This USAG Nationals marks the first fully attended nationals since the spring of 2019, a different life. We have the top eight teams in the USAG division vying for team titles and individuals with their eyes on their own titles. Several individual qualifiers competed last weekend across NCAA regionals, including Gayla Griswold, who will compete not only this weekend, but at NCAA nationals next weekend as well.
Semifinal One
Date: Friday, April 8 at 2 p.m. ET
How to Watch: FlipNow TV
Teams: No 2. Lindenwood, No. 3 Air Force, No. 6 SEMO and No 7. West Chester
| Team | NQS | Average | High Score |
| No. 2 Lindenwood | 194.700 | 194.048 | 195.475 |
| No. 3 Air Force | 194.670 | 193.892 | 195.700 |
| No. 6 SEMO | 193.695 | 192.941 | 194.200 |
| No. 7 West Chester | 193.245 | 193.144 | 195.250 |
Background
After leading the pack for the first half of the season, the Lions found themselves slipping some toward the end due to inconsistency. Vault and bars have been the hold-your-breath events for Lindenwood in 2022. Most recently, it was a vault meltdown at MICs that prevented Lindenwood from contending to defend its conference title. Air Force enters the meet with its highest NQS in school history. Led by a duo of freshman all-arounders, including MPSF Freshman of the Year Genevieve Sabado, the Falcons are ready to challenge the best in the USAG. The vault difficulty has ramped up throughout the season. Performances on bars and beam will likely be the determining factors in whether Air Force successfully advances to the team final.
So You’re Saying There’s a Chance
Looking strictly at the NQS and season average, this is Lindenwood and Air Force’s meet to lose. However, West Chester is coming in hot after its program record performance at the GEC championship. The Rams are led by a large senior class, including fifth-year Jessica Meakim, who provide both valuable routines but also postseason experience that the rest of the roster lacks. West Chester is the only team in this session that did not compete in the 2021 championships, but it seems the COVID year has only made the Golden Rams that much stronger. SEMO has been battling injuries and short-handed lineups all season but did manage to come away with a pair of conference bars titles at the conference championship. The Redhawks will likely need to hope for a slip up from other teams to have a chance to advance and defend their 2021 title, but if the team can stay steady, they are more than capable of capitalizing on the opportunity.
Routines You Shouldn’t Miss
Several routines in this session are fresh off of a NCAA regional performance. One of which is Gayla Griswold’s vault, which has scored as high as 9.975 this season. Griswold put up yet another strong Yurchenko one and a half at regionals, earning herself a bid to NCAA nationals April 14-16. Expect her to bring the heat here as well. Anna Kaziska and Jolie Miller of SEMO also qualified to the Seattle regional. Kaziska’s performances on beam and floor are second to none in the USAG. Miller is fresh off a MIC conference title on bars and has staked a claim to the SEMO bars record in 2022. Lindsay Ockler shared the conference bars title with Miller, highlighted by a huge full-twisting double tuck. Meakim has been a standout on floor since her freshman season. Her fun, energetic routine makes its final victory lap this weekend, and you won’t want to miss it.
Semifinal Two
Date: Friday, April 8 at 7 p.m. ET
How to Watch: FlipNow TV
Teams: No. 1 Texas Woman’s, No. 4 Yale, No. 5 Brown and No 8. Cornell
| Team | NQS | Average | High Score |
| No. 1 Texas Woman’s | 195.240 | 194.019 | 195.750 |
| No. 4 Yale | 194.110 | 193.170 | 195.050 |
| No. 5 Brown | 193.695 | 192.665 | 195.975 |
| No. 8 Cornell | 192.110 | 191.603 | 194.175 |
Background
TWU surged to the front of the rankings during the back half of the season. The Pioneers’ highest NQS in program history is thanks to a huge 195.750 season high scored at the conference championship. Despite its success at MICs, the Pioneers’ track record on the road this season leaves a few question marks in their plan to bring home the title. Brown and Cornell each posted their season high at the conference championship as well. Cornell has had a tumultuous season by the Big Red’s standards but has picked up the pace the last two meets. If the team hits bars, the likelihood of staying in this meet goes up exponentially. Brown’s weak spot has been its beam rotation.
So You’re Saying There’s a Chance
TWU should have the first advancing spot locked in, but the race for second will be fierce. Although Yale has had a more consistent season overall, Brown outscored the Bulldogs by over a point the last time the teams faced off at GECs. There is no guarantee that Yale will advance, especially considering Kendal Toy, a key contributor on three events, sustained an injury at conference. Brown is coming off the high of program records on three events, as well as for its overall team score. Is that a performance that can be replicated, especially on the road? The Bears only have one score over 194 on the road in 2022. It should take at least that to advance to the team final.
Routines You Shouldn’t Miss
TWU has two 2021 national title winners returning this year in Isabel Goyco and Madeline Gose. Keep an eye out for Goyco on floor and Gose on any of her three events. Yale’s Raegan Walker can calm even the most anxious of fans with her exquisite lines and smooth beam choreography. Mei Li Costa is the Brown program record holder on bars with a season high of 9.975. Julia Bedell’s floor has been getting better as the season progresses, posting a 9.900 at the conference championship. Her amplitude in her tumbling and floor choreography make for an entertaining routine that should not be missed.
Individuals to Keep an Eye On
Vault:
Kendall Huff (Centenary) brings a soaring Yurchenko full to the proverbial table, which she is more than capable of sticking. Her vaulting regularly scores over a 9.700. Don’t miss it.
Bars:
Kathryn Doran (Bridgeport) has been a rock for her team all season. She is set apart by her beautiful long lines and her ability to always finish her blind full right in handstand. She qualified to regionals on this event as well.
Beam:
Nicole Javinett (Bridgeport) has ice in her veins on beam. She knows when to apply power and when to apply grace; plus, the key element: how to use both in tandem. Her split jumps will soothe anyone.
Floor:
Emma Lavelle (Centenary) brings a sky high double pike to the floor and doesn’t hold back at all in her routine. Her leap series soars, and she has a double tuck to end to capitalize on her power and endurance.
AA:
Kiana Session (Bridgeport) is a powerhouse freshman that has stepped up during one of Bridgeport’s most difficult seasons. With the exception of a handful of scores, she hasn’t dropped below a 9.450 all season and hasn’t dropped below a 38.225 more than three times. What a freshman year!
Team Final
Date: Saturday, April 9 at 7 p.m. ET
How to Watch: FlipNow TV
Teams: Four teams will vie for the national title, with the top two teams from each Friday session.
| Teams |
| First Place Team Seminal One |
| Second Place Team Seminal One |
| First Place Team Seminal Two |
| Second Place Team Seminal Two |
The Bottom Line
TWU enters this meet with a huge advantage, having the strongest back half of the season. However, it should be noted that being on the road is a huge factor to be considered, as the Pioneers’ season average is considerably lower on the road in 2022.
Event Finals
Date: Sunday, April 10 at 1 p.m. ET
How to Watch: FlipNow TV
Individuals: The top five individuals from each event in both sessions will qualify for the event finals, a total of 10 gymnasts on each event.
The Contenders: Gayla Griswold is a vaulter you can’t miss, she’s the first Lindenwood individual to qualify to the NCAA nationals, and her vault is the most notable of the weekend. Daisy Woodring, Gose, and Ockler could also challenge her for the title. Absolutely expect to see Costa and Doran battling it out for the event title on bars. Both made an appearance at the NCAA regionals this past weekend. Miller and Walker can also add a bit of pressure. Kaziska recently made an appearance at NCAA regionals as well and could absolutely claim the beam title. Walker, just a tenth behind in NQS, is right behind her, as is Lindsay Chia and Hadley Roberts. Kaziska, again, could easily claim the title, but Meakim and Griswold could very well find themselves atop the podium.
The Dark Horses: Keep an eye on Chia and bar worker Costa to qualify for the vault finals in addition to Emerson Adams. Expect Bianca Leon and Abby Contello to sneakily make their way toward the top on bars. Sabado, Taylor Schulze, and Mackenzie Kunzman could rise to the occasion as calm and collected beam workers. Floor is a tight division, but Goyco and Cameo Stapleton could pose a threat to the top three.
READ THIS NEXT: The Dismount: Regionals
Article by Tavia Smith, Allison Freeman and Rebecca Scally
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