The Dismount: Regionals

Another hectic, fun, and exciting regionals has come and gone. Man, do we have a lot to talk about. From the highs to the lows and every moment in between, we did our best to sum up the most important things that happened across the four competition sites this week. Catch up with superlatives, results, recaps, and more.

Superlatives

Sickest Burn

https://twitter.com/josiegymdawg/status/1641937595407142912?t=-dwEgqwy_sbJkIP7xaE_Rg&s=19

Newly retired Josie Angeny didn’t waste a moment before calling out our criticism of the leotard she designed for Georgia at SECs with a scorching tweet. 

Best Friendship Goals

https://twitter.com/pac12/status/1641607271833563136?t=azes6zyCy16fG2Kx79SosA&s=19

As soon as the final scores were posted, the Utah Red Rocks ran over to celebrate the Washington Huskies’ unexpected berth to the Los Angeles regional final alongside them. 

Most Relatable Moment

It’s a tie between Maile O’Keefe missing the announcement of her perfect 10 on beam while she was in the bathroom and Haleigh Bryant revealing her favorite food is cheese. Gymnasts really are just like us!

Most Detrimental Commentary

https://twitter.com/bridgetsloan/status/1642243274260770816?t=gJOITJh6_MFJbtrnFOavBw&s=19

Florida legend turned commentator Bridget Sloan had gym fans scratching their heads when she accidentally referred to Arizona State star all-around Hannah Scharf as “absolutely detrimental” to the team. To quote Sloan, “Sometimes words are hard!” 

Best Reaction to a 10

https://twitter.com/espnw/status/1642343238609645569?s=46&t=DZzgeS-lRhR_RhWDYUBPaA

Selena Harris scored her first perfect 10 on vault to send UCLA to nationals and watching her burst into tears and Jordan Chiles jumping up and down beside her in celebration was too perfect for words.

Most Heartfelt Moment

https://www.instagram.com/p/CqjDPnYvHU9/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D

Former Michigan standout Reema Zakharia, who was seriously injured in a car accident in 2022, was able to make the trip to Denver to support her alma mater. She was even able to be on the floor and rotate with the Wolverines.

Best Post-Meet Celebration

WE’RE NOT DONE YET. pic.twitter.com/6zwd4rO0Km

— LSU Gymnastics (@LSUgym) April 3, 2023

From sprinting to his team fist-pumping after securing a berth to nationals to doing the Griddy in the locker room post meet, Jay Clark of LSU has the best celebrations we’ve seen this postseason.

The Highlights

Denver Regional

Nationals Qualifiers

• Teams: Denver, LSU
• All around: Abby Heiskell, Michigan
• Vault: Naomi Morrison, Michigan
• Bars: Natalie Wojcik, Michigan
• Beam: Jade Carey, Oregon State
• Floor: Sierra Brooks, Michigan

The Big Storyline: The last regional final brought all the drama as Denver pulled the upset to win its home regional. The Pioneers had a rough start on floor but only counted two scores below 9.900 the rest of the way to secure its trip to nationals. Michigan started with a fall on its first two events yet came back strong to tie LSU heading into the final rotation, but a lack of solid landings on vault for the Wolverines ended up costing them. Ultimately, the Tigers advanced to the national championships via a tiebreak.

Individual Insights: While Michigan does not advance to the national championships as a team, it will be well represented in Fort Worth as four gymnasts will compete in the national semifinals. Jade Carey, after appearing in Fort Worth in the all-around as a freshman, will be the lone Beaver heading to Texas and will only compete on the balance beam. She tied for the highest score at the regional final with a 9.975.

Don’t Forget Us: Although they didn’t advance to the final, Minnesota and Georgia both gave the top-seeded teams some trouble in their respective sessions. Georgia finished just under four tenths behind LSU and Oregon State, and Minnesota finished two and a half behind Denver after trailing the Pioneers by the slimmest possible margin entering the last rotation.

Records: LSU’s 49.525 on bars is the highest score in program history at a regional. Denver’s 49.625 on beam is the second-highest event score in program history. 

Controversies: After the final rotation, LSU and Michigan both had team scores of 197.750, bringing the tiebreaker rules for teams into question. After recalculating the team scores with all dropped routines included, the tiebreaker fell in LSU’s favor after having no falls compared to Michigan’s two earlier in the meet.

What’s Next: LSU and Denver will compete against Florida and California in the semifinals to earn a spot to the national finals. Each team has battled through adversity during the postseason, and it only makes nationals even more interesting. 

Los Angeles Regional

Nationals Qualifiers

• Teams: UCLA, Utah
• All around: Chloe Widner, Stanford
• Vault: Courtney Blackson, Boise State
• Bars: Emily Lopez, Boise State
• Beam: Alisa Sheremeta, Missouri
• Floor: Derrian Gobourne, Auburn

The Big Storyline: Utah came out swinging on vault with a perfect 10.000 from Jaedyn Rucker to take the lead after one rotation and remained there the entire meet. Missouri surged in the second rotation on floor to tie Utah after one, with UCLA about two tenths back. In the second half of the meet, UCLA was on fire, posting a massive 49.700 on floor and a 49.500 on vault, capped off with Selena Harris scoring a perfect 10.000 on vault to help clinch a nationals berth for the Bruins. 

Individual Insights: After scoring a perfect 10.000 in the regional semifinal, Boise State’s Courtney Blackson earned an individual berth to nationals on vault along with teammate Emily Lopez who qualified on bars. Stanford’s Chloe Widner earned the all around spot after posting a 39.550. Missouri’s Alisa Sheremta earned the beam spot after posting a 9.950 on Thursday, and Auburn’s Derrian Gobourne qualified on floor. 

Don’t Forget Us: In the first regional semifinal, Auburn did not advance to the regional final after having three falls on bars—allowing Washington to advance. Southern Utah competed well, led by Karley McClain’s 39.400 in the all around, but came up just a few tenths short of the Huskies for the second spot in the regional final. In the second semifinal UCLA and Missouri claimed the top two spots, but Stanford also competed well and scored into the 197s, but ultimately fell just short of Missouri. Boise State competed in this semifinal as well after taking down conference foe BYU in the play-in meet on Wednesday, but had some struggles on vault that kept them in fourth.

Controversies: Sheremeta beat out Washington’s Kennedi Davis on beam on a tiebreak to earn the individual spot at Nationals, while Derrian Gobourne advanced over Karley McClain in a tiebreak as well.

What’s Next: Oklahoma and Kentucky will face off against UCLA and Utah, with only the top two teams advancing to the team final. Yes, we know. It’s going to be one tight battle for one of those coveted spots.

Norman Regional

Nationals Qualifiers

• Teams: Oklahoma, Kentucky
• All around: Payton Harris, Ohio State
• Vault: Lauren Williams, Arkansas
• Bars: Luisa Blanco, Alabama
• Beam: Norah Flatley, Arkansas
• Floor: Elexis Edwards, Ohio State

The Big Storyline: After kicking off the meet with a strong bars rotation, Oklahoma was forced to count a fall on beam and found itself in fourth at the halfway point behind Kentucky, which found its momentum early, Ohio State, which put up consistent routines, and Alabama, which couldn’t find its sticks. The Sooners then fought for every tenth and clawed back to win the regional, scoring a 198 even counting a fall.

Individual Insights: While Illinois State didn’t make it a three-peat for individual nationals appearances, Alana Laster still had a great day on vault to represent the Redbirds in Norman. She was joined by 2022 NCAA qualifier Jaye Mack, who competed on floor. Ball State’s Suki Pfister also performed her signature vault well, fitting in well with the star-studded Kentucky lineup that is filled with the same skill.

Don’t Forget Us: Way back on Wednesday, Ball State and N.C. State squared off for a chance to compete in round two. While the Wolfpack won pretty handedly—and had a solid showing the following day as well—Ball State should still be proud of its performance. The Cardinals qualified to the postseason for just the second time in program history and don’t look to be missing again anytime soon. Similarly, Arkansas put up a strong fight for a spot in the regional final but came up just short. The Razorbacks will still have representation at nationals, though, with Williams advancing on vault and fifth-year Flatley getting one last swan song on beam in Fort Worth. Here’s hoping she rotates with UCLA.

Records: Ohio State’s regional final total was a program record and is the highest regional score from a team that didn’t ultimately qualify for nationals. Kentucky also has a program record on beam in the final, its No. 2 score all-time on vault, and its second-highest team total.

Controversies: In 2022, we had toe-gate when viewers questioned whether Amari Celestine stepped out of bounds on floor during her routine—a pivotal moment that ultimately sent the Tigers to nationals. This year, Ragan Smith faced the same controversy, as fans online were convinced her heel went down out of bounds on floor. However, our photographer just so happened to be in that exact corner for the routine and clearly saw Smith remain in bounds.

What’s Next: Oklahoma and Kentucky will face off against UCLA and Utah, with the top two teams advancing to the team final. We don’t yet know in which session the teams will compete, nor the individuals, but it should make for an exciting competition nevertheless.

Pittsburgh Regional

Nationals Qualifiers

• Teams: California, Florida
• All around: Hannah Scharf, Arizona State
• Vault: Ava Piedrahita, Penn State
• Bars: Cassidy Rushlow, Penn State
• Beam: Gabrielle Stephen, Michigan State
• Floor: Delanie Harkness, Michigan State

The Big Storyline: Without Trinity Thomas, the road to nationals looked a lot less clear for second-ranked Florida. Despite lower numbers on vault and floor, the Gators were able to pull off qualifying in second place. Things looked a bit nerve-racking for California after a less-than-stellar vault rotation, but the Bears rallied on the final three events, going above 49.600 on beam and floor to earn the highest total of any regional final. Michigan State did well– even outsourcing Florida on floor– but it wasn’t enough for the Spartans to earn a trip to Fort Worth. Arizona State kept up with the pace, but lacked the crucial 9.9+ scores required to make it to nationals. 

Individual Insights: Despite missing out on a team spot, Michigan State will still be well represented at nationals with both Gabrielle Stephen and Delanie Harkness getting individual spots. Penn State will be making its re-debut on the national stage after missing regionals last season with Cassidy Rushlow and freshman star Ava Piedrahita. Hannah Scharf’s 39.625 all around score prevailed, making this year the second time Scharf will compete on all four events at the national championship. 

Don’t Forget Us: Towson freshman Isabella Minervini came out swinging on the bars, first scoring a 9.925 during the play-in meet, and then besting that with a 9.95 in the regional semifinal. Cassie St. Clair also stuck her Tsuk tuck one and a half, leading to a career-high 9.9 that topped her semifinal session. Fellow Western Michigan gymnast Payton Murphy put up a respectable 39.450 in the all-around, highlighted by a 9.925 on floor. Despite not making regionals this season, Utah State did still see some success in the form of Brianna Brooks’ 9.925 on bars. 

Controversies: Tiebreak procedure had to be used to determine individual qualifiers for vault, bars, and floor, with a total of six gymnasts missing out on nationals spots despite receiving the same scores as the gymnasts that did qualify. 

What’s Next: California and Florida will meet Denver and LSU in the national semifinals. With a score spread of only around three tenths between regional finals scores, it’s anyone’s game for the two national final spots available. 

Full Results

Click and expand the events below to see results from each meet, as well as individual career highs and team program records.

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Article by the editors of College Gym News

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