The Dismount: Week 8

Results

Recap

The Big Storyline: Although it was able to get its second 198-plus score of the season, Florida’s senior night didn’t quite live up to the 10-fest hype that it had received. Trinity Thomas impressed as usual, but both Kayla DiCello and Raena Worley broke the 39.600 mark in the all-around as well. 

Implications: Although the rankings didn’t shift for either team, Florida isn’t getting any closer to Oklahoma’s NQS going into the premier matchup of the season next week. The night session looks just out of reach for Kentucky at the moment, but if the Wildcats continue to bring in big scores, they have a chance

Records: Florida tallied a new program record on bars, scoring a monstrous 49.800. 

Controversies: Although no one scored an outright 10 at this meet as expected, Florida’s bars rotation was generally viewed as being scored rather leniently.  

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 12 Kentucky at No. 2 Florida

Why You Should Clear Space on Your DVR: Florida should handle Kentucky, and if that happens, the Gators will earn their fifth consecutive SEC regular season title. A loss would have the Gators watching the results of next weekend’s SEC meets to see if at least a share of the title is possible. 

You Can Fast Forward, but not Through This: Trinity Thomas has 25 perfect 10s to her name, putting her in sole possession of third in NCAA history; she is three away from tying Jamie Dantzscher and Jenny Hansen for the most with 28. That said, this meet will be her final performance in the O’Dome, so expect at least a couple 10s to go flying.

Results

Records: Emily Buffington’s all-around total of 38.725 was a new program record.

Recap

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The Big Storyline: After a disappointing loss to Missouri last week, Auburn got back on track even without the best all-around day for Sunisa Lee. In what feels like a common tale, Georgia missed out on a counting NQS score because of a rough beam rotation. 

Implications: For the first time all season, Auburn fell out of the top two in the conference rankings, being passed by both Alabama and LSU. Georgia fell back to the bottom of the conference and out of the top 16, making a non-seeded regionals trip seem more inevitable. Lee also had a bad landing on her Silivas and has been spotted in a boot, but it is unknown whether this is a true injury or just a precautionary measure.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 14 Georgia at No. 7 Auburn 

Why You Should Clear Space on Your DVR: Georgia is surging, jumping five spots in the national rankings and leap-frogging Arkansas and Missouri to claim the No. 5 spot in the SEC thanks to the shift to NQS. More pertinently, it outscored Auburn by nearly a point in Week 7 (granted, the GymDogs were at home while the Tigers were testing depth on the road, but it’s still unexpected). This meet is shaping up to be a lot closer than it might have been expected to be to start 2023. 

You Can Fast Forward, but not Through This: Olympic champion Sunisa Lee is coming off of an uncharacteristic fall on beam against Missouri, so odds are she’s going to be exceptional this week. You also won’t want to miss the back halves of either team’s floor rotations: Auburn’s Derrian Gobourne and Georgia’s Soraya Hawthorne are neck and neck in the national rankings.

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The Big Storyline: Oklahoma explored some depth in its lineups and came out with a season high score, bookended by two perfect 10s from Katherine Levasseur on vault and Jordan Bowers on floor.

Implications: West Virginia’s road score will allow it to drop a 194.800 in its NQS with another opportunity coming up on the road against Texas Woman’s. Oklahoma will remain No. 1 nationally and in the Big 12.

Records: Oklahoma set a new program record at 198.575 and tied the fourth highest team score in NCAA history. West Virginia extended its streak of consecutive meets scoring a 49.000 on floor to 26 after tallying a 49.050.

Recap

The Big Storyline: Maile O’Keefe’s all-around debut this season was a huge one, as the senior’s new career high helped the Utes soar to a new season high mark as they defeated Pac-12 rival California by a point. O’Keefe’s third 10 on beam this year and Jaedyn Rucker’s first career perfect score highlighted a high-scoring night. California’s Maddie Williams’ dual 9.950s on bars and beam helped her to a 39.625 all-around total that ranks top five in program history as she continues the program’s strong all-arounder tradition. Needing to impress after losing Grace McCallum to injury and then suffering an upset loss at Arizona State Monday, the Utes came out of the gates hot with stuck landings on vault and kept that momentum going.

Implications: The Utes’ win brings the two schools even in the loss column in the Pac-12 regular season standings with one each. With three wins and two ties, California finishes its conference slate with Washington while Utah, with four wins, closes against Arizona and Oregon State.

Records: With seven perfect 10s on beam in her career, O’Keefe now owns the Utah record on beam—beating out Theresa Kulikowski. The Utes also notched their third highest team score ever.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 6 California at No. 4 Utah

Why You Should Cancel Plans for It: Two top 10 teams in the thick of the national and Pac-12 conference races face off with Utah hosting California. The Utes enter needing a momentum-shifting win after a loss in their first meet without Grace McCallum last weekend, while the Golden Bears could use a big road boost after only tying with the rest of the teams in the top half of the conference.

What We’re Watching: Freshman eMjae Frazier tied California’s best all-around mark ever with a 39.700 last week, and we should expect a stellar showdown between her and fellow rookie Makenna Smith from Utah who has stepped into competing on four events to replace McCallum. Vault has been a make-or-break event for both teams recently, and with both showing four 10.0 start values, this matchup could come down to who takes the advantage on the leg events.

Recap

The Big Storyline: This one was an unexpected nail-biter that came down to the final routines. The Wolverines had a tough start on vault, despite the 9.900 competitive debut of freshman Kaylen Morgan. Illinois took the lead after one, and the Illini and Hawkeyes seemed in battle for the win. A superb floor rotation was just enough for Michigan to steal the title in the last rotation.

Implications: Michigan and Iowa all but officially wrapped up berths to the conference championship night session with their four and three wins, respectively. Nationally, this away number won’t do much for Michigan’s NQS as the Wolverines fall behind Utah to No. 4. Iowa, Illinois and Penn State all get a little boost numbers-wise but won’t move much if at all in the rankings. 

Controversies: Fascinatingly, Nebraska is also where Michigan had a vault meltdown in 2022. Certainly it’s not cause for alarm, but something about the venue seems not to agree with the Wolverines.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 3 Michigan, No. 20 Iowa, No. 21 Maryland, No. 23 Illinois, and No. 31 Penn State

Why You Should Cancel Plans for It: Michigan is a heavy favorite to win, but we’ll be looking at a three-way battle between Illinois, Iowa, and Maryland for second place. If any of those teams make a mistake, they’ll be giving their rivals room to move past them in both the meet placements and potentially in the conference standings. Penn State also can’t be counted out, with some mid-196s  on the year. Placement here matters in seeding for the conference championship night session. No team has mathematically clinched a night session berth. Michigan sits at a comfortable 3-1. Iowa, Illinois and Maryland could ride high placements into the top four.

What We’re Watching: Maryland has been a dark horse in the Big Ten this season, but the Terrapins are starting to show some real potential. They lost by just under two tenths to Minnesota, and they put up a huge 49.450 on floor. This team is definitely a threat.

What Else to Know Before Tuning in: This is a neutral-site meet for these teams, so a big number could be huge for NQS. Illinois and Penn State could both use a good away score, so they’ll be hoping to put up some of their best routines of the year. Michigan will aiming for a 198 to keep pace with Oklahoma and Florida nationally.

Recap

The Big Storyline: LSU pulled off the upset in Tuscaloosa after being written off by many going into the meet due to injuries to Alyona Shchennikova and KJ Johnson. LSU is continuing this season’s narrative of being able to thrive despite injuries to people who are key contributors. Alabama was able to take advantage of some loose home scoring, especially in the latter half of the meet, but couldn’t seal the deal on what should’ve been an easy meet to win. 

Implications: LSU jumped two spots in the national rankings and passed Alabama and Auburn to cement itself as the No. 2 team in the conference. Alabama was also able to pass Auburn, though this will feel like a missed opportunity to push even higher in the national rankings. 

Controversies: En route to its 49.700 total, Alabama’s beam rotation included both a 10 being thrown for a routine with a non-stuck dismount and a 9.8/10 split for a routine that left fans guessing what the judges were seeing.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 8 LSU at No. 9 Alabama 

Why You Should Cancel Plans for It: These two teams have scratched and clawed their way up the rankings, after thoroughly rocky starts, to join the exclusive 198 club. LSU is riding high after upsetting Florida last week while Alabama picked off Auburn two weeks ago. Both teams have the grit and talent to cause further chaos in the rankings, but they’ll have to get through each other first. 

Update: On Wednesday, LSU announced that sophomore vault and floor specialist KJ Johnson is out indefinitely due to a broken foot and that senior Alyona Shchennikova is questionable for Friday’s meet due to a groin injury.

What We’re Watching: LSU sophomore Aleah Finnegan is on an unbelievably hot streak, earning 10s on three separate events in three consecutive meets. Can she do the unthinkable and finish her first Gym Slam on the road with a bars 10 in Tuscaloosa? 

What Else to Know Before Tuning in: There are fairly significant stakes at play: The SEC championship is only a couple of weeks away, and Kentucky is within striking distance of a spot in the evening session. Both the Tigers and the Crimson Tide are currently counting sub-197s and can’t afford an off meet.

Results

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The Big Storyline: As she’s done many times before, Jade Carey led the Beavers with a standout evening—highlighted by a pair of 10s—as she helped them to a new program record score in a victory over Stanford. Just behind at the halfway point, the Cardinal couldn’t match the 49.600-plus event totals that Oregon State put up in the second half of the meet, but Stanford’s new season high came from its trio of all-arounders all going above 39.475, headlined by Chloe Widner’s 39.625.

Implications: With the loss, the Cardinal were eliminated from contention for the Pac-12 regular season title while the Beavers stay alive and undefeated in conference action. Both teams will see improvement in their NQS with these totals.

Records: Not only was it a program-record score for Oregon State, but it is also the only time the team has scored a 198. Carey matched her school all-around record from last weekend as the Beavers notched a new beam best at 49.650.

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Recap

The Big Storyline: Despite an off night on vault, San Jose State was able to defeat conference foe UC Davis thanks to Lauren Macpherson’s all around performance. 

Implications: San Jose State reasserted its spot at the top of the MPSF after defeating UC Davis. Additionally, with another 196+ score, the Spartans’s chances of qualifying for regionals again are looking solid. UC Davis’s consistency issues on beam brought its score down after having to count a fall there. As for UC Davis’s regional hopes, scoring in the low 195s pushed them from the regionals bubble. 

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 45 UC Davis at No. 33 San Jose State

Why You Should Make Time to Tune in: This meet will be a preview of the MPSF championship and a matchup of two of the most underrated teams in the NCAA right now. UC Davis has been inconsistent but scored as high as 196.750, and is looking to get a good road score to get closer to the regionals bubble. As for San Jose State, the Spartans have been picking up steam the last few weeks after sorting out some bar inconsistencies. Their season highs are only separated by a tenth, this will be a good one.

Need More Proof? UC Davis’s Keanna Abraham has tied her school record on vault twice this season with her dynamic Yurchenko 1.5. San Jose State senior Emma Milne has been lovely as always on beam this season, eclipsing her career high last weekend with a massive 9.950.

Recap

The Big Storyline: In its first meet back after the shooting on campus, Michigan State took home the victory with a program high 197.675. But the Spartans weren’t the only stars of the show: Nebraska took second place with a season high 196.925. The Huskers were able to upset Ohio State and Minnesota after the Gophers had a disastrous beam rotation. Minnesota’s Maddie Quarles made sure the team’s performance wasn’t a complete wash, though, scoring a 10 on vault and bringing the rotation total to 49.425.

Implications: Nebraska’s huge score means that it can count its 196.325 at Penn State last week, which is huge for its NQS. Michigan State also may be able to make a significant jump in the national rankings with the results of this weekend’s meet. 

Records: Michigan State’s 197.675 was its program high team score, which included a program high vault score of 49.525.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 13 Ohio State, No. 19 Michigan State, No. 18 Minnesota, No. 41 Rutgers at No. 36 Nebraska

Why You Should Cancel Plans for It: If you like evenly matched meets, you’ve come to the right place! Any of the top three teams in this session could walk away with the win. Minnesota and Michigan State are only separated by one ranking place, and Ohio State’s NQS is only two tenths above those of the Gophers and the Spartans, which leaves very little room for error from the Buckeyes. No team has mathematically clinched a conference championship night session spot yet, so this meet is critical from top to bottom. That said, the Buckeyes are sitting at a healthy 4-1 to lead the conference, and Michigan State is at a comfortable 3-1. The Gophers are the night session bubble team to watch.

What We’re Watching: Nebraska and Rutgers are both fighting for spots at regionals, so we’ll be looking for both teams to put up big scores to boost their NQS. Nebraska is sitting in the last regionals spot right now, so it’s safe to say that a big score would make the Huskers a little bit more comfortable. As for Rutgers, the Scarlet Knights are in need of a solid road score. A 196 would be huge for Rutgers and its postseason hopes. 

What Else to Know Before Tuning in: This will be Michigan State’s first meet back since the shooting that happened on its campus last week, so it may be an emotional meet for the Spartans. It’s also the Huskers’ first meet since health and safety protocols kept the team idle last week.

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Recap

The Big Storyline: Central Michigan was able to go up and hit six for six on beam and record a season high on the event en route to a 196-plus performance. Pfister stuck her front pike half on vault and got a 10 from one judge in Ball State’s highest vault total of the season.  

Implications: Ball State continues to lead the MAC and is holding steady in a regional qualifying position going into the last couple of weeks in the season. Central Michigan beat the beam here after not breaking 49 on the event all season, and while the Chippewas are on the outside looking in when it comes to regionals, the team may be peaking at the right time.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 44 Central Michigan at No. 30 Ball State

Why You Should Make Time to Tune in: Ball State has been a surprise this season, opening up the NQS rankings in a position to make regionals. As much as the rankings are different between these two teams, the main cause is consistency. Central Michigan hitting on beam could make this meet much closer than one might expect.

Need More Proof? Central Michigan’s goal will be not to count a fall on beam. Keep an eye on Aleysia Kolyvanova who, along with Hannah Demers, scored a season high on the event against Western Michigan last week. Ball State is coming off of three consecutive scores over 196 and will be looking to keep up that momentum to remain in sole possession of the MAC’s win-loss record. While Victoria Henry has been the key all-arounder for the Cardinals this season, keep an eye on Hannah Ruthberg too. She outscored Henry last week.

Recap

The Big Storyline: Penn was the easy pick to win going into the Ivy Classic. However, the same could be said last year when Yale won. With the win, Brown put itself in the books with the second best team score in program history. 

Implications: Previous to last week, neither Brown nor Cornell had an NQS. Despite a strong average, Brown slides into third in the USAG with the NQS at play. Despite a nearly record-breaking performance, Brown is up against a feisty yet more consistent Yale—but only five-hundredths separates them. Cornell certainly did itself some favors with a big showing too. The Big Red may not have set any season highs, but it was the third meet in a row it went better than 193. Yale, Brown, and Cornell all find themselves in the top eight teams in the USAG, with Yale making an excellent argument to make the team final at nationals.

Records: Julia Bedell tied the program record on floor for Brown with a 9.925 for the second time this season. Raegan Walker tied Yale’s record on bars, her own, with a 9.950.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 47 Penn, No. 59 Yale, Cornell at Brown

Why You Should Make Time to Tune in: First of all, it’s the Ivy Classic! And these are some of the best teams in the GEC. Each program is smashing long-held records left and right. It’s a great preview of how these teams could finish the season.  

Need More Proof? Penn is the team to beat in the Ivy Classic. Despite Yale being the defending champ, it’s going to take a lot to eclipse Penn’s scores this season. And with how hot Penn has been looking, it’ll take several missteps by the Quakers to lose this year. Yale comes in as the strongest bars team today thanks to Raegan Walker at the helm. Cornell’s Sydney Beers is knocking down big score after big score; the sophomore will be a force for Penn to reckon with for individual titles. But don’t look away from Brown, which is inching closer and closer to a new floor record both as a team and with Julia Bedell as an individual.

Results

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The Big Storyline: Powered by a new career high all-around total from Jordan Chiles, UCLA notched a second-straight score in the 197s in an easy road win at Arizona. A perfect score somehow evaded Chiles as she swept the event titles and all-around, and was only matched by teammate Ana Padurariu—who had a night of her own with career bests on bars (9.900) and beam (9.950).

Implications: The Bruins stay alive in the regular season conference championship race but need to beat Stanford next week and for Oregon State to lose one of its remaining two meets. The Wildcats were previously eliminated from Pac-12 title contention, and their score does not improve their NQS.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 5 UCLA at No. 27 Arizona

Why You Should Clear Space on Your DVR: A pair of conference foes looking the best they’ve looked all season will face off as the Bruins look to win out the rest of the Pac-12 regular season slate. But it must take on a tricky Arizona squad at home first.

You Can Fast Forward, but not Through This: While the Wildcats will need their best day and likely a bit of help to top UCLA, Malia Hargrove has been in top form lately and could shake up the event standings. The senior recently put up a near-perfect 9.975 on vault and a 39.5-plus all-around performance that could catch a few Bruins off guard. While UCLA may opt to rest a few athletes, vault should be a focal point, as that’s where it lags behind the rest of the top five. With just two 10.0 start values, the Bruins aren’t in a position to take it easy and must keep pushing to find ways to boost totals.

Recap

The Big Storyline: This was a great meet for both teams! Michigan put up its second-highest score of the season on the road, which is huge for its NQS. Nebraska showed that its performance at Big Fives may not have been a fluke. The Huskers put up a 196.850 and are expected to make a significant jump in the national rankings. 

Implications: Michigan’s remarkable 198.275 on the road will do wonders to its NQS. As for Nebraska, another high 196 will very put the Huskers into the coveted top 36 teams that qualify to regionals. 

Records: Michigan’s 49.600 on floor ties its program high.

Note: This meet was postponed from its original date on Feb. 17 and was made up on Monday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. ET. The home team was also switched to Nebraska.

Update: This meet has been postponed due to the campus shooting that occurred at Michigan State on Monday. It has been rescheduled for Monday, Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. ET, according to Road to Nationals.