Welcome to the first conference championship of the weekend, the only competition not featured on Saturday! What a way to get conference weekend kicked off. This meet is really anyone’s game.
Illinois State enters as the favorite from the regular season, closely followed by Lindenwood, SEMO and Texas Woman’s. The Redbirds have the potential to go all the way, with several show-stopping routines from athletes such as Angelica Labat, Alana Laster, Jaye Mack and Nirel Bart-Williams. However, consistency on bars and beam has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride. Will the team hit tonight when it matters?
TWU is the returning champion, and is currently on the rise, with four 195s in a row. Alix Pierce is having an astronomical senior season, consistently posting high scores on all three of her events. The Pioneers typically don’t have a super standout event, but they are steady everywhere. What’s that saying? Slow and steady wins the race.
SEMO has had some lineup shuffles late this season due to injury, but is holding steady. The likelihood of the team approaching the 196.175 it posted in late January is unlikely, but don’t count this team out just yet. The home field advantage will definitely come into play for the Redhawks. Keep an eye on Nyah Reader, Lydia Webb and Madison Greene. These athletes always come to play.
Centenary just posted a season high last weekend, so the Ladies will look to keep the energy rolling in hopes of qualifying some individuals to USAGs. This team is much improved on vault this year, with Amy Foret adding another twisting vault to the lineup last week. Leilani Johnson and Emma Lavelle are some athletes to watch out for here.
Tune in to see who comes out on top in this close matchup!
Rotation 1: Illinois State VT, Lindenwood BYE, TWU UB, Centenary BB, SEMO FX
King (TWU): Blind, Jaeger. A bit close. Overshoot is loose in the back. Blind full double tuck is so far away but stuck.
Good starting vault for Donovan.
Taylor Ingle for SEMO with the back 2.5 to front tuck. Good extension on the leaps. Double pike is a touch under. Controlled well.
Deshler (CC): Slow on the series connection. Strong leap there. Side aerial with a large lean. Cartwheel gainer full with a step forward.
Mack (ISU): Nearly stuck Y full.
M. Johnson (TWU): Clear hip to Tkatchev. A little low amplitude wise. Overshoot. Blind full to double tuck. Close on the release with a hop back.
Heard (ISU): VERY beautiful and dynamic full for her. A small hop.
Maxwell (SEMO): Double tuck. Off center but strong landing. Leaps with nice straddle position. Rudi. Another good one. Low landing on the final pass.
Lazarus (TWU): Loose on the overshoot. Close on the Tkatchev and hits her heels. Strong dismount to finish. That one will look to be dropped.
ISU is on a roll with another strong vault from Bart-Williams
Molina (CC): HS to BHS LOSO. A leg up check. Split 3/4 could’ve been a touch larger. Cat leap side aerial is right on. Front gainer full with a hop back on the dismount.
Stuck Y 1.5 for Alana Laster! I have chills!
Caught Pierce’s Jaeger for TWU. Good height and dynamics. Stuck the dismount as well! Way to bounce back.
Labat (ISU): ANOTHER STUCK 1.5. SO HIGH. SO DYNAMIC. THAT’S THE WAY TO START A MEET.
Webb (SEMO: Rudi to split jump. A slight lack of control with a hop back on her back foot. Back 1.5 to front layout is lovely.
Griffith (TWU): Missed on the Jaeger. That’s unfortunate. Overshoot. FTDT with a hop forward.
9.950 for Labat. The team is screaming. As am I.
Stephens (CC): A check on the series. Beautiful ring leap. Another check on the tuck 3/4. BHS back 1.5 is controlled with a step forward.
Reader (SEMO): Double pike is huge. Chest up and controlled. Nyah is having quite the year on this event! Another strong landing on pass two. Ending with a double tuck. A step forward to manage.
Ferrari (TWU): Blind, Jaeger. A touch close. Blind, straddle back. Double layout with a pike down and hop back.
Foret (CC): BHS LOSO. Back leg up. Switch side. Side aerial is off. Not quite enough kick. Around the side. Split, split 3/4. A touch under position. Switch leap, gainer full with a hop back.
Moffitt (SEMO): Double tuck. A slight leg adjustment to keep it controlled. Nice amplitude on the leaps. Front full, front lay. Nice extension in the air. Double pike. Hopped right to the lunge. Good routine for her!
Martinez (CC): BHS LOSO, small lean. Cat leap, switch side 1/4. Solid as a rock. Front toss to beat. A little more toe point on the jump would send that over the top. Gainer pike. A small step back. Good set. Way to come back from the fall before that.
Greene (SEMO): Front lay to Rudi. Literally stuck. Excuse me. I’m deceased. Double tuck. Front foot slide a tad. If we’re being picky. Tour jete half, split full. Nice. Silence. She can do no wrong.
Lavelle (CC): Front tuck mount. A little off to the side, but had to take the fall, so Centenary will be counting a couple mistakes on this event. BHS LOSO. Rushing for sure. Picked up her front foot before she had enough rotation. A circle around the beam fall. Cat leap, switch side. A lean with a leg up wobble. Full turn on the side. RO back 1.5 with a step forward.
AFTER ONE: Illinois State 49.250, SEMO 48.900, TWU 48.050, Centenary 47.050
ISU slaughtered that opening rotation. I cannot express that enough. Vault is so hard to catch in a quad meet, but the Redbirds were captivating. The two sticks at the end of the lineup were icing on the cake. SEMO looked strong as well, and should be happy with how it’s set itself up for the rest of the meet. TWU had to count a heel smacker from Lazarus due to an uncharacteristic fall from Griffith, but the team held things together the best it could to still post a respectable event total. Centenary was a bit shaky from start to finish, but frankly, I was expecting worse than a 47.050, so that’s a positive. Kudos to Carissa Martinez holding down the fort on that rotation.
Rotation 2: SEMO VT, Illinois State BYE, Lindenwood UB, TWU BB, Centenary FX
Definitely can tell these commentators are affiliated with Lindenwood… that’s okay. Grateful for commentary.
Hannah Appleget is in a boot. That’s bad news bears.
Ingle (SEMO): Y full. Good height, hop off to the side.
Huff (CC): A touch short on the double tuck. Rudi to double stag. Back on her heels on the last pass. Had to tuck it, so that might impact the start value.
Six (TWU): BHS LOSO with a leg up check. for Six. Front toss to beat. RO back 1.5. Strong finish.
Daniels (LU): Blind full to double tuck is stuck. Looked like her normal, which is good.
Reader (SEMO): Y full is much improved. Just a hop. Better form on the table.
Moon (LU): Shaposh, overshoot, toe to high. Good last handstand. Double layout. Piked at the end with a hop back.
Webb (SEMO: Another great full for the Redhawks. A hop back. These vaults are nice and high.
Kunzman (TWU): BHS LOSO LOSO. Switch leap, switch leap. Wishing for more back leg. No wobble. RO back 1.5 is stuck.
Wilson (CC): Back 1.5 to front layout. Rudi to double stag. Dynamic jump out of it.
A miss on the piked Jaeger for Newsome. Didn’t redo the release. Overshoot. Double front dismount was her best on the year.
Lopez (SEMO): Turned a touch early on the table. Good Y full off.
Gose (TWU): BHS LOSO. Solid. Yes. Switch leap, switch half. Some arm flailing in the air, so not quite around with the hips in the air. Hitch kick, side aerial. Undercut it but managed. RO back 1.5. Another stick for the Pioneers.
Missed Madison Greene’s vault, but the commentators loved it, so I love it.
Lavelle (CC): Double pike is strong. Double tuck with a slide and possible OOB? Front lay, front tuck full.
J. jones (LU): Ray to overshoot is huge. Double layout with a hop forward. Piked down.
SEMO is not playing on vault either. My Lord.
King (TWU): BHS LOSO. Nice and floaty. Punch front. Like it’s easy? Pardon. Switch leap, straddle 1/4. A queen. Back 1.5 dismount. A lean forward and quick turn to the judge.
Cooper (LU): Blind, piked Jaeger to overshoot. Last HS a touch short. Tried to hold onto the stick on the double layout, but not quite.
Scott (LU): Short HS. Blind full to delchev. Some leg form. Overshoot. Piked. Double layout. is stuck. Very nice.
Podges (TWU): BHS LOSO is right on. Switch leap to switch half, leg up wobble, beat. Not connected, but okay. Gainer pike is stuck. A stick clinic, this is. Yep, 9.900 start. Still seeing a 9.7 and 9.6 flashed, though. Go off.
Foret (CC): Double pike with a step forward. Front lay to Rudi.
Pierce (TWU): SENIOR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR. AS SHE SHOULD. Front toss to BHS. A hip lean, connected well. Switch leap, split 1/4. She is the queen of finesse rn. Front aerial to beat. Tucked front full is stuck. Wow.
Martinez (CC): Double tuck is off the screen high. Literally. RO to layout to belly drop. Leap a touch awkward. Loss of control on the jump out of the back 1.5 to front half to switch leap jump. Stayed in bounds, I think. 9.700
L. Johnson (CC): Front through to double tuck. Right to the lunge. Huge grin. Switch side half, straddle jump. Death drop. Some rolling around. A majorette moment. Am I doing the dance right now? Yes. Shimmy to the corner. Back 1.5 to front layout. Good dynamics there. Should be a good score for the Ladies. 9.800
AFTER TWO: SEMO 97.725, TWU 97.125, Centenary 95.175, ISU 49.250, Lindenwood 48.875
SEMO storms into the lead after a strong vault rotation. I vote this event as the Redhawks’ most improved throughout this season. Love to see it. It should be noted that the Pioneers have already gotten the two non-leg events out of the way, so it only goes up from here. But also…TWU SLAYED beam, so it should be confident moving forward. Lindenwood did a great job of not getting shaken up by the fall mid lineup, posting a solid score on bars.
Rotation 3: Centenary VT, SEMO BYE, Illinois State UB, Lindenwood BB, TWU FX
Hawksworth (ISU): clear hip, gienger to overshoot. Good push away on the catch. Double layout with a hop back.
Griswold (LU): BHS LOSO. Yee haw. Missed the leap. RO back 1.5 is stuck. A touch deep on the knees.
Medium step back on Plaza’s Tsuk layout for Centenary.
Podges (TWU): Front layout, front full. Good power. Some soft knees. Leaps nice and around. Pogo legs out of the Rudi.
Wabi (ISU): Blind, to piked Jaeger. Overshoot is slightly under HS. Blind full double tuck. Stuck.
Daniels (LU): BHS LOSO. So confident. Switch leap to ring jump. More head release is needed in my opinion. Front aerial to beat. Stuck gainer full.
Full on vault for Foret. A hop and off center.
L. Johnson (CC): Y layout is ginormous, but cannot control it today. A medium hop back.
There is a start value discrepency on floor for Kyla Podges. Something about a missing back skill.
Laster (ISU): Overshoot hand. Tkatchev. Pardon me as I walk under that. Stuck double front. She’s having a day!
Moon (LU): Solid series. Switch leap is off. Not connected. Beat to split 3/4. Good on her for making sure she had a leap connection. A veteran. Front aerial large lean to beat. Kept the arms moving. Gainer full.
Double tuck is right on for Steelie King to finish.
Martinez (CC): Y full. A little slow on rotation, good height with a step forward.
Bart-Williams (ISU): Overshoot with a touch of leg form. Commentators said the release was close. Double front dismount with a pace forward.
Wedge (CC): FHS front pike. Had to bend the knees too early at the end. Low squat. I think she narrowly missed sitting that.
Heiner (ISU): Toe hand, Maloney. Held that arch shape. Obsessed. Overshoot. Double layout. Forward with two steps.
J. Jones (LU): BHS LOSO. A different series. Switch leap, switch half. A little slow, but fine. RO back 1.5 with a step salute situation.
Gose (TWU): Double pike. Wow. Excuse me. Switch side, popa, popa. We love amplitude on a leap. Front full, front lay. A wild bounce out of the Rudi.
Labat (ISU): Toe hand, Ray to overshoot. Nearly HS. Dear God. I cannot. FTDT is a touch too far, so she had to step forward. That ray was to her fingers. She is a magician. Which is why she’s the THREE TIME GYMNAST OF THE YEAR.
Kraus (LU): Love her presence. Patient on the BHSLOSO. Switch half to beat is just awesome. And that’s hard to accomplish. Back 1.5 is stuck. If that’s not a career high, I don’t want it.
Woodring (TWU): Double pike. Excellent control. Some very fancy rolling. Cheated a bit on the switch side to popa. Good line, though. Front full, front lay. Good line in the air. Okay, videography wasn’t great on the last pass, but looked like her usual cloud-floater double tuck with good control.
I’m sorry. Did a hear a 10.0 flash at MICs? I’m in a fever dream. 9.900 for Kraus on beam.
Rush (LU): A one arm stand to assert dominance over the beam. Hitch kick to side somi. Dead on. Sideways split 1/2. Don’t typically love those, but looks nice on her. BHS LOSO. Yes. This is the rotation of the year for Lindenwood. Easily . Switch leap to straddle 1/4. Stuck gainer full. Kicked with her knees bent, a bit.
M. Johnson (TWU): Double pike. Nice and high. Back 1.5 to front full. Makes it looks simple. I would blow out a knee. Easily. Rudi. Beautiful.
The big scores are happening. Oh okay. We out here.
Pierce (TWU): Just sitting back and enjoying this one. Front double full. One of her best controls on the year. Right to the lunge. “Almost horror-like” Switch side, popa. Straddle position was right on. Back 1.5 to front full with a bound forward.
AFTER THREE: TWU 146.200, Centenary 142.975, Lindenwood 98.150, Illinois State 98.000, SEMO 97.725
Okay, so things are ramping up. Fasten your seat belts, people.
Rotation 4: TWU VT, Centenary BYE, SEMO UB, Illinois State BB, Lindenwood FX
Lazarus (TWU): Y full. Close to the table with a hop forward.
Ingle (SEMO): Blind, Jaeger. Floaty. Overshoot. Blind full double tuck is stuck. A couple form things, but overall good lead off.
Wabi (ISU): Front toss to BHS. Solid. Split, split 3/4. A lean. Gainer full is stuck.
Caffey (LU): Double pike. Front lay to Rudi, slide back. Double tuck.
Stuck Y full for Six.
Miller (SEMO): Piked tkatchev to ezhova. On the ground. I suspect a shoulder issue perhaps. Half pirouette. Lovely last HS. Double layout with a knee give. Jump salute. Nothing to see here.
Gose (TWU): Y full. Crunched on the table. Tried too hard for the stick so had to step forward.
Davis (ISU): BHS LOSO. Right on. Front toss to split. A touch slow. A wobble ont he jump series. Back 1.5 was nearly stuck but too excited.
Griffith (TWU): Y full, turned on the table with a hop back.
Daniels (LU): Rudi LOSO. A little loose.
Webb (SEMO): Lovely Jaeger. Yes. Overshoot a little low. Blind full double tuck with a step.
Woodring (TWU): Y full with the chest up. Flared out at the end. Just a baby slide back.
Lopez (SEMO): Jaeger is floating and nice. Overshoot. Short last HS. Blind full double tuck was pulled in with a step back.
Ziengenfelder (ISU): Front aerial to BHS. Strong leap combination. Gainer full is stuck. Yes ma’am. 9.900
R. Jones (LU): Front double full. Rudi to double stag. Back 1.5 to front tuck. Missed the timing and had to sit it down.
Ockler (SEMO): Toe hand, Maloney to pak. Lovely lines. Yes. FTDT is stuck. Man oh man.
Laster (ISU): A wobble on the split jump, so repeats. Front toss is the moment. BHS LOSO. Finesse. A lean on the turn. Back 1.5 with a hop forward. ISU is going for it.
J. Jones (LU): Double pike. Good control there. A strong connection pass. Good layout position. Back 1.5 front layout. Right on.
Moffitt (SEMO): Blind, Jaeger. Overshoot is a little loose. Blind full double tuck. Stick again.
Bart-Williams (ISU): BHS LOSO… hops off. Okay. Supposed to be a triple series. What’s the plan? Beat to split 3/4. Cartwheel to gainer full is stuck. A very slim chance that the start value is 10.0 for that. I’m seeing 9.500 starts flashed.
Lopez (LU): Double tuck. Chest up. Switch half, wolf 1.5. Right around. Front full, front pike. Goes for the stick, but hop forward to manage. A high school musical jump. Back 1.5 is well controlled. Wishing for more amplitude on the second flip.
Labat (ISU): So calm. So confident. Front aerial. Turns to the side to save. BHS LOSO stuck. Switch leap, switch half. BHS back 1.5 with a hop forward. Good fight.
Griswold (LU): A lean to manage the double pike after it came down from the rafters. Missed the second combo pass. Switch half, wolf full. Double tuck to finish. A pogo to the lunge.
AFTER FOUR: TWU 194.900, Lindenwood 147.325, Illinois State 147.050, SEMO 146.600, Centenary 142.975
Welp. TWU is finished for the evening. A 194.900 is nothing to scoff at. It’ll come down to this final rotation to determine who will come out on top. A normal next event from Lindenwood and/or Illinois State should allow that score to be surpassed. ISU is going to its strongest event, so don’t count it out just yet.
Rotation 5: Lindenwood VT, TWU BYE, Centenary UB, SEMO BB, Illinois State FX
Wabi (ISU): Front double full. Good and around. Rudi LOSO. Good start on floor. Setting the tone strong.
Maxwell (SEMO): BHS LOSO is sharp. Leap wasn’t quite around with a slow connection. Good dismount to finsih.
Lindenwood starting with a fall on vault from Nya Kraus.
A few steps back on the double tuck for Kendall Huff for Centenary.
Caffey (LU): Y full, tried to stick it with a hop back. A hop and skip in excitement.
The judges are STRUGGLING everywhere apparently.
Laster (ISU): Front double full is just lovely. Rudi to LOSO. Good control. Wide on the lunge.
Lopez (LU): Y full, turned early and a hop back.
WEbb (SEMO): Leap is lovely. Missed her Liukin so I’m depressed. Front aerial to BHS swing down. BHS gainer full. A hop forward.
Stuck Y full from Allie Berkley for LU. Legs apart on the table, but good otherwise.
Centenary’s Izzie Plaza took a fall on bars.
Daniels (LU): Y full, stuck. Closed shoulder and not very high. Get it, I guess.
Moffitt (SEMO): Large leg up wobble on the series. Switch side 1/4. Stuck dismount for her.
Donovan (ISU): Stuck the double tuck. Okay. Front full to Rudi. No sliding here. Lost a knee brace.
Griswold (LU): Y 1.5 is short with a step back. Huge in the air. Flared out to fight for the stick.
Lavelle (CC): Clear hip, overshoot, toe to high. Didn’t recatch. Repeated the release. Double layout with a step back.
Ingle (SEMO): BHS BHS LOSO. Small lean. Strong leap series. RO back double full is stuck.
Labat (ISU): Front double full. The ankles. Had to put her hand down. Huge amplitude on the leap. Back 1.5, front layout. Yes.
Wilson (CC): Toe hand, Maloney to pak is smoothly connected. FTDT with a step back. Chest low.
Reader (SEMO): Yes on the series, front toss from the knee to BHS. Small check on the leap. Front toss to beat. Gainer pike. Stuck.
Bart-Williams (ISU): Rudi LOSO to open. Tour jete half, split full. Not full split. Cat leap full to half beach chair pose belly flop. Double tuck is right on. Kudos to the freshman.
Schmitz (CC): Blind, Jaeger. Overshoot. Blind full, over to double tuck. Step back.
Miller (SEMO): Large chest down lean on the split 3/4. BHS LOSO was lovely. Standing too long. LOSO with another large wobble. Gainer pike is very close to the beam but stuck.
Mack (ISU): FTDP is freaking stuck. I’m speechless. Leap is great as usual. I will never get over this routine. Sorry not sorry. Front through to double pike is stunning. Small slide. 9.925
Final: Illinois State 196.375, Lindenwood 196.275, SEMO 195.525, TWU 194.900, Centenary 188.875
What a meet. I feel like I’m still coming down from the high of it all. The fact this came down to the final routine felt like just the right way to start off conference weekend. This is Illinois State’s first conference title since 2012. After several years of coming in the favorite and falling just short, tonight’s program record finally did the trick. Lindenwood’s team total was among the best team totals program history. ISU had to bounce back in the last two floor routines after an uncharacteristic fall from leader Angelica Labat. I guess sticking the hardest pass in the competition is the way to do that, securing the victory. Although SEMO wasn’t tightly in the race in the last rotation, don’t skim over that beam rotation. There were some stunners in the pack. TWU had a good day, but not a great one. Ultimately, counting the 9.300 on event one set the team in a hole that couldn’t keep up with the top of the pack. Centenary counted several falls on the day, but the competition was highlighted by the back half of the floor lineup.
This meet is really going to set the tone for USAGs in a couple weeks, so keep an eye out for these teams again as they fight for a national title (excluding ISU, unfortunately). Also, don’t be surprised if you see some of the same faces at NCAA regionals qualifying as individuals!
AA Winner: Alana Laster (ISU), 39.350
VT Winner: Angelica Labat (ISU), 9.950
UB Winner: Lindsay Ockler (SEMO), 9.875
BB Winner: Taylor Ingle (SEMO), Nya Kraus (LU), Nyah Reader (SEMO), Madi Rush (LU) & Joy Ziegenfelder (ISU), 9.900
FX Winner: Jaye Mack (ISU), 9.925
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