The NCGA Dismount: Week 3

Recap

The Big Storyline: UW-Oshkosh dominated from the start to find its second straight victory on the road. Emily Buffington continues to contribute big numbers on her events. 

Implications: UW-Oshkosh continues to prove that it is a viable candidate for the WIAC title this season. The Titans’ difficulty level is higher than many other teams in the conference, so they have the start value advantage. The beam and bars teams are having some difficulty with consistency at the moment, but don’t expect it to be like that for long. This is a relatively experienced team that’s hungry for a title. UW-Eau Claire had its first competition of 2022. The BluGolds struggled with inconsistency, but bright spots included Tia Ravara’s beam set and Emma Barry’s solid tumbling. 

Records: Emily Buffington set a vault career high for the second week in a row after posting a 9.700 on her front handspring pike.

Recap 

The Big Storyline: UW-Stout finally got to start the season, and Mikala Bugge returned from her Achilles injury by leading the team on vault. UW-La Crosse posted the highest score of the Division III so far. 

Implications: UW-La Crosse posted the first 189-plus from any Division III school this season, continuing to assert itself as the team to beat. The Eagles were helped along by a more consistent bars rotation this time out. They will hope to continue that trend in the coming weeks, as well as to have five hit routines on all four events to improve the team score even more. Although La Crosse claimed all four event titles, Stout also came out swinging in its first competition of the season. The team score of 187.075 slides the Blue Devils into the fourth spot in the rankings behind only La Crosse and Brockport.

Records: Freshman Rachel Chesley put together a hit bar routine for a new career high of 9.600 while teammate Cate Sandvik got a 9.525 for her efforts. Kyla Dickson’s strong beam set earned her a career high 9.625.

Recap 

The Big Storyline: Stephanie Geislinger’s Warriors came home with the victory on alumni night in her first home meet as head coach. 

Implications: Both teams particularly struggled on bars with only two routines eclipsing the 9.000 threshold. However, Winona State improved its team total by nearly a point this week while Hamline bested itself by more than two. Consistency on bars and beam will be necessary to move into the top half of the NCGA. Julia Cheely showed off a bar routine that included a beautiful straddle Jaeger in the exhibition spot for Hamline. That routine needs to find its way into the lineup to help make up the start value difference between the Pipers and the top NCGA teams. It should be noted that both teams made improvements this week that they can build from in weeks to come.

Recap

The Big Storyline: Brockport continued its win streak after winning its home tri meet and then again in a dual meet against RIC on the road, adding just over a point to its team score.

Implications: After counting several falls in its home opener, Brockport went from a 44.550 to a 46.550 this weekend on the road, in addition to adding a half point on vault, lead by Castellaneta’s full-twisting Yurchenko that landed her a 9.750. After counting a 8.400 in its home opener, Brockport dropped an 8.425 this week, its lowest contributing score a 8.775 and counting four scores over a 9.250. Brockport continues to lead the NCGA-East, but Rhode Island put the pressure on. The Anchormen counted only scores over a 9.150 on floor, with four scores above 9.400. 

Records: Despite the loss, Rhode Island broke several program records. Olivia Keyes broke a new record on beam, scoring a 9.675 while claiming the title, as well as the all-around title with a 38.150, another new program record. Keyes and Kelsey Gates both set a program record on floor with their tied first-place score of 9.750. Castellaneta scored a career high 9.750 on vault, also claiming the title, and Taylor Bushey set a personal best of 9.575 on bars, winning that event on well. Every single event winner went on to set a program record or personal career high.

Update 1/14: Springfield added to this meet after its dual with Ursinus on 1/16 was canceled.

Recap

The Big Storyline: While its 185.825 isn’t quite its highest team score, it does show that Ursinus hasn’t lost much ground since its last appearance in 2020. It’s still a major jump from its last home opener of 181.525, though. 

Implications: Ithaca improved its score from last weekend by just over a point, with floor going markedly better this weekend. However, bars continues to haunt the Bombers. Cortland, too, proved that it has polished and refined its routines from the first meet of the season, bumping its score by nearly a point and a half with a steadier beam rotation this weekend to help them out. Springfield showed it’s capable of bouncing back from a shaky routine, dropping its low score of a 7.650 and counting scores of 8.800 or higher on bars. Beam proved to be a weak spot with the lowest event score of the meet, but it started the meet strong with three floor scores over a 9.400. Ursinus also dropped a 7.650 on bars, relying on two 9.300-plus bar routines to lead it through the rotation. DeLorme lead the team with scores of 9.375 or better.

Records: This was Ursinus’ highest season-opening team score since 2017. Lindsey Thornton scored a career high of 9.400 on beam. Kaylin Knapsack won floor with a career high 9.800 and Thornton followed suit on floor, scoring another career high of 9.500. Abby Bang scored a career high on floor with a 9.625.

Recap 

The Big Storyline: UW-Whitewater made its debut team performance count thanks to a career high all-around performance from Faith Mylin. 

Implications: Whitewater told the gymnastics world “Don’t forget about me!” The Warhawks picked up right where they left off at the end of the last COVID-free regular season, surging toward the top of the NCGA leaderboard. As of Saturday night, Whitewater will be sitting in third. The best part is there’s still room for improvement after a shaky floor performance and some bar misses. Even with mistakes, Whitewater is still the No. 1 bars team in Division III. Let that sink in. Sophia Redding continued to assert that she is the real deal, sitting at the top of the individual bar rankings at the moment for the Gusties. Gustavus Adolphus was able to improve upon its history-making season opener as Brooke Merila put on a stellar performance on three events. Drastic improvements on vault, bars and floor were hindered by beam inconsistency this week. 

Records: Sophia Redding topped her career high and broke the program record on bars with a 9.700. Faith Mylin put together a superb all-around competition complete with career highs on bars, beam and floor.