Welcome to the latest matchup of Centenary vs TWU. Due to proximity between the schools, these programs historically compete multiple times a year during the regular season. TWU started 2022 with a program record season opener but has struggled some with lineup availability in the last two weeks. The Pioneers only traveled 11 athletes en route to a 189.300 at Iowa. TWU partially bounced back last week at home, but difficulties on bars and beam were still a roadblock to reaching the team’s full potential. Sierra Muns and Emerson Adams have shown a glimpse into the future of TWU gymnastics, while Isabel Goyco is back to doing the highest double pike in the NCAA. Will Texas Woman’s be able to put last week’s misses behind it to get the team total back on track? Realistically, the potential is there to contend at the top of the conference and USAG rankings if only five-for-six athletes could hit on all events consistently.
Centenary improved to a 187.650 last weekend in a loss to Air Force. Despite improvements on three events, a bar catastrophe prevented the team score from reflecting upgrades and improved floor landings. The bar lineup featured many new faces from the season opener but was missing the confidence with which the Ladies competed the event in Baton Rouge. Noticeably missing was a huge Jaeger from Chloe Armentor. Emma Lavelle is proving to be a strong contributor on all events but especially floor. Leilani Johnson exhibitioned a fun new floor routine last weekend, but we’ll have to see if all three passes will be lineup ready this week. If you’re a fan of discovering athletes that fly under the radar, look no further than Kendall Huff. Her tucked Yurchenko full consistently goes 9.7-plus, and her floor music is a mix of Cotton-Eyed Joe and Copperhead Road complete with sparkly red cowboy hats. What more could one ask for?
The atmosphere of Kitty Magee Arena makes every competition a fun time! The electricity in the room is one that breeds stuck landings and team celebrations. So far this season, both teams have struggled to hit when it counts. Here’s to hoping that today they can feed off the energy in the room and perform to their potentials.
Update: Coming to you live from KMA in Denton, Texas where warm ups are underway. Kenzie Kunzman just warmed up the most beautiful BHS LOSO LOSO. Hopefully we get to see her season debut on beam today. Isabel Goyco also is warming up beam. Rose Deshler is warming up floor for the Ladies, and Riley Molina warmed up vault. So look for some lineup changes from last week for both teams.
Daisy Woodring’s double pike is in the rafters. That’s it. Just thought everyone should know. I’m just mentally preparing for the Pioneers’ floor party that will occur in two hours. Don’t mind me.
The TWU athletes each invited a member of the faculty and staff to recognize before the meet. How sweet. I love that idea. Okay, I think march in is approaching.
Rotation 1: Texas Woman’s VT, Centenary UB
Lazarus (TWU): Yurchenko full, nice height, a little short of distance with a hop back. 9.750
Deshler (CC): Vault over mount, blind full, swing half, overshoot. Form throughout. Arms gave out on the shoot. Had to hit her feet. Blind full to double tuck. 8.150
Woodring (TWU): Yurchenko full, better height and form in the air. Smaller hop. 9.750
Baumgartner (CC): Clear hip hand, Pak salto. Half pirouette, toe up to high. Had to work with it some. Blind full, double tuck. Stuck. She loved that one. 9.225.
Gose (TWU): Yurchenko full, piked it down with a hop back. 9.700
Knaps (CC): Swing half, Geinger. Too far again this week. Over shoot. Clean. Blind full, double tuck. Step forward. 8.600? There were some start value things and a WIDE judges split. Will have to conference.
M. Johnson (TWU): The MAR STAR! Yurchenko full, looked high on the table, but good height off. Hop back. 9.675
Lavelle (CC): Blind, Jaeger. Nice, a little close. Overshoot. Dragged her feet. Good last handstand. Double layout. Near stuck. Just a hop in place. 8.975
Adams (TWU): This woman can VAULT! Wow. Beautiful yurchenko full with just a hop in place. I see why she’s been going 9.800 every week. 9.825. I concur.
Sanders (CC): Clear hip, Geinger to overshoot. The slightest graze of the heel. Double layout. A little short with a bounce forward. 9.300
Muns (TWU): Yurchenko full, lots of leg form on the table. Good height and a hop back. 9.775
Wilson (CC): Toe hand, Maloney, pak salto. Better legs this week. Her handstands are right on today. Opened too early on the FTDT and had to take a step forward. 9.550
Six (TWU ex): A suitable Yurchenko full. Pretty flat but more distance than others in the lineup.
AFTER ONE: Texas Woman’s 48.800, Centenary 45.475
That was a perfectly fine and comfortable vault rotation for the Pioneers. Emerson Adams is the real deal. Her vault was head and shoulders above the rest…not that the scores differentiated that enough. Bars for the Ladies was definitely better than last week. They’re still in search of five hits though. Baumgartner and Wilson’s hits today will help the cause to bettering the team score.
Rotation 2: Centenary VT, Texas Woman’s UB
Lavelle (CC): Yurchenko layout, Good height and shape in the air with a medium hop back. 9.400
King (TWU): Blind, Jaeger. Pretty close on the catch. overshoot. Blind full, double tuck. Let go very early. A hop back. Handstands pretty short today. 9.600
Plaza (CC): Tsuk layout, crunchy onto the table and came up a little short with a step forward. 9.250
Lazarus (TWU): Overshoot, went for the handstand too hard. Arched a long time but couldn’t quite save it. Tkatchev. She’s off again. This will be the routine the Pioneers want to drop. Double layout. A little pikey with a hop forward. 8.15
L. Johnson (CC): A huge Yurchenko layout with just the slightest hop in place. Should be a pretty good score. 9.625. That vault starts from a 9.75, for reference.
Bonzagni (TWU): Blind, Jaeger. Nice distance. Overshoot. Another one too far over with a huge arch. Couldn’t save it. Blind full, very late, double tuck. Over rotated to her back side after a couple steps. 8.225
Sanders (CC): Yurchenko half, medium sized squat with a step forward. Could get a little more block for the landing to be more comfortable.
Griffith (TWU): Blind, Jaeger. Very close. Overshoot. Very short last cast. FTDT. Her legs went out from under her on the landing with a huge lunge forward. Might’ve hit her knees. 9.225
Huff (CC): Yurchenko tucked full, chest a little down with a step to the side. 9.45
Goyco (TWU): Clear hip, Geinger, shoot. Good connection. Giant full, double tuck. Hop back with the chest up. Good routine for her. 9.725.
Wedge (CC): FHS front tuck, way better this week. Good height and hop forward. She’s hype! LETS GOOOOOOO! 9.500
M. Johsnson (TWU): Clear hip, Tkatchev. Low amplitude on the Tkatchev. Overshoot. Blind full, double tuck. The slightest hop forward. 9.725
Podges (TWU ex): Blind, Jaeger. Close on the catch. Pak salto. Legs apart. Short last handstand. Blind full, double tuck. Ground snuck up on her a little. Hop in place.
AFTER TWO: Texas Woman’s 95.300, Centenary 92.950
TWU had a few struggles on bars today, but honestly they were aggressive mistakes. The athletes were going for overshoots almost too hard. Confidence looked a little shaken after the Lazarus fall. However, Goyco put on a veteran performance, earning a 9.800 from one judge. Hopefully the Pioneers can bounce back on beam. Some of Centenary’s vaults seemed tentative, but overall, the Ladies will be satisfied with the showing today. Lacey Wedge put her hand-front to her feet for the first time in her career in the anchor spot. Let’s take that momentum to the next event, Ladies.
The score keeps changing. 93.025 maybe for Centenary?
Rotation 3: Texas Woman’s BB, Centenary FX
Six (TWU): BHS LOSO. Solid, some knees in the air. Switch, straddle quarter. Good. Front toss, large wobble with the leg up. RO back 1.5 dismount. Step forward. Some soft knees in the air. 9.350
Deshler (CC): Front full. Whip half, front layout. Bounce out of it. Switch half. Missed her first jump series. Front lay, front full. Lagged in the air and sat it down. 8.450. A five tenth split that we won’t discuss…
Podges (TWU): BHS LOSO. Small correction. Switch leap, switch half, beat. Nice. Gainer pike dismount. Stuck. A strong routine for her. 9.775. A 9.85 from one judge. CAREER HIGH. Love that for her.
Huff (CC): Double tuck. Nice control. Some chest down. Rudi to split jump. OOB I think. Good leap series. Back 1.5, front layout. Best landing of the routine. 9.35.
Kunzman (TWU): BHS LOSO LOSO. LOVED THAT! So stunning. Switch, switch. Under position on both. Back 1.5 dismount. Stuck. That should score well. 9.75
L. Johnson (CC): Double pike. Very high. Large lunge back, but keeps it in. Better leap series this week. Double tuck. A little short with a step forward. Back 1.5, front layout. Legs gave on the punch and sat it down. 8.80
Bonzagni (TWU): Cat leap, Switch side. BHS LOSO. Strong lean, and she’s off. Switch half, small correction. Tucked 1.5 dismount with a hop forward. 8.60/9.2 split. We’re actually talking about this one though.
8.85/9.2 split still after a conference. 9.025
Wedge (CC): Double pike, held on too long. A couple steps back and fall OOB. Front lay, front full. Good height and an extra step out. Double tuck. She landed OOB and bounced back. Had to put her hands down. 7.7/8.2 split rounds out to a 7.750? Math is hard.
Pierce (TWU): Front toss, pause. Was a little off. Front toss, this one was worse. Moving on. Switch leap, split 1/4. Nice. Front Aerial. Dance dance. Gotta have the series. Wobbled on a second front Aerial. She’s fighting for it, but won’t have a series. Punch tucked full. Stuck.
Lavelle (CC): Double pike. Nice one! Front lay, front full. Steps out. Good leap pass. Double tuck. Pulled for dear life and got it around. Good routine for her. Way to pull it back after the falls before her. 9.700
Gose (TWU): BHS LOSO. Very nice. Switch leap, switch half. A little slow on that connection. Hitch kick, side Aerial. A little wobble there. Back 1.5 dismount. Good. 9.700
Sanders (CC): Double pike. A little short with a step forward. Switch side, popa. Rudi to double stag. Good chest up on the Rudi. Front full, front lay. Finally her normal on that pass. Happy for her. Should be a good score. 9.3/9.65 split. Okay? 9.475…
Goyco (TWU ex): Beat, straddle 3/4. Small check. BHS LOSO. Leg up and she’s off. Switch leap, switch half. Nice extension. Back 1.5 dismount. Stuck. She has such pretty lines.
AFTER THREE: Texas Woman’s 142.900, Centenary 138.700
We’re just going to mostly pretend that didn’t happen and move on.
Glad to see Kunzman back in for the Pioneers on beam, and Podges career high performance was just stunning. Consistency is still a problem on that event at the moment. Centenary really was fighting through floor, but it wasn’t quite enough today. Emma Lavelle is just a rock on that event, and Kendall Sander’s routine was much improved… not that the scores would tell you that.
In general, judging took a long time in that rotation and splits between scores were WIDE. Hopefully the next rotation goes more smoothly.
Rotation 4: Centenary BB, Texas Woman’s FX
Molina (CC): Split, straddle 1/2. Better this week. Handstand, BHS LOSO. Solid. Some soft knees. Switch leap, tuck 3/4. Chest lean forward. Cat leap, front Aerial. Good and around. This looks like one of her best routines so far. Gainer front full dismount. Stuck. Should be a career high. 9.525. Not feeling that one.
Bonzagni (TWU): Double tuck, chest down. Good control. Switch side, popa, wolf full. Front full, front lay. Very nice. Rudi. Some leg crossing. 9.675
Baumgartner (CC): Head stand mount. Beat, split 3/4. Nice. BHS BHS LOSO. Right to the end. The slightest correction of the feet. Small check on the tuck. Split, tuck full. A baby lean. Tucked front full dismount. Stuck. LAD-IES! Ladies! WHOOOOOO! 9.525.
Pierce (TWU): I’m prepared to love this choreography. Front double full. Good control. Traveled some to the right. Okay. Yes this dance is EVERYTHING. Switch side, popa. Good height. Back 1.5, front full. A hop to the side into the lunge. 9.700
Deshler (CC): Front Aerial, BHS. Slow on the connection. Let’s see if the judges give it. Split, ring jump. Small check. Switch leap, tuck 3/4. Couldn’t save it. Cartwheel, gainer full dismount. Stuck. Way to bring it back. 8.825
Gose (TWU): Double pike, some chest down. Good control. Switch side, popa, popa. Front full, front lay. So floaty. Loved that. Shushinova just for fun. Rudi. Her amplitude on her passes is just… Good routine for her! Should score big. 9.825
Martinez (CC): Switch leap, switch side. Nice. Front toss…small wobble. Back tuck, beat jump. Good for bonus. Not going to have a series though. Beat, straddle half. A little high up on the landing, has to arm wave. Another stuck dismount. 9.450. We’ll take it.
M. Johnson (TWU): Huge double pike with a large slide back. Back 1.5, front full. She does that pass so smooth. Strong leap series. Rudi. Good chest up on the landing. The performance quality of her routine never gets old. 9.625?
Lavelle (CC): BHS LOSO. Cat leap, switch side. So confident. Sideways full turn is solid this week. Cat leap, side Aerial. She’s killing this! RO back 1.5 dismount. The smallest hop forward. 9.775
Muns (TWU): Double pike, huge and open. I love this routine too! What can I say? Front lay, front full. Had even more rise on the second flip. Perfect technique. Switch side, split full. Lagged on the second jump some. Double tuck. Good routine for the freshman. Throw that fist in the air! You did that! 9.675… No.
Sanders (CC): BHS Layout two-feet. Solid. Switch leap, tuck full, beat. Punch tucked full. Almost held onto the stick but had to hop forward. 9.7/9.4 split…
Goyco (TWU): The drama of her standing in the corner. Double pike. Gigantic. A little bouncy into the lunge. Lovely leaps. Front lay, front full. Perfection. Her performance has gotten better every year. Double tuck, kicked out a little early so had to take a hop forward into the lunge. 9.750
In regards to the judging on both events… I am confusion.
Woodring (TWU ex): Double pike, nice and big with a large lunge OOB. Switch side, popa. Front full, front lay. Some loss of control on the lunge. Double tuck. Stalled it up there and just pulled it around. 9.500
Sanders’ score on beam was raised to 9.600.
Final: Texas Woman’s 191.575, Centenary 186.575
I don’t think either team is going to be particularly pleased with how things went today. Bars and beam were suspect all around. Kyla Podges’ beam was really a highlight especially after she’s been through so much to get to compete this year. Emma Lavelle is proving to be a rock for the Ladies on all of the events. Consistency is still the goal in the future for both teams.
Also, the scoring splits at this meet were utterly confusing. I’m not sure what happened on that front.
AA Winner: Emma Lavelle, 37.850
VT Winner: Emerson Adams, 9.825
UB Winner: Mara Johnson & Isabel Goyco 9.725
BB Winner: Kyla Podges, 9.825
FX Winner: Maddie Gose, 9.825
I think some inquiries took place in there.
Live Blog by Tavia Smith
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