Two teams moving up the rankings and coming off standout performances will face off as Pac-12 rivals Arizona State and Washington dual. Their rankings are deceiving as they don’t factor in their good performances from last Monday, with the Huskies entering the weekend at No. 24 and the Sun Devils at No. 20 in the updated standings.
Washington’s season has been plagued by beam woes, with the other three events scoring consistently as it struggles to get 49s from its beam lineup. The event has also been the sore spot for usual leader Skylar Killough-Wilhelm, whose all around marks have been spoiled by uncharacteristic sets. However, the Huskies popped off for a 49.350 on the event in their last outing for their largest event total of the year, showcasing the team’s potential when things go well. While Washington is still searching for its first 197 of 2023, this second-straight home meet is an excellent opportunity to grab some momentum heading into the postseason and drop its last 195 score from its NQS.
Speaking of momentum, the Sun Devils have some after knocking off top-five Utah for the first time since 2003. In that season-high performance, usual suspect Hannah Scharf exploded for a 9.975 on bars en route to a new career-high in the all around of 39.675. The senior has turned the corner from a slower start to her season, just like Arizona State with its 197.550 in that meet. A second 197, and on the road, would go a long way for the Sun Devils in making one last run at a regionals seed.
Follow along with live scores and video! (Pac-12 Network)
Rotation 1: Washington Vault, Arizona State Bars
Innes (UW): FTY – clean off the table and in the air, lacks a bit of height, just a slide back. 9.800
Theodorou (ASU): Nice opening handstand, toe half to Jaeger, easy, toe on, bail, hits the final handstand, dismounts double layout, legs apart and a hop. 9.800
Brooks (UW): Yhalf – good commitment to the layout, small hop in place. 9.850
Reeves (ASU): Good first handstand, blind change to Jaeger to overshoot, no issues, hits the last handstand, dismounts double layout and holds on for a stick. 9.875
Davis (UW): Long wait. FTY – great block, good height and form, small hop back. 9.825
Samiley (ASU): Stadler, blind change to Jaeger to overshoot, no problems so far, tiny bit short on the last handstand, great stuck double layout dismount. 9.925
Navarro (UW): FTY – a bit bent arms on the table limits the height, slight leg separation but only a tiny hop. 9.825
Scharf (ASU): Great opening handstand, Maloney with legs apart to Pak, finesses the half pirouette, hits the final handstand, stuck FTDT. 9.900
Killough-Wilhelm (UW): FTY – best height and distance yet, clean with a flair, hop back. 9.850
White (ASU): Starts on the low bar, good handstand, Maloney half, great, giant half to bail, toe on, jumps to high bar and hits the handstand, dismounts double layout, steps back. 9.800
Cunningham (UW): FTY – her usual explosive block and height, flairs, slightly chest down and a slide back. 9.775
Clark (ASU): Gets going with a hit handstand on the high bar, giant half to Jaeger, caught well, nice Pak and half pirouette, works the last handstand, ends with a slide on the double layout. 9.850
After 1: Arizona State 49.350, Washington 49.150
While the total is lower than the huge numbers they’ve put up on bars the last two meets, the Sun Devils will be happy with a rotation of hits and being a few landings away from the 49.5s again. With a big performance to back up, its good to see Arizona State come out of the gates strong. Washington also did well to open, hitting and staying within range of the lead with their lowest scoring potential event out of the way. If the Huskies want to pull off an upset, that’s the start they needed.
Rotation 2: Arizona State Vault, Washington Bars
Jaslow (ASU): FTY – good height and distance, piked in the air, small slide back. 9.850
Moody (UW): Opens with an archy handstand, toe on to Maloney to Pak, some leg sep, short last handstand, FTDT dismount, slides back. 9.850
Reeves (ASU): FTY – legs apart on the table and slight knee bend in the air, small hop. 9.775
Brooks (UW): Great handstand, Shaposh to clear hip to bail, smooth, giant full with leg separation, double tuck small bounce forward. 9.850
White (ASU): FTY – very clean throughout, glues her legs together and points her toes, hops back. 9.825
Russon (UW): Mounts to the high bar and hits her handstand, giant half to Jaeger to overshoot, worked through it, nice handstand, giant full is excellent, double tuck, chest down and a step back. 9.825
A. Smith (ASU): Y1.5 – big block, stuck! 9.900
Tubbs (UW): Clean handstand, toe on, Maloney to bail, short on last handstand, stuck double layout, good form throughout, pretty lines. 9.850
Theodorou (ASU): Yurchenko half-on tuck half – good distance, usual toe point issues, slides back on the landing. 9.875
Killough-Wilhelm (UW): Opens on the high bar, hop to piked Jaeger to overshoot, smooth and caught well, nice handstand, giant half to front giant half to double tuck, shuffle in place. 9.875
Scharf (ASU): FTY – massive block, flairs it out, tiny leg separation but stuck cold! 9.875
Bowles (UW): Great opening handstand, giant full to Deltchev to overshoot, a bit slow, nice final handstand, double layout, chest down but works for a stick. 9.875
Rotation 2: Arizona State 49.325, Washington 49.300
After 2: Arizona State 98.675, Washington 98.450
We’ve got a battle through two! The Huskies finally put things together on bars, with a new season-high falling just short of what the Sun Devils’ own season-best on vault. Both teams are performing close to their bests, with Washington’s consistency or Arizona State’s scoring potential going to be the determining factor in this dual. Senior night seems to be motivating Washington in the best possible way.
Rotation 3: Washington Beam, Arizona State Floor
Brooks (UW): Mounts low to the beam, chalk clap, full turn, front toss BHS, kept the rhythm, switch leap to split jump, great lines and extension, front aerial to beat jump, stag jump gainer full dismount, sticks her final dismount in her final home meet. 9.875
Lee (ASU): Gets going with a FHS front double full, good lunge, RO 1.5 front layout, controlled step, switch ring to switch half, a bit shy of 180, closes with a a nice Rudi. 9.875
Killough-Wilhelm (UW): Beautiful mount, front aerial BHS, slow but never stopped moving, full turn, front toss to beat jump, excellent toe point, switch leap to split jump, low with the back leg, side aerial 1.5 dismount, small hop forward. 9.875
Clark (ASU): After a bit of a wait opens with a double pike, great landing, RO 1.5 front layout, nice step, switch ring switch half, short of 180 in the second leap, rushed it, closes with a double tuck, chest down but glued her feet to the floor. 9.875
Bowles (UW): Lovely low beam choreo to start, side aerial BHS, bent arms in the BHS but hits, gorgeous leg kick out of the full turn, split jump full turn, tiny check, beat jump to side aerial to split jump, longer pause between the last two skills, dismounts front full, short so steps back. 9.800
Theodorou (ASU): Mounts with a full-in, chest low but nice lunge, tour jete half to wolf full, closes with a RO 1.5 front layout, needed more height in the front layout but solid landing. 9.875
Moody (UW): Starts off with a BHS LOSO, off immediately, hops back on, switch leap to split jump, nice height, full turn, side aerial to split jump, dismounts RO 1.5, big hop forward. 9.250
Jaslow (ASU): Double pike to begin, super high, switch side straddle full, front layout front full, bounds forward, finishes with a double tuck, chest down and an ok lunge. 9.900
Navarro (UW): Opens up with BHS BHS LOSO, chest a little forward but no foot movement, beat jump to switch side, a bit tentative, full turn, dismounts RO 1.5, hop forward. 9.875
White (ASU): Superb front double full to get underway, RO 1.5 front layout, no issues, switch ring to switch half, FHS front full to close. 9.900
Davis (UW): Pretty forward roll mount, BHS BHS LOSO, arm circle and lean, beat jump to straddle 3/4, full turn, tiny check, RO 1.5 dismount, small slide back with one foot. 9.900
Arizona State ties its season-high on floor at 49.425 with a routine to go.
Scharf (ASU): Front tuck to double tuck to begin, chest up, great landing, FHS front full front tuck, clean leap series, ends the rotation with a double pike, problem-free. 9.950
Rotation 3: Arizona State 49.500, Washington 49.325
After 3: Arizona State 148.175, Washington 147.775
Things are going well for both teams, as Arizona State notched another season-high with a slew of floor 9.9s and Washington just missed theirs. The Sun Devils are carrying momentum from last week, but have their trickiest event to finish up on to truly pass the test. But, another season-best is within reach as well. The Huskies are one rotation away from their most complete performance of the season, and can easily notch a new season high and first 197 with their usual outing on floor. Plus, they’re within striking distance of the win if beam doesn’t go well for Arizona State.
Rotation 4: Arizona State Beam, Washington Floor
Having some issues with the beam cap before we get the rotation going. Currently stuffing some tape in there to keep one on. And a massive strip of white tape on the outside to secure it, too. Now Arizona State being given additional time to warm up.
Lee (ASU): Low beam choreo to start the rotation, full turn, BHS BHS LOSO, solid, split jump to sheep jump, small lean, dismounts RO 1.5, step forward. 9.800
Innes (UW): Gets going with a FHS front double full, slight knee bend but great landing, switch leap to wolf full 2x, cleanly around, RO 1.5 front layout, nice shape, finishes with a FHS Rudi, easy lunge. 9.925
Reeves (ASU): Starts off big with BHS BHS LOSO, knee form but hit, switch leap split jump, shy of 180 and a lean, full turn, another tiny check, front aerial, dismounts RO 1.5, college sticks with a step back to the side. 9.725
Roberts (UW): Mounts with a double tuck, slides back in the lunge, second pass RO 1.5 front layout, dances to cover a slide back, switch half wolf full, bouncy in a good way, dismounts double pike, low and a shuffle lunge to the side. 9.825
K. Smith (ASU): Gainer into side aerial with a check to open, a bit nervy, BHS LOSO, low chest but moves out of it, switch leap split jump, split jump to ring double stag, gainer full, pikes down for the stick. 9.850
Nguyen (UW): Beings with a double tuck, lots of power and slides back, front full front pike, same issue, steps forwards, switch leap to switch ring half, double pike to close, short and lunges forward. 9.800
Clark (ASU): Full turn to start, BHS LOSO, so fluid, split jump, ring double stag, small check, front aerial, BHS 1.5 dismount, messy legs but holds for the stick, small lean. 9.825
Killough-Wilhelm (UW): Mounts with a FHS front double full, lunges big towards OOB but stays in, front aerial, switch leap to switch ring half, front leg a tad low in the second leap, finishes with a RO 1.5 front layout, great control on the landing. 9.950!
White (ASU): Opens with her series, BHS LOSO, easy, full turn, slight lean, front aerial to beat jump, split jump to ring double stag, steady, dismounts BHS 1.5, sticks. 9.925
Navarro (UW): Chance for a huge total following a big setup from Killough-Wilhelm. Double tuck to start, under and hops forward, switch side straddle full, bounces right out, RO 1.5 front layout, no problems, ends with a double pike, chest down but controls the lunge back. 9.800
Scharf (ASU): Starts low with a double wolf turn, very smooth, good speed, BHS LOSO, small check with the front leg, side somi, switch leap to split jump, closes the Sun Devils’ night with RO 1.5, sticks! 9.900
Cunningham (UW): Front tuck to double tuck to start, perfect landing, easily through her leap series, double pike to finish the night, another great landing! 9.975!
Rotation 4: Arizona State 49.300, Washington 49.475
FINAL: Arizona State 197.475, Washington 197.250
What a strong finish for both teams! Washington explodes for a new season-best on any event with that massive floor rotation and Cunningham’s near-perfect score to end the night. That’s exactly what a team on the regionals bubble needs as the Huskies are starting to put things together at the right time. That statement is echoed by the Sun Devils, who’ve put up repeat mid-197s and are showing flashes of the team that finished ninth in the NCAA just a few years ago. Both teams are going to finish in the bottom-half of the conference regular-season standings, but are picking up good momentum with conference championships and the postseason quickly approaching.
VT: Smith (ASU), 9.900
UB: Samiley (ASU), 9.925
BB: White (ASU), 9.925
FX: Cunningham (UW), 9.975
AA: Scharf (ASU), 39.625
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Live blog by Brandis Heffner
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