I’m going to state two obvious facts: there is nothing better than brunch gymnastics and this is going to be one heck of a close match up. I mean, c’mon, look at the rankings. In the GEC, West Chester sits in fourth and Cornell in fifth but that could change once NQS for all the teams in the conference come into play. Cornell is the better vault team here today, West Chester has the edge on bars, they’re evenly matched on beam, but it’s West Chester that’s currently the second best floor team in the GEC.
Let’s take a closer look at how things could go. Your two standout all arounders today are West Chester’s Kristina Rodriguez and Cornell’s Sydney Beers — but don’t count out Kate Michelini either. While I could go on for days about everyone on these teams, you know I love unique gymnastics and so McKenna Twistinger, sorry, Kissinger, holds a special place in my heart. Don’t blink while she’s competing. Oh, and Mikayla Burton’s beam series.
What I’m saying is you’re in for a treat because you’re not going to be watching the same routine over and over again.
Alright. Grab your coffee, an extra slice of smoked salmon — or maybe just bring the package to the couch with you. Definitely put your phone on do not disturb. Let’s lox and roll!
Just sound and an ESPN logo so far. Sounds like they’re introducing the Cornell seniors.
Still waiting on the camera to turn on. Aw yay! Footage!
And now so many commercials.
Rotation 1: Cornell Vault, WCU Bars
Krueger (Cornell): Tucked y full, small step.
Betts (WCU): Toe to high, double lay, arm circle but stuck!
Brady (Cornell): Y lay half, looked stuck!
Not getting much of WCU on bars it seems …
Rodriguez (WCU): Full to pak, some form. Toe to high. Looked a little shy on that last hs. FTDB, small hop back.
Walton (Cornell): Y full, a liiiiiiiiittle pikey, hops it forward a bit.
Kelly (WCU): Tkatchev, nice. Shy on that last hs. Full to double tuck, cowboys it, but stuck!
So they didn’t show DeFrancisco vault? Okay replay, Y lay half, soft knees in the air.
Bar judges having a chat.
Wicker (WCU): Great first hs. Full to tkatechev some form but good. Bail to hs. Double lay, big steps forward.
Whitaker (Cornell): Tucked Y full, steps on the landing, good height.
Eskew (WCU): Shy on that first hs. Full to piked gienger, some form. Pak. Double lay, kind of steps into the salute but smoothed that over. Nice overall.
Beers (Cornell): Y full, looked stuck! Lovely.
Coleman (WCU): Blind to straddle jaeger to bail, nice. Full to double tuck, small step. I really enjoy the rhythm of that routine.
After 1:
No official scores, just vibes here. Cornell looked solid on vault and WCU had no issues getting through bars. Not a hiccup or fall for either team in sight.
Rotation 2: WCU Vault, Cornell Bars
Michelini (Cornell): Shaposh to pak, struggles on getting over on the half pir. Shy on that last hs before the dismount. Double tuck, small step.
Walton (Cornell): Archy on the free hip to gienger but good. Bail to hs, archy with leg sep. Full to double tuck, tiny step to the side.
Stone (Cornell): Gienger to bail, much better form. Little shy on that last hs. Ah, comes off on her full. They don’t show us her dismount but solid landing.
Beers (Cornell): Tkatchev good, just some flexed feet there. Bail to hs, aaaarchy but has no problem saving it. Double lay, two big steps forward. A bit shy on handstands.
Sakalosky (Cornell): Blind to straddle jaeger to bail, good. Just some form. Full to double tuck, small step. Good.
MacKenzie (Cornell): Hop to BEAUTIFUL piked jaeger to pak. Really goes for those handstands FALLS on the double tuck, nooo. That was lovely too.
Allen (WCU): Tucked y full, her usual, and great.
Kissinger (WCU): FHS twist twist twist twist, small step on the landing. No notes. Love it as always.
Rodriguez (WCU): Y tucked, takes a step. Good height.
We also missed a WCU vault. McFarland replay, tucked y full, chest down, step forward.
Johnson (WCU): Y full, SO QUICK, good landing.
Eskew (WCU): Y full on, tuck off, solid.
After 2: WCU 97.025, Cornell 95.975
Cornell was forced to count a fall on bars today, WCU had no issues over on vault. There will be some ground for the Big Red to make up as they head to beam and the Golden Rams go to floor.
Rotation 3: Cornell Beam, WCU Floor
Michelini (Cornell): Bhs loso, no issue. Switch leap switch half, small check. Side aerial. Split jump beat jump, good. Front lay full, steps to the side. Not a bad start.
Burton (Cornell): Front aerial to side aerial, tiny check but smooths it over. Switch leap to split jump, small check. Front toss beat, no issues. RO 1.5 lay, steps back.
DeMeo (Cornell): Front aerial adjustment and pause to bhs. Switch leap to split jump 3/4. Cat leap aerial check. Front lay full. Stuck that. Good fight.
Stone (Cornell): RO loso, small check. Love that it’s something different. Switch leap to straddle 1/4, check but keeps it on. Cat leap to side aerial, check but great fight. RO 1.5, steps to the side.
Walton (Cornell): Bhs loso, small check but no problem. Split 3/4, good extension there. Sissone to side aerial lovely. Beat jump to straddle 3/4. Cartwheel 1.5, small step to the side.
Beers (Cornell): Cat leap to front toss to jump, excellent. Bhs loso leg comes up, but keeps it on, knees in the air. Switch leap to split jump half, split jump could have a touch more extension there. RO 1.5, steps foward.
Fred (WCU): Good double pike to open. Switch side wolf full, front leg a little down on that wolf. FHS front full front pike, lovely. Good height on leap series. Whip to 1.5, some form there.
Cascadden (WCU): RO double tuck with a biiiig hop back to open. Switch side to popa, love it. FHS front lay front full. West Chester’s front tumbling soothes my soul. RO 1.5 to front tuck no problem.
Lacey (WCU): Front double full to open, good form in the air, kind of finishes it after landing but smoothly. RO 1.5 to floaty front lay. Excellent extension on the switch side to popa there. Rudi, chest just a little down. Good overall.
Rodriguez (WCU): RO double pike to open, lovely. Gorgeous leap series. Front full to front punch but sits it down, just not the rebound she needed there. Double tuck to end, small hop, but great height.
Fanara (WCU): She went 9.825 last week! Absolutely beautiful double pike to open, THE FORM. Ah, my heart. Switch side popa has great heat, toes could be a little more pointed. RO 1.5 to front tuck, floats. Double tuck to end, lovely.
Kissinger (WCU): FHS rudi to back tuck to open. Some form on the leaps. Solid middle pass. FHS rudi to stag jump. Loving it.
After 3: WCU 145.725, Cornell 144.525
A few balance checks for Cornell on beam but no major problems. The Golden Rams showed UP on floor! West Chester needs to hit beam to secure a win with no issues today.
Cornell put up six routines plus two in the exh spot. Of those eight, they have FIVE different acro series. Within the six routines that are in the line up, there are four different acro series. I love this.
Rotation 4: WCU Beam, Cornell Floor
Kissinger (WCU): Lovely switch leap to split jump. Bhs bhs loso, no issues. Cat leap to switch half, love it. Gainer full off side, stuck!
We did not get to see Allen.
Lacey (WCU): Side aerial split jump, good extension through the toes. Bhs loso, tiny tiny check but no issues. Cat leap to switch side, fine. Switch leap to piked gainer off end, small step back.
Rodriguez (WCU): Switch leap split jump 3/4, good. Bhs loso, fine. Gainer front lay off the end, small step forward.
Whitaker (WCU): Switch leap to split jump. Beat jump to split full, leg comes up but hits the split no issue. Bhs loso, lovely. Front toss beat. Piked gainer off end, small step back.
McFarland (WCU): Bhs loso, small check. Cat leap side aerial, leg comes up MAJOR check. Switch leap to split jump half. RO 1.5, step forward.
Michelini (Cornell): Double tuck to open with great height, just keeps it in. Rudi to double stag, nice. Beautiful extension on the leap series. RO 1.5 to punch half lay, good.
Whitaker (Cornell): Front double full to open, steps to the side when she lands. Some form on the leap series. Front lay rudi to double stag, good.
DeMeo (Cornell): FHS rudi to biiiig split jump in that rebound. Excellent wolf jump series. Ro 1.5 to front lay, good. Ring to switch ring, good head release on both.
Brady (Cornell): Front through to double tuck but puts her hands down. Beautiful leap series. Double pike to finish, chest way down but good. Beautiful except for that first pass.
Beers (Cornell): Front through to double pike, small step forward into a controlled lunge. Lovely form in the leap series, toes could be slightly more extended though. Double tuck, no problems. Back leg just a little low in that second leap series. Nice routine overall.
Walsh (Cornell): Front through to double tuck, nice. I think I caught an illusion there after but maybe I imagined it. Good leaps. Double pike, loooovely.
FINAL: West Chester 194.650, Cornell 193.575
West Chester ran away today, but Cornell certainly didn’t have a bad meet, it’s just that the Golden Rams showed up, well, golden today. Yes, Cornell had to count a fall but even without that, West Chester was ready for this meet.
I’ll drop in some scores once we get those!
VT: Brady, Beers 9.800
UB: Coleman, Eskew 9.775
BB: Kissinger 9.825
FX: Beers 9.875
AA: Beers 38.700
READ THIS NEXT: Judge’s Inquiry: Explaining Why Some Routines Don’t Start From a 10
Live blog by Allison Freeman
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