Potential Lineups: SEC Part II

The preseason is starting and 2024 will be here before we know it. That means it’s time for our annual potential lineups analysis! As gymnasts get back into the gym with new goals for the new season, we’re breaking their prospects down and taking a look at what each team’s lineups may look like come January—from who’s expected to contribute, holes that need to be filled, and exciting upgrades fans should look out for.

The SEC is the premiere conference in NCAA gymnastics and 2024 is shaping up to be its most competitive season yet thanks to an influx of high-profile transfers, top-notch freshman classes, and impact players opting to take their COVID year. Parity among the teams is at an all-time high, meaning we could see any number of potential outcomes.

No. 14 Missouri

The Tigers narrowly missed a return trip to NCAA championships, falling to regionals host UCLA by less than three tenths. Still, from beating higher-ranked conference rivals Alabama and Auburn to setting multiple program-high scores, this was another record-breaking season for the Tigers. 

Losses:	Helen Hu, Adalayna Hufendiek, Hannah McCrary, Alisa Sheremeta, Alyssa Ojeda, Casey Poddig, Reese Baechle
Gains:	Jessa Conedera, Kennedy Griffin, Hannah Horton, Rayna Light, Kylie Minard, Mara Titarsolej (LIU)
Returning From Injury:	Jalene Jachna, Amaya Marshall, Kalise Newson, Hollyn Patrick

Vault

Potential Contributors: Jocelyn Moore (9.940 NQS), Amari Celestine (9.885), Sienna Schreiber (9.850), Grace Anne Davis (9.820), Mackenzie Patricelli (9.825 AVG), Kyra Burns (9.750), Addison Lawrence (9.735), Sydney Schaffer (9.694), Jalene Jachna, Alonna Kratzer, Amaya Marshall, Kennedy Griffin, Hannah Horton, Rayna Light, Kylie Minard

How It Looked Before: Vault scores ranged from a high-48 to a mid-49 and everything in between. Sophomore Jocelyn Moore scored the first vault 10 in school history and closed out the year with a 9.975 at regionals. 

How It Looks Now: The freshmen should make an immediate impact here. Hannah Horton’s Yurchenko one and a half is every bit as impressive as Amari Celestine’s and Moore’s, scoring as high as 9.950 her senior season and earning her a place on the podium at JO nationals. Rayna Light’s sky-high full should also easily break 9.900 with a stuck landing, and Kennedy Griffin’s and Kylie Minard’s aren’t too far behind.  

Trending up, down or too early to tell? Trending up. Every little tenth (and 10.0 SV) helps, and these freshmen offer both. 

Bars

Potential Contributors: Mara Titarsolej (9.945 NQS), Jocelyn Moore (9.880), Sienna Schreiber (9.880), Kyra Burns (9.840), Amari Celestine (9.835), Addison Lawrence (9.681 AVG), Hollyn Patrick (9.631), Alonna Kratzer, Amaya Marshall, Hannah Horton, Rayna Light

How It Looked Before: An incredibly consistent—if not particularly high-scoring—event for the Tigers punctuated by some of the most unique dismounts in NCAA gymnastics, including Celestine’s eponymous stalder pike half. 

How It Looks Now: Two time All-American Mara Titarsolej is a potential game changer for this lineup. She’s snagged two perfect 10s competing in the notoriously stingy EAGL, so expect the SEC judges to have a field day. After missing 2023 due to injury, Amaya Marshall has looked great in recent training video. Neither Horton nor Light are particularly flashy, but they’re both clean and consistent.

Trending up, down or too early to tell? Trending up. The addition of Titarsolej is a Very Good Thing™ and Marshall’s return should provide an immediate boost.  

Beam

Potential Contributors: Sienna Schreiber (9.925 NQS), Grace Anne Davis (9.885), Addison Lawrence (9.865), Mara Titarsolej (9.775), Sydney Schaffer (9.650 AVG), Amaya Marshall, Kennedy Griffin, Hannah Horton, Rayna Light, Kylie Minard 

How It Looked Before: After its opening meet 49.525, Missouri weathered a midseason slump before hitting its stride just in time for the postseason. Helen Hu, Addison Lawrence, Sienna Schreiber, and Alisa Sheremeta all scored 9.950 or higher at least once, and Sheremeta earned All-America honors at NCAA championships. 

How It Looks Now: The Tigers are losing three lineup mainstays—Hu, Sheremeta, and Hannah McCrary —but there’s another significant change to consider: New hire Lacey Rubin is taking over beam coaching duties from former associate head coach Casey Jo MacPherson. 2022 lead-off Marshall will likely reclaim her spot and add some welcome stability in the process. Freshman Light, who earned three Top 100 scores this season, is almost certain to feature. Griffin has a tendency to lose form in her acro skills, but regularly scored 9.5-plus in club; while Minard struggled with consistency, she has genuinely stunning leaps and a solid front tuck.  

Trending up, down or too early to tell? Trending down. Losing veterans MacPherson, Hu, and Sheremeta is bound to cause some growing pains, though Light should help lessen the sting.

Floor

Potential Contributors: Amari Celestine (9.915 NQS), Jocelyn Moore (9.905), Sienna Schreiber (9.870), Alonna Kratzer (9.855), Sydney Schaffer (9.850 AVG), Kyra Burns (9.742), Jessa Conedera, Kennedy Griffin, Hannah Horton, Rayna Light, Kylie Minard 

How It Looked Before: Missouri displayed style and substance on its highest-ranked event as all of the lineup regulars broke 9.900.

How It Looks Now: Horton and Light both had podium finishes at 2023 championships thanks to splashy E passes: Horton raises the bar for two-pass routines with a tucked full-in and a front tuck through to triple twist and Light regularly scored 9.8-plus thanks to a fantastic piked full-in. 

Trending up, down or too early to tell? Trending up. This was already a strong lineup, and Horton and Light should be able to match—if not exceed—the scores from McCrary and Sheremeta. 

Three Big Questions

Can Missouri climb back into the SEC’s top four? 

Florida, LSU, Kentucky, and Alabama are undeniably stacked this season, so it’s a tall order. That said, Missouri’s roster is also looking pretty darn good. The Tigers are poised for significant glow-ups on vault and bars that should boost their overall prospects, both in conference and nationally. If they can continue to do what they do best—stay consistent and capitalize on opportunities—they’ll be in a prime position to pull off an upset.  

Speaking of glow-ups, who is Hannah Horton? 

Horton has flown under the radar for most of her level 10 career but had a senior year glow-up you have to see to believe. She scored 9.700 or better on all four events last season including highs of 9.950 and 9.900 on vault and floor respectively. Unfortunately, video is scarce, but we’ve finally managed to track down some clips: VT | UB | BB | FX

Will Missouri make another postseason run? 

It’s a strong possibility. Reminiscent of Kentucky, the Tigers had a tough regionals draw in 2023 and held their own against then-No. 5 Utah and No. 4 UCLA who hosted the event. Their comparatively low bars score is what made the difference, so having a ringer like Titarsolej should help.

No. 17 Arkansas 

Norah Flatley’s fifth year was a bright spot in an otherwise uneven and often turbulent season for the Razorbacks.  

Losses:	Norah Flatley, Kiara Gianfagna, Kennedy Hambrick, Madison Hickey, Bailey Lovett
Gains:	Chandler Buntin, Dakota Essenpries, Hailey Klein, Priscilla Park, Sirena Linton (Arizona)

Vault

Potential Contributors: Lauren Williams (9.890 NQS), Frankie Price (9.880), Cami Weaver (9.870), Makenzie Sedlacek (9.840), Leah Smith (9.830), Emma Kelley (9.767 AVG), Sirena Linton (9.683), Dakota Essenpries, Hailey Klein, Priscilla Park 

How It Looked Before: Arkansas favored reliably clean Yurchenko fulls, a strategy that generally paid off. Lauren Williams’ Yurchenko one and a half was a highlight. 

How It Looks Now: Like Missouri’s Horton, freshman Dakota Essenpries had a standout senior season that culminated in a second-place finish at level 10 nationals. Hailey Klein had an abbreviated season but scored 9.775 twice in 2023, though it’s unclear if she’s still competing the Yurchenko one and a half from her elite days. Priscilla Park is best known for her bars and beam work, but she has a reliable full with upgrade potential. 

Trending up, down or too early to tell? Trending up. Two 10.0 SV vaults should go a long way toward lifting the team’s scores out of the low 49s.

Bars

Potential Contributors: Reese Drotar (9.895 NQS), Maddie Jones (9.895), Jensen Scalzo (9.880), Cally Swaney (9.845), Jaime Pratt (9.825), Sirena Linton (9.810), Leah Smith, Hailey Klein, Priscilla Park  

How It Looked Before: Team scores were generally strong and individual scores trended toward the mid-9.8s, though sophomores Reese Drotar and Maddie Jones both hit 9.950.  

How It Looks Now: With the majority of the Razorbacks’ postseason roster back, it’s possible—if not probable—that Park will be the only newcomer in this lineup: She has finished on the podium at the last three national championships, including winning the event in 2022, and is the frontrunner to anchor.  

Trending up, down or too early to tell? Too soon to tell. Park will easily slot into Flatley’s role, but they’ll need more than the occasional 9.9-plus from the rest of the lineup to move up the rankings.

Beam

Potential Contributors: Sirena Linton (9.880 NQS), Cami Weaver (9.890), Kalyxta Gamiao (9.865), Cally Swaney (9.855), Lauren Williams (9.688 AVG), Reese Drotar, Leah Smith, Makenzie Sedlacek, Chandler Buntin, Hailey Klein, Priscilla Park 

How It Looked Before: Arkansas beam was mercurial, with over a two-point swing between the team’s season high and low scores. Flatley’s swan song was an individual berth to nationals and All-America honors.  

How It Looks Now: Fan favorite Sirena Linton qualified to NCAA championships in 2022 and adds much-needed experience to this lineup. Leah Smith and Makenzie Sedlacek competed beam their freshman season but were literally hit or miss. Chandler Buntin, Hailey Klein, and Park all scored well in club, but nationals runner-up Park has the edge: She’s a poised, polished beamer with an impressive series and leaps. 

Trending up, down or too early to tell? Too soon to tell. Regardless of what the newcomers bring to the table, depth is going to be a major concern.

Floor

Potential Contributors: Lauren Williams (9.920 NQS), Frankie Price (9.915), Maddie Jones (9.875), Leah Smith (9.865), Kalyxta Gamiao (9.783 AVG), Jamie Pratt, Makenzie Sedlacek, Chandler Buntin, Dakota Essenpries, Priscilla Park, Hailey Klein

How It Looked Before: At its best, this lineup was a UCLA Floor Party 2.0. More often than not, though, scores landed in the low 49s. 

How It Looks Now: Buntin is an exceptionally fast twister with a big front double full and difficult dance elements. Essenpries’ leaps are a little rough around the edges, but she’s a charismatic performer with big tumbling. Another possibility is sophomore Jamie Pratt. She regularly scored above 9.750 as a level 10 and was still training floor last season. 

Trending up, down or too early to tell? Too soon to tell. While the freshmen show a lot of promise and the team’s top scorers from last season are back, the fact remains that this is going to be a very young and inexperienced lineup. 

Three Big Questions

Will the lack of upperclassmen help or hurt?

The Razorbacks have a sum total of six juniors and seniors returning, most of whom competed one event last season. In fact—besides graduate transfer Linton—none of Arkansas’ veterans regularly competed more than two events last year, so this will be a young and largely inexperienced roster. However, given the controversy surrounding Bailey Lovett’s abrupt retirement, a reboot could be just what this team needs.   

What is Hailey Klein’s status?

Klein gained a reputation as a trickster in her elite days after going viral for her clear hip layout Tkachev but missed the 2022 season and only completed a partial level 10 season in 2023, of which little footage exists. If she is ready to contribute on multiple events, she could bring both excitement and high scores to Barnhill Arena.

Can Arkansas rise to the next level?

While the hire of Jordyn Wieber has been a marketing success for the Razorbacks, progress has been largely stagnant in terms of actual competitive results–the team hasn’t finished higher than 13th under her leadership, and its highest placement at SEC Championships is sixth. With a solid freshman class and another big-name former gymnast added to the coaching staff, is this the year we will finally see the results?

No. 20 Georgia 

For the second year in a row, the Gymdogs are losing the bulk of the previous roster and adding the top-rated freshman class in the country. Last season’s results were a significant improvement over 2022’s 30th place ranking but still a far cry from the program’s Glory [sic] days as the team failed to advance from the opening round of regionals for the third year running. Buckle up, folks, because there’s a lot to unpack here.

Losses:	Josie Angeny, Sandra Elsadek, Loulie Hattaway, Soraya Hawthorne (Oklahoma), Sarah Cohen, Maeve Hahn, Madelynn Crow (Auburn), Ariel Posen, Jacquie Moran
Gains:	Jaydah Battle, Kelsey Lee, Zora Morgan, Heather Parker, Lily Smith, Holly Snyder, Anya Turner, Ady Wahl, Ashlyn LaClair (Kentucky)
Returning From Injury:	Nicole King (ankle)

Vault

Potential Contributors: Naya Howard (9.865 NQS), Amanda Cashman (9.840), Katie Finnegan (9.825), Haley de Jong (9.820), Ashlyn LaClair (9.765), Nicole King (9.675), Jaydah Battle, Kelsey Lee, Heather Parker, Lily Smith, Holly Snyder, Ady Wahl 

How It Looked Before: Despite being Georgia’s second-highest ranked event, vault was mostly underwhelming and frequently scored below 49. Hawthorne contributed the team’s lone 10.0 SV, but failed to break out of the mid- to high-9.8s. 

How It Looks Now: 2023 national champion Jaydah Battle, 2022 national champion Heather Parker, and 2022 and 2023 runner-up Ady Wahl all have fantastic Yurchenko one and a halves while Kelsey Lee, Lily Smith, and Holly Synder all placed inside the top 10 at nationals on the strength of their fulls. As it stands, Naya Howard is the member of last year’s squad most likely to retain her place in the lineup (especially if that upgrade she’s been training materializes). Amanda Cashman and Katie Finnegan are certainly in the mix, but face stiff competition from transfer Ashlyn LaClair who competed a Yurchenko full at Kentucky and is training a one and a half.

Trending up, down or too early to tell? Trending up. There’s no way you can bring in this many vaulters of this caliber and not improve on a 49.195 NQS… Right? 

Bars

Potential Contributors: Haley de Jong (9.905 NQS), Katie Finnegan (9.895), Naya Howard (9.890), JaFree Scott (9.890), Amanda Cashman (9.780), Vanessa Deniz, Jaydah Battle, Kelsey Lee, Heather Parker, Lily Smith, Holly Snyder, Ady Wahl 

How It Looked Before: This was a very different bars rotation from what we’ve seen over the last few seasons, transforming from an outright liability to the team’s highest-ranked and most consistent event. 

How It Looks Now: There are functionally three spots up for grabs here. Smith is one of the most technically perfect barsworkers in her recruiting class. She and 2023 national champion Snyder are veritable locks while any of Lee, Wahl, and Heather Parker could all challenge for that final spot. With so many talented options, early-season experimentation and exhibitions seem inevitable.    

Trending up, down or too early to tell? Trending up. Georgia demonstrated significant growth on bars in 2023, and—with such a strong mix of proven veterans and newcomers—there’s no reason to think that won’t be the case in 2024.  

Beam

Potential Contributors: Vanessa Deniz (9.905 NQS), Haley de Jong (9.880), Naya Howard (9.865), JaFree Scott (9.835), Sidney Fitzgerald (9.733 AVG), Ashlyn LaClair, Jaydah Battle, Zora Morgan, Lily Smith, Holly Snyder, Ady Wahl 

How It Looked Before: Like bars, Georgia beam was in much better shape than it was in 2022, which is to say the team posted more scores over the 49 mark than under it and—most importantly—never had to count more than two falls in a single rotation

How It Looks Now: Scott never quite put all the pieces together last year but has the potential to be truly outstanding (not to mention has one of the most unique routines currently being competed). Freshmen Battle, Snyder, and Zora Morgan each have a national title and respectable hit rate while Smith, though less consistent, is simply too clean to ignore. Similarly, Wahl scores very well when she hits. Assuming Vanessa Deniz, Hailey de Jong, and Naya Howard hold onto their positions, the coaching staff is going to have to make some hard decisions. 

Trending up, down or too early to tell? Trending up. Confidence and composure have been in short supply for Georgia beam in recent years, with one mistake frequently being enough to derail a routine (if not the entire rotation). If this stacked lineup can’t turn things around, nothing will.   

Floor

Potential Contributors: Haley de Jong (9.895 NQS), Amanda Cashman (9.905), Naya Howard (9.870), Eryn Williams (9.845), Nicole King (9.825 AVG), Ashlyn LaClair (9.575), Jaydah Battle, Kelsey Lee, Heather Parker, Lily Smith, Holly Snyder, Anya Turner, Ady Wahl

How It Looked Before: Floor was the Gymdogs’ highest-scoring event. Anchor Soraya Hawthorne went 9.950 five times to secure All-America honors. 

How It Looks Now: All of the returning regulars broke 9.900 at least once, though Cashman is the most consistent by far. Any number of the freshmen could realistically challenge for a lineup spot, but the main question is whether Smith or Snyder will take over Hawthorne’s anchor role: Smith is the top-rated floor worker in the 2023 recruiting class, capping off her senior season with two perfect 10s and a third-place finish at nationals (she finished second in 2021 and first in 2022). Snyder’s club scores weren’t quite as high as Smith’s, but she’s a reigning national champion who boasts an impossibly good piked full-in.

Trending up, down or too early to tell? Trending up. Georgia could field a formidable floor lineup using only its freshmen. 

Three Big Questions

Will Georgia finally live up to its roster’s potential? 

Since 2021, Georgia has brought in highly-touted freshman classes that have ultimately fizzled. Eight of the 14 gymnasts have left the team for various reasons, including six of its seven confirmed scholarship athletes. Former four-star recruit Naya Howard—who was one of the team’s top contributors on all four events in her 2023 campaign—is the only freshman in the last three classes to perform anywhere close to what was expected. Some of that can be chalked up to injury, but the data is concerning. This year will be the litmus test: The Gymdogs are bringing in one of the strongest freshman classes of any team in recent memory, all of whom (as far as we know) are coming in healthy. There is no excuse for a roster this talented and deep to land at the bottom of the SEC. 

Will there be any further retirements or transfers? 

Over the last two years, the Gymdogs have seen an unprecedented number of gymnasts either retire or transfer. Some of these losses—like former elites Ariel Posen and Jacquie Moran medically retiring—can be chalked up to bad luck, but others—particularly the transfers of stars Rachel Baumann, Victoria Nguyen, and Hawthorne—seem a little more fraught. Of the current sophomore class, Howard, Scott, and Williams were the only regular contributors last season. Lineups are going to be much more competitive this time around, so more turnover is not out of the question. 

Can Georgia conquer its beam demons? 

Beam looked much better than it did in 2022, but it was still a rotation to get through at best and a liability at worst. De Jong, Deniz, and Howard were typically steady (none of the three fell all season), but the rest of the lineup was all over the place. Compounding the issue, Georgia’s beam routines tend to be very connection-heavy, making them prone to start-value issues in addition to the usual deductions for balance checks and rhythm. They’ll need to address one if not both of those problems to show meaningful improvement. 

No. 24 Auburn 

Auburn initially seemed to be on pace for another championship bid, but its momentum stalled by midseason. Losing Olympic champion Sunisa Lee late February was the final blow, and the Tigers finished last in their session of Day 1 at regionals.

Losses:	Derrian Gobourne, Morgan Leigh Oldham, Adeline Sabados, Piper Smith, Anna Sumner, Sunisa Lee
Gains:	Bryn Bartman, Emma Grace Boyd, Sophia Greaves, Julianne Huff, Jersie Woolsey, Paige Zancan, Madelynn Crow (Georgia), Lila Smith (Kentucky), Anna Hill (Temple), Sydney Schumaker (Brockport)
Returning From Injury:	Olivia Greaves, Hailey John

Vault

Potential Contributors: Cassie Stevens (9.925 NQS), Sara Hubbard (9.870), Olivia Hollingsworth (9.850), Anna Hill (9.820), Sophia Groth (9.810), Sydney Schumaker (9.770), Caroline Leonard (9.833 AVG), Aria Brusch, Julianne Huff, Paige Zancan

How It Looked Before: The Tigers kicked off 2023 with a whopping 49.500 then largely stayed in the low 49s for the rest of the season, though Cassie Stevens earned SEC co-champion and All-America honors. 

How It Looks Now: Auburn should have no problem replacing the 10.0 SV vaults from Lee and Derrian Gobourne with former five-star recruit Huff’s college-ready Yurchenko one and a half and transfer Sydney Schumaker’s exceptional tucked Yurchenko one and a half. Bear in mind that two-time NCGA All-American Schumacher’s NQS is based on DIII scoring: Her vault will easily score upwards of 9.900 in the SEC if she sticks it. Similarly, All-EAGL vaulter Anna Hill’s Yurchenko full could very well outscore some of last year’s lineup given the benefit of Power Five (RIP) judging. 

Trending up, down or too early to tell? Too soon to tell. The newcomers look promising and there’s a lot of room for the returning vaulters to grow, but stability is definitely a concern. 

Bars

Potential Contributors: Cassie Stevens (9.895 NQS), Sophia Groth (9.850), Gabby McLaughlin (9.835), Olivia Hollingsworth (9.830), Aria Brusch (9.885), Olivia Greaves, Bryn Bartman, Emma Grace Boyd, Julianne Huff 

How It Looked Before: The team scores were generally good, but Lee’s weekly 9.95-plus covered a multitude of sins. Veterans Aria Brusch, Gobourne, and Stevens were solid, but the rest of the lineup was quite shaky. 

How It Looks Now: Redshirt freshman Olivia Greaves, by all appearances, is back in action and gunning to anchor this lineup. This isn’t Julianne Huff’s strongest event, but she has good fundamentals and an impressive track record as a level 10. Bryn Bartman is a bit of a mystery; she’s been dabbling in elite since 2021 so recent scores and competition video are scarce, but this training clip from late 2022 is compelling to say the least.   

Trending up, down or too early to tell? Too soon to tell. Lee is irreplaceable, but she only contributed one score out of six. Greaves and the freshmen are more than capable of raising this lineup’s overall score ceiling.     

Beam

Potential Contributors: Cassie Stevens (9.895 NQS), Gabby McLaughlin (9.890), Aria Brusch (9.880), Sophia Groth (9.850), Olivia Hollingsworth (9.830), Sydney Schumaker (9.590), Hannah Hagle (9.719), Madelynn Crow, Hailey John, Olivia Greaves, Lila Smith, Emma Grace Boyd, Julianne Huff, Paige Zancan

How It Looked Before: Auburn beam was often a thing of beauty, but it lacked the overall virtuosity and tenacity displayed in 2022. 

How It Looks Now: Emma Grace Boyd and Paige Zancan both finished third at the most recent level 10 championships and boast unusual—if not downright quirky—skills that would make this lineup an immediate fan favorite. Huff faltered at nationals, but regularly scored over 9.600 during her club career. Greaves and Hailey John sat out the 2023 season but have looked strong in training recent video. All of Auburn’s veterans have a career high of 9.900 or better, so the final six is going to come down to the good old-fashioned ability to hit under pressure. 

Trending up, down or too early to tell? Too soon to tell. Last season’s beam roster was virtually identical to the one that ranked fourth nationally in 2022, so capability wasn’t the issue. The talent is there if Auburn can find the right chemistry. 

Floor

Potential Contributors: Sophia Groth (9.895 NQS), Olivia Hollingsworth (9.895), Cassie Stevens (9.895), Aria Brusch (9.860), Gabby McLaughlin (9.830), Anna Hill (9.790), Sara Hubbard (9.600 AVG), Ananda Brown, Hannah Hagle, Hailey John, Lila Smith, Olivia Greaves, Emma Grace Boyd, Julianne Huff, Paige Zancan  

How It Looked Before: As with beam, this was an exceptionally strong and experienced lineup that just never quite gelled. Reigning Floor Queen Gobourne finished her career on a high note, competing individually at NCAA championships and being named SEC Specialist of the Year. 

How It Looks Now: Huff has a huge tucked full-in and dynamic leaps that landed her on the podium at the past three nationals, but floor is a pretty weak event for the freshman as a whole. This is where junior transfer Hill could step in: She has a fun whip through to double tuck and brings valuable collegiate experience. 

 Trending up, down or too early to tell? Trending down. The situation is by no means dire, but without a clear successor to Gobourne’s crown, the team’s scores are bound to take a hit.

Three Big Questions

What does Auburn gymnastics look like without Gobourne and Lee? 

The Tigers appear to be taking cues from Georgia by banking on a massive infusion of talented newcomers to boost their stock. However, it’s not as simple as just replacing seven high-scoring routines or competition experience: Gobourne and Lee weren’t just big names at Auburn, they were two of the highest-profile gymnasts in the NCAA. The team’s gymnastics should be fine, but the cultural shift may take some getting used to. 

How is Olivia Greaves? 

Former five-star recruit Greaves sat out last season after a failed ACL repair required an additional surgery and recovery. At long last, she appears to be healthy and on her way back to competitive form on bars, beam, and floor. She’d be a particularly welcome addition on her signature event, bars. Greaves was an excellent floor worker before her string of injuries, but it’s still unclear if her knee can tolerate a full routine. 

What do the transfers bring to the table? 

The Tigers used the transfer portal to great effect, adding sophomore Madelynn Crow from Georgia, junior Lila Smith from Kentucky, junior Hill from Temple, and Schumaker from Brockport. Neither Crow nor her high school clubmate Smith competed for their previous college teams, but it’s not clear why as both gymnasts have lovely technique on beam. Schumaker is more or less a lock on vault, and Hill has a very good shot at making both the vault and floor lineups. 

READ THIS NEXT: Potential Lineups: SEC Part I

Article by Claire Billman and Jenna King