It’s NCAA gymnastics season, and the leotards are as sparkly as ever. With new designs come your favorite series: Leotard Rankings! Each week we’re analyzing leotard debuts to find our weekly faves. There will be up to three points for design, up to one point each for fabric and sparkle, school spirit and uniqueness, and up to three points for overall appearance. This week Izzi, Carolyn, Katherine and Tara are joining editor in chief Elizabeth to help judge. Don’t agree with our ranking? Let us know your thoughts on this week’s leos in the comments or on social media!
And don’t forget to vote in the poll at the end of the article each week. We’ll be tabulating all the votes to find the overall fan favorite design at the conclusion of the 2022 season!
Oklahoma: 8.360
View photos of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 8.200
Design 2.4/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
Another really awesome design! I thought this one looked better in person than it does in phone pics, but it’s still overall good. The way the front rhinestones swoop to follow the gymnasts’ natural build is really flattering, and I love how the mesh is cut with the solid matte white to eliminate a seam.
Izzi: 9.000
Design 2.8/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.8/3
I absolutely love this! The more recent Oklahoma leos have been much tamer than the last fews years (more like the early 2010s), and I absolutely love it. I think maybe I would like this better without the vertical lines, but that’s all I can really pick on here.
Carolyn: 8.200
Design 2.8/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.4/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.7/3
Cute! Now this is how you do a white leo while maintaining school spirit. I admire how at first glance you can’t tell that this is an OU look since there aren’t too many out-of-place elements or anything to take your eye away from the real beauty -the gymnastics. Keep it up OU!
Katherine: 7.800
Design 2.3/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
This is pretty; the sparkly belt is my favorite part. However, it just doesn’t feel very unique. Oklahoma has gone balls to the wall with so many of its leos that it’s getting harder for the Sooners to create something that truly blows my mind (of course now they’ll show up to nationals with something insane, but I digress).
Tara: 8.600
Design 2.7/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.8/3
This is Oklahoma’s best new leo this season. The red rhinestones on the white top are elegant, and I’m a fan of the design they make. I also love the sparkle waistband and the use of maroon on the bottom half of the body.
California: 8.020
View photos of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 8.700
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 2.6/3
This is GREAT, and it was somehow even better in person. The colored rhinestones just WORK, and pair nicely with the yellow lining around the neckline and sleeves. I’d almost call this tie dye over ombre because it’s more of a drastic divide between the colors, but it looked really nice in motion in the arena and in pictures.
Izzi: 8.300
Design 2.3/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.4/3
I am so happy Cal ended the season with a leo that didn’t just look like every other one it wears. The yellow piping and rhinestones are awesome, and the whole color palette works really well together. A couple things make this a little weird for me: the ombre transition back to white at the bottom and the low V pattern on the chest.
Carolyn: 7.700
Design 2.6/3, Fabric 0.2/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 1/1, Overall Appearance 2.4/3
Wow! Something new from Cal! I just ADORE the yellow accents and that gorgeous blue color. My only two complaints are the thickness of sparkles and how overly-stretchy the fabric is. If not for those two things, this leo would be SO much better. Other than that, it is great!
Katherine: 7.700
Design 2.4/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
Props to California for doing something different while still staying true to school spirit. The lighter color palette looks really nice, especially the ombre in the front. I also love the subtle incorporation of yellow. This leo has to be the biggest departure from the school’s usual design out of all of them, and it paid off.
Tara: 7.700
Design 2.2/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
It’s a departure from what Cal normally does, yet it’s still good. The ombre and V are nice, and the white is different for Cal but looks great. The “California” band on the back ties it to other Cal leos and gives it a touch more school spirit.
Michigan State: 7.980
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 6.800
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
This is not normally a sparkle design I would like very much, but it works here. I love the darker share of green paired with the black, and the back is obviously phenomenal. The only thing it had going against it at regionals was it clashed horribly with the ugly purple Washington carpet.
Izzi: 9.300
Design 2.8/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.8/3
This is an absolutely excellent leo for Michigan State. Obviously, I am obsessed with the scallops, but there is even more to love here! I don’t think we have seen this kind of cascading sparkle design on the neck of the off the shoulder scallop leos so far this year, and I love it. The back is well done for a strappy back, though I don’t really think it fits super well with the front. Finally, the deep green color is absolutely gorgeous.
Carolyn: 8.400
Design 2.7/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.3/3
At first glance, this one wasn’t anything special to me, but it has grown on me since then. I love how tight the leo looks at the collarbones and neck; it’s almost like the leo was perfectly designed and fitted for each gymnast, almost like they were specially sewn on them. Nicole Jones sure does know how to make a good leo.
Katherine: 8.400
Design 2.8/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.8/3
This is really beautiful and regal. I love the sparkles on the front; the design in the middle truly looks like a crown, adding to the royal vibe. The script MSU is also a nice touch and a unique way to incorporate school spirit. I love everything about this design. Also, props to the fun video used to reveal it.
Tara: 7.000
Design 2.1/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
Another new MSU leo, another good one. I don’t love this as much as the other new MSU leos, but it’s still a good one and has grown on me since I first saw it. I love how the rhinestones cascade from the collar, and I’m always a fan of a good strappy back.
Michigan (Saturday): 7.880
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 6.400
Design 1.8/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 1.9/3
I like what this is trying to do, but it’s very busy. The back is great, but there’s something about the front design with the sparkle pattern and the white that I don’t love.
Izzi: 8.700
Design 2.4/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.6/3
This is definitely the superior of the two leos Michigan debuted this weekend. I love how simple and athletic the front of this feels, and I love how the sparkle pattern complements the design. The back is too strappy for my taste, and I think I might like it more if the straps were yellow, but it doesn’t bother me too much since the front is simple enough.
Carolyn: 8.200
Design 2.7/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
I feel like I should like this leo more, but I just don’t. The cascading sparkles and clean lines that make this leo so symmetrical are what I love most, but the open back with the straps serve no purpose to me (perhaps they could attach some block M emblem at the middle for some added school spirit?)
Katherine: 7.700
Design 2.4/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
There’s not much wrong with this. I like the cascading sparkles design on the front. The back is also really cool. However, like Oklahoma’s design, it is not that much of a departure from the school’s usual look, and I wish more risks were taken.
Tara: 8.400
Design 2.6/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.8/3
This is up there with my favorite Michigan leos of all time. I love the amount of sparkle and how the rhinestones are laid out in lines down the front. They complement the crossed bands in the front well, another part of the design I love. Incorporating maize in the bands was a great move, too; it gives it enough of the color to be Michigan without being overwhelming. And you can’t go wrong with a good strappy back.
UCLA (Thursday): 7.520
View images of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 9.000
Design 2.8/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 2.7/3
I LOVE this. Brandis and I covered Norman together (I realize this leo was at Raleigh) and said it looks like a leo for an individual qualifier rather than a full team at regionals. I do appreciate that UCLA wore it on Transgender Day of Visibility, I didn’t actually find that out until three days later, so maybe the promotion could have been better. Anyway, as for the actual leo, I really love it a lot. The nude actually matches almost everyone pretty well—a feat in and of itself—and the colored rhinestones are phenomenal.
Izzi: 8.700
Design 2.7/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.3/1, Uniqueness 1/1, Overall Appearance 2.7/3
This is absolutely ridiculous but so well executed that I kind of love it. It doesn’t feel like a bunch of random elements thrown on; the design is well put together. The colors are gloriously bright, even on the nude mesh. The nude coloring also looked fabulous on everyone—it seems like they had more than two colors, which I think needs to become the standard if you’re going to attempt nude mesh.
Carolyn: 3.800
Design 0.8/3, Fabric 0.3/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.2/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 0.6/3
I just KNOW I will get some hate from my comments on this leo, but I just do not like it. I don’t think the nude mesh blends well with the rainbow. I also wish UCLA wore this for a themed meet instead of at a regionals meet where there are also so many other leos debuting.
Katherine: 8.700
Design 2.7/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 1/1, Overall Appearance 2.6/3
My favorite design of the weekend, hands down. It’s so unique! I love the pastel shades of the rainbow colors and the way they’re splashed across the front like watercolors. The matching sparkles on the chest also look beautiful. And of course, props to UCLA for actually matching the nude mesh to everyone’s skin tone. It’s a low bar to clear, but a lot of schools don’t meet it.
Tara: 7.400
Design 2.4/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.3/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
Here’s the thing: I love this leo, but it just doesn’t feel UCLA to me—it reminds me more of an elite leo. That being said, the pastel rainbow combined with UCLA’s blue and the sweetheart neckline is great.
Arizona State: 7.220
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 6.500
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
I like this a lot, and it was great in person. The red is muted, but it fits Arizona State well. Plus, I like the little pop of gold because it’s not overwhelming. The mesh belt doesn’t even bother me because it fits with the design so well.
Izzi: 8.400
Design 2.4/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
There is so much to like about this leo! The angled waist is perfect, the gold trim adds exactly the right amount of gold, and I really like the athletic cut on the shoulder. I’m kind of over this style back that every new leo seems to use, but it’s inoffensive.
Carolyn: 7.400
Design 2.3/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.4/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.4/1, Overall Appearance 2.7/3
Love it. Probably one of my faves of the whole season, although I can’t quite identify exactly what it is that makes it so special. Perhaps the adequate amount of gold paired with the lovely maroon shade? Or perhaps the sleek simplicity of the back? Or maybe the symmetricality? Either way, it’s a winner for me.
Katherine: 6.000
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.4/1, Overall Appearance 1.7/3
This is just OK. I like the color scheme used, especially the muted red. I also like the block “Sun Devils.” It’s not terribly exciting, but it definitely represents Arizona State well.
Tara: 7.800
Design 2.3/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
This isn’t the most extravagant leo, but it’s a good one. The balance of color is nice (hard to do with gold!), and it has the right amount of sparkle. What really makes this leo for me is the inverted V along the waistline.
Michigan (Thursday): 7.040
View a video of a leotard here.
Elizabeth: 7.000
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
I like this pretty well. The white is a nice pop of brightness, and I like the shade of yellow. The back is good as well. Overall I like how Michigan used this stock design and made it its own.
Izzi: 6.600
Design 1.6/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 1.9/3
I guess there’s nothing I really hate on this leo, but the front feels so average early-2010s to me. I think we’ve moved past the abstract boob swirlies. The back isn’t horrible, but I don’t think it really adds anything or goes with the design on the front. I usually love Michigan leos, but this one is a miss for me.
Carolyn: 8.100
Design 2.8/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
Super fun! Really reminds me of Subway Surfers and Michigan’s starburst leo. I like the hidden M on the front and the overall light aura of this leo. Love it!
Katherine: 6.500
Design 2.1/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 1.8/3
This didn’t change my life or anything, but it’s a perfectly suitable leotard. The front design feels like a modern twist on a vintage design; at least it doesn’t look out of date. I do really like the nearly open back, and ombre sleeves are always a plus for me.
Tara: 7.000
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
I enjoy this one! The ombre is nice, and I like how the swirls complement the “M” on the front. Plus, the open back is nice.
UCLA (Saturday): 6.220
View photos of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 8.700
Design 2.3/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 2.4/3
It took a while for this leo to grow on me, but I decided I REALLY like most of it. The sparkle spikes are ombre. That’s SO creative. I also love the asymmetrical design of the gold belt and back straps, and the blue shade paired with white is lovely. I would have preferred thinner gold cuffs around the wrists and less of a cap sleeve, but overall this is good.
Izzi: 7.700
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 1/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
Hear me out: with a totally solid blue neckline, this would be a great leo. I love the asymmetrical lines at the waist and the stripes feel like ribbons wrapping around the arms. The back actually makes sense with the rest of the leo by continuing the design from the waist. Unfortunately, the neck pattern pushes it over the edge into “too busy” territory for me.
Carolyn: 4.900
Design 1.0/3, Fabric /1, Sparkle 0.3/1, School Spirit 0.3/1, Uniqueness 1/1, Overall Appearance 1.3/3
I like the brisk blue color, but I think the designers forgot something. If it weren’t for the gold accents and fun asymmetrical back, I would completely loathe this leo; but it seems like those elements are the only redeeming parts of it for me.
Katherine: 4.500
Design 1/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 1.3/3
I’m not a fan of this one. There are too many random lines that don’t fit alongside each other. Without the diagonal gold ones in the middle, it might be OK. Otherwise, the design just looks disjointed. The one redeeming quality is the neck; I do like that pattern.
Tara: 5.300
Design 1.4/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 1.6/3
I don’t hate this as much as I feel like I should. The individual elements are nice, but everything doesn’t quite fit together cohesively.
Missouri: 6.180
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 5.800
Design 1.4/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 1.8/3
The rhinestone cross-hatching in the front v is off center and I can’t see anything else. Overall it’s a solid if not a bit boring of a design, but I can’t get past the unevenness.
Izzi: 8.700
Design 2.4/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.6/3
I’m feeling a little burnt out on Mizzou leos because I just despise the black and yellow color. That being said, this leo is up there for a black and yellow leo. I love the stripe at the waist and the sparkle pattern on the sleeves. I think this kind of sparkle design looks better in movement, so I don’t love it as much in a photo as I did during the meet. I also can’t review this leo without acknowledging the uncentered criss-cross sparkle pattern on the back. Why, Mizzou?!
Carolyn: 4.300
Design 1.4/3, Fabric 0.3/1, Sparkle 0.4/1, School Spirit 0.4/1, Uniqueness 0.2/1, Overall Appearance 1.6/3
Hmmm, I need more. It’s a good effort, but I think the leo can look more cohesive if only the random yellow belt wasn’t there and the sparkles on the back lined up. Meh.
Katherine: 4.400
Design 1.2/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.4/1, Overall Appearance 1.2/3
Congrats to the Tigers on making nationals, but this is so boring to me. I like how the sparkles are clustered at the top and slowly taper away, but the rest of it is giving me nothing. I’m also not a fan of the yellow band; it feels like it breaks up the design.
Tara: 7.700
Design 2.3/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.7/3
The only thing I don’t like about this is how the criss-cross sparkles are uncentered at the apex of the V. Other than that, I’m a big fan of the design, the amount of sparkle and the touch of gold incorporated.
Georgia: 6.120
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 7.400
Design 2.4/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.4/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.6/3
This is great! I love the shade of red on the sleeves, but I wish it matched the red rhinestones bordering the deep V because it looks a bit weird with them being different colors. Overall this is a very solid leo for Georgia (finally).
Izzi: 6.300
Design 1.8/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.3/1, Overall Appearance 1.9/3
OK, can someone tell me what is up with these squigly sparkle patterns? It looks like a bunch of worms got loose in the rhinestone bin. Besides that, it’s fine, but there’s nothing revolutionary about it. I don’t get why the V-neck is so low; all of that red space on the chest looks out of place to me.
Carolyn: 5.100
Design 1.9/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.4/1, School Spirit 0.3/1, Uniqueness 0.2/1, Overall Appearance 1.7/3
What a poppy red color! I think this leo affirms my belief that all deep V leos are beautiful (yes, even that French one from 2014 Worlds), but I wish there was something more on this leo’s arms.
Katherine: 5.800
Design 1.6/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.4/1, Overall Appearance 1.9/3
I really like the shade of red used here, and the sparkles on the chest look pretty. However, the design doesn’t feel super unique to Georgia or other teams with this color scheme. Overall, it’s OK but nothing special.
Tara: 6.000
Design 1.8/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.4/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
I’m a fan of a good deep-V, and this one basically does it. The more I look at the details, the more I hate the squiggly sparkles. But it looked good in motion. It’s hard to go wrong with Georgia’s color scheme—the red and black work nicely together.
Boise State: 5.460
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 6.600
Design 1.8/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.4/1, School Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 1.8/3
Hear me out. This leo was a GREAT upgrade in person. When I first saw pics, I thought meh. But the change from the mystique fabric in the old design to matte here works really well with the colors. And you have to appreciate the absolute lean in to school spirit.
Izzi: 6.200
Design 1.7/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.2/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 1.5/3
This is fun because of the school spirit, but it doesn’t offer much beyond that. I like the matte fabric and shades of black and blue. I would appreciate more sparkle to liven it up.
Carolyn: 3.100
Design 0.4/3, Fabric 0.3/1, Sparkle 0.2/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.2/1, Overall Appearance 1.2/3
I swear this Boise State leo was already one that the Broncos had, but after reviewing the one I had in my head, I have come to the conclusion that they are not the same. This new one is not shiny fabric, has much less sparkle and incorporates the whole body, not just the upper part. However, I still don’t think that it is as elegant as some of the other leos Boise State has in its collection.
Katherine: 5.200
Design 1.4/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.2/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 1.2/3
This is definitely campy and unique, but it’s also not cute. I mean, that horse is a monstrosity. The white lines on the front feel randomly placed; I would have rather seen a full black body. But I can’t take much away from the Broncos for this one, as they truly leaned more into school spirit than anyone else this week (or maybe even this season).
Tara: 6.200
Design 1.7/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.4/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.4/1, Overall Appearance 1.9/3
This is basically an updated version of an old Boise State leo. I didn’t love that one, and I don’t love this one either. This rendition is better, though. The matte fabric is an improvement from the old fabric, and the bronco head still screams school spirit.
Florida: 5.380
View images of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 5.700
Design 1.6/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 1.6/3
This design is so mid 200s. I like the use of orange rhinestones, and the unique back, but the cut isn’t my favorite. It is at least a bit different than most Florida leos, but I still don’t love it. Now be different and make a good design. I’ll be photographing nationals and hope to see that happen please.
Izzi: 6.700
Design 1.8/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.4/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
Props to Florida for using orange rhinestones, but besides that I’m bored. I like the athletic feel a lot, and I don’t despise the chest hole, which is really saying something. There’s not much else to say about this one.
Carolyn: 2.100
Design 0.3/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.2/1, School Spirit 0.3/1, Uniqueness 0.4/1, Overall Appearance 0.4/3
Very old-school Florida. I appreciate the athletic look it was going for, but I much prefer the newer elegant Florida leos (like this season’s SEC championship leo) over the newer sporty ones like this one. Plus, from far away this leo looks like just fabric and no sparkle since the rhinestones are so small.
Katherine: 6.700
Design 1.8/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 1.6/3
I like that Florida went for a lighter shade of blue than usual; it’s similar to my favorite Florida design ever. I also like the subtle orange sparkles. However, the rest is a little boring compared to the other one, and I don’t like how the white bands on the front just stop and don’t wrap all the way around.
Tara: 5.700
Design 1.7/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.4/1, Overall Appearance 1.8/3
I appreciate that this is at least different from a lot of other Florida leo. The athletic look is nice, and orange rhinestones are a great way to incorporate the color. It’s fine enough, but it just doesn’t quite do it for me overall.
Iowa: 4.560
View images of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 5.600
Design 1.4/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 1.6/3
There’s a lot going on here. I love the back. The sleeves are a big no. The front fabric design just looks bulky. And the belly sparkle blob is just weird? I appreciate Iowa doing something different though.
Izzi: 3.400
Design 0.4/3, Fabric 0.2/1, Sparkle 0.4/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 1/3
I’m glad Iowa chose to wear this during regionals because I think the tiny quad box view makes this leo look about as good as it can. Up close it looks like they bought a bunch of leftover black fabric and threw it at the GK leo designer. I actually can see the potential of a rouched bust like that, but this attempt is unfortunately not the way to do it.
Carolyn: 2.100
Design 0.4/3, Fabric 0/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.3/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 0.3/3
Ohhhhhh when I first saw this one I gasped in horror. I just very much dislike it and don’t want to say any more negative things about it. (Side note: PLEASE incorporate yellow or gold into your leos Iowa! And not just nude mesh! Make it real!)
Katherine: 5.900
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.4/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
I actually think this is pretty cool, especially the back. The sleeves aren’t my favorite, but they don’t ruin it entirely for me. In just about everything other than the color scheme, it’s a big departure from Iowa’s usual (no nude mesh!), so I appreciate the risk that was taken.
Tara: 5.800
Design 1.7/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.4/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 1.8/3
This could be so good, but it just falls short. Though it’s a simple black design, I actually love the body, from the ruched front to the strappy back and rhinestone accents. The patterned sleeves ruin it for me, and I’m once again asking Iowa to use more of its colors.
Fan Poll
Congrats to La Crosse for winning the NCGA fan poll! Vote for your favorite from regionals here.
READ THIS NEXT: Leotard Rankings: NCGA
Article by Elizabeth Grimsley, Izzi Baskin, Carolyn Lien, Katherine Weaver and Tara Graeve
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Have to agree with Carolyn on the UCLA leo. it gave me circus vibes and felt regionals wasn’t the beat place to debut it. I loved the one they wore the next day!