Talladega opened its season at a Florida quad meet, posting a strong 187.750.
Alondra Maldonado was an obvious leader on the team, with the Iowa State transfer posting the highest score on each of her events. But it’s also worth noting that she had a presence on the floor in a leadership quality as well. Having an athlete with multiple years competing in the power five is not something any other new program can boast about. Even so, the newcomers are showing great promise as well. Look for an increase in bars and beam hit percentage for this team to improve on its last showing.
Winona State opened its season with the return of Bryce Stoltz who has gone 9.700 on beam already this season. The team will be missing Kennedy O’Connor on vault, but Izzy Kropiwiec is bringing a strong Yurchenko tuck full to the table that’s bound to score well. The Warriors started increasing difficulty on bars last season, and 2024 is the year the scores are going to start steadily increasing on the event. Watch out for Kaylee Bateman’s huge piked Jaeger to overshoot connection.
SEMO is coming off the emotional high of the Tennessee Classic where the team posted a program-best total for the second year in a row and Lindsay Ockler earned the first perfect 10.0 of her career. The question is, can the Redhawks keep the ball rolling at home?
Rotation 1: SEMO VT, Talladega UB, Winona State BB
We’re quad boxing tonight, say a prayer. I’ve got my Chick-Fil-A lemonade, so I’m pumped and ready to go. In the mean time, I’m just going to link this Talladega leotard for tonight because no one should miss this beaty.
Ingle (SEMO): Yurchenko full. Some bent knees in the air and a hop forward. Reasonable height.
Chuy (Talladega): Toe hand to Maloney, is off. Went for the connection again, connected to overshoot. Nice this time. Double layout. Short landing, just pulled around with a step forward. 9.025
Sellner (WSU): Cat leap, switch 3/4. Okay. Cool beans. Little lean. Front aerial to BHS. Some leg form, but solid. Pretty toe point. Lovely line on the leap. 9.525
Kuehn (SEMO): A stuck Yurchenko half. Saw the ground for sure. Nice one.
Webb (SEMO): Yurchenko full, head a bit out, but great height and line. Small hop.
Lopez (SEMO): Yurchenko full. STUCK. Great chest up. Some leg form on the table.
Duffus (Talladega): Blind, piked Jaeger to overshoot. Some leg separation. Good last HS. Blind full to double tuck. Medium step back. Good come back routine. Keep that ball rolling DEGA. 9.625
Greene (SEMO): Yurchenko full, great line in the air with open hips. Textbook technique. Medium step back.
Kelley (WSU): The judges are ICING this athlete so hard. You got this! BHS LOSO, ice in her veins. Chest a touch forward on the jump series. 9.500
K. Johnson (Talladega): HUGE Tkatchev. Clear hip hand to overshoot. Over on the last HS. Turned and tried again. Double layout, early release so a step forward. That is going to be a great routine come mid season. 9.225
Ockler (SEMO): Yurchenko full, step back. Best amplitude thus far.
Duman (WSU): BHS LOSO LOSO. Thought she had it, but undercut it a bit. Scale is so lovely. Love the difficulty. Switch leap, split. Yes, extension. So pretty. Side aerial. Right to the lunge. Great presentation. Gainer full, stuck.
Peart-Williams (Talladega): Ray. Right on. Toe hand, pak. A little close. Pirouette right on top. Toe blind full, double tuck. Stuck. Pardon me.
Jean-Marie (Talladega): Toe hand, Maloney. Toe hand, not all the way over. Rushed a smidge and had to drop down. I will say, DEGA is going for the handstands. Nothing wrong with some aggressive mistakes this early in the season. Toe hand, overshoot, small leg separation. Short last HS. Double tuck. Little foot adjustments. 9.625
Miley (WSU): Little waver on the turn. Side aerial, a bit around the side and couldn’t quite save it. I will say, I’m loving the presence of Winona beam this year. Switch leap, split. This routine will be missing a series requirement. Side aerial toe feet. Small lean. Such a hard skill. Kick Rudi. Chest down. Way to bring it back.
Swaby (Talladega): Pirouette to toe up to high. Short HS. Back 1.5 twisting dismount is sat. Unique routine composition there. That routine is not quite up to level, but I’m assuming the goal was to have six athletes out there on each event, which is always ideal.
These beam judges are painfully slow. I’m so sorry to all athletes involved. The thing is… it’s not like the obvious score flashing is slow, so maybe there is a clerical problem that’s off screen?
Bateman (WSU): Long pause. BHS LOSO. Small lean. Switch side from a stand? Wow. The heck. So hard. Hitch kick, switch side. Great straddle shape. RO back 1.5 with a medium step forward. Great hit for the Warriors.
Stoltz (WSU): RO LOSO. Off the side on the series. Little overdone on the turn. So calm. Switch leap, switch half, leannnn, beat jump. Pretty split. RO back 1.5, some legs in the air with a step back.
Aitken (WSU): BHS LOSO. Lean. Soft on the knees. Switch leap, a stutter, split jump. Not sure if that will impact start value. Cat leap, side aerial. Undercut but managed well. Gainer pike. A step forward.
McSweeney (WSU): BHS LOSO. Hop hop hop on one foot and jumped off. Split 3/4 is not quite fully split. Cat leap, front toss. On it. Gainer front full to a stick.
AFTER ONE: SEMO 49.000, Talladega, Winona State
Great first rotation for the home team there. A few sticks and great height off the table should leave SEMO satisfied with that start to the meet. Although Winona State had to count several falls on beam, I will say that the team overall has great presence on the event, stunning lines and potential to go big in the scoring department once the team starts hitting more consistently. Also, its reassuring to have a couple exhibition routines on the floor for depth later this season. Peart-Williams was the obvious highlight for Talladega, but overall it was clear that the Tornadoes worked on handstands in the gym this week and is primed to start putting up huge scores this season.
Rotation 2: SEMO UB, Talladega BB, Winona State FX
Johnston (SEMO): Toe hand, Maloney, pak. Nice connection. Blind full to double tuck. Hop forward. Nearly had the stick.
(WSU): Back 1.5 front lay. Ice ice baby? Rudi to straddle jump. Couldn’t quite get the feet back together.
Ingle (SEMO): Blind, Jaeger. Overshoot. Some knees on the swing through. Blind full double back.
Heubach (Talladega): Switch leap, split 3/4. A sizable wobble after the turn. Gainer pike off the end is stuck. 8.900
WSU: Front lay to Rudi. Yes. So nice. Switch side, popa. Double tuck to finish. Another hit. Love it.
Hamilton (SEMO): Vault over mount. Toe hand, Gienger to overshoot. FTDT. Stuck again.
K. Johnson (Talladega): BHS LOSO. Yes. Leg up on the turn. Side somi with a sizable lean forward at the hips. Nearly stuck dismount.
Miley (WSU): Back 1.5 front lay. Rudi to finish. Just around, chest a bit forward. 9.800
Webb (SEMO): Toe hand, blind, Jaeger is super dynamic and also too far this time. Overshoot. Blind full to double tuck.
Ockler (SEMO): 10.0 queen herself. Toe hand, Maloney, pak. Nice. Over on the half turn. FTDT with a medium step back.
Stoltz (WSU): Floor judges are consulting. Might be a minute. Front lay to Rudi, just around. Switch side half to straddle. Front full to layout. Back on the heels. 9.600
Butler (Talladega): Wobble on the turn. Settle in. BHS LOSO. Step back. Cat leap, side aerial to lean. Chest forward on the dismount. Fought for the make, as she should.
Lopez (SEMO): Blind, Jaeger. Close but managed. Overshoot. Loose back on the catch. Short last HS. FOUGHT for the blind full right in HS. Double tuck. Step back.
Crouch (SEMO): Toe hand, Maloney, overshoot. Toe pike front half. A hop. Great lines from her. Love the unique dismount.
Kropiwiec (WSU): Back 1.5 to front lay. Crossover step. Double back has great height. 9.675
Swaby (Talladega): BHS LOSO. To the lunge. Switch leap, switch half, beat. Not quite 180. Front toss. A little low. Back 1.5 dismount with a pace forward. We’re in there. 9.725
Sellner (WSU): Back 1.5 front lay. Some leg crossing in the air. Tour jete, wolf 1.5. Rudi to WILD split jump. Traveled back quite a bit. 9.725
Chuy (Talladega): Cat leap, switch side. BHS LOSO. A double step into the lunge. Punch front full, a medium step forward. 9.350
Maldonado (Talladega): The level six mount. Cat leap, front toss. LONG, but good. BHS LOSO. Right on. Beat, split 3/4. Yes. Gainer full, with a small hop back. Good set.
McSweeney (WSU): Front full front lay. Back on her heels, but managed. The broadcast decided floor didn’t exist until the last pass, so sorry Camden fans.
Roth (WSU): Rudi to split jump. A couple hops out. Good legs in the twist. Tour jete half, popa. Back 1.5 to front lay. Some knees in the air, just pulled it around.
Williams (Talladega): Dance right out of the turn. Front toss, leg up. Back tuck. No series, but I like the idea. Switch leap, switch leap. Rushed it and split the beam. Ouch. Back in it. Punch front full, just a hop.
Bryant (Talladega): Back shoulder roll to open things up. Cat leap, front aerial, side aerial. Split half from the side of the beam. Switch leap, split. Wishing she wasn’t ex right now. Lasso ’em girl. Front full with a deep squat and a step back.
AFTER TWO: SEMO 97.700, Winona State 94.950, Talladega 93.500
The one thing that I was really wishing for from Winona was some differing routine composition. Every routine felt so similar to me. However, it was a strong rotation to come back from beam. SEMO bars avoided counting Webb’s uncharacteristic fall, and Talladega beam made some improvements over its season opener.
Rotation 3: Winona State VT, SEMO BB, Talladega FX
Bryant (Talladega): Front through to double pike is STUCK COLD. YOOOO!! Switch ring, tour jete half. These gentlemen are INTHE WAY. Front through to Rudi. Okay, miss girl. Love that lead off routine.
The question of the day… where are the judges? Beam seems to have been contemplating its life all night.
Johnston (SEMO): Switch leap, split 3/4. Back leg left a bit to be desired. Cat leap, side aerial, a lean. Gainer pike. Her knees gave? A fall.
(WSU): Yurchenko layout, flexed feet in the air. Just a pace back.
K. Johnson (Talladega): Dance quality is the moment. Ends with a double pike. Chest up. I mostly missed the first pass other than a larger lunge out, but seemed solid
Peters (WSU): Another solid layout Yurchenko there. A bit better off the table.
Stoltz (WSU): FHS front tuck. Deep on the landing, but just made.
Greene (SEMO): HS LOSO LOSO. Bent legs and a lean. Switch leap, split 3/4. Managed. Cat leap, side Aerial. Gainer pike. A step back.
Williams (Talladega): Front lay, double full. Cross legged in the air, solid landing. Front lay, front full.
Disekrud WSU: Tsuk tuck full? She was turned a bit funky on the table, so unclear. Love the difficulty. Chest a touch low on the landing.
(WSU): Yurchenko layout. Dynamic off the table. A little pike in the hips. A bounce back.
Chuy (Talladega): A little crawl to open. The drama. Front double full, a bit wild on the landing, lacking control. Lovely wolf shape. Front lay, front full.
Kuehn (SEMO): BHS LOSO. Floaty. Switch side. Back double full dismount to finish. A hop back.
Kropiwiec (WSU): Yurchenko tuck full was kicked out so a step forward.
Knutson (WSU): Yurchenko tuck half. PULLLED for her life. Just made with a deep squat.
Maldonado (Talladega): Front lay, Rudi, split jump. Nice opening pass. Double pike is short with a step up. Switch half, wolf full.
Napolitano (SEMO): Switch leap, split 3/4. BHS LOSO. Lovely lines on that. Cat leap, side aerial. Around the side but managed without a wobble. Over on the turn. Gainer full, stuck-ish.
Duman (WSU): Yurchenko layout with a step forward.
Cook (Talladega): Back 1.5 to front layout. Good pop off the floor on the connection pass. Diamond can dance, y’all. Switch ring, tour jete half. Front lay, front full. Was it the most difficult routine? No. Am I thoroughly entertained? Absolutely. The team goes WILD.
Ingle (SEMO): BHS BHS LOSO. Got it. RO back double full is stuck.
Peart-Williams (Talladega): Is this Lollipop? Strong connection pass to open. Double pike, short with a step forward. Ends with a death drop. Love.
Webb (SEMO): Liukin. On the Money. Yes ma’am. Cat leap, front aerial to swing down. Yes. Toe point is great. BHS gainer full. Stuck.
Speller (SEMO): Front toss, BHS. Soft back knee, but no wobbles. Switch leap, switch half, beat. Slight hesitation before the beat. Liukin. YES. Been waiting for this routine from her. Front full is stuck. Yay. Am I seeing a 9.9 flashed???
Hamilton (SEMO): BHS LOSO. Front leg up, bend at the hips. Saved it. Switch leap, split 3/4. Back leg low. A tour jete 1/4? So hard. Ballsy for sure. Small check. Gainer pike. Small foot adjustment. Good for her.
AFTER THREE: SEMO 146.500, Winona State 142.700, Talladega 142.350
Although SEMO was forced to count a 9.475 on beam, the team held its nerves together well following a lead off fall. Lydia Webb and Anna Speller were particularly stellar. Winona was throwing some big vaults over there! Dega floor hit it out of the park, lets see if the team can keep the momentum going on vault! The race for second place is a tight one. who will come out on top?
Rotation 4: Talladega VT, Winona State UB, SEMO FX
Roth (WSU): Blind, Jaeger, overshoot. Hit her heels looked like. Blind full, giant. double tuck is over rotated.
Bryant (Talladega): Yurchenko layout full with two steps back. Good pop off the table.
Ockler (SEMO): Great height on the opening double back. Rudi to straddle jump has great height. Dynamic combo pass.
Clapp (WSU): Blind, Jaeger piked. Overshoot, loose in the back. Toe front tuck. A step forward. Way to come back with the hit.
Williams (Talladega): Yurchenko tucked full. A step back.
Napolitano (SEMO): Back 2.5 to punch front is great. Perfect shaping on the leaps. Double tuck, jumped right to the lunge. Yes ma’am. A mic drop is appropriate.
WSU: Clear hip, Swing half, overshoot. Toe up to high. Double tuck, overcooked.
(Talladega): A touch short on the Yurchenko full with a step forward.
Stoltz (WSU): Swing half, Tkatchev. Pak, bent knees and touch slow on rotation. Double tuck with a step back.
Chuy (Talladega): FHS front pike, pulled toooo hard. A couple steps, nearly put a hand down.
Crouch (SEMO): Back 1.5 to front full, twisted right until the ground. Back on her heels, but saved.
Duffus (Talladega): Yurchenko full had a great pop, flared it out a bit too much though. Couldn’t quite tell if her knee grazed the ground as she stepped forward.
Bateman (WSU): Blind, piked Jaeger to overshoot. So much amplitude. Tapped for that double tuck like she could do an E dismount in the future. Great set.
K. Johnson (Talladega): I missed it. I apologize.
(WSU): Maloney. Overshoot connection. Toe front pike half. Yes.
Ingle (SEMO): Back 2.5 front tuck. Great. Right on.
Butler (Talladega): She can totally do a twisting vault. Yurchenko layout is onto an 8 inch and so over rotated with several steps back.
Webb (SEMO): Rudi to split jump is astoundingly high. Back 1.5 front full, so hard to end with. Lovely. Should score big.
WSU: Swing half, Gienger to overshoot. Hit her feet on the kip out. Had to double cast. Double tuck to finish.
Jean-Marie (Talladega): Dynamic Yurchenko layout. Great pop off the table.
Kelley (WSU): Tkatchev. Yes. Overshoot, with a heel graze. Loose. Double tuck, chest up with a step back. Loving the difficulty from this roster.
Greene (SEMO): Steal the show. Front lay, Rudi. Textbook. Excuse me. Side aerial. S-E-M-O. Double tuck. Kicks out of it. Just stunning. She makes it look so easy every time.
Hamilton (SEMO): Back 2.5. The way SEMO has more of this skill than any other roster in the NCAA ever… Is it a recruiting point? I wonder. Front lay, front full. Back 1.5 to front lay. Could’ve had a bit more amplitude on the second flip, but good set overall.
Final: SEMO 195.300, Talladega 190.175, Winona State 189.025
What a great meet! Talladega improved by over two points tonight, Winona State earned a season high and SEMO showed off its depth, clawing its way to a win. Taylor Ingle put on an all around clinic, taking the victory after a way-too-easy 9.900 on floor. All three teams should be leaving this sold out meet feeling good about the potential for this season.
P.S. I apologize for my inability to I.D. athletes from the quad box with sketchy sound audibility coming from the arena.
AA Winner: Taylor Ingle (SEMO), 39.225
VT Winner: Ailey Kuehn (SEMO), Janelle Lopez (SEMO) and Kyrstin Johnson (Talladega), 9.825
UB Winner: Lindsay Ockler (SEMO), 9.850
BB Winner: Lydia Webb (SEMO), 9.875
FX Winner: Taylor Ingle (SEMO) and Madison Greene (SEMO), 9.900
READ THIS NEXT: Leotard Rankings: Week 3
Live Blog by Tavia Smith
The gymamst from Talladega College is Kyrstin Johnson not Krystin. It’s bad enough announcers are pronouncing her name incorrectly. Everyone please look at the spelling.
Darn on missing Kyrstin Johnson’s vault. I actually recorded it from the tv if you would like to see it. Being that she was tied for 1st place, it deserves a mention. . I applaud this article because it really broke down things that I don’t know and probably others. You all are very detailed. Thanks and keep up the good work.