This matchup might be somewhat under the radar, but both of these teams are looking to prove something as they begin 2024.
Arguably one of the most intriguing teams going into this season is Iowa State. Ashley Miles Greig enters her first season ever as a coach and takes over a team that missed regionals last year for the first time since 1997. The Cyclones lost 11 gymnasts in the rebuild (12, if you count Danielle Press transferring in and then being removed mid-preseason), but they kept Loganne Basuel and Laura Cooke for fifth years and they will be critical to helping Iowa State start off on the right foot. The freshmen have also been showing out during preseason; look for Noelle Adams and early arrival Ella Schell to contribute early in their freshman campaigns.
As for Nebraska, the Huskers returned to regionals as a team for the first time since 2019. The Huskers showed glimpses of greatness when they found consistency and were led by star all-arounders Sophia McClelland and Emma Spence. Heading into opening night, Nebraska will want to show that it plans to continue its uphill climb with a top 25 ranked recruiting class and the addition of Lucy Stanhope, who has all-around potential but will especially elevate the Huskers on vault and floor.
It’s tiiiiiiiiime! And starting off a new era for Iowa State is a new leo!
https://x.com/CycloneGYM/status/1743332308944634161?s=20
Rotation 1: ISU vault, Nebraska bars
Wills VT: Yurchenko full, good height and distance, small hop on the landing. 9.800
Gibson UB: Beautiful lines on the handstand, Maloney to Pak, clean, very open DLO with a step forward. 9.600
Loyim VT: Yurchenko full, low chest on the landing, but solid landing. 9.725
Simpton UB: mount on low bar, Maloney to Pak salto, the tiniest leg separation but that’s if I’m picky. DLO, short on landing, took a step forward. 9.725
Adams VT: Yurchenko full, STUCK! Should be a good score, even with a slightly low chest on the landing. 9.850.
Jencks UB: mount on high bar, Ray to overshoot, maybe the tiniest bit of form in the air? DLO, small slide back. Best landing on the dismounts out of the first three for sure. 9.775
Bergstrom VT: Yurchenko full, another STICK! Legs glued together, the tiniest bit of knees in the air, but WOW! 9.900.
Colombo UB: mount on high bar, short on the first handstand, blind change to Jaeger, little messy on the catch. Double front half dismount, small hop in place. 9.775
Parker VT: Yurchenko full, HUGE distance, holy goodness. Smallest slide back on the landing. 9.800.
Spence UB: mount on low bar, Maloney to Pak salto, legs were perfectly together. Looked like she might’ve caught her Van Leeuwen close, but made it work. Good routine back! 9.875
Hong VT: Yurchenko 1.5, short on the landing with a deep deep knee bend. I’m glad she managed to save it because it was close. Drop score, 9.625
Davis UB: mount on low bar, beautiful Maloney to overshoot, her handstands have been beautiful throughout. DLO, small hop on landing. 9.875
Schell VT (exh): Yurchenko full, hop on landing, good height and distance.
Stanhope UB (exh): mount on low bar, the TOE POINT! Maloney to bail, maybe slightly crooked but she corrected it beautifully. DLO STUCK. So ready for her to be a regular part of this lineup!
After 1: Iowa State 49.075, Nebraska 49.025
Overall, a good opening rotation! The improvement is evident on the vault landings for the Cyclones and it’s definitely miles away from this time last year. Nebraska’s bars lacked landings, but the handstands were absolutely gorgeous.
Rotation 2: Nebraska vault, ISU bars
Sikon VT: Yurchenko full, good height and distance, hop back on the landing. 9.725
Schell UB: mount on high bar, blind change to piked Jaeger, lacked a little toe point. Bail was beautiful, full turn to double tuck dismount with a stick. 9.800
Davis VT: Yurchenko full, nailed. WOW. The landings they couldn’t find on bars, they’ve found here. Little form issues with knees throughout. 9.775
Basuel UB: mount over low bar to high, blind change to straddle Jaeger, SO MUCH HEIGHT! Handstands were beautiful, another full turn (slight hesitation) to double tuck dismount stuck! 2/2 on the landings! 9.825
Hall VT: Yurchenko full with a hop, lot of distance. Commentators said it was Stanhope and it definitely…wasn’t. 9.825
Wills UB: Leg separation on the Pak salto, DLO, slight hop on landing. 9.750
Stanhope VT: Yurchenko full, hop on landing. I am loving how happy she looks at Nebraska!! 9.825
Thomas UB: LOVING her handstands! Apparently she earned a scholarship right before Christmas yay! Slight balance issue on the double layout, but she keeps it together. 9.825.
Comin VT: Yurchenko 1.5, lots of power. Took a few steps out of the landing, but not bad for the first meet of the season. 9.700
Cooke UB: mount on low bar, clear hip to Maloney, kept the legs glued together throughout. DLO, smallest slide backwards. 9.850
Backsay VT: Yurchenko 1.5, not the cleanest in the air, small slide on the landing. 9.650
Loyim UB: mount on high bar, blind change to piked Jaeger, caught it close, Pak salto was a little whippy in the air, but the handstands almost make up for it. DLO, smallest step backwards. 9.700.
Jencks VT: Yurchenko full, beautiful lines in the air, hop back on the landing.
After 2: Iowa State 98.125, Nebraska 97.875
Y’all. That was a mess for me to try to keep up with. But the Cyclones are a bars team now??? So many good landings with room for improvement. Nebraska had more 1.5’s, but the landings weren’t the best, giving Iowa State an advantage at the halfway point.
Rotation 3: ISU beam, Nebraska floor
Manternach BB: Debut for this athlete after an injury last season! Full turn, slightly overrotated. BHS LOSO, solidly landed. Cat leap to switch side, slight hesitation before the leap and balance wobbles after the switch side. The nerves are showing, but she stayed on. Running front full, smallest hop on the landing. 9.225.
Jencks FX: Loving this trend of freshmen leading off events. Front layout to Rudi, good form in the air. Leap series looked good, maybe needed a little more toe point. Double tuck final pass, great landing. This freshman will be one to watch. 9.800
Wilke BB: Another athlete returning to competition after an injury! Cat leap to front toss, balance check, so she will need to redo the series to get credit. Chooses to do so and adds a back tuck. Beautiful height on the switch side. RO 1.5 dismount stuck. Recovered well after the wobble on her series. 9.575. Unfortunately this will count.
Bacskay FX: RO 2.5 twist to front tuck, good landing on the combination pass. Switch side to Popa leap series, leaps well over 180. This music is very dramatic and I’m vibing with it. Double pike stuck. 9.850
Adams BB: Good start on the series. Ashley Miles Greig was right to hype her up. Small balance checks throughout, but good routine overall. Gainer full stuck. 9.875.
Stanhope FX: Bit of a delay before Stanhope’s start. 1.5 to front layout, super floaty between the skills. Switch side to straddle half, her toe point is immaculate! Double tuck second pass, maybe the slightest bobble on the end, but overall not a bad routine. Each team is giving a little on landings. 9.850.
O’Brochta BB: BHS LOSO LOSO, bent at the waist. Switch leap to split jump, maybe slightly under 180. Nerves still trying to creep in. Gainer pike off the end. 9.425.
Spence FX: Front tuck through to double tuck, cleanly landed. This music is really fun, really allows her to shine. Switch ring was beautiful. Double pike, chest up, clean landing. Best routine of this rotation. The Huskers are taking advantage of the wobbles on beam. 9.900.
Loyim BB: Lot of delays before these routines, but she finally gets the okay to go. Deep breath before she mounts. Switch leap to switch side, lacked a little split. BHS LOSO, no wobbles. Front aerial to beat jump, very pretty in the air. Gainer full off the side. Good reset routine for the Cyclones. 9.825.
Rourke FX: Front tuck through to double tuck first pass, maybe a low chest, but good landing. Good toe point on the leap series. Final pass is a double pike, much better control with the chest height. 9.875.
Thomas BB: Cyclones need a good routine from their anchor. Beat jump, nicely done. Front toss to BHS series, nicely connected. Smallest wobble on the full turn, but she keeps it together. Good 180 on the leap series. Small step forward on the dismount. Good finish for a rough beam rotation.
Comin FX: Nebraska can really do some damage here. Tucked full in, beautiful on the landing. The commentator just described the leap series as a “tour jete to a…connection of other leaps”. I mean, alright then. Final pass is Rudi to front layout, very nicely done.
Bergstrom BB (exh): She’s usually a steady presence in this lineup, so I’m a little surprised she’s exhibitioning. Cat leap to front toss to BHS, very nicely done. Switch leap to switch leap, slight wobble after the second leap. Little lack of toe point on the split jump. Tucked front full, good landing. That will likely see lineup time soon.
Gard FX (exh): Double pike to open, could’ve used a little more power to get it around. Front layout to front full, leg separation on the layout. Leap series needed the tiniest more split. Double tuck, underrotated, but overall a solid routine.
After 3: Nebraska 147.225, Iowa State 146.700
Nebraska takes a solid lead after a wobbly beam rotation for the Cyclones. The good news is that while there were wobbles, there were no falls, which is a major improvement from last season. Every counting score for the Huskers on floor was a 9.850 or higher, but they will need to stay on the beam if they want to get the victory.
Rotation 4: Nebraska beam, ISU floor
Sikon BB: Fun mount to open her routine. Wobble on her first element, but keeps it together. BHS LOSO, smallest balance check but stays on the beam. Cat leap to switch half, good connection. BHS tucked 1.5 dismount, small hop on the landing. Little wobbly but not too bad. 9.725,
Manternach FX: And here comes the sirens. Glad to see those stayed the same. Front tuck through to double tuck with control in the landing. Second pass is a double pike, step back was a little out of control but she stayed in bounds. Her choreography and musicality is super fun. Ends it with her leap series. Good debut for the sophomore! 9.775.
Bacskay BB: BHS BHS LOSO, knees in the air, but keeps it on the beam. Switch leap to split jump, could’ve used more split. Slight balance check after the full turn. RO double full dismount, step back on the landing. 9.700.
Cooke FX: Somehow kept that first pass in bounds. Lack of split in the first leap, but beautiful position in the wolf jump. RO 1.5 to front full, she was really excited for that landing. Good routine for the fifth year senior! 9.800.
Hall BB: BHS LOSO, tiniest wobble but covers it well. Front aerial, beautiful lines in the air. Split jump to split ring, beautiful height. RO 1.5 dismount with a hop forward. Loved that composition! 9.850.
Wills FX: Front tuck through to double tuck, short landing with a low chest. Little out of control on the leap series, I would like to see better positions in the air. Double pike to closer, better position with the chest on the landing. 9.750.
Stanhope BB: BHS LOSO, another small balance check with a cover. Side aerial, much better on the balance. Switch leap to switch leap, bobble on her third leap. RO 1.5 with a step back. Similar to the Cyclones, Nebraska has some wobbles, but it is staying on the beam. 9.725.
Parker FX: front tuck through to double tuck, beautiful control on the lunge step out. Splits were well over 180 in the air. Double pike, her toes were pointed all the way through, to a controlled landing. Such a good routine for the senior! 9.850.
Simpton BB: BHS BHS LOSO, step forward with a balance check. Cartwheel to a kneel. Split jump to a sheep jump, another wobble on the landing. Hits the landing. Some nerves but they are staying on. 9.775
Adams FX: Opening pass is a front layout to front 1.5, solid control on the landing. Love seeing a freshman this late in the lineup. The toe point and height and split position, yes please. Double tuck to closer, slight slide backwards but still very clean. Ends with the crown, she’s the new floor queen and she knows it. 9.900 yassssss.
Spence BB: Front aerial to BHS to BHS, managed to connect them together even with the smallest hesitation. Switch leap to beat jump, pretty in the air. RO 1.5 stuck. Good end to the meet for the Huskers. 9.825.
Loyim FX: Double layout to open, slightly short on the landing, but it’s been the first time she’s competed it for a while, so I’m just glad she pulled it out. Combination pass was beautiful. This is already a fun anchor routine and I am here for it. Oh, there’s a TSwift fathead in the background. Yes Swiftie yes. Leap series to end it. Glad to see her coming into her own this season! 9.800.
FINAL: Nebraska 196.125, Iowa State 195.825
The Cyclones begin a new era with a solid high 195. Balance beam will need to be a point of focus for both teams as they had multiple wobbles throughout their routines. No Sophia McClelland is a little concerning, so we will have to monitor her status. Floor was a highlight and helloooo Noelle Adams winning three event titles! Can’t wait to see where both of these teams go from here!
VT: Josie Bergstrom (ISU) – 9.900
UB: Emma Spence and Kinsey Davis (Nebraska) – 9.875
BB: Noelle Adams and Lauren Thomas (ISU) – 9.875
FX: Noelle Adams (ISU) and Emma Spence (Nebraska) – 9.900
AA: Hannah Loyim (ISU) -39.050
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Live blog by Savanna Wellman
