The Dismount: Week 7

Records: Ithaca’s total was the second-highest all time. 

Recap

The Big Storyline: This one started out all Nittany Lions after Penn State put up a stick clinic on vault that paired with a below-average bar lineup for the Buckeyes. Ohio State pulled it together on vault, and then ran away with the meet after a strong floor rotation. Penn State struggled on beam, an old foe from past season that has been better overall this year. The biggest highlight for each team is the very usable team totals, despite each having one off event.

Implications: Ohio State will take the top spot in the conference standings, with both Michigan and Michigan State idle this week. It also has a very respectable 196.780 NQS, a number that just a few years ago would’ve been a season best.

Controversies: The judging in this meet was so slow in the first two rotations. The bars judges were just not keeping things moving. The total meet time from first vault to last floor exhibition was nearly two full hours.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 13 Ohio State at No. 30 Penn State

Why You Should Make Time to Tune in: NQS is upon us, and after a 196.825 at Illinois on Monday, Ohio State debuted in the in-progress rankings at No. 11, a huge placement. The 2023 Buckeyes are the real deal, and another chance at a big away number before we officially move to NQS after this weekend is a good opportunity to secure a top-15 spot. Penn State is having a breakout year of its own and is especially good at home. A season best could give the Buckeyes a run for their money. Win/loss records matter for Big Ten conference championship seeding, and Ohio State is in the mix for the No. 1 seed. 

Need More Proof? Ella Hodges is on a huge roll for Ohio State on beam and floor while Nicole Riccardi has been dominant on bars. Penn State freshman Amani Herring is a bright spot and capable of big beam and floor numbers of her own, and Cassidy Rushlow has been nearly perfect on bars. We’re also on 10-watch for Buckeye Elexis Edwards on floor; she has a 9.975 this year.

Recap

The Big Storyline: This meet ended up being a lot closer than a lot of people imagined, both due to Georgia’s lights-out performance at home and Alabama’s struggles in the final rotation. Regardless of the outcome, this meet allowed Georgia its first season with two or more 197-plus scores in a while. 

Implications: Georgia moves into 14th place and fifth in the SEC, marking the first time it has cracked the top 16 in the national rankings, and the first time the GymDogs haven’t been one of the bottom two teams in the SEC this season. 

Controversies: Many fans were quick to point out the lenient scoring on Alabama’s beam rotation, with many routines with large mistakes still approaching the 9.8 range.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 9 Alabama at No. 19 Georgia

Why You Should Clear Space on Your DVR: While not the fierce rivalry of the 2000s during the tenures of legendary head coaches Suzanne Youclan and Sarah Patterson, the Georgia-Alabama meet has continually delivered as one of the closest duals of regular season SEC play.  

You Can Fast Forward, but not Through This: Alabama’s Makarri Doggette has re-emerged as one of the top bars workers in the conference, scoring her second career 10 on the apparatus earlier this season. For the Gymdogs, Soraya Hawthorne has really hit her stride on floor, hitting 9.925 or higher in four of her last five routines. Both teams will also have freshmen to watch out for: Georgia’s Naya Howard and JaFree Scott, along with Alabama’s Gabby Gladieux, make up some of the country’s most talented newcomers. 

Records: Southern Connecticut quickly replaced its second-best team total of all time that it just set last weekend.

Records: The Gusties’ team total was good enough for a new program record.

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The Big Storyline: Arkansas was so close to bringing in a huge road score, just for the its hopes to be dashed by a four-fall beam rotation. Kentucky, on the other hand, stunned across all four events  to keep its SEC night session hopes alive. 

Implications: Arkansas solidified itself as the last-ranked team in the SEC, despite conference rankings being shaken around this week. The Razorbacks also fell out of the top 16, putting a seeded regionals spot in jeopardy. 

Records: Kentucky set a new program high score, matched its vault program high, and brought in its No. 2 program floor score. Arkansas also scored a program record on vault.

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The Big Storyline: LSU proved that Florida is beatable—breaking the Gators’ in-conference dual meet winning streak that dated back to 2019. LSU also eclipsed its season high by five tenths, proving that even without Kiya Johnson, the Tigers are still a force to be reckoned with. 

Implications: LSU moved ahead of Alabama in the conference rankings, moving the Tigers ever closer to Auburn for the second spot in the SEC. Florida will keep the second spot in the national rankings, but this week didn’t help the Gators get any closer to first-ranked Oklahoma. 

Records: This meet marked the third time in a row where Aleah Finnegan scored a 10.0 on a different event. She is now one bars 10.0 away from completing the Gym Slam.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 2 Florida at No. 8 LSU

Why You Should Cancel Plans for It: Few meets compare in hype to the annual matchup between Florida and LSU, and for good reason. From outlandish scores to those of the seasoned rivalry, this meet is sure to be one of the most intriguing matchups of the season. 

What We’re Watching: This meet will feature perhaps one of the strongest all-around fields in any dual meet this season. Going in, the favorite will be 2022 NCAA all-around champion Trinity Thomas, but it would be remiss to discount stars like Aleah Finnegan and Haleigh Bryant for the Tigers and Leanne Wong and Kayla DiCello for the Gators. 

What Else to Know Before Tuning in: Get ready for some big scores from both teams—the last time these two met up, more routines went 9.9-plus than not! Speaking of big scores, Thomas is just a few perfect 10s away from breaking the all-time record.

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The Big Storyline: In the battle for second place in the Pac-12, nothing was decided as the pair of top 10 teams ended tied with season highs in one of the most entertaining meets of the season. California freshman eMjae Frazier exploded for a program record-matching all-around total to edge out fellow record holder Mya Lauzon and UCLA star Jordan Chiles’ 39.675s in a high-scoring affair with seven all-arounders scoring 39.450 or better. The Golden Bears got out to a lead at the halfway point after starting out even after one rotation, but back-to-back event totals of 49.600 or better to end the night pulled the Bruins even in the end.

Implications: Another tie for each program further convolutes the regular season conference standings as the Utes remain on top with only wins. California’s matchup with Utah next weekend will clear up the final paths to first, second, and third place finishes or ties.

Records: The team total is California’s second best score in school history, while it was the highest road score for UCLA since 2019. Frazier and Lauzon’s winning floor total also matches the best mark on the event in Golden Bears’ history.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 6 UCLA at No. 7 California

Why You Should Cancel Plans for It: The Bruins are ahead in the rankings while the Golden Bears are ahead in the Pac-12 regular season standings, making the result of this meet integral in deciding who stays atop in both. The importance of this showdown should bring out the best in both programs, with plenty of storylines to follow.

What We’re Watching: Jordan Chiles has been spectacular this season, with her bars and floor routines nearly tallying 10s every time out. That’s been a catalyst for freshman Selena Harris to shine, as she’s easily been the top rookie in the country so far. One of her few challengers has been California’s eMjae Frazier, who already has career highs of 9.950 on three events. She’s slotting in well alongside the Golden Bears’ four other all-arounders, including Mya Lauzon, who recently tied the program record all-around total at 39.700.

What Else to Know Before Tuning in: This will be the first showdown between the Frazier sisters, as Margzetta competes for the Bruins and eMjae the Golden Bears. UCLA head coach Also, Janelle McDonald is in her first year as a Bruin after previously serving as an assistant coach for California. This will be her first trip back to Berkley.

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International feed

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The Big Storyline: Bars proved to be the differentiator this weekend between the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the MAC going into this dual, with the other three events’ team totals all between 0.150 of each other. 

Implications: If anyone is still doubting Ball State as a serious bubble (or outright qualifying) team to regionals, now is the time to re-evaluate their opinion. Kent State moves into a grayer position, in the high 40s and still waiting to register its first 196-plus of the season.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 32 Ball State at No. 36 Kent State

Why You Should Make Time to Tune in: This is a one-two conference match up, with consistent 9.9-plus routines at the back end of key lineups from both teams. 

Need More Proof? Ball State has emerged as this year’s MAC surprise powerhouse, just over two tenths out of the top 30 nationally. Victoria Henry has been at the forefront of the Cardinals charge, but not without incredible depth from specialists including Megan Teter, Suki Pfister, and Lauren Volpe—three of many on the current roster with event program records. Kent State has the home advantage and will be looking to draw big scores from all-arounder Rachel Decavitch. The Golden Flashes boast a deep and high energy floor roster, led by Karlie Franz nearing a 9.900 average.

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The Big Storyline: The real winner of this meet was the beam that claimed many victims (except for maybe Copperwheat). This pride meet did not have the same magic that it did last season thanks to a lack of stuck landings and some less than ideal routines on both sides.

Implications: With NQS season upon us, North Carolina was able to score high enough to replace an away 194 and jump above Towson, but it’s still the lowest counting score going into Week 8. Opening with an NQS above 196 is promising with multiple meets left, though. For Pittsburgh this meet was a missed opportunity to drop a worse score for NQS, which is less than ideal with the Panthers currently on the outside looking in to the regionals picture. There’s still plenty of time to make it up, though.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 29 North Carolina at No. 38 Pittsburgh

Why You Should Make Time to Tune in: Pittsburgh always goes all out for themed home meets, and this Pride meet expects to be no different. Pittsburgh set a program record the last time the Panthers hosted a Pride meet and will look to put up that level of performance.

Need More Proof? North Carolina put up its first away 196-plus at New Hampshire last weekend and will be looking to put up another high away score here with the first NQS rankings looming. Watch out for Lali Dekanoidze who has scored a 9.975 three times this season, as well as Kaya Forbes, who had a rough meet last week and will be looking to bounce back on vault and floor. Pittsburgh is looking to get its second 196 of the season. Keep an eye on Natalia Pawlak who has started to get into a groove on bars with a career high 9.950 last week.

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The Big Storyline: Oklahoma showcased its depth with multiple lineup switch-ups and notched its fourth straight score over 198 in a meet that saw Olivia Trautman compete a bars exhibition. Texas Woman’s recorded a season high behind season high scores on every event while donning its throwback velvet leotards for its alumni meet.

Implications: Oklahoma opens the NQS rankings with a mark over 198 and is squarely in first place—No. 2 Florida is over three tenths back of the Sooners. The Sooners are clicking and still not arguably at their best with Trautman still not fully back. Texas Woman’s is steadily improving as the season progresses and will look to build on this season high; NQS helps the Pioneers more in number (193.225 average to 193.780 NQS) than ranking (No. 59 to No. 58) at the moment. 

Recap

The Big Storyline: Auburn decided to test its depth this week, resting Derrian Gobourne and Sunisa Lee across multiple events. Missouri was able to capitalize on Auburn’s mistakes and come out of the meet with a win and a top five program score. 

Implications: Despite scoring a season-high, Missouri will find itself farther from the SEC championship night session, falling behind Georgia in the conference rankings to sit sixth. With only a few road meets left, Auburn is running out of opportunities to increase its NQS in hopes of cracking the top four in the national rankings. 

Records: Joscelyn Moore’s 10 is the first ever scored by a Missouri gymnast. Fueled by Moore, Missouri was also able to match its vault program record.

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International feed

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The Big Storyline: For the first time since 2003, the Sun Devils snagged a win over the Utes as Hannah Scharf’s big day propelled Arizona State to a new season high and its first 197 of the year. She and teammate Sarah Clark’s near-perfect career highs on bars swung momentum in the home teams’ favor as the Sun Devils put up a 49.550 on bars to the Utes’ sub-49 on vault. Two 9.975s of its own in the final rotation wasn’t enough for Utah to finish off the comeback.

Implications: Utah was the lone Pac-12 team undefeated without ties prior to this contest, now dropping it below California, who remains without a loss. Arizona State—who has three conference losses—pulls closer to a .500 mark with its second win.

Records: The massive bars total for Arizona State ranks second in program history, while the team score ranks 11th. This was the highest ranked win in Jay Santos’ head coaching tenure for the Sun Devils.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 4 Utah at No. 20 Arizona State

Why You Should Clear Space on Your DVR: All eyes will be on the Utes to see how they respond after losing Grace McCallum to injury in last week’s meet. Utah still put up a good score in that performance regardless of the situation, but will be tested again immediately by an Arizona State squad that’s been steadily improving over the last month.

You Can Fast Forward, but not Through This: Freshman Makenna Smith unexpectedly stepped into the all-around last week for Utah and totaled a respectable 39.400, so watch for her to be even better with the expectation of competing four events heading into the weekend. She’ll be pushed by the Sun Devils’ all-around duo of Hannah Scharf and Emily White, who often trade off as leader and consistently score above 39.350. Ute Maile O’Keefe has also started a 10-streak on beam and will be aiming to extend it to three.

Recap

The Big Storyline: Powered by a career day from Brenna Neault—who tied or set new bests in the all-around as well as bars, beam, and floor—Stanford notched a new season-best as it beat Washington for the second Monday in a row. The Cardinal also got a standout performance from Chloe Widner and her near-perfect bars mark. The Huskies finished the meet strong to earn a new home-best total, with Brenna Brooks and Kennedi Davis matching with career highs on beam to tie for the event title.

Implications: As this is the second meet between the two foes this season, it will not factor into the Pac-12 regular season standings.

Records: Not only was it Stanford’s first 197 of the season, it was the program’s first since 2016.