  flexibility. The team scored a season high on both events to grab its first win and highest overall total of the season so far. Maryland continued to struggle on bars and could not overcome the deficit on the remainder events to top the Nittany Lions for the second time this year. 

Implications: The first meet between the two universities did not count as a conference meet. This could play a role later on in the season as the Nittany Lions currently sit behind the Terrapins in Big Ten and the overall rankings. However, they grabbed the win in the conference meet, which could serve as a tiebreaker later on when it comes to regular season standings. Cassidy Rushlow should be on the radar for an individual appearance at nationals in the all around.

Records: Cassidy Rushlow scored a career best 39.475 in the all around.

Note: This meet was rescheduled from Jan. 29 due to COVID protocols.

Recap

The Big Storyline: LSU set a season high and the third-highest team total of the 2021 season in a loosely scored return to competition after a week away. But the bigger story was a drastic improvement by the Auburn Tigers, who had not broken 196 yet in 2021 but tightened up technically across four events to eclipse 197. The returns of Aria Brusch and Cassie Stevens to Auburn’s lineups helped, but the real key was shockingly improved technique across four events.

Implications: LSU’s season high allowed it to hold off Utah for the No. 2 spot in the national rankings. Auburn jumped up several spots to 19th and finally has a score it will be happy to use for NQS.

Records: LSU’s team total was the second-best in the country at the time of the meet on Friday night, but since then, Oklahoma has also done better.

Controversies: Kiya Johnson received a 9.700 for a badly under-rotated double-twisting Yurchenko in which many fans thought she put her knee down. Even if she didn’t fall, the combination of under-rotation, knee bend and a large step forward should have added up to a fall-like score. Olivia Hollingsworth received an out-of-bounds deduction on floor, but in slow-mo some felt it appeared that she didn’t actually put her heel down on the line.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 2 LSU at No. 22 Auburn

Why You Should Clear Space on Your DVR: This will be the lone SEC meet of the week as all other teams are on a bye. LSU was unable to travel and compete against Auburn last week due to COVID-19 contact tracing. The team was allowed to continue training, so preparation should not be of large concern. Auburn is supposed to see Aria Brusch return to lineups after suffering a shoulder injury in week one. She is a key contributor on bars, beam and floor. In addition, the team hopes to return Cassie Stevens to lineups at some point this season; the reason for her absence remains unknown. LSU may be testing out depth options and continue to ease freshmen into more lineups as Kiya Johnson manages a tender Achilles and Christina Desiderio has struggled on floor in recent weeks.

You Can Fast Forward, but not Through This: Kamryn Ryan was in exhibition for LSU against Georgia and stuck her Yurchenko 1.5 cold. The sophomore scored higher than the majority of the lineup, and we expect to see her score be a part of the team total this week. Derrian Gobourne has been a highlight for Auburn, including her high-energy floor routine that was choreographed by her brother and a family friend.

Recap

The Big Storyline: BYU took home the win after a stellar beam rotation, resulting in a season high on the event. The Cougars had five scores above a 9.825 leading to a 49.350 event total. Helody Cyrenne had her best night of the season scoring a 9.900 on both bars and beam. Freshman Sophia McClelland made her second lineup appearance with a solid beam set. Southern Utah struggled on vault and were unable to match BYU’s scores throughout the rest of the competition. Karley McClain won her fourth straight all around title and Hannah Nipp returned to the bar lineup. Anyssa Alvarado, Sadie Miner and Haley Pitou were absent from the competition for BYU. Pitou’s absence is related to COVID, according to her Instagram Story. 

Implications: BYU will stay at the top of the MRGC after this competition. However, the battle was close and the competition for the conference title will be a good one as postseason inches closer. Watch out for BYU and Southern Utah to make a jump in the overall rankings as well. These teams have been consistently scoring in the 196 range and could hit 197-plus in the future.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 15 Southern Utah at  No. 12 BYU 

Why You Should Make Time to Tune in: The top two teams in the MRGC go head-to-head this week with a Friday night matchup. BYU landed ahead of the Thunderbirds at Best of Utah, but both teams have had significant improvements since then. BYU is coming off its first win of the season with season best vault and beam rotations. These events have been the programs’ weak spots early on. Southern Utah had its third straight dual meet win and hit 24 for 24 routines against Boise State. Expect this meet to be one of the closest of the weekend; it may leave us hanging until the last routine to find out the winner. 

Need More Proof?  Southern Utah and BYU have some of the best bars swingers in the country with Shylen Murakami and Mayson Bentley having been highlights for the Thunderbirds so far. Anyssa Alvarado is ranked No. 14 on bars but was absent from last week’s meet. Abby Beeston has also been a key contributor on bars, scoring a 9.900 earlier in the season. Southern Utah’s Karley McClain has won three straight all around titles and is a favorite to take her fourth home this weekend.

Results

The Big Storyline: A season-high bars rotation couldn’t counteract lower scores on all three other events for SEMO, which turned in one of its lower totals of the season in a loss to conference rival Illinois State. Ashley Albrecht and Lydia Test did not compete for the Redhawks, though Anna Kaziska thankfully returned on beam.

Implications: SEMO hangs onto the No. 3 ranking in USAG, though it’s now much more vulnerable to No. 4 Air Force.

Recap

The Big Storyline: Despite trailing at the halfway point of the meet, Utah ended the competition strong on floor and beam to edge out Arizona State, who posted its first score above 197 in 15 years. Maile O’Keefe led the way for the Utes yet again, taking the all around title after tying for the event title on floor and placing second on vault and beam. The Sun Devils were also led by their top all arounder, Hannah Scharf, who placed second to O’Keefe by only half a tenth and tied her for the floor title. Juliette Boyer was the other Sun Devil to win an event title, taking the top spot on bars with a new career high.

Implications: Both teams will maintain their standings within the conference after this meet, with Utah sitting on top and Arizona State remaining in third and increasing its lead over California, who sits in fourth.

Records: Arizona State’s team total is a season high, and also the team’s highest score since the 2006 season. Utah’s 49.425 on floor is a season high.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 3 Utah at No. 16 Arizona State

Why You Should Clear Space on Your DVR: Both teams are off to hot starts in 2021, with Utah looking like a true national championship contender and Arizona State with a realistic shot to finish in the top half of the conference. Last week the Sun Devils beat Oregon State for the first time since 2006 and nearly upset UCLA back in week three, so if the Utes are off their game, they need to watch out. Utah, however, will be looking for another strong performance as it is in a very tight battle with LSU for second in the rankings.

You Can Fast Forward, but not Through This: Utah’s Maile O’Keefe earned her first perfect 10 on beam last week, so keep an eye out for her follow up performance not only on beam but in the all around. Sydney Soloski flirted with perfection last week as well on floor, and will be hoping to get 10s from both judges this weekend. Arizona State’s Hannah Scharf has been strong in the all around so far this season and should continue to build momentum with a good showing in a home meet against a highly ranked opponent.

Results

Recap

The Big Storyline: It was back and forth between N.C. State and North Carolina throughout the meet, but in the end, the Wolfpack came out on top with a season high score and the first score of 196-plus from an EAGL team in 2021. The Tar Heels also recorded a new season high, led by another 9.950 from Elizabeth Culton on beam. Towson started out with a rough floor rotation but rallied on its last three events to tie its season high and set new season highs on bars and beam. Pitt had another rough meet, counting multiple falls, but was finally able to put up six people on vault.

Implications: Despite being defeated by N.C. State here, North Carolina will retain the No. 1 spot in the EAGL, and Culton will still be ranked No. 1 nationally on beam. Pitt is still struggling with consistency and will drop a bit in the rankings, but if the Panthers can get back to the level they reached last week, they should gain some ground once NQS kicks in and these low scores can be dropped.

Records: Towson’s 49.125 on beam is the third highest score in program history. Hannah Nam’s 9.875 on beam was a career high. All six gymnasts in N.C. State’s floor rotation set career highs, and the team’s total score of 49.400 is the sixth best score in program history.

Results

The Big Storyline: This was an extremely exciting conference meet that resulted in a big win and new program record for Ball State and season best scores for three of the four teams. The Cardinals ultimately walked away with a huge win here, making it clear that they are not to be so easily dismissed when thinking ahead to the conference championship.

Implications: The MAC is always a competitive conference, and this meet was great evidence as to why—you truly never know which team is going to come out on top. Ball State had a fantastic showing, notching a new program record with its 195.975. Western Michigan also demonstrated what its capable of, and was on 196 pace at the halfway mark. Eastern Michigan once again proved it is a beam team, with two athletes notching career-best scores on that event. It’s also worth noting that the Eagles recorded their best team score since 2019. Kent State had some big highlights as well, notably from reigning MAC Gymnast of the Week Abby Fletcher. 

Records: Ball State set its fourth program record in two years. Eastern Michigan had six gymnasts with career best performances (Cali Harden 9.800 on vault, Molly Parris 9.850 on bars, Hayden Crossen 9.900 on beam, Caitlin Satler 9.925 on beam, Kara Roberts and Jada Rondeau both with 9.900 on floor). Ball State freshman Victoria Henry notched a 9.925 for her stuck Yurchenko 1.5, and Taylor Waldo scored a career best 9.850 on beam. 

Recap

The Big Storyline: It looked like the Gophers were going to take this one leading into the final rotation, their margin increasing after each event. However, two falls opened the door for the Hawkeyes, who danced through with a stellar floor rotation. Once again, Minnesota threw out an otherwise outstanding meet with a counted major mistake. The Gophers are a better team than their last three scores would imply, but they’ll need to start putting together complete meets as we march closer to the NQS switch.

Implications: Iowa keeps proving that none of this great start is a fluke. It’s a team capable of a 197 with some cleaning up on bars and beam. It also proved it can play with the conference big kids. The Gophers are capable of a mid-197 with a big hit but keep throwing it away. With only three more road meets, it’s getting to be NQS crunch time. They’ll want to drop this one and their first away 195.000, so they can only afford one more road miss.

Records: This number is Iowa’s fourth-highest in program history. Minnesota’s 49.475 on floor is tied for its fourth-best on that event.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 11 Minnesota at No. 10 Iowa

Why You Should Cancel Plans for It: Kathy Johnson Clarke and Bart Conner on an ESPN-produced meet in THE BIG TEN are you kidding?! That makes it can’t-miss on its own, but there’s a lot to unpack in this one. First of all, No. 11 at No. 10. Hello. Second, this is a rematch of the opening meet in the Big Ten when Iowa fell to Minnesota at Maturi Pavillion. Third, it’s a battle for conference placement. This is largely a fight for second in the conference, but also for first. Mathematically, either team could overtake idle Michigan for the top spot. Phew! (Iowa’s magic number is 196.850. Minnesota’s is steeper at 197.475).

What We’re Watching: Do not under any circumstances take your eye balls off your screen during the final rotation. Bathroom and snack breaks prior to the rotation beginning are recommended. Lexy Ramler, Ona Loper and Mary Korlin-Downs beam alternating with Clair Kaji, JerQuavia Henderson and Lauren Guerin floor: what a treat! Guerin has been public about her quest for a 10.0. Will having ESPN in the house help the magic happen? Or will Ramler and Loper steal the show?

What Else You Should Know Before Tuning In: Guerin’s start value problem from last week should be resolved, per a Larissa Libby tweet taking responsibility for the error.

Results: Utah State at Boise State

Recap

The Big Storyline: Iowa State and West Virginia both turned in season-high performances in their first matchup of the season. 

Implications: Given Denver and Oklahoma’s performances today, these scores will not affect the Big 12 rankings. However, both programs scored season highs with less-than-perfect performances, which could lead to changes in the national rankings. If nothing else, Iowa State and West Virginia showed us yet again that they are teams to watch in 2021. 

Records: The Cyclones led off with a strong bar rotation that saw four gymnasts earn either season or career highs. The team earned its second consecutive 196, only the second time in program history it’s notched two 196-plus marks in its first three meets (and the first time under head coach Jay Roynane). West Virginia earned a season high total, as well as its second consecutive 49-plus on floor. Kendra Combs set a personal best on floor while Kianna Yancey scored a career high on beam in her first performance of the season. Emily Holmes-Hacker and Michelle Waldron also notched career highs on floor and vault respectively. 

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 17 Iowa State at No. 30 West Virginia 

Why You Should Make Time to Tune in: The Mountaineers have exceeded expectations so far this season, keeping pace with Big 12 front-runner Oklahoma in back-to-back meets. The Cyclones, meanwhile, defeated fifth-ranked Denver for the first time since 2013 and posted the Big 12’s highest team total of the weekend (thanks in part to junior Addy De Jesus’s perfect 10 on vault). De Jesus is establishing herself as a force to be reckoned with, ranking 19th nationally in the all around and first on vault. She’s already gone 9.850-plus on all four events and could realistically challenge the country’s top all arounders with a hit performance.  

Need More Proof? This meet will be worth watching for the floor rotations alone: West Virginia alumna and first-year assistant coach Zaakira Muhammad has choreographed a lineup of truly unique routines while Iowa State boasts some of the highest difficulty in the country.

Recap

The Big Storyline: Both Oklahoma and Denver bounced back in a major way after underwhelming sub-196 performances in week four. Temple posted its highest score of the season. 

Implications: Oklahoma and Denver reasserted themselves as the top teams of the Big 12 (all the more impressive given that Denver was competing with a veritable skeleton crew, competing five-up, five-count on every event except floor). We won’t see any changes in the conference rankings, but this might just be enough for both teams to climb a spot or two nationally. Temple will happily take this massive away score (its season high by over a point), which should help lift it out of the bottom of the EAGL standings. 

Records: Jenna Dunn and Lynzee Brown both matched their career highs of 9.925 on beam while Evy Schoepfer notched a personal best 9.950 on vault. Temple’s Caitlin Gray also matched a career-high 9.775 on bars.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 5 Oklahoma and No. 45 Temple at No. 8 Denver

Why You Should Cancel Plans for It: Big 12 rivals Denver and Oklahoma are facing each other for the first time this season, and both are coming off of tough performances in which neither team broke the 196 barrier. They’ll be seeking not only redemption, but also the team scores needed to climb back up the national rankings. Further complicating things, Temple has been outstanding on floor and impressive on vault. If the Owls can put together four hit rotations, they could make this meet much closer than anticipated. The only thing we know for sure about this season is that just about anything can happen. 

What We’re Watching: Not to put too fine a point on it, but beam is make-or-break for the Sooners. After a strong debut, they’ve had to count at least one fall in the last two meets. The talent is certainly there, but the team will have to conquer its collective nerves if it wants to stave off the Pioneers.

The Big Storyline: After Lindenwood became the first USAG team to crack 195.000 last weekend, Texas Woman’s quickly followed suit. Freshman Madeline Gose followed up her MIC Newcomer of the Week honor with two individual titles and is a strong contender to repeat. Centenary’s first meet in 2021 was a successful one—while the Ladies will want to get close to the 190.000 mark by the end of the season, they’re used to opening the season in the 181-182 range and will undoubtedly be very pleased with the preparation they did in January. Air Force turned in a season high in a strong recovery from a rough showing at California last week. Junior Daija Stevenson led the team and cracked 39.000 in the all around for the first time in her career.

Implications: The USAG rankings remain unchanged apart from Centenary joining the bottom of the rankings. No. 2 Texas Woman’s crept closer to No. 1 Lindenwood, while No. 4 Air Force narrowed the gap between itself and third place.

Records: Stevenson’s 39.125 in the all around is a personal best. It’s also the first time this year that a USAG all arounder has exceeded 39.000.

Recap

The Big Storyline: Phew this was a messy one. Both teams shone on beam, where scores were loose but the gymnastics was quite good, and everything else was in the room-for-improvement category. Nebraska vaulted a Yurchenko layout, both teams counted a major mistake on bars, and floor was…well, floor was in the 47s for both squads.

Implications: Nebraska remains on the struggle bus. Some things go brilliantly (Roby’s 9.950 on beam!) and then completely fall apart (two falls and a major start value issue when Roby balked on a tumbling pass on floor). The Huskers just don’t have the pieces right now and could find themselves in the regionals danger zone. Thankfully for them, both 193 totals have been home scores, and road meets have gone better. Rutgers struggled the first two meets out, and this number is a promising step forward. The Scarlet Knights will be glad to have this total in the away meet bag.

Records: This is Rutgers first ever win over Nebraska.

Controversies: The floor scores took an entire eternity to come in for both teams. These judges DID NOT care that the Super Bowl had begun. Not an ounce.