It’s year two with Gymlytics fantasy college gymnastics in 2023! We all learned lessons last year when GymChem took up the helm and created her revamped game, and we’re ready for a fun 2023.
Our weekly cadence will continue to match Gymlytics: The fantasy “week” begins with Friday meets, ends with any Thursday ones and trading happens every Monday via waiver wire. You’ll find us here every Tuesday talking about “next week,” meaning the fantasy week starting that Friday.
This is your one-stop-shop for all things fantasy each week. We’ll be tracking injuries, byes and double headers, and giving you tips and tricks to put forward your best possible team.
Alright folks, how did your practice week go? Week 1 is always full of surprises, so don’t get down on yourself if you were short a score on an event or a freshman you expected to see in the all-around only vaulted. It happens! And that’s what we’re here for.
The big headline meets this weekend are Best of Utah and the two Wasatch Classic sessions. Another weekend full of big-time quads on podium? Strap yourselves in because here we go! We also have several Monday meets (remember, it will be Martin Luther King Jr. Day), including Oklahoma at LSU and Fisk, Ohio State and Rutgers at Georgia. That Gymdog quad is spicy.
Injury Updates Since Last Week
- Arayah Simons (Illinois): Torn Achilles
- Annie Worley (Nebraska): Boot and crutches
- Katherine Thaler (Nebraska): Boot and crutches
- Alex Theodorou (Arizona State): Cast
- Trinity Munsisoumang (Pittsburgh): Crutches
- Emily Liszewski (Pittsburgh): Boot
- Kayleigh Cleveland (Pittsburgh): Boot
- Savannah Schoenherr (Florida): Broken foot
- Calah Newman (Rutgers): Season-ending injury
- Rachael Riley (Rutgers): Season-ending injury
- Connie Hsu (Penn): Unknown surgery
- McKenna Zelenk (Gustavus): Left team
- Cecilia Gerlach (Gustavus): Left team
- Nikky Aiello (Brockport): Left team
- Jaci Fothergill (Winona State): Left team
- Caitlin Smith (Oklahoma): Shoulder injury
- Paige Thaxton (Michigan): Boot
- Coinne Bunagan (Alabama): Boot
- Reese DeHaan (Temple): Out for season
Gymnasts Removed From the Injury List Since Last Week
- Allie Stern (Oklahoma)
- Anaya Smith (Arizona State)
- Kai Rivers (LSU)
- Cristal Isa (Utah)
- Ciena Alipio (UCLA)
- Mallory Desch (SEMO)
Week 2 Byes & Doubles
Byes: Hamline, North Carolina, Sacramento State
Doubles: Alaska, Fisk, Georgia, Illinois State, LSU, Rutgers, San Jose State, West Chester
Data Corner
This year we have data editor Dara joining us for Fantasy Central each week. She’ll be breaking down the numbers for you with notes on routine hit rate, lineup appearance frequency and breakout performances to keep an eye on.
Hit Rate: For the purposes of our analysis, we’ll be calculating hit rate as the percentage of a gymnast’s scores on an event, in a given season, that are at or above the 9.750 mark.
Lineup Frequency: We calculate lineup frequency as the number of times a gymnast competes on an event in a given season, as a percentage of the number of lineup opportunities available to the gymnast. When looking at past seasons, we determine the number of lineup opportunities by considering regular season meets, as well as postseason meets in which the gymnast’s team put up at least five scores. In the current season, the number of lineup opportunities may not always align with the week number due to byes and doubles.
Since we’re only one week in, hit rates and lineup frequencies for the season aren’t particularly representative. Instead, we’re highlighting a few of the gymnasts who, through stellar performances this past week, have extended their perfect hit rate and lineup frequency numbers from the past season. They include Andi Li of California on bars, Halle Remlinger of Minnesota on floor and Sienna Schreiber of Missouri on beam, each of whom averaged 9.900 or better last year and earned a 9.950 or better to kick off the season.
Breakout Performances: Georgia’s Amanda Cashman, whose last floor performance was back in 2021, matched her career high of 9.925 on the event in her return to the lineup. Also on floor, Illinois senior Julia Waight posted a strong 9.875 in the home opener against Missouri, besting her previous career high of 9.625. Additionally, several gymnasts made triumphant returns from season-ending injuries this weekend—Florida’s Ellie Lazzari, Denver’s Lynnzee Brown and UCLA’s Margzetta Frazier each notched one score of 9.900 or better in their first meet in nearly a year.
Starts, Sits & Pickups for Week 2
This is the spot to find your sleeper picks, your two- or three-eventers and your solutions for those big bye weeks. We’ll also comment on the big names when relevant: Injuries, lineup absences, or inconsistency.
Vault: The Sooners’ Katherine LeVasseur has an unknown back injury and only vaulted at Super 16. She performed well for a 9.900, so she’s safe to keep in this lineup for now. Soraya Hawthorne came up limping after a tough vault fall, but word was she appeared to be fine later. She seems likely to compete this week, especially since Georgia could rest her Friday and put her in the lineup on Monday. Cassie Stevens’ upgraded vault scored a 9.925 for Auburn, so expect that one and a half to remain. Similarly, Jessica Hutchinson‘s new one and a half was clean and stuck for a 9.850. Expect that number to go up for Denver. Western Michigan’s Cassie St. Clair stuck her tucked one and a half and should also be on players’ waiver wire radar.
Bars: BYU’s Kylie Eaquinto only performed vault and bars—for a solid 9.825 on the latter—but we heard on the broadcast that she should be in the all-around “soon.” Southern Utah freshman Trista Goodman anchored the Thunderbirds’ lineup for a lovely 9.900. Keep an eye on her as we approach the waiver wire.
Beam: If you drafted Pittsburgh freshman Reyna Garvey, good on you! If you didn’t, know that she notched a huge 9.950 on beam. Keep your eye on her once the waiver wire opens in a few weeks. Eastern Michigan’s Ella Chemotti didn’t compete in the Michigan quad preview meet in December, but she did perform at the Eagles’ intrasquad while idle Week 1. She’s safe to put in your beam lineup.
Floor: We saw UCLA’s Ciena Ailipo subbed into the Super 16 beam lineup; she also warmed up floor and could appear there at some point for the Bruins. It’s Chloe Widner’s world, and we’re just living in it: The Stanford senior had an excellent all-around outing at the Super 16, headlined by a 9.950 on floor.
READ THIS NEXT: Fantasy Central: Week 1
Article by Emily Minehart and Dara Tan
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Just a note that UGA competes on Friday and Monday, so for the comment on Soraya, UGA is not “idle until Monday”. Love Fantasy Central!