You might feel like you’re seeing double while watching this meet, so prepare yourselves accordingly.
Dubbed as Eras Night in Exactech Arena (as one of the resident CGN Swifties, this meet was made for me), these two teams are in the midst of completely different eras. Iowa State, under first-year head coach Ashley Miles Greig, is experiencing a resurgence, consistently hitting in the 196 range and aiming for its first 197 since 2021. Hannah Loyim has appeared in the all-around every meet thus far and has shown consistent improvement, while freshman Noelle Adams continues to impress with only one score below a 9.825. The Cyclones as a team have shown the most improvement on the balance beam, which is where they will end tonight’s meet. If they can maintain a lead through the first three events and keep that momentum on the beam, this could be a quiet upset despite being ranked higher.
Boise State is in its Mountain West era, currently ranked No. 2 in its conference. Stalwarts like Emily Lopez and Courtney Blackson continue to lead the team, but Hannah’s twin sister, Emma Loyim (you knew we were going to bring this up) has shown out in her junior season, tying a school record on floor exercise with a 9.950. The Broncos have struggled with consistency as of late, particularly on bars, so that event should give us an idea which direction this meet is heading. However, with home floor advantage while the Cyclones are on beam, this one could come down to the last pass.
You can watch this event for free(!) here and follow along with live stats here!
Stream just started and the audio sounds like castles crumbling and cracking, so that ought to tell you where this stream is headed. This should be fun.
8:14 my time and there still has not been a routine. Good start.
Rotation 1: BSU vault, ISU bars
Kho (BSU): Yurchenko full, good block off the table, little bit of knees on the landing, hop back. 9.750
Schell (ISU): blind change to piked Jaeger, lost her toe point in the air. good transition to low bar, full pirouette to double tuck, step back on the landing. 9.675
McGovern (BSU): Yurchenko full, lot of distance! Some leg form in the air, bigger hop back on the landing. 9.700
Basuel (ISU): blind change to straddled Jaeger, good handstand position on the bail. Full pirouette on top of the bar to double tuck, step backwards on the landing. 9.750
Popp (BSU): FHS pike half, good form in the air (she twisted really fast too), side hop back on the landing. 9.850
Wills (ISU): Maloney to Pak salto, leg separation in the air, her handstand positions are so pretty! DLO dismount, small hop back on the landing. 9.850
Vulaj (BSU): Yurchenko full, pike off, underrotated and landed with a low chest. 9.675
Thomas (ISU): blind change to straddled Jaeger, overcooked her handstand and falls. She will begin again from where she left off, beautiful Pak salto to low bar. DLO dismount, little off balance on the landing. Shame because I love her bars. 9.275
Lopez (BSU): Yurchenko full, good leg form and distance in the air, slide backwards on the landing. 9.825
Cooke (ISU): Clear hip to Maloney to Pak Salto, very nice combination! DLO dismount, hop back on the landing. 9.750
Blackson (BSU): Yurchenko 1.5, good block off the table, little bit of knees as she landed. Step backwards on the landing. 9.750
H. Loyim (ISU): blind change to piked Jaeger, nice arms on the catch, Pak salto to low bar, good leg form. DLO dismount, stick! Good clean routine after Thomas’s fall. 9.875
After 1: Boise State 48.875, Iowa State 48.875
Wow, we are tied after one rotation! Neither team was really able to dial in on landings and the scores reflected it. Hannah Loyim was able to erase Thomas’s fall, but if either team really wants to separate itself, landings will need to be a priority!
Rotation 2: ISU vault, BSU bars
Wills (ISU): Yurchenko full, good form in the air, low chest and hop forward on the landing. 9.775
Werline (BSU): Maloney to Pak salto, slight leg separation at the end. Short on that last handstand, stalder to double tuck, stick on the landing.
H. Loyim (ISU): Yurchenko full, good distance, slight bent arms on the table, hop back on the landing. 9.775
Buell (BSU): Freshie debut!! Maloney to bail, slightly short on the handstand position on the low bar, DLO dismount, hop back on the landing.
Adams (ISU): Yurchenko full, lots of speed on the run, little bit of knees in pre-flight, hop in place on the landing. 9.875
McGovern (BSU): Free hip to Geinger, nice catch to the Geinger. Short on the last handstand after the transition, full out dismount, slide back on the landing. 9.750
Bergstrom (ISU): Yurchenko full, HUGE pop off the table, STUCK. 9.925, the only thing I think they took was distance, but WOW. Career high as well.
Hamby (BSU): Ray to overshoot, nice parallel catch on the low bar, transition back to high bar, DLO dismount, STICK! 9.825
Parker (ISU): Yurchenko full, lot of distance, hop back on the landing. If Bergstrom’s vault had Parker’s distance, we would have seen the 9.95
Blackson (BSU): Almost overcooks the first handstand, but pulls it together, bail to handstand is good, short on the handstand back on the high bar, Khorkina had lots of height, DLO dismount, little arm wave on the landing.
Hong (ISU): Yurchenko 1.5, underrotated in the air and falls. Leg separation in preflight. Dang, I hate that for her. 9.125,
Lopez (BSU): blind change to piked Jaeger, lacked a little toe point in the air, transition to low bar is clean, slightly short on the last handstand (at least from my angle), DLO dismount, stick! 9.875
Nakayama (BSU – exh.): Maloney to Pak salto, good form on the positions, handstands looked clean through, half in half out dismount, slight foot movement on the landing.
After 2: Boise State 98.050, Iowa State 98.050
Who were the masterminds that planned this to be tied after not one, but TWO rotations? Bergstrom’s vault was easily the highlight of the Cyclones’ vault rotation, I really thought she had the 9.95 based on how the team reacted. No 9.900’s for the Broncos, but every routine was a hit, so the Broncos will want to take that momentum to balance beam to try to pull ahead.
Rotation 3: BSU beam, ISU floor
Vulaj (BSU): Fun little acro series to start, switch leap to layout looked good as well. Front toss was solid, nice high chest position. RO 1.5 dismount, hop forward on the landing. 9.800
Hong (ISU): Double tuck to open, slight foot movement, but nice chest position. Switch side leap over 180. Second pass is back 1.5 to front layout, leg separation in the air on the layout. Switch side to Popa to wolf full, good rotation on the leaps. Good lead off routine! 9.750
Kho (BSU): BHS, layout two feet, very solid on that layout. Slight balance check after the full turn. Sissone to switch leap, leaps lacked the split position. RO 1.5 dismount, hop to the side. 9.800
Cooke (ISU): Front double twist to open, good position in the twist. Good toe point in the leaps! Back 1.5 to front layout closing pass, and she is living for the choreography of this routine. Better leg position in that front layout than the first routine. 9.800
E. Loyim (BSU): The twin has arrived. BHS LOSO LOSO triple series, no question about that landing. Side aerial, very nicely done. Switch leap to switch leap to gainer full dismount. Short and sweet, but very well done. 9.875
Schell (ISU): Front handspring front 1.5 to stag jump, very cool opening pass! Switch side to straddle jump, love watching her come into her own after arriving a year early. Back 1.5 to front layout, cleanest layout of the three we’ve seen. 9.775
Lopez (BSU): BHS LOSO, nicely done. Good control on the full turn, Split jump sideways to straddle half, difficult but did well. Cat leap to side aerial, good connection. Gainer full off the side dismount, stick, slightly low chest. 9.875
Tina Bird’s sweatshirt says “in my coaching era” and I am OBSESSED.
Parker (ISU): Front tuck through to double tuck, a TON of height on the double tuck. Switch side to straddle jump, nice toe point! Last pass is a double pike, she had so much height, she left my screen. That was a good routine! 9.850
Popp (BSU): Front aerial to open. Full turn, BHS BHS to layout, balance check after the second layout. Lacked a little split on the leaps, I’m thinking she’s trying to play it safe. Gainer full off the side dismount, stick. That routine was so fast, I feel like I could’ve blinked and missed it. 9.850
H. Loyim (ISU): DLO to open, bit of a low chest and landed sliiiiightly short. Back 1.5 to front layout, super floaty in the punch between skills. Lot of choreography before her leap series, switch side to Popa to wolf full to close her routine. 9.850
Leitch (BSU): Will we be tied again after 3?? BHS layout to two feet, I love the variety of leap series we’re seeing. Switch leap to split three quarters, slightly flexed feet. Front toss to beat jump, little off but covered it well. Switch leap to gainer pike off the end, stick on the landing. 9.825
Adams (ISU): Needing to drop a 9.75 here. Front layout to front 1.5 twist to open, super nice control on her landing. Way over 180 on her leap series. Double tuck to close, very nicely done! Should drop the 9.75, but will it be enough to get them the lead?
After 3: Boise State 147.275, Iowa State 147.225
The tie has been broken, but I have a feeling we are not safe and sound just yet. Despite Adams’ 9.900 on floor, the Cyclones find themselves 0.050 behind as they head to the balance beam. The Broncos will have home floor momentum and will want to capitalize on it to put this meet away.
Rotation 4: ISU beam, BSU floor
H. Loyim (ISU): Missed the opening of the routine. Switch leap to switch leap combination was good, BHS LOSO series, waist bend balance break. Front aerial to beat jump, nicely done to regain control. Gainer full off the side, small hop back. This will be the score they want to drop. 9.775
Vulaj (BSU): 1.5 to front full to open, I would’ve lost count of the twists, but very nicely done. Lacked a little bit of split on the leap series. Final pass is a double tuck, underrotated and lifted her leg on the landing. Both teams started with little glitches, should make this a wild finish. 9.700
O’Brochta (ISU): Pressure sets the rest of the way. BHS LOSO LOSO, big balance break and falls off. Loyim’s score now will count. Breaks her leap connection, so she will lose some of her start value. Trying to breathe her way through this routine. Gainer pike off the end of the beam. Finishes strong, but not what Iowa State wanted. 8.775
Leitch (BSU): Double pike to open and a step out of bounds? What is going on?? Front layout to front full, didn’t get the punch she needed and falls. Vulaj’s score is now going to count as well. Last pass is a double tuck, best landing of the routine. 8.875
Adams (ISU): Really need a reset here. BHS LOSO, slight front foot slide but stays on. Switch leap switch leap, good rise on the second leap. Side aerial, covers a slight wobble. Very solid front aerial. Gainer full off the side dismount, stick. This is a nail biter. 9.900!
Pascal (BSU): Double tuck to open, step forward and low chest on the landing. Switch ring to switch half, needed a bit more split on those. Back 1.5 to front full combination pass, good punch on the front full. Last pass is FHS to Rudi to split jump, traveled just a bit on the split jump. 9.825
Manternach (ISU): Following a huge 9.900 from Adams. BHS LOSO, little bit of knee form in the layout, but stays on the beam. Cat leap to switch side, falls backwards off the beam. The Cyclones have made SUCH progress on this event, so to see this makes my heart hurt. Front full off the end dismount. 8.975
E. Loyim (BSU): Friendly reminder she’s already tied a school record this season. Whip back to double tuck to open, lot of power in that pass! Good positions in the leap series, closing pass is a double pike, landed short with a low chest. 9.875, feels a little high considering the last landing.
Bergstrom (ISU): Good control on the full turn. Cat leap to front toss to BHS series, so much difficulty. Switch leap to switch leap series, maybe needed a touch more split? Split jump, beautiful toe point and better leap positions. Tucked front full dismount, stick. Have yourself a enchanted night, Josie Bergstrom. 9.875
McGovern (BSU): Knee form in the first pass, but not too bad otherwise. Good personality on the choreography throughout, double tuck to close. Much cleaner landing and form in the air. 9.900
Thomas (ISU): Thomas wants to score higher than a 8.775 to improve their team score. Plus, she wants redemption from bars. Front toss to BHS, nailed it. Good control on the full turn. Switch leap to straddle quarter, good toe point. RO 1.5 dismount, small step on the landing. Came back strong after a fall on bars! 9.825
Blackson (BSU): FHS double full punch front to open, wowza, that’s an opener. Her personality is above all others on this event. 2.5 twist to close, a great routine to close for the Broncos! It’s gonna come down to the last pass like I said. 9.950
FINAL: Boise State 196.525, Iowa State 195.575
Well, the story of us comes to an end with Emma Loyim and the Broncos pulling out the win with the last routine against Hannah Loyim and the Cyclones. Iowa State’s beam routines were not what we’ve seen in the past, so it will want to go back into the gym and make the change to improve on that event. Boise State used beam to pull ahead, even with a couple of hiccups on floor, so it appears that the Broncos are headed in the right direction as Mountain West play continues.
VT: Bergstrom (ISU), 9.925
UB: H. Loyim (ISU), Lopez (BSU), 9.875
BB: Adams (ISU), 9.900
FX: Blackson (BSU), 9.950
AA: H. Loyim (ISU), 39.250
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