The top two teams in the Big 12 face off for the second time in less than a week, this time in a dual format that should have fans talking.
Oklahoma took first at the Denver quad after an impressive balance beam rotation. Jordan Bowers was named the conference Gymnast of the Week and Hannah Scheible won her second straight Specialist of the Week award and remains No. 1 in the conference on vault. Oklahoma is at home for the first time this season, so I’ll be curious to see if nerves come into play being in front of the home crowd for the first time. The floor lineup could also be shuffled around with Danae Fletcher’s season-ending injury. Look to see if Soraya Hawthorne keeps that spot or if another athlete gets an opportunity.
The Pioneers started strong at their home quad, but a low balance beam rotation landed them in second place. Denver has its own freshman phenom in Madison Ulrich, who is currently averaging above 9.800 on all four events. Rosie Casali stuck a Yurchenko one-and-a-half for a 9.950, tying for first with three Sooners. If the landings are there,, anyone could take home the victory. Look specifically for how the Pioneers end the meet on beam; counting three scores in the 9.700 range is not something they want to repeat on the Sooners’ turf.
You can follow along with live stats here and watch on ESPN + here!
Lineups for Denver are out! Looks like no Bella Mabanta tonight, I’ll keep you posted on her status as I find out. Reidenbach in for her on vault, Casali in on beam, and Mundell in on floor. https://x.com/DU_Gymnastics/status/1751041773630320998?s=20
OU lineups look the same as last weekend. (Sidenote, I am thoroughly thrilled that both teams posted their lineups super early, social media teams/SIDs you rock, don’t ever change <3)
https://x.com/OU_WGymnastics/status/1751046110326460551?s=20
Rotation 1: OU vault, DU bars
Davis (OU): Yurchenko 1.5, leg separation on the flight in the air, hop forward on the landing. 9.825
Casali (DU): mount on low bar, beautiful toe point on the handstand, Maloney to bail, little off balance, but keeps her shape, DLO dismount, hop on landing. 9.750
Scheible (OU): I am so excited for this one. FHS front pike half, low chest on the landing and landed close to the table, hop forward, so she didn’t fully block off the table like she should. 9.675
Rorich (DU): blind change to straddle Jaeger, good catch on the release move, she’s struggled with that a little this season. Overshoot looked good, DLO, high chest, no movement on the landing. 9.825
Levasseur (OU): Yurchenko 1.5, no form issues in the air, small step forward on the landing. 9.900
Ulrich (DU): Maloney to Pak, good form in the legs on the Pak salto, handstand after the pirouette was a little off, but gets the landing on the DLO. 9.900
Bowers (OU): Yurchenko 1.5, GOOD block off the table, lots of height, small step forward on the landing. 9.850
Hebinck (DU): Ricna to immediate Pak, good form in the air on the Pak, slight leg separation on the DLO dismount, step back on the landing. I know Denver missed this routine last season, so I’m glad she’s back! 9.850
Wells (OU): Yurchenko 1.5, the tiniest bent knee in the air, step forward on the landing. Sooners haven’t found a landing on vault yet. 9.825
Hutchinson (DU): Maloney to Pak, a little whippy, but managed to catch it. That last handstand might have been a touch short, but the angles make it hard to tell. DLO dismount, stuck! Beautiful chest position on that landing. 9.875
Torrez (OU): Yurchenko 1.5, didn’t quite have the block she needed, took a couple steps back on the landing. 9.775
Mundell (DU): Tkatchev was pretty, missed her handstand on the bar, but covered well. DLO, slightly off balance, so had to wave her arms, hop in place. 9.875
Hawthorne (OU – exh): Yurchenko 1.5, so much power! Couldn’t control the landing, rolled out of the landing. 9.150
Iwai (DU – exh): Maloney to bail, good handstand position on the bail. Beautiful position on the DLO, hop back on the landing. 9.775
Ramsey (OU – exh.): Yurchenko full, good block off the table, small hop on the landing. 9.800
After 1: Denver 49.325, Oklahoma 49.175
A little bit of a lackluster start on vault for the Sooners as there were no stuck landings, but instead there were several underrotated or over-rotated. Heading to bars, the Sooners will want to dial in on landings and if there is an event they can do that on, it’s bars. On the flip side, Denver will want to bring those landings they found on bars to vault to try to extend its lead in enemy territory.
Rotation 2: DU vault, OU bars
Brusch (DU): Yurchenko full, slide back on the landing, good block off the table and good form in the air. 9.825
Sievers (OU): Maloney to Pak, super floaty release between the bars, last handstand was gorgeous on the high bar, half in half out dismount, got the landing. I would have liked a little more height in the air. 9.900
Reidenbach (DU): Missed this live, so had to go back and watch on replay. Yurchenko full, good height, flared it out on the landing. Small hop backwards on the landing. After several exhibitions, glad to see her make the lineup! 9.800
Levasseur (OU): Tkatchev, good toe point in the release, great handstand position on the bail, small step forward on the dismount. 9.775
Ulrich (DU): FHS pike half, chest was low on the landing, good form in pre-flight, hops on the landing. 9.850
Torrez (OU): Ray, good arms in the catch, Pak salto, the tiniest leg separation in the air, misses the last handstand, DLO dismount, stuck landing. 9.900
Mundell (DU): Yurchenko 1.5, beautiful in the air, the tiniest step on the landing. Denver is capitalizing on Oklahoma’s less than stellar start. 9.900
R. Smith (OU): Ray release, beautiful form in the air, normally she connects to a Pak salto, but not tonight. Good form on the handstand, DLO dismount, stuck, smallest leg separation. 9.900
Casali (DU): Yurchenko 1.5, so much height and power off the block, small step on the landing, little off center in the air, but a BEAUTIFUL vault. 9.900
Davis (OU): Higgins roll, piked Jaeger, slightly bent arms, Pak salto was her usual, beautiful last handstand, Higgins Roll to double front half dismount, slides her feet together, not totally sure if that will be her 10, but it was gorgeous! 9.925
Hutchinson (DU): Yurchenko 1.5, beautiful form in the air, the smallest hop on the landing. Best vault of the 10.0 starts. 9.950
Bowers (OU): Blind change to piked Jaeger, Pak salto, no form issues in the air, nails the final handstand, half in half out dismount, stick. 9.775 from Levasseur will be erased, good ending to that rotation! 9.975
Sullivan (OU – exh): Gorgeous first handstand, Maloney to Pak combo was good, beautiful final handstand, half in half out dismount, lots of distance but lacking a little height, step forward on the landing.
After 2: Oklahoma 98.775, Denver 98.750
Oklahoma retakes the lead with no counting score below a 9.900, capped off with Bowers 9.975. Denver has made the Sooners work for its lead, though; this meet is as close as it can get at the halfway point. Buckle up, y’all, it’s about to get good.
Rotation 3: OU beam, DU floor
Davis (OU): God, that mount. That is all. BHS LOSO, slight leg issues in the air, front aerial looked good and shows off her flexibility. Beat jump to split ring, this view is not the best so I can’t tell you anything about split positions in the air. RO double twist dismount, small hop back on the landing. 9.825
Rorich (DU): Front tuck through to double tuck to open, good power in that connection. Switch side to straddle jumps, splits well above 180 in the straddle. Double pike to close, slide back of the front foot, loose knees on the landing. 9.850.
Wells (OU): Balance check on the side aerial, switch leap to split jump, much better view of the split positions! BHS LOSO good, RO 1.5 twist dismount, hop forward on the landing. 9.800
Iwai (DU): 1.5 to front layout opening pass, good form in the twist positions in the air. Leap positions looked good in the air, double tuck to close, low chest on the landing, small step on the landing. 9.825
Bowers (OU): Needs a reset here after some lower-than-KJ-Kindler-probably-likes scores. Full turn is beautiful to open. BHS LOSO, beautiful control on the landing. Sissone to switch half, good 180 position on the switch. Fun little choreography throughout. RO double twist, stick on the landing. Just what was needed.
Mundell (DU): Opening pass is front layout to front full, almost steps out of bounds, but keeps it in. Lacked the tiniest split in the second leap, but I’m picky. Double tuck second pass, good chest position in the landing. 9.825
Torrez (OU): WHY DO WE KEEP USING THIS VIEW PLEASE STOP. Okay anyways, Wolf jump is beautiful, side aerial to LOSO, major balance check, manages to stay on the beam, switch leap to straddle jump, another slight balance check. BHS to gainer full dismount, nailed. Not her best, Levasseur and Smith will need to deliver here at the end. 9.700
Casali (DU): 80’s!!!!! Rudi to back layout, good position in the air on the layout. Switch half + wolf full + wolf full, good toe point in the wolf full leaps. 2.5 punch front to front tuck with the most solid landing of the DU floor passes so far. 9.875
Levasseur (OU): Somewhat of a pressure situation here, let’s see how they handle it. BHS LOSO, slight balance check but covers it well. Switch leap to straddle quarter, great toe point on those leaps. Front aerial, nailed it. BHS gainer full, had to bend a little further back to keep the landing, but it was a hit. 9.900
Ulrich (DU): Double tuck to open and WOW I love how open she is on that skill, my word. Switch side to Popa, good extension in the leaps. Back 1.5 to front layout second pass, such a good connection. Double pike to close, solid landing, maybe the tiniest low chest. The freshman phenom strikes again. 9.925
R. Smith (OU): BHS LOSO, the tiniest wobble, but covers very well. Front aerial, good technique. Straddle half to swingdown, one of many new combos she worked this summer, and it looked good. BHS to gainer full dismount, stuck. Good routine for the 5th year, it shouldn’t go 10, but we’ll see. 9.975
Hutchinson (DU): Front double full to open, little funny landing but keeps it moving. Switch half to split full, good extension. 1.5 to front layout, so floaty in the layout! Front Rudi to straddle jump to close, solid ending for the Pioneers! 9.950
Siegfeldt (OU – exh): BHS LOSO series, looked solid. Cat leap to front aerial, very nicely done. Beat jump to ring jump, lost the toe point ever so slightly. BHS gainer full dismount.
Reidenbach (DU – exh): Missed the first pass, but the team reacted well so it must’ve been solid. Double tuck second pass, really nice position on the landing.
After 3: Oklahoma 148.200, Denver 148.175
Told y’all this was going to get wild. Oklahoma, normally solid on beam, opened with a couple lower scores, so it couldn’t pull away like it could last weekend at Denver. The Pioneers have the chance to do something great on the road, IF they can hit beam.
Rotation 4: DU beam, OU floor
Everyone take a deep breath…and here we go! Sidenote: we spotted Bella Mabanta and she is in a boot.
Thompson (DU): Side aerial to BHS, slight knees in the air. Switch leap to switch leap, nicely done. Side aerial to 1.5 twist, hop forward on the landing. Solid start, but will need to get those landings. 9.750
Davis (OU): Opens with front double full, lack of control on the step forward, but still pretty. Good extension on the leap series, 1.5 to front full to close. I got to say, I like this floor routine way better than last season’s. 9.875
Iwai (DU): Switch leap to straddle quarter to open, good position in the straddle quarter. BHS LOSO LOSO, nailed. Wow. Cartwheel to gainer full, hops on the landing. Two missed landings, not a good start. 9.750
Hawthorne (OU): Opens with a double pike, I miss her double layout though. Movement of the front foot on the landing. Good toe point in the leaps. The team vibing behind her with the choreography is everything. Front layout to Rudi to split jump, very nicely done! 9.875
Casali (DU): Really needs a hit here to keep Denver in this. BHS LOSO LOSO, balance check on the landing, switch leap switch leap, good toe point. Cartwheel to gainer full, small step on the landing. Short and sweet, but still lacking the landings. 9.650, so DU will count two 9.700s again.
Smith (OU): Swiftiesssss look out! Double tuck to open, underrotated and landed on her toes with a low chest. RO 1.5 to front layout, much improvement on her landing. Switch side to wolf full, good toe point on the leaps series. Double pike to close, best landing of the three. 9.800
Ulrich (DU): BHS LOSO, solid. Switch leap to switch side, pretty position in the air. Front aerial, really nice and floaty. BHS 1.5 dismount, better on the landing, but Mundell and Hutchinson will need to hit big if they want to keep Denver in it. 9.875
Levasseur (OU): Country western music in Oklahoma, fun stuff. Full-in, low chest on the landing. Switch side to Shushunova, beautiful 180 position in the air. 1.5 to front half to straddle jump, maybe lacking a little control on the straddle jump, but not super bad. Sooners likely to pull this out. 9.925
Mundell (DU): If there were ever a time for a hit, it’s now. BHS LOSO, solid form in the air. Wobbles on the full turn. Switch leap to switch half, lacking the tiniest split. RO 1.5, hop forward on the landing. 9.650, Casali’s score will now count as well.
Torrez (OU): Looking for a little redemption after beam. DLO to open, little bit of a low chest. L hop full, such a unique skill, tour jete half to wolf full, beautiful toe point. Front tuck through to double tuck to close, good form in the air. 9.950
Hutchinson (DU): Front toss to BHS, good connection. Switch leap to split jump, good extension on the leaps, Piked front toss, her usual form. Cartwheel to gainer full dismount, stuck. Best beam routine of the evening for the Pioneers. 9.950
Bowers (OU): Bowers with a victory lap here. Front double full to front tuck to open, opened out perfectly for that front tuck. Double pike second pass, the tiniest issue with the chest position. Switch leap to switch half to wolf full, always beautiful. 9.950
Reidenbach (DU – exh.): Full turn to open, BHS BHS LOSO series, beautifully done. Switch leap to straddle three quarters, tiniest bend after the leaps. RO 1.5 dismount, step on the landing. 9.825
Johnson (OU – exh): Barbie themed…I can’t wait to see this! Front layout to front Rudi, good landing. Double back second pass, nice control on that landing. Switch half to wolf full, fun little routine there! I’m sure that will get some lineup time soon. 9.775
FINAL: Oklahoma 197.775, Denver 197.150
Denver kept it close, but troubles on the balance beam allowed Oklahoma to pull away on the floor exercise. Got to hand it to Denver for putting the national champions on the ropes after the Sooners scored 198 last weekend, but it will be interested to see how these teams fare when they face off again later on this season.
VT: Jessica Hutchinson (DU) – 9.950
UB: Jordan Bowers (OU) – 9.975
BB: Ragan Smith (OU) – 9.975
FX: Jessica Hutchinson (DU), Jordan Bowers (OU), Faith Torrez (OU) – 9.950
AA: Jessica Hutchinson (DU) – 39.725
READ THIS NEXT: Does a Consistent Lineup Matter for Team Success?
Live blog by Savanna Wellman
