The preseason is starting and 2023 will be here before we know it. That means it’s time for our annual potential lineups analysis! As gymnasts get back into the gym with new goals for the new season, we’re breaking their prospects down and taking a look at what each team’s lineups may look like come January — from who’s expected to contribute, holes that need to be filled and exciting upgrades fans should look out for.
The SEC has long been the premiere conference in college gymnastics, and 2022 was no exception with three teams finishing in the top five, five teams in the top 10 and seven teams in the top 20. SEC gymnasts swept the individual all-around podium at championships, and won the top prizes on every event except vault.
If the last few months of coaching changes, surprise transfers and last-minute commitments are any indication, the 2023 season is shaping up to be just as competitive and dramatic as the last.
No. 10 Kentucky
The SEC’s perennial bubble team, the Wildcats have firmly established themselves as one of the nation’s top 15 programs but can’t seem to break through to the next tier of championship contenders. A strong freshmen class plus the return of several key contributors could help propel Kentucky to the next level.
| Losses: | Josie Angeny (Georgia), Anna Haigis, Cally Nixon |
| Gains: | Bridget Bourque, Samantha Forman, Logan Lombardi, Megan Sapp, Claire Stippich |
| Returning From Injury: | Bailey Bunn, Makenna Clarke, Kaitlin DeGuzman |
Vault
Potential Contributors: Raena Worley (9.915 NQS), Arianna Patterson (9.895), Jillian Procasky (9.850), Isabella Magnelli (9.840), Mackenzie Wilson (9.835), Bailey Bunn, Bridget Borque, Samantha Forman, Claire Stippich
How It Looked Before: Vault was a good event for the Wildcats with five 10.0 start values regularly in the lineup, though they tended to give away valuable tenths on the landing.
How It Looks Now: First and foremost, Kentucky will be looking to replace Nixon’s dependable Yurchenko full. Bourque’s Yurchenko one and a half landed her on the level 10 top 100 and should be more than enough to get her into this lineup. Fellow freshman Stippich has also trained a one and a half, but there’s a strong case to be made for her inclusion even if she sticks with a Yurchenko full.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Trending up. Added depth never hurts, and adding a vaulter of Bourque’s caliber will bring the lineup to the next level.
Bars
Potential Contributors: Raena Worley (9.945 NQS), Shealyn Luksik (9.870), Hailey Davis (9.825), Jillian Procasky (9.780), Kaitlin Deguzman (9.825 AVG), Bailey Bunn (9.825), Annie Riegert, Bridget Bourque, Logan Lombardi, Samantha Forman, Claire Stippich
How It Looked Before: Kentucky upped its bars game in 2022, climbing seven spots in the rankings to crack the top 10 for the first time in program history.
How It Looks Now: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! All of the returning members of last season’s lineup averaged 9.800 or higher, including Deguzman and Bunn, whose seasons were cut short by knee injuries. Bourque and Stippich, both of whom snagged entries on the level 10 top 100 bars scores, are also viable options. Expect to see some early season experimentation in these lineups, as well as plenty of exhibitions.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Too early to tell. The team is losing two of its top scorers from 2022, Nixon and Angeny, but also increases its depth. Bars should remain a strong event for Kentucky, though whether it can improve on its results from last season remains to be seen.
Beam
Potential Contributors: Raena Worley (9.915 NQS), Isabella Magnelli (9.870), Shealyn Luksik (9.820), Arianna Patterson (9.700), Bailey Bunn (9.513 AVG), Carissa Clay (9.492), Jillian Procasky (9.475), Annie Reigert (9.262), Raina Albores Ashlyn Laclair, Bridget Bourque, Samantha Forman, Logan Lombardi, Megan Sapp, Claire Stippich
How It Looked Before: The only event where the Wildcats scored under 49.000, the team counted at least one sub-9.800 score in all but one regular season meet and ranked 26th as a result. A rock solid Worley led the team in scoring, but lead-off Luksik and Magnelli were the unsung heroes of this lineup.
How It Looks Now: Even with 2021 nationals qualifier Bunn returning, this is where Angeny’s loss is going to be felt most acutely. There is depth to spare, but this lineup is in desperate need of some stability. Freshman Bourque — like most of the returners — is capable of big scores when she hits but only had around a 50% hit rate as a level 10. Someone other than Worley and Magnelli is going to have to step up.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Trending down. If the Wildcats want to make a push for nationals this season, simply not counting a fall isn’t going to be enough.
Floor
Potential Contributors: Raena Worley (9.950 NQS), Hailey Davis (9.930), Isabella Magnelli (9.875), Jillian Procasky (9.720), Ashlyn Laclair (9.620), Bailey Bunn (9.825 AVG), Kaitlin Deguzman (9.775), Raina Albores (9.725), Arianna Patterson (9.692), Kassidy Howell (9.000), Makenna Clarke, Carissa Clay, Annie Riegert, Lila Smith, Bridget Bourque, Samantha Forman, Claire Stippich
How It Looked Before: Kentucky saw a big jump in the floor rankings thanks in large part to Worley’s regular contributions of 9.950 or better.
How It Looks Now: Worley, Davis and Magnelli should all be back, and while replacing Haigis won’t be easy, there is plenty of potential in the freshman class. Stippich tied for second at last year’s level 10 national championships and Forman tied for eighth. Both gymnasts bring clean tumbling and dynamic leaps that should secure their place in this lineup. Bourque struggled on floor somewhat during her senior season but has a strong overall track record and a big full-twisting double tuck that certainly merits consideration.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Too soon to tell. Last year Kentucky leaned heavily on its stars while struggling to find a usable fifth score. Now it’s going to need to field two more reliably strong routines in order to maintain last years’ progress (three if it wants to improve).
Three Big Questions
How good is Raena Worley?
Worley has always been a strong all-arounder but truly came into her own in 2022, earning four regular season All-America honors (second-team vault and bars, first-team floor and all-around) and posting the second best average all-around score in the country. She may not get the same level of publicity as some of the SEC’s most famous names, but don’t let that fool you into thinking she isn’t one of the top gymnasts in the conference and the nation.
What does Kentucky need to do to compete in the night session of the SEC championships?
Since 2017, Kentucky has held steady in that fifth spot all but once while the other SEC teams have swirled around it. The top four teams have changed year to year, but the top NQSs have typically been a 197.300 or better. The Wildcats tend to ease into the season with several low 196 or high 195 performances, and while that’s a very valid strategy for pacing the team, it does mean they’ll have more ground to make up later compared to the likes of Florida, which generally kicks off the season with a bang in the mid-197s. Is it worth is to head coach Tim Garrison to push his team early on in hopes of a better placement at the conference championships? Maybe not.
Can the team qualify to the NCAA championships?
There’s a strong case to be made that Kentucky should have advanced to nationals at least once since competing at the 2018 championship, the final year that saw 12 teams instead of eight qualify to the semifinals. Since then, Kentucky hasn’t scored less than a 197.500 at regionals, yet each year has missed out while teams in other regions have advanced with scores several tenths lower. If the Wildcats can keep peaking at the right time, it’s inevitable that luck will be on their side eventually.
No. 16 Arkansas
Arkansas seemingly had all the necessary puzzle pieces to be a 2022 postseason contender but never quite managed to convert that potential into results. Now, with a healthier and more experienced roster plus a trio of clutch fifth-years, the Razorbacks will have a second chance to follow through on all that promise.
| Losses: | Amanda Elswick, Abigail Johnston, Maggie O’Hara, Savannah Pennese Sarah Shaffer |
| Gains: | Reese Drotar, Norah Flatley (UCLA), Allison Gard, Jamie Pratt, Cally Swaney, Lauren Williams |
| Returning From Injury: | Frankie Price, Makenzie Sedlacek, Cami Weaver |
Vault
Potential Contributors: Kennedy Hambrick (9.885 NQS), Leah Smith (9.855), Norah Flatley (9.845), Makenzie Sedlacek (9.835), Emma Kelley (9.750), Madison Hickey (9.775 AVG), Cami Weaver (9.300), Allie Gard, Jaime Pratt, Cally Swaney, Lauren Williams
How It Looked Before: Arkansas started the year off on a rough note, with season-ending knee injuries to potential contributors Weaver and Price. Vault ended up being the Razorbacks’ highest-ranked event, but it generally lacked the difficulty and precision to break out of the low 49s.
How It Looks Now: Flatley and Price are obvious choices to fill two of the vacancies left by Elswick, Pennese and Shaffer while newcomers Gard, Swaney, Pratt and Williams could all potentially contribute 10.0 start values. If Weaver is back at full strength, that’s another Yurchenko one and a half in the Razorbacks’ arsenal.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Tentatively trending up. Increased depth and difficulty should only help boost Arkansas’s prospects (the operative word being “should”). Regardless of how many 10.0 vaults materialize, though, they have to nail down the landings.
Bars
Potential Contributors: Norah Flatley (9.925 NQS), Kennedy Hambrick (9.885), Jenson Scalzo (9.880), Maddie Jones (9.855), Leah Smith (9.840), Makenzie Sedlacek (9.700 AVG), Kiara Gianfagna (9.644), Emma Kelley (9.412), Bailey Lovett, Reese Drotar, Jamie Pratt, Cally Swaney, Lauren Williams
How It Looked Before: Bars was inconsistent to say the least, with nearly a point and a half separating the team’s season high and season low scores.
How It Looks Now: Flatley was one of the top bar workers in the country last season and is a strong contender to anchor this year’s lineup. If nothing else, she’ll bring experience and stability. This is also a great event for the freshman class, with Swaney — who tied for third on bars at this year’s level 10 nationals — Drotar, and Pratt all in contention for an immediate regular spot.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Trending up. Flatley hasn’t scored under 9.800 in three seasons while Drotar, Pratt and Swaney have all hit that mark in their level 10 careers. Bars is shaping up to be completely new event for the Razorbacks in 2023.
Beam
Potential Contributors: Kennedy Hambrick (9.905 NQS), Norah Flatley (9.885), Bailey Lovett (9.870), Leah Smith (9.835), Kalyxta Gamiao (9.830), Kiara Gianfagna (9.825), Makenzie Sedlacek (9.645 AVG), Allie Gard, Jaime Pratt, Cally Swaney, Lauren Williams
How It Looked Before: Though not quite as erratic as bars, beam rotations ranged from frustrating to impressive — and everything in between. On balance, a solid event for Arkansas.
How It Looks Now: Flatley will almost certainly join fellow fifth-years Hambrick and Lovett as the main core of this lineup, with Gamiao, Gianfagna and Smith likely to feature regularly as well. The freshmen are a high risk/high reward group: Swaney and Pratt both reached 9.700 or higher as level 10s, which might be enough to convince beam coach Kyla Ross to take the risk.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Too soon to tell. Gaining All-American Flatley somewhat lessens the sting of losing Elswick, but this lineup is going to have to figure out a way to keep its collective nerves under control.
Floor
Potential Contributors: Norah Flatley (9.900 NQS), Bailey Lovett (9.900), Kennedy Hambrick (9.885), Maddie Jones (9.885), Leah Smith (9.845), Makenzie Sedlacek (9.830), Madison Hickey (9.825), Emma Kelley (9.050 AVG), Reese Drotar, Allie Gard, Jaime Pratt, Cally Swaney, Lauren Williams
How It Looked Before: Arkansas saw a surprising dip in the rankings on its signature event and scored below a 49.000 for the first time under Jordyn Wieber.
How It Looks Now: There’s no shortage of E passes from the newcomers: Flatley’s triple full is one of the best in the NCAA, Williams has a beauty of a full-twisting double tuck and both Pratt and Swaney boast a front double full. Price and Gamiao earned level 10 career highs of 9.825 and could also challenge the returners for a regular spot. There’s the added variable of new volunteer assistant coach and choreographer Jackie Terpak to consider as well. Terpak served as choreographer at her alma mater, Temple, during the previous two seasons and helped boost its NQS and season average by several tenths; can she do the same for Arkansas?
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Too early to tell. On paper, this should be a lights-out floor rotation, but that was also the case last year. Having Flatley should certainly help put the Razorbacks back on track.
Three Big Questions
What does Arkansas have to do to avoid falling back to the bottom of the SEC?
The Razorbacks can’t bank on LSU repeating last season’s postseason mistakes, and given its completely revamped roster, it may not even have the Georgia buffer either. They are going to have to step up their game across the board, but particularly on bars and floor. As Missouri and Kentucky have continued to prove, consistency often matters more than scoring potential in the SEC.
How big of a blow is losing Morgan Price?
Price, the younger sister of sophomore Frankie and one of the top recruits in the 2022 freshman class, stunned college gymnastics fans by switching her commitment from Arkansas to a fledgling Fisk program. Given that her strongest events — vault and bars — are Arkansas’ weakest, Fisk’s gain is definitely Arkansas’s loss.
How much of an impact will Norah Flatley have?
Flatley staged an exceptional comeback last year despite significant behind-the-scenes turmoil at UCLA. Now reunited with former coach Wieber and former teammate Ross, Flatley is poised to be a top contributor and stabilizing force on all four events for Arkansas.
No. 18 LSU
The Tigers looked strong during the regular season, ranking as high as fifth nationally. A jittery showing at the conference championship set the tone for a disappointing postseason, culminating in the team’s lowest finish in over a decade.
| Losses: | Reagan Campbell, Rebecca D’Antonio, Bridget Dean, Christina Desiderio, Sami Durante, Sarah Edwards |
| Gains: | Annie Beard, Ashley Cowan, Cammy Hall (Utah), Bryce Wilson |
| Returning From Injury: | Tori Tatum |
Vault
Potential Contributors: Haleigh Bryant (9.970 NQS), Kiya Johnson (9.915), KJ Johnson (9.895), Cammy Hall (9.880), Elena Arenas (9.860), Kai Rivers (9.840 AVG), Alyona Shchennikova (9.785), Chase Brock, Olivia Dunne, Aleah Finnegan, Alexis Jeffrey, Lexi Nibbs, Maddie Rau, Kamryn Ryan, Tori Tatum, Annie Beard, Ashley Cowan, Bryce Wilson
How It Looked Before: Third-ranked LSU boasts some of the best vaulters in the country, but excellent execution is what set this lineup apart. All-American Kiya Johnson qualified as an individual to nationals on the event, edging out teammate and 2021 NCAA vault champion Bryant.
How It Looks Now: Freshman Wilson is one of the top vaulters of her recruiting class and scored three perfect 10s this year. Whether she opts for the Yurchenko full or double full, she’ll definitely have a place in the top six. Utah transfer Hall brings a big Yurchenko one and a half and a wealth of experience: She’s hit 30 of 37 career vaults and has a 9.950 career high.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Trending up. Wilson and Hall will easily fill in the gaps left by Edwards and Durante and then some.
Bars
Potential Contributors: Haleigh Bryant (9.930 NQS), Alyona Shchennikova (9.910), Kiya Johnson (9.875), Olivia Dunne (9.865), Elena Arenas (9.775), Aleah Finnegan (9.850 AVG), Kai Rivers (9.845), Chase Brock, Alexis Jeffrey, KJ Johnson, Tori Tatum, Annie Beard, Ashley Cowan, Bryce Wilson
How It Looked Before: The Tigers’ counting bars scores were generally strong throughout the regular season, but there were precious few meets where the entire lineup hit. That pervasive inconsistency came to a head during the postseason where half of the team’s scores were 9.700 or lower.
How It Looks Now: In a recent interview, head coach Jay Clark described the team as “really deep and talented on three events,” indicating bars remains a bit of a concern. Freshman Cowan, a level 10 champion on the event, is a virtual lock thanks to high difficulty and crisp technique. With junior Rivers likely limited due to rotator cuff issues, the Tigers are going to have to turn to their less experienced members to fill in the gaps. Freshman Wilson is best known for her stellar vaults, but she’s a strong bar worker in her own right. Sophomores and former four-star recruits Jeffrey and Tatum didn’t compete last season but are certainly capable if healthy.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Tentatively trending up. Last season’s issues seemed to have more to do with morale than technique, and they certainly weren’t due to inexperience. A crop of talented newcomers may be just the thing to help reboot this lineup.
Beam
Potential Contributors: Kiya Johnson (9.925 NQS), Haleigh Bryant (9.910), Aleah Finnegan (9.900), Kai Rivers (9.845 AVG), Elena Arenas (9.812), Alyona Shchennikova (9.800), Sierra Ballard, Olivia Dunne, Alexis Jeffrey, KJ Johnson, Kamryn Ryan, Tori Tatum, Annie Beard, Ashley Cowan, Bryce Wilson
How It Looked Before: Beam was one of LSU’s better events, except when it wasn’t. Similar to bars, there were a few too many sub-9.700 scores for comfort throughout the regular season, culminating in a postseason meltdown.
How It Looks Now: LSU is losing three key gymnasts — including consummate lead-off Desidero — but has outstanding freshman Beard to help soften the blow. Clark is also optimistic that Rivers will be able to contribute on beam if nothing else. Assuming they join Kiya Johnson, Bryant and Finnegan as lineup regulars, filling that sixth spot is going to be crucial. Arenas and Shchennikova have competed a handful of times with variable results, and Wilson wasn’t particularly consistent during her club career but scored exceptionally well when she hit.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Too soon to tell. Regardless of who ends up competing, there is going to be a brand new dynamic for LSU beam.
Floor
Potential Contributors: KJ Johnson (9.905 NQS), Aleah Finnegan (9.885), Haleigh Bryant (9.875), Alyona Shchennikova (9.860), Olivia Dunne (9.845), Kiya Johnson (9.930 AVG), Sierra Ballard (9.762), Elena Arenas (9.487), Sierra Ballard, Alexis Jeffrey, Tori Tatum, Annie Beard, Ashley Cowan, Bryce Wilson
How It Looked Before: With standouts Kiya Johnson and Bryant both dealing with chronic foot injuries for much of the season, LSU dropped from second to eighth in the rankings but still managed to turn in a massive 49.775 season high.
How It Looks Now: Beard and Wilson both bring big tumbling and beautifully extended leaps. Even if Bryant and Kiya Johnson are at full strength, the two freshmen are likely mainstays in this lineup along with KJ Johnson. The final regular spot is a bit of a toss up, with Finnegan, Shchennikova and Dunne on just about equal footing.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Too soon to say. Kiya Johnson and Bryant are among the best in the country when they’re healthy. This is going to be a strong lineup even without them, but it could be a top tier lineup when everyone is fully healthy.
Three Big Questions
What’s happening on the injury front?
Clark reported that senior Rivers and freshman Beard are both recovering from shoulder issues and are unlikely to contribute on bars this season. He expects Kiya Johnson and Haleigh Bryant to compete in the all-around, though the former is still limiting her repetitions due to ongoing Achilles issues. Tatum’s status is still somewhat up in the air, though she has recently been spotted training bars.
Will we see some of last season’s unutilized talent?
Clark made a point of saying that there was “a lot of depth that didn’t get used last year, and maybe it’s time for them to get an opportunity [to compete].” Jeffrey was notably missing in action last year after her controversial transfer, but Clark says she’s healthy and ready to contribute in 2023. He also named sophomore Finnegan as a possibility on bars.
Is LSU still a top SEC team?
Rough start and finish aside, the Tigers looked really strong for the majority of the season and ranked as high as fifth nationally. Their current place in the SEC hierarchy has more to do with teams like Auburn, Mizzou and Kentucky closing the gap, meaning LSU can no longer expect to beat those teams with a sub-197 — or perhaps even a low 197 — performance.
No. 30 Georgia
The Gymdogs have spent the decade since Suzanne Yoculan’s retirement in a rankings freefall, and the team failed to advance to day two of regionals for the second year in a row. Assistant coach Josh Overton was controversially fired as a result and replaced by Alabama’s Ryan Roberts.
| Losses: | Rachel Baumann (Florida), Nhyla Bryant, Rachael Lukacs, Mikayla Magee, Riley Milbrandt, Victoria Nguyen (Florida), Alyssa Perez-Lugones, Megan Roberts, Emily Schild, Abbey Ward |
| Gains: | Josie Angeny (Kentucky), Madelyn Crow, Vanessa Deniz (Oklahoma), Sandra Elsadek (Ball State), Sidney Fitzgerald, Naya Howard, Nicole King, Jacquie Moran, Ariel Posen, JaFree Scott, Eryn Williams |
Vault
Potential Contributors: Soraya Hawthorne (9.840 NQS), Amanda Cashman (9.780), Sandra Elsadek (9.750), Haley De Jong (9.825 AVG), Josie Angeny (9.812), Vanessa Deniz, Madelynn Crow, Sidney Fitzgerald, Naya Howard, Jacquie Moran, Ariel Posen, JaFree Scott, Eryn Williams
How It Looked Before: Vault was Georgia’s highest ranked event, finishing the season at 14th place. The Gymdogs were able to put up as many as five 10.0 start values at times.
How It Looks Now: All three upperclassman transfers have usable Yurchenko fulls and collegiate competition experience, a valuable commodity on a team with so many newcomers. Of the freshmen, Fitzgerald and King have both trained a Yurchenko one and a half into a pit, but former elites Posen and Scott — both of whom have lovely, well-controlled Yurchenko fulls — are the most likely to earn regular spots.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Too soon to tell. Recent vault training video has been sparse, and it’s unclear how many viable 10.0s are in the mix. We simply don’t know what we don’t know. Worst case scenario, there are more than a lineup’s worth of strong Yurchenko fulls to choose from.
Bars
Potential Contributors: Josie Angeny (9.890 NQS), Katie Finnegan (9.865), Haley De Jong (9.845), Amanda Cashan (9.775), Sandra Elsadek (9.675), Loulie Hattaway (9.442 AVG), Vanessa Deniz, Naya Howard, Jacquie Moran, Ariel Posen, Jafree Scott
How It Looked Before: Improved consistency didn’t translate to bigger scores, with the Gymdogs maxing out at just 49.200 on the event.
How It Looks Now: This is an exceptionally talented crop of incoming bar workers — so strong that even the very solid core trio of returning Gymdogs will have to fight to retain their spots. Angeny is a proven quantity and Moran, Posen and Scott are all locks if healthy with Howard not far behind. Deniz did not compete in 2022 but logged a career bars average of 9.850 during her time with the Sooners.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Trending up. Believe it or not, this might actually turn out to be Georgia’s strongest event next season.
Beam
Potential Contributors: Haley De Jong (9.870 NQS), Josie Angeny (9.865), Soraya Hawthorne (9.810), Sandra Elsadek (9.760), Sarah Cohen (9.580 AVG), Katie Finnegan (9.150), Vanessa Deniz, Naya Howard, Jacquie Moran, Ariel Posen, Jafree Scott
How It Looked Before: Beam was Georgia’s Achilles heel right from the get-go, scoring under 49 more often than not (the team’s 46.625 in week two was the definitive low point of the entire season). De Jong was a frequent bright spot in an otherwise timid lineup.
How It Looks Now: This is another event where the freshmen may very well end up running the show: Howard offers much-needed stability plus a triple series; former elites Posen and Scott both have exceptional form and rhythm; Moran hasn’t competed since 2019 but scored a career-high 9.775. Of the transfers, Angeny is an individual nationals qualifier, and Deniz has a career high of 9.925. Both have proven capable of scoring well and, more importantly, hitting consistently.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Trending up. At the very least, Georgia will have plenty of depth to play around with.
Floor
Potential Contributors: Soraya Hawthorne (9.915 NQS), Haley De Jong (9.800), Sandra Elsadek (9.775), Amanda Cashman, Vanessa Deniz, Sidney Fitgerald, Naya Howard, Jacquie Moran, Ariel Posen, Jafree Scott, Eryn Williams
How It Looked Before: The Gymdogs had their fair share of highs and lows but tended to save their best performances for home meets. Hawthorne continued to shine on her best event, earning a pair of 9.975s. The season finished the way it started, in the mid 48s.
How It Looks Now: With only three returning gymnasts with an NQS, the burden will yet again fall on freshmen and transfers to make up the bulk of the lineup. Deniz struggled with consistency at Oklahoma but scored as high as a 9.925 when she hit. Freshman Scott has the polish and presentation to make her a true standout on floor. King is a strong front tumbler with a front double twist and while Fitzgerald and Williams don’t have the most difficulty, both are charismatic performers with virtually no built in deductions. Posen is also a lovely floor worker but is coming back from a meniscus tear, so she may not immediately factor into lineups.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Too early to tell. This is where Georgia is the thinnest, and it’s been keeping any training footage close to its chest. Hawthorne and Scott are the only certainties here.
Three Big Questions
Does Georgia have a balance beam situation?
That remains to be seen. With so many personnel changes, it’s almost inevitable that head coach Courtney Kupets-Carter is going to have to rebuild her beam lineup from the ground up. If Georgia can capitalize on its transfers’ consistency and newcomers’ talent, this will be a strong event. If it’s still regularly scoring in the 48s next season, that’s a major problem.
How much will we see of Jacquie Moran?
The former level 10 bars champion last competed in 2019 when she snagged five spots on the top 100 bars scores and broke 39.000 in the all-around. She’s teased the occasional training video on bars and beam since then, but her current status on the other events is a bit of a mystery.
Can CKC turn things around?
There’s restructuring and rebuilding, and then there’s whatever has been going on at Georgia during the offseason: A controversial coaching shakeup, two high-profile transfers from Georgia, three-high profile transfers to Georgia, and a late recruiting surge that propelled the Gymdogs to the top of both the 2022-23 recruit rankings. The most conspicuous holdover from last season is head coach Courtney Kupets Carter. Will this windfall of new talent be enough to restore the flagging program to its former glory (or at the very least garner the results to justify Kupets-Carter’s recent contract extension)?
READ THIS NEXT: Potential Lineups: SEC Part I
Article by Claire Billman and Ian LeWarn
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I expect Kentucky to move up a notch or two nationally but be stuck in the same spot in conference. Their luck with draws/regional placements is rather unfortunate but there is no denying their improvement.
LSU might have as big of a beam problem as UGA when you look at post season. And VT looked less strong the past year. That said- a hot night from Johnson and Bryant puts them on equal footing with almost anyone if the middle part if their lineups can hold.
I am here to the UGA upheaval with popcorn and a stiff drink. Roberts should be a noticeable upgrade from Brooks- I’m expecting improvement in routine composition across the board. 49.2 max on an event is worse than multiple sub 49 beam rotations since atleast they had a prayer of a decent beam score. Korth wasn’t mentioned but I suspect she will be an asset to the staff. And no way should they rush Posen or Scott on leg events.
I think Flatley and Howard are the gymnasts i expect to gave the biggest impacts to their teams and if Shchennikova has a strong year she’ll really set up the LSU big guns.