The USAG Dismount: Nationals

Texas Woman’s was the victor of the weekend, and the only team without a single fall during the entire team final. While other teams felt the pressure from falls early in the lineup, the Pioneers stayed cool, calm, and collected as they cruised to first with nearly a four tenth lead over Air Force. The only event finals left in college gymnastics did not disappoint with SEMO claiming or sharing all but one of the event titles. 

Gayla Griswold: Marathon Gymnast

Gayla Griswold has an action-packed April. From qualifying to and competing at the Normal Regional last weekend, and again this week in semifinals, team final and event finals in Ithaca. Next week her plane heads to Fort Worth, Texas, as the first Lindenwood gymnast to qualify for NCAA nationals. Whatever is in Griswold’s water, bottle it up. 

Bigger Than Gymnastics

SCSU

The Owls carried a special mascot around with them during nationals in memory of Melanie Coleman. 

The Event That Should Be Canceled

Bars

Team semifinals and event qualification day turned into the battle of the bars. Several teams’ seasons met their end this weekend due to sub-par bar performances. Lindenwood was one tenth away from missing the team final, SEMO couldn’t quite capitalize on a program record beam performance and several other teams’ chances were over before the meet hit full swing because of the event. On the bright side, the bars stars still came to shine. We saw 9.9-pluses from the likes of Mei Li Costa, Kathryn Doran, Jolie Miller and Lindsay Ockler that helped prove that the event just might be worth saving. 

As You Wish

Bridgeport Twitter

Without live scoring available to those not in attendance due to technical difficulties, the UB twitter account took it into it’s own hands to storm the castle and give the gymternet what they wanted: individual scores. From the second rotation onward, Bridgeport gave us a fiery emoji game and score after score when the meet officials decided they would keep everyone in suspense after the third rotation. Absolutely clutch. 

Most Iconic Moment

Lydia Webb, Body Slam

After sticking her dismount in the bars event final, Lydia Webb body slammed the mat a la Margzetta Frazier. It really brought some joy into an otherwise serious day. 

Team Final

For Lindenwood, the weekend is bittersweet, even without counting a fall on beam and a low bar score, it would’ve been a tough fight. Even with those points in its pocket, it would’ve been a few tenths off of the Pioneers’ team score. However, no one was going to catch Texas Woman’s as it crushed it’s way into the 196 universe for its third-best score in program history. Although Lindenwood led for the first two rotations, bars set it back and beam made the gap between it and the top contenders insurmountable. The Lions had similar struggles in the team that they had in the qualifying round where the team just barely edged out a surging SEMO beam rotation. In the meantime, Texas Woman’s had a substantial floor rotation, hitting just shy of a program record set back in 2018 and nearly eclipsed its vault record as well. Despite qualifying to the team final with the highest score, Brown was forced to count to start the meet, putting the Bears in a position where they weren’t quite able to fight back. Air Force soared close to the Pioneers but couldn’t quite inch past them. The Falcons nearly tied their season high and came within a tenth of tying a program high as well.

All Around 

1. Sydney Beers (Cornell) 39.125
2. Genevieve Sabado (Air Force) 38.950
3. Velandra Brochi (Air Force) 38.775

Freshman (!) Sydney Beers had the meet of a lifetime, topping her previous season high by just over three tenths. While recording a new season high for a freshman can be something to shrug about, the Cornell program all around record is a 39.225, something Beers could smash in years to come. Missing among Genevieve Sabado and Velandro Brochi was Ayla McKean, who didn’t quite have her normal 39+ day. Another notable name, Jessica Meakim, could’ve found her way into the top three, as well as Yale’s Lindsay Chia.  

Vault

1. Raegan Walker (Yale) 9.875

 2. Riley Daniels (Lindenwood) 9.8375

 3T. Julia Bedell (Brown), Daisy Woodring (TWU) 9.8125

The race for the vault title was tight as usual, especially without the presence of NCAA national qualifier Gayla Griswold in the final. Raegan Walker, traditionally known for her strong lines on beam, came home with the vault win thanks to a stunning Yurchenko half. Michelle Reed’s stuck front handspring front pike was a breath of fresh air while the height on Bedell and Woodring’s Yurchenko fulls landed them on the podium. Riley Daniels went from not competing vault in 2021 to gracing the podium this season. Her vaults improved progressively throughout the season, culminating in a strong performance in the final.

Bars

1T. Jolie Miller (SEMO), Lindsay Ockler (SEMO) 9.925

3. Kathryn Doran (Bridgeport) 9.900

After leading qualifier Mei  Li Costa took a large step on her dismount, the title was up for grabs. With half the routines complete, Maddie Griffith sat in first with a 9.850. However, the second half of the qualifiers refused to be denied. Doran’s was the first routine to hit 9.900, but it would not hold on against the duo of MIC bars winners in Lindsay Ockler and Jolie Miller. The Bridgeport fifth-year, Doran, went out in style with her second podium on the day. Although all of the qualifiers did not go unscathed, strong performances from Maddie Griffith, Raegan Walker and Taylor Ann Wilson were entertaining to watch.

Beam 

1. Anna Kaziska (SEMO) 9.950
2. Kathryn Doran (Bridgeport) 9.900
3. Angela Xing (Brown) 9.850

Beam is always an interesting event final as the finalists fight not just to stay on the beam but to reach perfection. Anna Kaziska once again came close, repeating her title-winning performance from 2021. Doran had the meet of her life, scoring a career-high 9.900 to take second. Angela Xing tried to steal the show herself in her first event final appearance. However, the beam final was not without faults. Valerie Smith of Air Force took a somewhat scary fall on her dismount following a routine that featured line dancing. She stood up smiling—don’t worry. 

Floor

1T. Anna Kaziska (SEMO), Isabel Goyco (TWU) 9.950

3. Jessica Meakim (West Chester) 9.900

The seniors laid claim to the floor final with one perfect landing after another. Isabel Goyco claimed her second-consecutive title with a new career high while Kaziska continued to prove she is the queen of the floor as well as the beam. Jessica Meakim’s entertaining Drumline/Jackson Five floor routine went out in style. Other highlights of the day included Mara Johnson’s always fun set.

Click and expand the events below to see results, recaps and more.

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Article by Allison Freeman, Katie Walsh, Rebecca Scally and Tavia Smith

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