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.
Love fantasy gym and want even more? Good news, there’s now a men’s game! Read our Q&A with My Fantasy Gym League co-founder Connor Bowman to learn how to play. Players can create a team any point during the season.
Phew two weeks in already!? Remember, trading opens after this week’s meets!
Injury Updates Since Last Week
- Mia Falcone (UW-Whitewater): Left team
- Lauren Goble (UW-Whitewater): Left team
- Morgan McEntire (UW-Whitewater): Left team
- Brooklyn Kopsack (Alaska): Boot
- Jayda Freeman (George Washington): Boot
- Kiah Johnson (West Chester): Unknown calf injury
- Kamryn Ryan (LSU): Boot
- Rian Thompkins (Bridgeport): Achilles
- Kiya Johnson (LSU) Achilles, out for the season
- Sierra Bradford (UW-Eau Claire): Left team
- Madison Zimmerman (Ursinus): Boot
- Brooklyn Moors (UCLA): Tweaked knee
- Olivia Dunne (LSU): lower leg stress reaction
Gymnasts Removed from the Injury List Since Last Week
- Montana Fairbairn (Alaska)
- Cameron Kelperis (San Jose State)
- Alex Theodorou (Arizona State)
- Mia Oh (Illinois State)
- Alyssa Wiggins (Fisk)
Week 3 Byes & Doubles
Byes: Alaska, San Jose State
Doubles: Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Rhode Island
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 and Lineup Frequency: We’re only two weeks into the season and some teams have only competed once thus far, so hit rate and lineup frequency numbers still contain a fair amount of noise at this point. That said, a handful of teams have competed thrice now, and their preliminary numbers could be useful to bear in mind. For instance, consider Georgia senior Haley De Jong, who made the bar lineup just over 80% of the time and posted scores on the event of at least 9.750 just under 80% of her attempts last season. Her 100% hit rate and lineup frequency numbers so far this season (including the pair of career high-matching 9.925s she posted this weekend) signal her continued importance to the lineup. Preliminary numbers also highlight the immediate impact freshmen Morgan Price and Amani Herring have been making on their teams’ lineups. Price has competed in the all-around in all three of Fisk’s meets and has a perfect hit rate on vault; while Herring has competed on all but bars in all three of Penn State’s meets and scored 9.750 or better in all her routines.
Breakout Performances: Northern Illinois sophomore Isabella Sissi posted a 9.850 on beam this weekend, improving on her previous career high of 9.775, which she set just last week. After only competing twice on the event in her freshman season and having her score dropped on both occasions, Sissi seems to seems to be hitting her stride this year. West Chester sophomore Kristina Rodriguez competed on beam for just the second time in her college career, recording a 9.850 to eclipse the 9.400 she earned in her freshman season.
Starts, Sits & Pickups for Week 3
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: Suni Lee is training a Khorkina on vault. She has two 9.900s on the event so far; if she upgrades and her scores dip for a week or two, don’t panic. Rosie Casali debuted a huge, stuck Yurchenko one and a half for Denver at the Michigan tri. Safe to say the upgrade is here to stay. She scored a 9.975, so add her to your vault lineup. Rachel Baumann sat out of Florida’s lineups after a vault fall in warmups appeared to injure her arm. Her status is unknown for now, and given the Gators’ depth, it seems safe to say she’ll be rested until fully healthy, even with Alabama on the schedule. Chloi Clark stepped in in her place.
Bars: The UCLA’s bar lineup could see a change. Emily Lee struggled a bit. Madisyn Anyimi performed a solid exhibition. Don’t make any changes yet, but don’t be surprised if we see that switch soon on Janelle McDonald’s pet event. We don’t expect Arkansas to repeat last week’s bars meltdown, but it’s true that Kennedy Hambrick is having a tough start to her season; we’d keep her off bars until she settles in if you have other options. Josie Angeny appeared to injure her shoulder on bars; she was swapped out of the beam lineup after her fall. With the quick turnaround for Friday’s meet, put her in lineups with caution. While a minor injury likely won’t keep Olivia Dunne out of this lineup for too long, we can expect Friday to be too soon for her to return. For now, assume Tori Tatum will remain on bars.
Beam: It seems likely that LSU’s Elena Arenas will remain in this lineup for the injured Kiya Johnson after her 9.925 career high last week and successful outing versus Oklahoma. We don’t yet know Bryce Wilson’s long-term status, but Sierra Ballard performed well enough on beam and floor to hold both spots if Wilson is still out. If you can’t take a zero, we’d suggest leaving Wilson out of this lineup for now. Sydney Schaffer was taken out of to the Missouri beam lineup in favor of Hannah McCrary. Neither scored particularly well, so it seems like the spot on the Tigers’ pet event is up in the air for now. Schaffer had a better 2022, so it’s possible we’ll see her get another turn this week.
Floor: Minnesota freshman Seria Johnson added floor last week for a 9.900. It seems like she’ll become a staple there. Ball State’s Suki Pfister picked up right where she left off on vault, but she’s been solid on floor through two weeks as well. If you drafted her and are short a floor score, she’s a good bet. Chloe Negrete is back in business. If you held her out of leg events waiting to see how her Achilles recovery went, all signs point to go. She scored a 9.925 last week for N.C. State and looks as good as ever.
Waiver Wire Wrap-up
Finally, we have a waiver wire in gymnastics! Who should you prioritize this week? Since Fantasy Central comes out on Tuesdays, keep in mind that these tips are catered toward next week.
Vault: George Washington’s Deja Chambliss got right back to business; if she somehow went undrafted in your league, pick her up for vault and floor. Stanford’s Anna Roberts now has two back-to-back 9.900s on vault. If the paucity of the Cardinal’s preseason training video kept you from drafting the freshman, now’s your chance to scoop her up.
Bars: Brown’s Asta-Sollilja Farrell missed her first two seasons with injury, but she anchored the Bears’ lineup for a solid 9.850 in Week 2. Rutgers’ Nailah Adams debuted on bars; the freshman who is coming off an ACL injury only notched a 9.650, but the routine is loaded with potential. If you’re a high risk-high reward player, she could be worth a gamble. Towson is off to a strong start, led by Grace Vaillancourt and her 9.925 on bars. Pick her up if she’s available—that number is a career high.
Beam: If San Jose State’s Emma Milne is available, consider picking her up. Her 9.875 from last week seems like a floor, not a ceiling, for her unique set. Transfer Sophia McClelland has been competing in the all-around for the Huskers and predictably shining on her best event.
Floor: Karina Muñoz made her bars and floor debuts for Iowa at the Wasatch Classic, scoring a 9.875 on each. She’s sure to become a star and as a freshman may be available in many leagues. Kendall Whitman scored a 9.925 in George Washington’s debut. That matches her 2022 high.
READ THIS NEXT: Fantasy Central: Q&A With MAG My Fantasy Gymnastics League Co-Creator Connor Bowman
Article by Emily Minehart and Dara Tan
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