Welcome to the latest Big Ten matchup with the Spartans of Michigan State taking on the Terrapins of Maryland. Michigan State has flown out of the gate this season. Who would’ve thought that after missing nearly the entirety of last season that the Spartans would look this amazing through the month of January? With current Big Ten freshman of the week Skyla Schulte and fellow freshman and fellow freshman Gabrielle Stephen leading the way, the Spartans have pushed their way into the third spot in the Big Ten. After tying the second highest team score in history with a less than ideal bar rotation at Michigan, the Spartans are well on their way to eclipsing the record of 197.075 this season. Start values on vault are a slight hindrance to this goal, but it’s easier when athletes like Gabrielle Stephen are capable of a perfect 9.95. To many members of the gymternet, Michigan State’s sudden rise came as a surprise, but will the Spartans be able to continue the momentum through the rest of the season?
Maryland enters this meet after only having two other competitions so far this season, so it’s hard to form a full picture of how the Terrapins are trending. The team’s biggest flex is retaining Audrey Barber’s all around performances for a fifth and final year. Emma Silberman has also been a consistent rock so far this season. Happy to see her back and better than ever after sustaining a knee injury last season. Beam and floor have presented some preliminary concerns for the Terrapins thus far as the team looks for the most effective lineup. Maryland currently sits as the lowest ranked team in the conference, but with a solid push into the 195s, maybe it can put some pressure on Rutgers and Nebraska. Due to Covid protocols and meet cancellations, Maryland will likely not have an NQS until later in the season. Therefore, every meet counts going forward. Luckily, Maryland’s previously scheduled meet with Minnesota has been moved to Valentines day, so that extra potential scoring opportunity won’t be lost.
Michigan State will look to some solid vault landings and bar routines to push for the team record while Maryland will look to improve its chances at a regional berth by improving consistency.
Please appreciate this transition of MSU’s meet attire tonight:
It appears we’re having a bit of a delay starting the stream. Stay tuned.
Rotation 1: Michigan State VT, Maryland UB
While we wait, here’s the planned bar lineup for the Gym Terps:
The video is on! The meet is a go!
My favorite moment was the commentators talking about Baleigh Garcia’s beam as she swings bars.
Hsu (MSU): Yurchenko full, high on with a pretty sizable hop back. 9.700
Kondo (UMD): Deep breath. Let’s go. Blind, Jaeger, overshoot. Lovely connection. Good last handstand. Double layout. Stuck. Good shape in the air. 9.850
Schulte (MSU): Yurchenko full, good height. Small hop back. Good layout shape throughout. 9.825
MSU is hinting that several athletes in the vault lineup are capable of a 10.0 sv. Maybe we’ll see them later in the season? We can hope.
Drage (UMD): Blind full, Delchev. Some soft feet. Good height. Overshoot handstand. Loose back on the catch. Double layout, piked down some with a step forward. 9.775
Smith vaulted for MSU but they only showed the landing. I did enjoy the bar replay though. A little piked down on the landing of a Yurchenko full.
Debarberie (UMD): Ray to overshoot. Good distance on the catch. Blind full. Double layout. Stuck. 9.825
Garcia (MSU): Yurchenko full. Most of these vaults look about the same. Good height, slide back. I think the slide would go away with a little less pike down.
Silberman (UMD): half pirouette into geinger. Overshoot handstand. Nice. Perfect last handstand. Double layout. A little lock-legged on the landing. She stuck it though.
Hofelich (MSU): She heard me talking mess. Stuck Yurchenko full. Good shape in the air. Should be a big score. 9.925. Near perfect for that one.
Tsiknias (UMD): Blind, Jaeger. Close on the catch. Held that handstand out of the overshoot. A little short on the last handstand. Double layout. Tried to stick it. We’ll see if they give it to her.
Stephen (MSU): Yurchenko full, the most dynamic of the bunch. Small hop back. Loved it. 9.875
Stephen is also training a double full. She would definitely have enough height for that.
Barber (UMD): Clear hip hand, Ray, overshoot. Smooth connection. Double layout. A little overcooked with a step back. Nice one. 9.875
Harkness (MSU): Yurchenko full on, tuck off. Pretty sizeable hop back. First 10.0 SV for the Spartans.
Weir (UMD): Blindfull, right on top, connected to Geinger. VERY close. Lost some form. Overshoot. Double layout dismount. Some pike down with a hop.
AFTER ONE: Michigan State 49.275, Maryland 49.075
The Spartans just posted a season high on vault capped off by a near perfect performance from senior Ashley Hofelich. That’s the start Michigan state was looking for. Now let’s carry that momentum to bars! Maryland was stick happy on bars tonight. Honestly the Terrapins should put on a double lay dismount clinic. I’m not sure that I’ve ever seen a full line up of double layouts look so clean in the air.
Rotation 2: Maryland VT, Michigan State UB
Kogler (UMD): Yurchenko full, small slide back on the landing. Chest up. 9.800
Garcia (MSU): Toe hand, Maloney… peeled off on the back swing. Oh no. The pressure just went up on the next five athletes. Overshoot. Slightly short of handstand. Good last handstand. Blind full to double layout. Perfectly stuck. 9.325
Silberman (UMD): Yurchenko full on, tuck off. Stuck. Wow. One of the best executions on that vault that I’ve seen. 9.850
Stephen (MSU): Toe hand, Maloney. Nice connection. Toe hand, overshoot. Blind full, double tuck. Stuck. An icon. Ice in her veins. 9.800
I’m going to get on my soap box real quick. Being tall doesn’t make bars harder. It just makes for pretty lines and perhaps a different routine composition. That’s all.
Debarberie (UMD): Yurchenko full, came in a little short with her chest down. Just a bounce in place. 9.825
Mitchell (MSU): Toe hand, Maloney, overshoot. A little short of handstand on the shoot. Double layout, stuck. Some chest down. 9.900
Weir (UMD): Yurchenko full, some piking in the air. Large hop back.
Jackard (MSU): Straddle Jaeger. Good form on that. Overshoot. Strong last handstand. Blind full, double tuck. Small hop in place. 9.925
Rubio (UMD): Yurchenko full, just lovely. Chest up. Maybe the slightest foot adjustment? 9.875
Schulte (MSU): Archy first handstand. Shaposh to overshoot. Nice. Double layout dismount out of the speed giants. Also the smallest foot adjustment.
Barber (UMD): Yurchenko full, pretty short of distance. Had to take a step forward. 9.800
Harkness (MSU): Toe hand, Geinger. Legs glued together. Overshoot. So clean. FTDT. She was about to go 10.0 if she stuck. Pretty big step back. 9.875. Like I said… destined for the 10.
Here are some exhibition routines!
Gilbert? (UMD): Yurchenko half, some soft knees with a step forward. To clarify, this vault also starts from a 9.95 contrary to what the commentators just said.
Ewing (MSU): Toe hand, overshoot to sole circle. Tkatchev. Nice legs. Blind change, front giant 1/2, double tuck. Chest down with a step forward.
AFTER TWO: Michigan State 98.600, Maryland 98.225
Both of these teams are chugging right along at the halfway point. After a fall in the first spot, the Spartans put together five hit routines to avoid counting a mistake. That’s what confidence looks like. Michigan State is on pace to break the team record so far… I don’t want to jinx it though. Maryland’s vault landings looked nice with several stick to near sticks. It just needs to keep the momentum going on in the back half of this meet.
Rotation 3: Michigan State BB, Maryland FX
I loved the war cry from the beam team before the first mount! It’s about to go down!
Wiedeman (MSU): BHS LOSO, slight check, some soft knees on the BHS. Cat leap, front toss, beat jump. Smooth connection. Beat, straddle 3/4. So solid. Gainer tucked full off the end. Lovely. Good hit for her. 9.775
Rubio (UMD): Double pike, nice height and control. Back 1.5, front lay. A little whippy on the layout. Switch side, popa. Double tuck. Very nice landing. Chest nice and high. Good lead off routine. 9.775
Smith (MSU): BHS LOSO. A check on that. Switch leap, straddle 1/4. A casual RO double tuck dismount. Huge! Some over rotation with a hop back. 9.800
R. Leblanc (UMD): Front double full. Some loss of control. Front full, front lay. Better control there. Switch side, wolf full. The commentators’ discussion of falls is distracting me. RO Back layout. She must be only a front tumbler. Rudi. Some soft knees on the landing, a couple steps back. Improved from last week! You go girl! 9.700
Stephen (MSU): I rise up! Front Aerial two-feet. WOW. That’s all I can say. BHS LOSO. Soft knees throughout. Beat, straddle half. Nice. RO back double full dismount. Stuck. I would mainly take for the knees during her series. The rest was stunning. 9.950. Well there you have it.
Kogler (UMD): Double tuck. Nice. Strong leap series. Back 1.5, front layout. Pulled it around, a little under rotated. Double pike. Chest pretty low with a step forward. 9.775
Mitchell (MSU): BHS BHS LOSO. Nice and solid. Front Aerial. Perfectly fine. Split jump, straddle 1/4. RO back 1.5 dismount. A college finish. Step salute. 9.800
Silberman (UMD): Rudi, back… head stand? Knees gave some on the punch. Strong leap pass. A casual worm. Front double full, knees gave some on the landing with some loss of control on the finish. She just looked tired throughout that routine. It was her first floor routine since tearing her ACL last season. 8.850
Schulte (MSU): Middle split mount. Some Beyonce inspired dance? Switch leap, switch half. Large leg up wobble on that. BHS LOSO. Nice, some knees. Side Aerial, back full. A small slide back. 9.750. Maybe?
We’re having a long scoring delay waiting on Silberman’s floor score.
Rothenbuescher (UMD): Whip, double tuck. Good landing, but a step OOB. Switch side, popa, wolf full. Will this be a two pass routine? Good and around on the leap. Double pike. Very nice! 9.775
Garcia (MSU): 11th in the nation! BHS LOSO. Beautiful extension on that. Front Aerial, split jump. OVER 180! Switch leap, split jump. Side Aerial, full dismount. The smallest step on the dismount. I am understanding why she is 11th in the country on that event. So lovely. 9.900
Barber (UMD): Full in. Nice and high, a step forward since she was open in the air. Back 1.5, front pike. Nice control there. She’s sassing these judges. Good leap series there. Double tuck. A little under with a step forward. 9.800
Exhibition time!
Harkness (MSU): BHS LOSO. The slightest correction. Covers well. Cat leap, side Aerial. Front foot slipped off. Split jump. Switch leap, split. Side Aerial, tucked full dismount. Good routine minus the slip up.
Glauber (UMD): Double pike, held on a bit long. Back 1.5, front layout. Fine enough. Switch ring, tour jete half. A little short of position. Double tuck. Under rotated with an uncontrolled hop forward.
AFTER THREE: Michigan State 147.825, Maryland 147.050
Despite an OOB and an uncharacteristic fall from Silberman, Maryland improved its floor season high by a couple of tenths. The team is moving in the right direction. However, working toward a six-for-six hit rate will help the Terrapins to continue to improve. Michigan State put together yet another hit rotation. We’re still on record pace… Hold on folks. 49.275 is the magic number (by my somewhat questionable math).
Rotation 4: Maryland BB, Michigan State FX
Weir (UMD): BHS LOSO. So solid. Yes ma’am! Switch leap, switch side. A little rushed. Switch leap, LOSO. Smooth connection. BHS, back 1.5 dismount. Stuck. Good lead off! 9.850
Ewing (MSU): Front double full, good control. Switch leap, tour jete full. Loss of control on that one. Back 1.5, front full. Good one. The leap was the largest deduction. The leap also impacts her start value, so we’ll see. 9.850
Silberman (UMD): BHS BHS LOSO. Some knees. Solid landing. Switch leap, straddle 1/4. Fine. A little slow on connection. RO back 1.5 with a step forward. 9.800
Mitchell (MSU): Double tuck. Chest nice and high. An extra step maybe. Back 1.5, front layout. Nice and around. We’re talking Rio the bird movie right? Or the country? I should stop listening to commentary. Double pike. Beautiful routine from the fifth year! 9.875
McClure (UMD): Cat leap, front Aerial BHS series. A little slow but kept moving. We’ll see about the series credit. Switch leap, straddle 1/4. Front Aerial, split jump. Gainer Rudi dismount. Stuck. Welcome back to the lineup. 9.750
Harkness (MSU): FTDT. A little under with a step forward. BHS to the knees, bounce up. I like this routine! Good extension on the leaps. Front tuck through to double tuck. Better landing on that last pass. 9.850
Kogler (UMD): Switch leap, straddle 1/4. Nice. BHS BHS LOSO. A little off with a bobble. Front walkover. Get that front skill requirement! Switch leap, split jump. Gainer full. Stuck. Keeping things rolling here. 9.775
Stephen (MSU): Front double full to front tuck. Mistimed that punch and sat down the front tuck. Sky high leap series. Double pike. Nice and controlled there. The pressure just went up. 9.225. I’m sad.
Debarberie (UMD): BHS LOSO. Good. Switch leap, tuck 3/4. Cat leap, front Aerial. A slight check. Some knees in the air. RO 1.5 dismount. Thought she had the stick. Took a small step back. 9.725
Schulte (MSU): FTDT. Her legs were Jello on the landing. Large step back. I jinxed them. Switch half, popa. I love this dance! Front tuck through to double tuck. Pretty short on that landing with a step forward. I definitely jinxed them… I’ll learn to keep my mouth shut one of these days. 9.550
Barber (UMD): Front Aerial. Bobble. BHS LOSO. Lovely legs in the air. Front toss, beat jump. Solid. Switch leap, split jump. RO double full dismount. Stuck. Good finish for the Terrapins! 9.825
Hofelich (MSU): Double pike. Huge amplitude. Managed well. Good amplitude on the leaps. Back 1.5, front layout, dance out. Good one. Double tuck. Good anchor performance for her! Way to bring it back. 9.925
Last round of exhibitions!
Rubio (UMD): A STANDING FRONT TUCK to BHS series. Cartwheel tucked 1.5 dismount. Stuck landing. Sorry my laptop lost its mind in the middle of that from pure shock of that series.
Smith (MSU): Front tuck through to double tuck. Switch side, popa. Back 1.5, front layout. Double pike, a little over done with an extra bounce of the back foot in her lunge.
Final: Michigan State 196.875, Maryland 196.050
Both teams will be extremely happy with their performances tonight after posting season highs. Michigan State established a brand new second highest team score in program history. A couple uncharacteristic mistakes from Schulte and Stephen left the Spartans just short of the record. Have no fear. Michigan State has plenty more in the tank. It’ll be all the more exciting when the record comes and goes. Maryland finally put together a complete competition tonight. There’s still some work to do on floor to find a consistent lineup, but the Terrapins are heading in the right direction.
An aside: Alina Cartwright returning to her alma mater is the best thing that ever happened to Michigan State floor choreography.
AA Winner: Audrey Barber, 39.300
VT Winner: Ashley Hofelich, 9.925
UB Winner: Jori Jackard, 9.925
BB Winner: Gabrielle Stephen, 9.950
FX Winner: Ashley Hofelich, 9.925
*After the conclusion of this live blog, Maryland’s team total was lowered to 195.950.
Live Blog by Tavia Smith
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