The USAG Dismount: Week 10

The Big Storyline: After a few rough weeks on bars, Texas Woman’s roared back with a season high on that event and in the team total. Beam still has room to grow, but with a second 195.000+ of the season, the Pioneers are very much in contention for the MIC and USAG titles. Meanwhile, Centenary surprised with a monstrous 192.300 (I think… see the Controversies section for more details) that is not only its first 190.000+ score of the 2021 season, it’s its best score outright since 2019. Season highs on bars and beam (a fantastic 48.575) led the way, and junior Kendall Sanders won the all around.

Implications: Centenary is the odd team out heading into conference weekend, with all four teams ranking very close together, but the Ladies are still likely to finish the season as the best Division III team outright. Texas Woman’s dropped a low NQS score and reclaimed the No. 2 ranking in USAG over SEMO.

Records: Kendall Sanders’ 38.825 in the all around is a personal best. Eleven Centenary routines were career highs, including three by seniors Sierra Ponder and Jerrica Harris.

Controversies: There’s some confusion about Centenary’s final score at this event. Road to Nationals lists it as 192.300 and has a scoresheet backing that number up, but the scoresheet is just the document as generated at the meet and unsigned so we can’t verify that it’s final. Meanwhile, Texas Woman’s lists Centenary’s score as 192.250, Centenary’s schedule echoes Road to Nationals’ 192.300 number and Centenary’s press release hilariously states the final score as 193.000.

Recap

The Big Storyline: Both USAG teams scored season highs and all three teams in attendance broke 195.000, typically the threshold of excellence at this level, at a thrilling final match-up before conference championships. Lindenwood’s vault lineup, a strength all year, set a season-high 49.175, and Lindenwood also produced a season high 49.200 on floor. SEMO’s 49.225 on floor for senior night was a season high and allowed the Redhawks to close out a meet that is one of the ten best in program history.

Implications: MIC Championships next Friday is going to be freaking TENSE. Any of these three teams or Texas Woman’s could realistically win. Lindenwood beam and SEMO vault have been weaknesses all year and those are the events that could lose the championship. Despite the monster score SEMO drops to No. 3 in USAG standings as Texas Woman’s drops a lower NQS score, while Lindenwood continues cruising at No. 1.

Records: Anna Kaziska’s 9.900 on beam is a personal best and fifth in program history, tied with teammate Dahlia Solorzano-Caruso amd coach Ashley Lawson. Anna Speller’s 9.875 on beam, Dahlia Solorzano-Caruso’s 9.900 on floor and Jordan Jones’ 9.875 on floor were also personal bests for SEMO. Lindenwood’s Gayla Griswold also set a career high of 9.900 on floor. SEMO’s team total is tenth-best in program history.

Recap

The Big Storyline: Air Force finished third at this tri-meet but produced a season-best road score with the help of a great beam rotation that fell just short of the 49.000 mark. Bars is still a consequential weakness for Air Force, but the other events are settling in in time for postseason.

Implications: Air Force remains fourth in the USAG rankings. The Falcons won’t have a conference championship next week, just a dual against San Jose State.