We didn’t necessarily expect this one to be a top 5 matchup when we saw it on the schedule, but welcome to reality! Arkansas impressed with a huge opening score last week at home, but now it’s time to see the Razorbacks take it on the road, Watch for freshman Priscilla Park, who did three events, and for grad transfer Sirena Linton.
For Alabama, it’s been a consistent start, with two low 197s and no particular signs of drama. A home opener is a great time to start building scores. Bars already looks god-tier for the Crimson Tide. Sticking a few vaults and keeping the beam jitters down could buy this team half a point easily with relatively minimal fundamental changes.
Rotation 1: Alabama VT, Arkansas UB
Missed some of this rotation because UF/Auburn is running over and my TV did NOT want to show the SECN+ version. It displayed the meet, but clicking on it just pulled up UF.Auburn again!
Blanco (Bama): One and a half, little hop straight forward.
Scalzo (Ark): Jaeger to overshoot, DLO short with a step forward.
Doggette (Bama): Just the FTY, little scoot back.
Park (Ark): Maybe a bit shy on the first handstand, toe to Ray. Hangs in the air for ages on her Pak, shy on the high bar handstand, DLO with a hop. 9.925
Adams (Bama): FTY, nice and straight with good dynamics, just a tiny scoot back.
Jones (Ark): Late blind to pike Jaeger, DLO short with a big step forward.
After 1: Alabama 49.350, Arkansas 49.300
Looked like a steady but slightly hoppy start of the meet from what we’ve seen.
Rotation 2: Arkansas VT, Alabama UB
Weaver (Ark): Medium hop back on her FTY. Didn’t look super square on the table to me.
LaCoursiere (Bama): Maloney to Pak, lovely extension, great van Leeuwen. FTDB, stuck-ish, I think there was a little foot shift but not a full ‘pull heels together’ moment. 9.9
Park (Ark): Good air on her FTY with a medium step forward and to one side. 9.8
Pawlak (Bama): Maloney to clear hip, good bail. Shy on a handstand, DLO with a baby step but good position. 9.85
Smith (Ark): FTY stuck, just a tiny bit of hip angle. Jordyn is amped. 9.925
Machado (Bama): Pak solid, toe to van Leeuwen, not sure about that handstand, toe full double back stuck dead. 9.9
Sedlacek (Ark): One and a half, not the highest with soft knees, small hop. 9.85
Waligora (Bama): Blind to Jaeger to overshoot, tiny flicker of feet, nailed the last cast handstand, DLO with a little scoot. 9.925
Price (Ark): FTY, twists early, little leg sep and a small hop. 9.85
Adams (Bama): Maloney to Pak, clean, slightly over on her half pirouette and makes it work which gets a “wow” out of Sam. Blind full lovely to double back with a little scoot. 9.925
Williams (Ark): One and a half, nice and square, medium hop forward.
Doggette (Bama): Tkachev to Pak, easy, right on top of her half pirouette. DLO with the TINIEST foot scoot back. 9.95
After 2: Alabama 98.950, Arkansas 98.725
Pretty close! Both teams looking strong in the second rotation. If Arkansas is going to make a run, it should be in this third rotation on its own strength and the closest thing Alabama has to a weakness right now.
Rotation 3: Alabama BB, Arkansas FX
Waligora (Bama): Full turn good, BHS LOSO a little off, controls it with her arms. Getting through well. One and a half, thought she might hang onto the stick but ends up taking a step forward. 9.7
Klein (Ark): Front lay through double back, good, maybe slightly off balance on the landing. Switch side Popa Shushunova is really good. Solid double pike. 9.85
Hudson (Bama): Front aerial BHS LOSO, pivots and falls. Switch to beat, side aerial, nice one and a half twist.
Park (Ark): Full in, chest a little low, shuffles into lunge. It’s okay. Great double back. Switch half wolf full, one and a half front lay solid. 9.825
Burgess (Bama): Not someone I’m overly nervous about handling pressure. Full turn good, one-arm BHS to LOSO dead straight, grins. Good side aerial. Switch to beat. Going great. Nice switch side. Drilled the gainer pike. Couldn’t ask for a lot more than that. 9.95!!
Jones (Ark): Nice front double full. Switch ring switch half, one and a half front lay is great, Rudi maybe just a touch underrotated but lunges okay. 9.9
Rybicki (Bama): BHS LOSO, flexed feet. Cat leap switch half, big leg up check. Switch split 3/4. One and a half twist stuck. 9.8
Smith (Ark): Front lay through double back, a little squatty, hop to the side. Great switch side Popa. Double pike, overrotated with a substantial scoot back. 9.925… scoring has gone off the rails on both sides of the arena.
Adams (Bama): BHS LOSO, little lean. Switch split. Solid one and a half dismount. 9.925.
Williams (Ark): Full in, two steps back, baaarely stays in bounds. Nice double tuck to finish. 9.875
Blanco (Bama): Front aerial great. Maybe a tiny adjustment on the full turn. BHS LOSO, little lean. Great switch switch half. One and a half, little hop.
Price (Ark): Double layout, short, hop forward. Switch side Popa Popa super amplitude. Front full front lay, nice. 9.85
After 3: Alabama 148.150, Arkansas 148.100
The numbers in that rotation were fake but the teams being so close together is real.
Rotation 4: Arkansas BB, Alabama FX
Gamiao (Ark): LOSO LOSO, soft knees. Side somi good. Full turn. One and a half twist, great start! 9.925
LaCoursiere (Bama): Front lay to Rudi, slightly long and scooty lunge. Switch ring tour jete half is so pretty. Nice tidy double back. 9.85
Jones (Ark): Front aerial BHS BHS is good. Full turn, tentative. Split to double stag, didn’t make position there and a check. Front full, stuck. 9.875
Waligora (Bama): Front double full, close to the line but not over. Tour jete half split full. One and a half front lay, great landing. 9.7, maybe it was over and they just didn’t raise a flag.
Williams (Ark): BHS LOSO, a little off line, works it out without an obvious check. Solid leaps, pike kickover with a check. One and a half stuck.
Burgess (Bama): Double back, little scoot back. Double pike, big rebound back. Switch side Popa good, front full front lay.
Weaver (Ark): BHS LOSO. Split double stag, not great position. One and a half twist with a pace forward.
Machado (Bama): Great double tuck, nothing to take on control there. Triple to double wolf turns are solid. One and a half front lay, solid.
Linton (Ark): Double wolf, BHS BHS LOSO a little off, baby check, deals with it quickly. Switch split, one and a half with a hop. 9.9
Program record within reach here.
Sears (Bama): DLO, ridiculous flight, step back was on the line. Not sure if it was out. Switch ring tour jete half good. Front through double back was great. 9.875
Park (Ark): Full turn, little adjustment. Off on her series. Switch switch, check. Side aerial one and a half with a step back.
Hudson (Bama): Great control on the front double full! Switch half wolf full good rotation, getting claps for Sweet Home Alabama obviously. Looked good on the double tuck but there are people in front so I can’t really tell. It’s a baby scoot for 9.95.
FINAL: Arkansas 197.525, Alabama 197.525
The numbers are still fake but I’m OK with a tie! Great night for both but obviously the Arkansas program record will be the story here.
VT: Blanco (Bama), Williams, Smith (Ark): 9.925
UB: Doggette (Bama) 9.950
BB: Burgess (Bama) 9.950
FX: Hudson (Bama) 9.950
AA: Park (Ark) 38.525
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Live blog by Rebecca Scally
