The criteria is a little different this season as we tweak some of our point totals to better analyze the designs. There will be up to three points for design, up to one point each for fabric and sparkle, school spirit and uniqueness and up to three points for overall appearance. This week Christina, Emily M and Jenna are joining Editor-in-Chief Elizabeth to help judge.
LIU: 9.275
Elizabeth: 9.000
Design 2.7/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.8/3
This is obviously great. I think I prefer it over the Sharks’ first leo, but it’s close. The yellow to light blue to darker blue ombre reminds me of shaved ice. I can’t really find fault.
Christina: 9.400
Design 2.9/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.9/3
Gorgeous! The ombré is like a sunset over the ocean. There is nothing I dislike here. One of my favorite looks of the week, and of this season so far.
Emily M: 9.300
Design 2.7/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 2.9/3
Now this is how you create an exciting leo if you don’t have the budget for mega-customization and an endless bucket of sparkles. The ombre continuing up onto the sleeves is great, and the tri-color makes it have so much more depth. Makes me think of the sun over the ocean, which works for the Sharks. Everything about it is simple and excellent.
Jenna: 9.400
Design 3/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.9/3
This is close to perfect, and a definite improvement over the Sharks’ first leo. The ombre is gorgeous, the bedazzled logo provides the perfect amount of school spirit and the white trim tops it off. This might be my favorite leo of the season so far.
Penn State: 8.800
Elizabeth: 9.300
Design 2.8/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 2.8/3
Yes, Penn State! It’s hard to make shiny white work, but it works here. I love the shape of the front, and I even don’t mind the ruching. But I love the back. It’s open and funky and everything I want in the back of a leo. Add on white shimmery mesh sleeves and colored rhinestones to accent and *chef’s kiss.*
Christina: 8.200
Design 2.6/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
The back is beautiful. It reminds me of some of my favorite looks from OU or UF. I’m less obsessed by the front of the bodice, but I enjoy the shiny white and the ruching.
Emily M: 9.400
Design 2.8/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 2.8/3
Yes yes yes. Penn State leos have been so close to right up my alley but not quite there the past few years, and this one finally really does it for me. The reuched bit on the bodice GLOWED on the broadcast, and you could really see the blue holographic tones. The back is unique, and the use of blue and white rhinestones is everything I ever wanted.
Jenna: 8.300
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 1/1, Overall Appearance 2.4/3
I love the back of this leo; it’s absolute perfection. I’m less crazy about the front, though. It’s still nice, but I would like more of a contrast between the white bodice and white sleeves.
Air Force: 7.075
Elizabeth: 7.200
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
I love the idea of this, but for some reason the mostly red body looks a little off with the blue and white ombre. I don’t know what it is, but I’ll get past it because in theory a red, white and blue ombre leo is just what I’ve always wanted. Maybe it doesn’t scream USA to me so much as Russia (in an elite gymnastics sense, don’t hunt me down, Air Force)? I can’t pinpoint it.
Christina: 7.200
Design 1.8/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
The front is stunning, but the back gets a bit messy with the ombré in the middle before moving to the solid, red fabric. Maybe it would have been better to leave the ombré to the sleeves and go for either an open back or the solid red. Overall great school spirit though.
Emily M: 6.900
Design 1.9/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.3/3
Oh, how refreshing to have a solid USAFA leo! The tricolor ombre sleeves and ombre into the deep V are winners. The back is a little plain, and I’m not the biggest fan of the way the deep V and rhinestone pattern create such harsh lines on the font. Though, I have to wonder if that is a nod to the Air Force cadet chapel, which is very triangular?
Jenna: 7.000
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
I really like this overall, but I agree with Elizabeth that the front has a bit too much red. It might be better to have the red torso and then white to blue (or vice versa) ombre sleeves rather than trying to fit all three colors in the ombre.
Illinois: 7.050
Elizabeth: 7.100
Design 2.1/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
I can think of at least three other teams with this leo, but I actually don’t mind that since it’s an overall good stock design. The white and orange ombre is great and goes well with the navy body. I also just like the design overall.
Christina: 6.600
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.3/1, Overall Appearance 2.3/3
Overall it’s a lovely leotard. I love the color scheme and the ombré sleeves. But come on Illinois, you’re better than such an obvious stock design. So a bit disappointed at the design, but it is still a beautiful look.
Emily M: 7.500
Design 2.2/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 0.2/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
Another solid Illinois entry. The stock design is a little boring, but the navy with orange chest and white to orange sleeves works well. Orange and navy are such hard colors, and Illinois has really cracked the code on adding white to make it all less garish. I do think the orange stripey bit is an intentional nod to Illinois Athletics’ secondary logo, the Victory Badge, so I’m giving full school spirit marks.
Jenna: 7.000
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.3/1, Overall Appearance 2.3/3
This is a good leo but nothing special. Illinois does colors well—and this is no exception—but a bit more creativity would be good.
Oklahoma: 6.975
Elizabeth: 8.100
Design 2.1/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.4/3
Overall, I really love this leo. I could do without the shoulder holes—although in action, they don’t look so bad. However, the black line on the chest is in such an awkward spot. It’s almost like a censor bar. Move that up a tad, and this would be a real winner. I really love the velvet, patterned sleeves.
Christina: 7.200
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 1/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
Vanessa Ferrari is alive and well in Norman. I’m usually the first to defend Oklahoma’s leotard choices, along with Elizabeth, amongst our CGN team. This one, however, has a bit too much going on, yet it’s very much OU-like. The shoulder holes have to go. Apart from that, I love the back of this leo, and the front from chest down. The velvet, patterned sleeves are so gorgeous. I do agree that the black line should have been moved up a bit more for a better design on the front. So overall, good potential, but poor execution.
Emily M: 5.400
Design 1.0/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 0.6/3
I always tell myself I’ll like the next wild Oklahoma leo, and then it drops and I hate it even more than the last. I like parts of this in isolation, like the retro velvet patterned sleeves, the velvet on mesh and the floral crystal pattern. But then we have what I’m calling the nipple bar (just move it up a smidge or down a tad! Then it would be great!). Plus, the Ferrari shoulders and a sternum hole for no apparent reason makes this just a full fever dream. You can be original and interesting without throwing every single idea you have at the same leo.
Jenna: 7.200
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 1/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
I go back and forth on this leo. I like the overall effect of the design, but there are so many different bits and pieces that I’m not sure really go well together once I examine it more closely. I also can’t stand the shoulder cutouts and the weird diamond pattern on the chest. The back is beautiful, though.
Utah: 5.975
Elizabeth: 5.700
Design 1.7/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 1.8/3
This is fine? But it reminds me more of an Iowa leo than a Utah one. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I dislike the collar, as well as the neckline and the random love handle mesh. I wish the design utilized more red rhinestones to up the school spirit.
Christina: 5.700
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.3/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 1.9/3
Eh. I’ve come to expect better from Utah. It’s certainly an original design, but I am not a fan of the collar, the midriff mesh and the neckline. I do wish it included more red as well, or something that made it more Utah-like.
Emily M: 6.100
Design 1.8/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 0.3/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
Ahh! This is a close but not quite there for me. It’s nice! It’s kind of boring! It’s not very Utah. It evokes Iowa for me, actually. What I want is red rhinestones, like Elizabeth; think the deep V leo. And I’m not a big fan of the white corset ribbing. It’s just too starkly white somehow? I don’t dislike the neckline as much as Elizabeth and Christina, though.
Jenna: 6.400
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.3/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.2/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
I swear I’m not just copying my fellow editors when I say that this reminds me of an Iowa leo and it needs more red; apparently we all have the same opinions on this one. This is one of the better GK stock designs overall, but the execution doesn’t scream Utah to me. Also, too much mesh!
Illinois State: 5.050
Note: This leo isn’t new, but we’ve never judged it before!
Back is black with a few sparkles and criss-cross straps.
Elizabeth: 5.300
Design 1.6/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, Theme Meet Spirit 0.3/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 1.7/3
I like the concept of using a black and white leo for your “pink” leo. This isn’t a bad design at all. In fact, it’s better than some leos Illinois State has. I like the straps on the back, and the white pattern isn’t too wild either.
Christina: 3.500
Design 1.0/3, Fabric 0.3/1, Sparkle 0.3/1, Theme Meet Spirit 0.4/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 1.0/3
This is alright, yet another fairly basic design for a pink leo. A good look, just nothing that particularly stands out to me.
Emily M: 5.400
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, Theme Meet Spirit 0.4/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 1.6/3
Yeah, I’m just not about pink leos. This one is simple and classy, and I like the one shoulder riff on the ribbon.
Jenna: 6.000
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, Theme Meet Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 1.8/3
I like that they used a less in-your-face shade of pink in this leo, and it’s a simple design without being too basic.
William & Mary: 4.275
Elizabeth: 3.700
Design 0.8/3, Fabric 0.3/1, Sparkle 0.4/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 0.8/3
Why do teams think this shade of yellow is ever a good idea? I saw the back first, which got me excited. Then I saw the front and sighed. William & Mary did so well with its last new leo, that green and white ombre beauty. This one is more of an Alaska design of old than anything a team should be debuting in 2021.
Christina: 2.900
Design 0.4/3, Fabric 0.3/1, Sparkle 0.3/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 0.5/3
I understand W&M doesn’t have easy school colors to start with, but that yellow is a big no no. The design in itself is alright, fairly standard, but I cannot get past the color scheme.
Emily M: 4.800
Design 0.5/3, Fabric 0.3/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 0.5/3
Look, big points for originality. The Tribe really went for it. But I hate these shades on each other. The deep V with sparkle is great and the back is a fun way to have some interest there without going open back. I think the warmup is a better use of the green on yellow if I’m being honest.
Jenna: 5.700
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.3/1, Sparkle 0.3/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 1.5/3
When I first saw the video, I didn’t like this leo at all. Like, maybe a 2/10. But once they zoomed out at the end and showed the entire front, it didn’t seem as bad to me. While the yellow isn’t a great shade on its own, the green and yellow together work pretty well. My major complaint is the white on the back; I would’ve preferred the yellow to continue into that area as well.
Florida: 3.425
Elizabeth: 2.300
Design 0.5/3, Fabric 0.2/1, Sparkle 0.3/1, Theme Meet Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.3/1, Overall Appearance 0.5/3
This actually isn’t that bad of a leo, but I am going to spend my allotted space complaining yet again about the fact that Florida doesn’t need a new pink leo every year and that it can spend that money on something else or by giving it to a charity in a way that won’t upset the NCAA. Plus, with budgets smaller this year and many teams not getting any new leos at all with the exception of the ones not worn for 2020 postseason, why would you waste your one new leo on another boring pink stock design? And, a third of Florida’s team didn’t even wear this leo Friday because they were quarantining due to COVID protocols. Of course, the team wouldn’t have known this when it was buying these new leos, but I’m using it as a part of my argument anyway.
Christina: 3.000
Design 0.5/3, Fabric 0.3/1, Sparkle 0.4/1, Theme Meet Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.3/1, Overall Appearance 1.0/3
I have to agree with Elizabeth here. Another pink leo, and a stock design on top of that? Eh. This design truly is nothing special. The back is alright, but I am not a fan of the pink step ladder on the front. I need the Gators to simply wear this one every year.
Emily M: 3.800
Design 0.5/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, Theme Meet Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.3/1, Overall Appearance 1.0/3
I agree with Elizabeth. What on earth is so critical about having a new pink leo every year?! Anyway this is fine if a little boring. I’m grumpy about it, so that’s all I’ve got. Also, I really hate this holographic pink/orange combo in Florida pink leos. If you’re doing pink, just do pink!
Jenna: 4.600
Design 0.8/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 1/1, Theme Meet Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.1/1, Overall Appearance 1.2/3
I’m being a little more generous than my fellow judges and not taking into account the new-pink-leo-every-year thing, but even without that context, this leo is nothing special. I do like the back and the sparkle design on the sleeves, but overall it’s just plain and boring.
Kent State: 2.400
Elizabeth: 2.500
Design 0.2/3, Fabric 0.4/1, Sparkle 0.3/1, Theme Meet Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 0.3/3
The placement of the transition from pink to black (navy?) is in SUCH an awkward place. Either move it up or down some. Also, why is the back so high? It’s almost like the leo is on backward. Not a fave of mine, but I guess Kent State’s pink used to be sleeveless, so anything would be a step up.
Christina: 1.900
Design 0.2/3, Fabric 0.2/1, Sparkle 0.1/1, Theme Meet Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.4/1, Overall Appearance 0.2/3
This looks so unfinished and basic. No sparkles, no school logo, no nuances, just two solid colors and a ribbon on the side. It’s not a bad leo, just very boring.
Emily M: 2.400
Design 0.3/3, Fabric 0.3/1, Sparkle 0.1/1, Theme Meet Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 0.5/3
I…what?! Is this a throwback? No, right? It’s new? Well. I’m not a big pink leo person anyway, and this one is low on that list. The shade of pink is very Pepto Bismol, the lines are weird, the ribbon is so BIG. Looks like a comfy one, though.
Jenna: 2.800
Design 0.5/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.1/1, Theme Meet Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 0.2/3
This is a no from me. I strongly dislike the bubblegum pink shade used here, and the overall design just feels basic. I also didn’t even notice the ribbon at first despite it being so huge; a bit more contrast from the black would’ve been good.
READ THIS NEXT: Leotard Rankings: Week 6
Article by Elizabeth Grimsley, Christina Marmet, Emily Minehart and Jenna King
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Its unfortunate the backless Leos will not be allowed as of aug 31..
“Backless leotards are NOT acceptable
EFFECTIVE AUG 1, 2021 – unless open area is filled in w/mesh/flesh-colored fabric leotard considered backless if -Open area extends lower than 2” (approx.) below bottom of scapula
-Wider than vertical midpoint of scapula”
Development Program Code of Points
This rule is just for club-level and elite gymnasts and won’t apply to NCAA athletes unless those rules change separately.