The top half of the Big Ten had a big year in 2022. Minnesota and Michigan went to the national semifinals, and Michigan State had its best season ever, just missing a trip to Fort Worth. This year, the Wolverines will be looking to get back to the national final, while some of the other teams in this group will be working through almost unrecognizable lineups after the departure of countless senior contributors who became synonymous with their teams.
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.
No. 6 Minnesota
Minnesota will look very different in 2022 with the departures of Ona Loper and Lexy Ramler. This group will need to find its new leader(s) fast if it wants to make a repeat trip to nationals.
| Losses: | Ona Loper (AA), Haley Tyson (BB, SO transfer to Iowa), Lexy Ramler (AA), Hannah Willmarth (UB) | |||
| Gains: | Seria Johnson, Sarah Moraw, Brooklyn Rowray, Megan Steensland | |||
| Returning From Injury: | Olivia Reed (unknown), Mallory LeNeave (boot) | |||
Vault
Potential Contributors: Mya Hooten (9.930 NQS), Maddie Quarles (9.860), Gianna Gerdes (9.835), Kate Grotenhuis, Marissa Jencks, Emily Koch, Halle Remlinger, Seria Johnson, Sarah Moraw
How It Looked Before: The Gopher vault rotation featured four stunning Yurchenko one and a halves from Ramler, Loper, Hooten and Quarles.
How It Looks Now: Vault will still be a solid lineup for Minnesota, led by Hooten and Quarles, who have been near-perfect in the past. Johnson’s full is stickable, and level 10 Senior D vault champion Moraw brings a strong one and a half that will slot into the back half of the lineup.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Down. The loss of two potential perfect 10.0s inevitably stings, but this is still a solid group bolstered by Moraw’s experience competing the 10.0 start value.
Bars
Potential Contributors: Tiarre Sales (9.885), Mya Hooten (9.865), Halle Remlinger (9.815), Mallory LeNeave, Ella Sirjord, Olivia Reed
How It Looked Before: This lineup was nationally relevant, regularly featuring near-perfection from Ramler and Loper.
How It Looks Now: Sales’ fifth year is good news for the bar lineup, and LeNeave should return to this top six if she is truly healthy. The same is true for Reed, who missed her freshman season with injury. The freshmen are not particularly strong here, so Jenny Hansen will need to explore options in her returning athletes or get creative with construction and fine-tuning with the freshmen.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? This is another lineup that is trending down, both because Loper and Ramler’s grips are too mighty to fill and because depth questions are emerging.
Beam
Potential Contributors: Emily Koch (9.850), Gianna Gerdes (9.815), Abby Nylin (9.805), Lauren Pearl, Tiarre Sales, Ali Sonier, Seria Johnson, Brooklyn Rowray, Sarah Moraw
How It Looked Before: Beam was a problem event for Minnesota, with a handful of meets featuring multiple falls, even from the back half of the lineup. Ramler was perfect here in February.
How It Looks Now: Thankfully for the Gophers—who return only two routines that posted an NQS last year—the freshmen have great potential on beam. Johnson has nice lines and creative construction, featuring an aerial to front toss and side aerial to two feet. Moraw and Rowray both have the presence and extension of college beamers.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Down in overall scoring potential, again due to the irreplaceable nature of Loper and Ramler, though if the freshmen prove to be consistent, the event could hold steady.
Floor
Potential Contributors: Mya Hooten (9.975), Halle Remlinger (9.925), Gianna Gerdes (9.885), Emily Koch (9.865), Mallory LeNeave, Maddie Quarles, Lauren Pearl, Seria Johnson, Brooklyn Rowray
How It Looked Before: Hooten headlined Minnesota’s best event, at No. 2 in the nation, with her showstopping set.
How It Looks Now: The powerful core of this lineup returns; this is the event where Loper and Ramler’s absences will be felt slightly less. Johnson is particularly fun to watch; her 2022 level 10 set features college-ready performance and just needs a few construction tweaks to be ready to go.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Down; even though floor was never Ramler’s and Loper’s strongest piece, both reliably put up a 9.9-plus almost every time out. The Gophers have some intriguing options to fill those holes, but a lot hinges on unknowns.
Three Big Questions
How will the Gophers respond to the loss of Ona Loper and Lexy Ramler?
There’s no way around it: It’s going to be an adjustment year. Even if Minnesota finds great routines to fill Loper’s and Ramler’s shoes, they won’t be near-guaranteed 10.0s every time, and there’s no replacement for the calm leadership and camaraderie the pair brought.
How healthy is Mallory LeNeave?
She was still injured as recently as late August via team social media, though it was unclear if she was simply in the recovery process from her in-season injury or if something new had come up. Since the pool of available bar routines is looking shallow, her injury status could be a significant factor.
Who will step up on bars?
Put simply, we’re going to need to see some new faces step up on bars. Whether that’s a returning gymnast who hasn’t made lineups or a freshman finding her swing on the event, depth will be a serious question here.
No. 8 Michigan
Things are looking bright for a Wolverine squad that is only losing Abby Brenner. With a solid incoming class, superstars Natalie Wojcik and Abby Heiskell returning for fifth years and routines returning from injury, Michigan should enjoy more depth this year on its campaign to return to the national final.
| Losses: | Abby Brenner (VT, UB, FX; grad transfer to Utah) | |||
| Gains: | Farah Lipetz, Lily Clapper, Kaylen Morgan, Paige Thaxton | |||
| Returning From Injury: | Carly Bauman (Achilles), Ashley Lane (sling), Abigail Vides (boot) | |||
Vault
Potential Contributors: Sierra Brooks (9.955 NQS), Naomi Morrison (9.940), Natalie Wojcik (9.930), Gabby Wilson (9.925), Abby Heiskell (9.920), Reyna Guggino (9.910), Jenna Mulligan, Kaylen Morgan, Jacey Vore, Paige Thaxton
How It Looked Before: Michigan’s all-10.0s-all-the-time lineup was nothing short of spectacular in 2022. Every lineup regular scored a season high 10.0 or 9.975 on the event, with a jaw-dropping 49.875 on the books in February.
How It Looks Now: All of the regulars return to this lineup. Vore and Thaxton add two more strong Yurchenko one and a halves to the mix, assuming Vore is fully recovered from her Achilles injury and adds back leg events. Plus, Morgan has a stellar full, so the Wolverines won’t be hurting for depth.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Up, if that’s possible, because the depth routines seem to have higher scoring potential even than last year.
Bars
Potential Contributors: Natalie Wojcik (9.945), Abby Heiskell (9.915), Sierra Brooks (9.905), Gabby Wilson (9.905), Jacey Vore (9.895), Naomi Morrison (9.860), Carly Bauman, Kaylen Morgan, Paige Thaxton, Farah Lipetz
How It Looked Before: After a strong and steady season in a lineup packed with well-executed difficulty, bars proved to be a weak point for Michigan in the national semifinal.
How It Looks Now: In addition to the return of almost the entire lineup, Michigan benefits on bars from Bauman’s return from injury, gorgeous lines from Morgan—with the chance to pare down her elite set as needed—and college-ready work from Thaxton. This lineup will be competitive, and the price of admission is perfect handstands, a single-bar release and an E dismount. That said, Michigan will miss Brenner’s auto-9.900 here; perhaps Thaxton will fill that hole.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Bars will improve on the heels of increased depth and a high level of internal competition to secure a spot in the top six.
Beam
Potential Contributors: Natalie Wojcik (9.945), Abby Heiskell (9.905), Sierra Brooks (9.9), Gabby Wilson (9.89), Naomi Morrison (9.845), Reyna Guggino (9.825), Jacey Vore (9.715), Carly Bauman, Farah Lipetz, Kaylen Morgan, Paige Thaxton,
How It Looked Before: Similar to bars, beam was a good, steady piece for the Wolverines all year, until falls here kept them from advancing to the national final. We did see some nerviness from many gymnasts in the lineup throughout the season, but until April those were one-off mistakes in individual meets.
How It Looks Now: Beam is where Bauman’s return will make the biggest impact. Morgan also brings elite-stage experience and poise here, though she’ll need to finesse some execution to score big numbers in college. Thaxton is a strong beamer with handstand work fans will enjoy, though college judges may take issue with her leaps; if those get cleaned up, she’ll be a strong option.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Beam should hold steady in 2023. With the entire lineup returning and new options for the fifth and sixth routines, there will be some room for head coach Bev Plocki to play with this lineup until she lands on an ideal six.
Floor
Potential Contributors: Gabby Wilson (9.965), Sierra Brooks (9.955), Naomi Morrison (9.94), Natalie Wojcik (9.935), Abby Heiskell (9.925), Reyna Guggino, Jenna Mulligan, Carly Bauman, Kaylen Morgan, Jacey Vore, Paige Thaxton
How It Looked Before: Wilson’s two perfect 10.0s headlined the No. 1 floor team in the nation in 2022, with 9.975 highs for the rest of the core lineup.
How It Looks Now: Brenner was a floor regular and put up reliably good numbers. Floor is a particular strength for Morgan, who has a stickable Arabian double and strong presentation; she should slot into Brenner’s spot. Bauman may step in more here, or Guggino could see time when regulars are rested.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Floor could be even better in 2023; Morgan is a legitimate 10.0 threat and raises the scoring potential from the Brenner routine she replaces.
Three Big Questions
What went wrong in 2022, and how do the Wolverines prevent it from happening again?
Everything was coming up Michigan early last year before a weird off-kilter performance at Nebraska in February showed some cracks. The team easily rebounded and didn’t have another collapse until the worst possible moment: the national semifinal. Some of it could come down to pacing and some to light depth putting a lot of weight on the core contributors’ shoulders. Regardless of the reasons, this is a group with a chip on its shoulder that is gaining more sets than it is losing. Maybe Michigan plays best from behind.
How healthy are the depth contributors?
All of Carly Bauman, Abigail Vides and Paige Thaxton have been in boots in the last year, and Ashley Lane was in a sling. Though lineups don’t hinge on any of the four, they all have important pieces to offer and could play significantly into Plocki’s strategy for the year, if healthy.
Is this team a national title threat?
Yes. Most of the squad has championship pedigree, it has the difficulty and it likely learned some hard lessons in 2022. It seems fair to assume Plocki will use increased depth to play with lineups and pacing a bit more this year. Not having the Wolverines on your championship radar would be a mistake.
No. 9 Michigan State
The Spartans are losing a lot of experienced veterans from their historic 2022 squad. Many of the lost sets were steady and reliable. The talented newcomers and underclassmen have the big skills to fill the holes, but consistency and leadership will be key if Michigan State is going to punch its ticket to Fort Worth in 2023.
| Losses: | Sydney Ewing (FX), Ashley Hofelich (VT, FX), Lea Mitchell (UB, BB, FX), Alaina Raybon (UB), Alyssa Wiedeman (VT, BB, FX) | |||
| Gains: | Elle Beaufait, Sage Kellerman, Stephanie Lebster, Nikki Smith, Tara Walsh (JR transfer from Auburn), Olivia Zsarmani | |||
Vault
Potential Contributors: Gabrielle Stephen (9.895 NQS), Skyla Schulte (9.850), Lauren Hsu (9.845), Baleigh Garcia (9.830), Nyah Smith (9.775), Delanie Harkness, Katie Sawyer, Tara Walsh, Nikki Smith, Sage Kellerman
How It Looked Before: Despite vaulting zero 10.0 start values in 2022, the Spartan vault squad clocked in at No. 19 on the heels of great fulls from Stephen and Schulte.
How It Looks Now: Nikki Smith will end the Yurchenko one and a half drought, with a high and stickable vault. Kellerman adds a 10.0 start of her own with a strong handspring front pike half.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Vault should improve. Though the Spartans are losing two veterans here, Nikki Smith and Kellerman should more than make up for those numbers with their well-executed, higher start value vaults.
Bars
Potential Contributors: Delanie Harkness (9.905), Skyla Schulte (9.885), Jori Jackard (9.880), Gabrielle Stephen (9.800), Baleigh Garcia (9.735), Tori Loomis, Nikki Smith, Olivia Zsarmani, Sage Kellerman,
How It Looked Before: Bars was an inconsistent piece but featured some very high highs, like a 49.500 in March. Mitchell regularly righted the lineup if it started out shaky.
How It Looks Now: Nikki Smith boasts some stellar handstands and a pretty Pak and double layout, though her momentum occasionally gets away from her here; nevertheless, she’ll be an option on day one. Zsarmani lacks a little in the toes but brings a solid Gienger/double layout set, and Kellerman’s level 10 routine is just about college ready once she finesses some handstands. Overall, the Spartans have options.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Too early to tell. Losing Mitchell’s reliable set and calm leadership could prove to be a rocky transition, but the freshmen provide some very good replacement routine options. Mike Rowe will have the depth to find the ideal top six—it just might take a few weeks.
Beam
Potential Contributors: Baleigh Garcia (9.910), Gabrielle Stephen (9.910), Giana Kalefe (9.900), Skyla Schulte (9.900), Delanie Harkness, Nyah Smith, Nikki Smith, Olivia Zsarmani, Sage Kellerman
How It Looked Before: Beam was a very good event, led by rock solid work from the underclassmen, especially Garcia, Stephen and Kalefe.
How It Looks Now: With most of the lineup returning, beam should look similar to last season. Nikki Smith brings strong work led by chest-up landings and a high double tuck dismount, and Zsarmani has a unique and steady set featuring a pike front toss to back handspring series. Kellerman has great potential but has been inconsistent.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Beam has the potential to improve, but it depends on consistency from the freshmen.
Floor
Potential Contributors: Skyla Schulte (9.915), Delanie Harkness (9.905), Gabrielle Stephen (9.865), Nyah Smith (9.840), Nikki Smith, Olivia Zsarmani, Elle Beaufait, Sage Kellerman
How It Looked Before: The Spartans’ best event, floor was always a show-stopper featuring top-notch choreography and nation-leading performance quality.
How It Looks Now: This is the event that relied most heavily on graduating seniors, and because of that, it will look the most different in 2023. The returning sets are excellent, but the freshmen lack a bit of finesse in performance quality. Nikki Smith performs a sky-high full-in that she lands well; she should slot into the lineup in January.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Floor will suffer a bit, at least until the freshmen polish their work.
Three Big Questions
Can Skyla Schulte step up and lead the squad?
As a freshman, Schulte was vocal on the floor and showed great poise on big postseason stages. It’s one thing to show up when you’re the beloved underdog and another entirely to put up the big routines and lead under the weight of nationals expectations. Thankfully for the Spartans, Schulte seems up to the task.
Will Nikki Smith emerge as Michigan State’s next star?
Former five-star recruit, 2022 Senior E national all-around champion and Nastia Liukin Cup co-champion Nikki Smith is all-in on the Spartans’ lofty aspirations. If she can perform in college the way she did in level 10, she’ll be a big part of that success. Keep an eye on her for Freshman of the Week accolades out of the gate.
Who will break through on floor?
Several freshmen have the pieces of a serviceable floor routine, but none of them performed up to Michigan State’s standards on the event in level 10. It will be exciting to see if one of them blossoms under Rowe’s staff and becomes the next great Spartan floor performer.
No. 15 Iowa
Iowa will look very different in 2023, with fan-favorites Lauren Guerin and Clair Kaji moving on. The Hawkeyes are losing a huge number of contributors but are bringing in a lot of fresh talent, including transfers Ella Castellanos and Haley Tyson.
| Losses: | Allie Gilchrist (BB, FX), Alexandra Greenwald (VT, UB, FX), Lauren Guerin (VT, FX), Clair Kaji (UB, BB, FX), Bridget Killian (VT, BB, FX), Carina Tolan (UB), Mackenzie Vance (UB, BB) | |||
| Gains: | Ella Castellanos (JR transfer from LIU), Hanna Castillo, Avery Chambers, Emily Erb, Bailey Libby, Gianna Masella, Karina Muñoz, Haley Tyson (SO transfer from Minnesota), Kaia Vanney | |||
Vault
Potential Contributors: JerQuavia Henderson (9.890 NQS), Linda Zivat (9.870), Allison Zuhlke (9.830), Kendall LaPlante (9.780), Adeline Kenlin, Marissa Rojas, Haley Tyson, Hanna Castillo, Gianna Masella, Karina Muñoz, Kaia Vanney
How It Looked Before: The Hawkeyes’ vault rotation was filled with excitement as Zivat finally made her college debut with her Tsuk full. Together with a big Yurchenko full from Henderson and Zuhlke’s eponymous vault, this was a strong lineup for Iowa.
How It Looks Now: The Hawkeyes have two regular holes to fill, as well as one backup vault. The freshmen bring solid fulls, with the best from Muñoz and Masella. Tyson also vaulted in the exhibition spot at Minnesota last year and competed a one and a half as a level 10. Vanney is training a Yurchenko full-on tuck.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Vault is trending down. The fulls from the newcomers are solid, but they won’t immediately replicate the 9.900s we saw from Killian and Guerin.
Bars
Potential Contributors: Adeline Kenlin (9.835), Ella Castellanos (9.775 for LIU), JerQuavia Henderson (9.735), Ellie Rogers (9.710), Kareena McSweeny, Marissa Rojas, Allison Zuhlke, Haley Tyson, Gianna Masella, Karina Muñoz, Kaia Vanney
How It Looked Before: Bars was Iowa’s biggest weakness by a large margin. It took Larissa Libby a long time to find her top six, and while the event improved by the postseason, it lagged significantly behind the other three pieces the majority of the year. The Hawkeyes struggled to break 49.
How It Looks Now: Iowa’s transfers could make a huge difference here. Tyson was a very strong level 10 bar worker, and Castellanos was very consistent for the Sharks. Masella loses her form at times, but she has the pieces of a strong college bar set and already has good handstands. Muñoz has been inconsistent, but with some work constructing a set that works well for her, she could be an option as well. Vanney is particularly clean here, though we don’t have recent video of a full set with a dismount.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Bars should look better this year. Castellanos and Tyson are huge factors, and the freshmen have potential to break into the lineup.
Beam
Potential Contributors: Adeline Kenlin (9.910), JerQuavia Henderson (9.840), Marissa Rojas (9.820), Aubrey Nick (9.750), Alexa Ebeling, Hanna Castillo, Ella Castellanos, Haley Tyson, Gianna Masella, Karina Muñoz, Kaia Vanney
How It Looked Before: An up-and-down season on Iowa’s weakest piece ended on a high note when Kenlin tied for second on the event at the national championships.
How It Looks Now: The newcomers, both freshmen and transfers, have been a bit inconsistent but have great potential. Muñoz is an exception; her calm work and beautiful lines should slot into the lineup immediately. We don’t have recent competition video for Vanney, but her training shows strong jumps and leaps and good presence.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Too early to tell. Losing Kaji’s scoring potential is a blow, but she was a bit inconsistent last year. If Muñoz can settle in quickly, beam could improve.
Floor
Potential Contributors: JerQuavia Henderson (9.945), Marissa Rojas (9.730), Adeline Kenlin (9.725), Linda Zivat, Allie Gilchrist, Marissa Rojas, Hanna Castillo, Gianna Masella, Karina Muñoz, Haley Tyson
How It Looked Before: Floor is the Hawkeyes’ signature event. The 2022 squad was nationally renowned for performance quality, and Guerin was on perennial 10-watch, though she never hit the mark.
How It Looks Now: This is the event that will suffer the most without the outgoing class. Expect Henderson to anchor. Muñoz has particularly good movement quality and should thrive with Larissa Libby’s choreography.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Floor will take a step down in 2023. The departing routines were iconic, and it will take time for the newcomers to settle into that level of performance and precision.
Three Big Questions
What does Iowa look like without Clair Kaji?
Kaji is Iowa gymnastics. Iowa gymnastics is Kaji. Even when she was injured or wasn’t performing at her best, she was clearly an instrumental part of the team. It will be strange to see the Hawkeyes on the floor without Kaji and Libby egging each other on. Someone will need to step up and fill that leadership void, and it’s not clear who that will be just yet.
Will Karina Muñoz be an immediate all-arounder?
Munoz’s extension, performance quality and presence are ready-made for college. She’s strong across vault, beam and floor and shows potential on bars; she could be an all-around option for Larissa Libby. That’s always a big ask for a freshman, though.
Will Haley Tyson add any events?
Tyson only competed bars and did vault exhibitions at Minnesota, but she was a highly touted all-around gymnast in level 10. She has the potential to contribute across all four and would be especially valuable on bars.
No. 19 Illinois
The Illini held onto their two 2022 seniors for fifth years but lost a lot of potential elsewhere from the roster. Arielle Ward headlines the incoming class, and Makayla Green’s return from injury could be instrumental in Illinois’ push to break into the sweet sixteen in 2023.
| Losses: | Katharine Klugman (retired), Lexi Powe (VT, left team), Ashley Resch (left team), Mia Scott (left team), Kiera Wai (left team) | |||
| Gains: | Alea Byrne, Tali Joelson, Arielle Ward, Emma White | |||
| Returning From Injury: | Makayla Green (lower leg) | |||
Vault
Potential Contributors: Arayah Simons (9.890), Ruthuja Nataraj (9.860), Mia Townes (9.8550), Mia Takekawa (9.835), Abby Mueller (9.815), Olivia O’Donnell (9.800), Julia Waight, Makayla Green, Alea Byrne, Arielle Ward
How It Looked Before: Vault has lagged behind Illinois’ other events for years, but 2022 was promising, showing good amplitude across the many fulls and Townes’ one and a half, which earned her a trip to nationals.
How It Looks Now: If she’s healthy, we should see Green’s big full in this lineup. Byrne sat out of vault and floor most of 2022, but she also has a strong full when healthy. Ward also brings a clean full, giving Nadalie Walsh many options.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? It’s too early to tell for this group; too much depends on health after injuries to know for sure how vault will look in 2023.
Bars
Potential Contributors: Mia Takekawa (9.925), Olivia O’Donnell (9.885), Amelia Knight (9.870), Mallory Mizuki (9.840), Rachel Borden (9.840), Kaitlyn Ewald (9.710), Allie Morgan, Arayah Simons, Makayla Green, Arielle Ward,
How It Looked Before: The Illini’s best event had some consistency issues throughout the season but was highlighted by Takekawa’s trip to nationals as an individual on the event after punching her ticket with a 9.950 at the Seattle regional.
How It Looks Now: Green and Ward are particularly good here; Ward’s level 10 set featured a double Arabian dismount.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Bars should be even stronger for this squad; with no one from the lineup departing and excellent new options in Green and Ward, expect the Illini to shine.
Beam
Potential Contributors: Mia Takekawa (9.935), Mia Townes (9.87), Amelia Knight (9.845), Abby Mueller (9.825), Rachel Borden (9.81), Mallory Mizuki (9.805), McKenzie Eddy, Kaitlyn Ewald, Allie Morgan, Ruthuja Nataraj, Arayah Simons,
How It Looked Before: Beam went on a strange journey for Illinois. After a rough start to the year and then steady improvement, this group peaked at a 49.500 in March, featuring Takekawa’s second career perfect 10 on the event.
How It Looks Now: Beam is not a strong event for the newcomers, but the entire 2022 lineup is returning. Walsh will need to have her squad focus on consistency.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Too early to tell. Improvement here depends entirely on consistency.
Floor
Potential Contributors: Amelia Knight (9.89), Abby Mueller (9.875), Mia Takekawa (9.865), Kaitlyn Ewald (9.86), Ruthuja Nataraj (9.86), Olivia O’Donnell (9.785), Olivia Bowsman, Mia Townes, Julia Waight, Arayah Simons, Makayla Green, Arielle Ward, Alea Byrne,
How It Looked Before: Floor was Illinois’ lowest-ranked event but was fairly consistent and featured 9.9-plus numbers from five different gymnasts.
How It Looks Now: We should see Simons return to this event after recovering from her Achilles injury. She performed in exhibition in 2022 but didn’t put up a competition set. Green should be a standout if she is healthy; she boasts a big full-in. Byrne—the Senior D level 10 national champion on floor—has potential to become a fan favorite with her big triple full and switch ring. Ward’s clean work and front double full could also factor into the lineup.
Trending up, down or too early to tell? Floor is on its way up; with four clean E passes waiting in the wings, this lineup could become very competitive.
Three Big Questions
Can the Illini find consistency on beam?
Everyone in the gymnastics world knows beam can be make or break. If Walsh can find a consistent six here in January, it will be a good sign for the team’s outlook in 2023.
Is Makayla Green at full health?
Green’s injury in 2022 changed the lineup math for this group significantly on vault, bars and floor. If she’s back to her pre-injury form, she could be a gamechanger on all three.
Will we see any vault upgrades?
When compared to many teams in the top 20, Illinois is at an immediate start value disadvantage with only one 10.0 on vault. The fulls improve every year, but one or two more 10.0s would help push the Illini into the next tier.
READ THIS NEXT: Potential Lineups” EAGL Part I
Article by Emily Minehart and Emily Lockard
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