Welcome to the SEC night cap of Friday Night Heights, week six’s rendition coming a touch sooner in the evening than it has the past few weeks. Snuggle up with a bucket of popcorn because this competition is bound to be quite the event.
With a close loss at Alabama last week, the Tigers of Auburn will look to win this SEC matchup. LSU has been flying by the seat of its pants for the past few meets, but has managed to hold it together to produce some usable scores. However, the team totals have been steadily in the lower 197s.That is until last weekend where the team posted a 197.700 in its win over Georgia. The Louisiana Tigers will look to post a big road score here since the NQS season is quickly approaching.
I would say that this is likely Auburn’s meet to lose, but these teams literally had the same team score in week five, so who knows? Between these two teams, there were three 10.0s last week, two from Sunisa Lee and one from Aleah Finnegan. Let’s not forget that we also will be seeing Haleigh Bryant do her thing yet again. I’m honestly surprised her number of 10.0s isn’t higher. That means if nothing else, be prepared for some mind blowing gymnastics and a close competition, as these teams vie to remain near the top of the SEC.
A leo update from Auburn before we get this show on the road:
Rotation 1: Auburn VT, LSU UB
Groth (AU): Y full with some pike down and a good sized hop back. She’ll be in the AA tonight. 9.725
Jeffrey (LSU): Maloney to pak with some leg separation. Over on the pirouette. Last handstand is right on. VERY squatty on the FTDT dismount. She got the crown… I don’t think it’s warranted on that dismount personally. 9.675…So that is the routine LSU will look to drop.
Hubbard (AU): Does the Y 1.5. WILD step out of it today. Quick rotation on the flip but not very high. 9.800
Cowan (LSU): Ray to overshoot. Some foot form on the release. Good last handstand. Good extension on the double lay with a step back. Good first routine for the freshman. Everyone gets a crown. 9.775
Gobourne (AU): Y 1.5. I think there was a hop, maybe not? The assistant was in front. A small shuffle on replay. Not her hugest amplitude but a good vault. 9.925
Tatum (LSU): Ray to pak, some feet and leg separation on that connection. FTDT landed kind of stagger-footed just a heel slide together. 9.850
Lee (AU): Y half on tuck half off. Kind of crunchy on the table. Not her best with a step back. 9.850
Finnegan (LSU): Piked Delchev looks better this week. Toe hand overshoot. Slow on the handstand on high. Double front is a touch overdone with a pace forward. 9.875
Stevens (AU): Y 1.5 with a small hop forward. A little off center. Not super high but good distance. 9.875
Shchennikova (LSU): Ray to pak salto. Some foot form. Over on the half on low bar. Double layout is stuck. Arched to a pike down. I would say better than normal. 9.825
Hollingsworth (AU): Y 1.5 is debuted today! Pretty big step forward but not too shabby.
Bryant (LSU): Blind, Jaeger. Lovely line. Handstand is perfect. Overshoot. Perfect everywhere. Stuck double front with a half. I’m obsessed. I’m waiting for a Bryant 10.0 on bars. So serious. Only thing I have is the slight loss of toe point on the dismount. 9.950
AFTER ONE: Auburn 49.325, LSU 49.275
LSU grabbed a few sticks in that rotation, but couldn’t outpace the Auburn vault lineup that keeps coming up with more 10.0 SV vaults. Glad to see Cowan making her debut on bars for LSU!
Rotation 2: LSU VT, Auburn UB
Arenas (LSU): SO HIGH on the Y full. A small slide back. The best amplitude on any vault thus far tonight. 9.800…Okay. I’ve got questions.
Hollingsworth (AU): Last week was a season high. Let’s see tonight. Toe hand, Maloney, overshoot. Shoot right to handstand. FTDT with a hop back. 9.825
Shchennikova (LSU): Y 1.5 is stuck. A little back on the heels but held on. 9.925
McLaughlin (AU): Maloney, just held on with her dowell. Straight to pak. Nice toe point. Blind full is late and slow. Double tuck with a deep landing. “College stick” Apparently she hasn’t been training bars much. Impressive. 9.675
Finnegan (LSU): Stuck the Y half on front pike off. Bent the knees a touch early for the landing. Otherwise stellar. 10.0. That happened.
Groth (AU): Ray. A little close. Pak is so nice. Late on the half on low. Good last handstand. Blind full to double tuck is absolutely textbook. Yes. 9.925
Brock (LSU): DEEP squat on the Y 1.5 with a cross step back. Was a little undercooked but tried to salvage it. 9.700
Stevens (AU): Ray is ginormous. Feet a touch flexed. Overshoot to sole circle. Double layout is whippy but stuck with a perfect chest up position. 9.900
Johnson (LSU): Y full is so high with her hips flared. Her normal in the air. A deep landing again with a step back. 9.725.
Gobourne (AU): Tkatchev to pak. SOOOOO floaty. One of her best this year. FTDT amplitude went crazy. Stuck. Kathy wished she brought her heels together on the finish. 9.850
Bryant (LSU): I’ve never seen her forward on this vault. Front HS front pike half. I think she hit weird on the board maybe? Form was good. 9.900
Lee (AU): No. 1 AA in the country. Blind, Jaeger, pak, Maloney, in bar Gienger. Perfect. Handstand right on top with a stuck FTDT. It’s a 10.0. A unicorn according to KJC. It’s indeed a 10.0. The hype in this arena is INSANE.
AFTER TWO: Auburn 98.825, LSU 98.625
The vault judges were trying to throw LSU some bones at the back half of the lineup, but it didn’t quite take advantage there. Auburn avoided counting the 9.675 from McLaughlin with some high flying routines. Two 10.0s in that rotation. Gotta love Friday Night Heights.
Rotation 3: Auburn BB, LSU FX
Hollingworth (AU): BHS LOSO. Off to the side. Leg up and she’s off. Switch half, split, to beat. Lovely lines. Side aerial is right on. Gainer full stuck with an arm circle. Let the pressure sets begin. 9.325
Ballard (LSU): Double layout. Soft knees but landing is controlled. I like it like that. Back 1.5 to front layout. Good. A tongue out and hair whip. Switch half to the knee. Double pike is controlled nicely. Didn’t look very high from this angle, but honestly could just be me. Strong opening routine.
Brusch (AU): Two back to back season highs for her. Front aerial to split jump. Managed well. BHS LOSO. Snaps the arms down. Switch leap, straddle 1/4. Good extension. Gainer full is stuck. Wouldn’t be surprised if that was also season high material. 9.850
Shchennikova (LSU): Front double full. “Little bit of a stumble out of that front double twist.” Back 1.5 to front layout. “Nice shaping in the air.” Switch ring, switch half. Slow and low. Rudi to split jump. Better about not traveling back this week. Chest kind of forward to control. 9.925
Stevens (AU): Didn’t go for the triple series this week. Split jump, double stag ring. Good head release on that. The Stevens. Right on. RO back 1.5 a hop forward and tried to salute before she took another step. 9.825
Brock (LSU): Double pike. A smidge forward. Double tuck. Huge lunge. Managed to keep the heel in bounds. Switch side, popa. Straddle position right to 180. Back 1.5 to front full. One of the best she’s done this season. 9.775
Groth (AU): BHS LOSO BHS. Mouth open with excitement before she finished. Switch leap, switch half. Lean with a slight leg up. Side aerial back tucked 1.5. Back on her heels with a slide back. 9.750
Johnson (LSU): FTDT is huge. A bit of a larger lunge to control. Back 1.5 to front layout. Well performed. Switch side, popa. Cheated a bit on rotation before the straddle full. Double tuck with an slide of the front foot. Very good conditioning. 9.875
McLaughlin (AU): Switch leap, BHS LOSO. Right on. Smooth connection this week. Beat to side aerial. Dance acro, Ladies and gents. Switch leap, straddle 1/4. Too pretty to be a work horse? Gainer pike. A small hop in place into the salute. 9.900
Finnegan (LSU): It was a 10.0 last week. Arabian double front straight to the stag. No pause, good control. Back 2.5 twist to front tuck. Good leap series to follow up. Back 1.5 front layout. Managed out of it with a dance out. Sister Sarah in the HOUSE! 9.975
Lee (AU): Wolf double turn. Side aerial LOSO LOSO. Fell in the warm up, but not a sliver of a wobble in the routine that counts. Stuck BHS to gainer full. Stuck again. Nothing to take again. Matt James says it’s a 10.0. 9.950
Bryant (LSU): Front double front. Small hop back. Front layout to Rudi. Yes ma’am. She’s in it to win it. LOSO for the backward skill requirement. Switch ring, switch half. A little uneven on the second leap. Front double full because why not end with an E. Had to hit the lunge back instead of forward. Good control, though. So will it be classified as an under rotation? We’ll see. 9.850. I’ll say yes.
AFTER THREE: Auburn 148.100, LSU 148.075
It’s a 0.025 lead for Auburn going into rotation four. Now, do I think LSU beam has a high likelihood of outpacing Auburn home floor? Not particularly, but the team did a great job of getting into this meet to give themselves a chance. Aleah Finnegan is really getting into her stride on floor in the mid part of this season. Although Auburn didn’t count any falls on beam, the home team did look a bit unsettled throughout that rotation. We’ll see if they use that energy to their advantage on floor.
Rotation 4: LSU BB, Auburn FX
Holly Rowe is a big gymnastics fan and has memorized Gobourne’s routine. I love it here.
Arenas (LSU): Switch leap, split jump. Low back leg. BHS LOSO. Soft knees. Front toss. Low landing. Switch half. Tight on that, had to take a little check. RO back 1.5 dismount with a step forward. We’ll take that from the lead off. 9.750
Brusch (AU): Front through to double tuck. Chest up. That pass has gotten so much better this year. Switch half, popa, wolf full. All around nicely. Two passes incoming. Double pike. Two-foot stick. Oh wow. Pardon me, ma’am. 9.850
Shchennikova (LSU): Candle stick mount. Front aerial BHS BHS. A smidgen of hesitation. Switch leap, split. A bobble in between those. Side aerial managed nicely. BHS gainer full. Good stick for her. 9.850
Groth (AU): Front double full. Looked like the punch was off but the skill turned out just fine. Strong snappy leaps. Back 1.5 front layout. A bit lower, but managed. Front Rudi. Good set. 9.900
Rivers (LSU): BHS LOSO. A touch squatty to stick that landing. Switch half, front leg was low. Switch leap, straddle 1/4. Good on that one. RO double full is stuck this week. Way to work it. 9.900. Season high for her.
Hollingworth (AU): FTDT lovely control on that. Stepped forward but I’m not entirely mad about it. Switch half, popa. Full split position. Front through to double back. Should be a good score for her. 9.900. A career high.
Ballard (LSU): BHS LOSO. A lean. Aggressive arms to get it back. Sissone, switch half. A little tight. Front toss. Managing her nerves. RO back 1.5 with a medium sized step. We’re making routines but not quite hitting. 9.825
Stevens (AU): Front layout to Rudi. Some knees on the layout. Good control on the landing. The Stevens. Strong extension on the leap series. Double tuck. A little shuffling of the front foot. 9.900.
Bryant (LSU): Front aerial BHS. Smooth and steady. Switch leap, straddle 1/4. The amplitude on the jump. A flamingo leg on the turn. Front tuck. A lean. Tries to dance out. We don’t take deductions on E skills. Punch Rudi is stuck. 9.900
Lee (AU): Double layout. Better on the legs this time. Good control. KJC is salivating over this footwork I think. Switch ring, tour jete half is touch slow around. Back 1.5, front full. Matt James is killing me in this Tiger bucket hat. My fav Auburn grandad. 9.975
Finnegan (LSU): BHS LOSO LOSO. Right to the end. A rock. Switch leap, split. The Auburn win is already clinched. Front aerial is floaty. Gainer full. A lean forward to keep the stick. What a great day for Aleah. 9.950.
Gobourne (AU): I love this feature about her crown on floor. Be confident no matter what you go through. Strut it girl! Open double tuck right to the lunge. Switch side, wolf full right over her teammates’ heads. Front full, front lay. Not the most controlled but danced out to cover. Double back. A small slide in that lunge. 9.975
Final: Auburn 197.750, LSU 197.500
Well that’s all from the battle of the Tigers, folks. Auburn really brought it home on floor, finishing with two nearly-perfect 9.975s. That was probably Auburn’s best looking floor rotation this season. Ultimately, LSU gave away too much on landings in the first two rotations. The only way to win this meet was to be ahead going into floor, and that didn’t happen tonight. Nonetheless, this is going to be a strong away score for the NQS.
AA Winner: Aleah Finnegan (LSU), 39.800
VT Winner: Aleah Finnegan (LSU), 10.000
UB Winner: Sunisa Lee (AU), 10.000
BB Winner: Aleah Finnegan (LSU)& Sunisa Lee (AU), 9.950
FX Winner: Aleah Finnegan (LSU), Derrian Gobourne (AU) & Sunisa Lee (AU), 9.975
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