Happy meet day, everyone! Denver returns to its home arena today, and I’m here in Magness to give you in-person coverage! Today shouldn’t be the most evenly-matched dual, but we’re sure to see some great routines from both sides.
The Pioneers are back in the top ten after nearly besting Oklahoma on the road last Friday. While the 197.775-197.150 doesn’t quite look like it was a close meet, it was certainly keeping me on the edge of my seat! Denver was just behind the first-ranked Sooners for the entirety of the meet up until it had to finish on beam. The Pioneers were forced to count multiple sub-9.8 scores which led to a much lower overall score than anyone was expecting. So keep your eye on beam today during the third rotation! Once Denver gets its jitters out on that event, it will be looking at 197.5+ scores, and today might be the day if the wobbles are minimized.
Towson is another team that is slowly but surely improving on its scores every week. Last week’s home win over Cornell, George Washington, and New Hampshire showed us that the Tigers have some great potential but are just unable to put all the pieces together. Camille Vitoff, Bella Minervini, and Elise Tisler scored 9.925s on their best events (vault, bars, and floor, respectively), so we know that Towson’s ceiling could be high. But similar to Denver, the Tigers need to figure out their beam situation. They had to count multiple misses last week despite securing the quad meet win, so if the Tigers can stick beam, watch out for their overall score to go way up!
Bella Mabanta is in a boot, so expect to see some newer faces in Denver’s lineups today!
Rotation 1: Denver VT, Towson UB
Brusch (DU): Really nice Yurchenko full to start out, she flared it out and the landing was nice! (I can’t fully see the landings from my angle, so apologies in advance) 9.85
Greene (TU): Mounts on the high bar with a short handnstand. Nice forward Stalder to piked Jaeger to bail connection. Hits the last handstand and takes a big step back on the Stalder to double tuck. 9.725
Reidenbach (DU): Yurchenko full, not quite as much height as the last one but got farther from the table. Hops on the landing. 9.825
Vitoff (TU): Jumps over the low bar and starts with a free hip to Geinger to bail, she had some leg separation on the Geinger but overall it was solid. Hits the last handstand and sticks the full in dismount! 9.775
Ulrich (DU): Nice front pike half, clean form in the air and hops back on the landing. 9.875
Vaillancourt (TU): Starts on the high bar with a really nice handstand. Beautiful blind to a nice Jager to bail combination, absolutely beautiful form! She hits the last handstand and nails the landing on her double layout! Jay Ramirez is ecstatic about that routine, as he should be! 9.825
Mundell (DU): Yurchenko 1.5, and that was easily her best of the year! She’s really cleaned up the typically bent knees in the air, and her landing was very solid! 9.9
Girot (TU): Mounts on the high bar and hits the handstand into her Geinger, some leg separation on that Geinger. Shootover down to low, some more leg separation. A bit short on the final handstand and sticks the full in! 9.875, seems a little high honestly.
Casali (DU): Nice Yurchenko 1.5, nice form and good distance from the table, just a hop forward on the landing. 9.875
Minervini (TU): Starts on the high bar with a gorgeous handstand. Beautiful Tkatchev to Pak combination, no form issues whatsoever. Nails the last handstand and unfortunately takes a hop back on the double layout. 9.9, well deserved!
Hutchinson (DU): Yurchenko 1.5, very clean form throughout and hops forward on the landing. 9.85
Portillo (TU): Mounts on the high bar with a short handstand into a blind to Jaeger, and she comes off. Remounts and does a Pak to switch kip on the low bar. Short on her final handstand and takes a step back on the double layout.
After 1: Denver 49.350, Towson 49.100
Both teams came to play in that first rotation! Denver had one of its best vault rotations of the year, and Towson put up some big scores on bars! Towson’s 49.1 on bars is its second highest score of the season, and a huge improvement from its 48.425 earlier this weekend. Rylie Mundell and Bella Minervini were the highlights of this rotation, with huge 9.9s on their respective events.
Rotation 2: Towson VT, Denver UB
Weitz (TU): Really high Yurchenko full to start out, some slightly piked hips and a hop back on the landing. 9.75
Casali (DU): Starts on the low bar with a Shaposh to shootover combination, absolutely gorgeous form. Hits the last handstand and sticks the super high double layout! 9.825
Hoffman (TU): Another high Yurchenko full, pikes it down slightly and hops back on the landing. 9.725
Rorich (DU): Starts on the high bar with a great handstand. Blind into a nice Jaeger. Really nice shootover down to the low bar. Nails her last handstand and sticks the double layout! That should be a really good score. The crowd is ecstatic! It’s a 9.975! She looked absolutely shocked at the score, but it was very well deserved!
Poblete (TU): Full on pike off, she looked a little slow getting to the table and her chest was a bit low on the landing. 9.625
Ulrich (DU): Starts on the low bar with a nice held handstand. Nails the Shaposh to Pak, that Pak was super high. Hits the last handstand and hops back on the double layout. 9.9
Vitoff (TU): Yurchenko full, really nice height but she landed very close to the table. Hop in place on the landing.
Hebinck (DU): Mounts on the high bar and holds the handstand. Really nice Ricna to Pak combination, she struggled in the warm up with that. Holds her last handstand and sticks the double layout! The crowd is chanting for a 10! I don’t know about perfect but it was really good! It’s another 9.975! The judges flipped this time.
Halsell (TU): Yurchenko full, some pike down but her landing was good, just a hop in place. 9.85
Hutchinson (DU): Mounts on the low bar and goes into her Shaposh to Pak, her feet were glued together the whole time. Nice last handstand and sticks the double layout! Based on the judging today that one might be a 10. And it’s another 9.975
Tisler (TU): Yurchenko 1.5, some bent knees in the air but otherwise it was good, just a hop on the landing.
Mundell (DU): Mounts on the high bar and nails a beautiful Tkatchev. Nice shootover down to low. Hits the last handstand and sticks her double layout! Her toes are pointed throughout the whole routine, it was just gorgeous. The crowd is yet again chanting for a 10! And it’s a 10-9.85 split??? The crowd is confused about that one and honestly so am I. 9.925
After 2: Denver 99.100, Towson 98.075
What a bar rotation for Denver! Three 9.975s for an event total of 49.750, which is an all time program record! Towson had a good vault rotation and just barely improved on its mark from Friday. Both teams are on track for a good second half of the meet, and I’m excited to see what’s to come! Denver’s struggled on beam today, but maybe the momentum on bars can carry the Pioneers to a hit rotation.
Rotation 3: Denver BB, Towson FX
Thompson (DU): Front aerial to back handspring series to start, a little crooked on the back handspring but her landing was solid. Switch leap switch leap, a bit short of 180 on both. Finishes with a nice side aerial to back 1.5, and she sticks it! That’s what Denver needs going into this event. 9.825
Vaillancourt (TU): Ooh we’ve got some Taylor Swift here, I love it! Starts with a nice back 1.5 to front layout, good control on that landing. Nice switch side to straddle half, very nice straddle positions there. Next pass is a Rudi to a sky-high straddle jump, very nice. Switch half to Popa was very pretty, nice form. Great leadoff for Towson! That should give the remainder of the lineup some confidence. 9.875
Iwai (DU): Switch leap to straddle quarter, very solid and nice flexibility. Flic lay lay series, very solid landing, just some flexed feet. Finishes up with a cartwheel to gainer full with a nice landing, she may have hopped in place but either way it was good. 9.875
Weitz (TU): First pass is a front tuck through to double tuck, nice control on that landing. Switch half to ring jump full was gorgeous! Next is a double pike, her knees buckled a little bit on her landing, but she managed to escape with just a step forward. 9.8
Casali (DU): Beautiful flic lay lay series, maybe just some soft feet. Switch leap switch leap, a bit shy of 180 and she has a big wobble on the second leap. Dismounts with a cartwheel gainer full, slightly pikes it down but sticks it. 9.7
Poblete (TU): Nice wolf full to Popa to start out the routine, could use a bit more height. Starts with a whip to 1.5, just a bit low on that 1.5. Nice double tuck for her second pass, her chest was a bit low on the landing but nothing too bad. Tour jete half to Popa, she needs to get higher on those leaps. Good routine! 9.65
Ulrich (DU): Starts her routine with a flic lay, very nice form and very steady landing. Switch leap to switch side, she had a small wobble after the first leap but she kept it going. Beautiful front aerial to beat jump. Finishes up with a back handspring to 1.5 and she sticks it. 9.875
Calafati (TU): First pass is a front double full to front pike, the front pike was pretty low but she managed to get it around. Switch side to Popa, maybe a tad bit shy of 180. Finishes with a nice Rudi to layout to straddle jump, and boy was that straddle jump high! 9.85
Mundell (DU): Beautiful flic lay series to start the routine! Next is the switch leap to switch half, oh she improved that so much! Much better flexibility and a good landing. And she sticks the roundoff 1.5! That was a lot better than her previous routines this year. 9.925
Tisler (TU): Starts with a front layout to Rudi, good start. Nice switch full to stag jump. Next is a back 1.5 to front layout, the layout was very floaty! 9.85
Hutchinson (DU): Front toss to back handspring series was gorgeous and solid as usual. Beautiful switch leap to split jump. Super solid piked front toss. She’s feeling confident and she kicked out of that full turn beautifully. Dismounts with a cartwheel gainer full and she sticks it! The crowd is chanting for a 10, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it is! 9.925, I don’t really know where one judge found a full tenth to deduct but still a great score.
Minervini (TU): Starts with a front layout to Rudi, some leg separation but good overall. Roundoff layout stepout as a side pass was nice. Front layout to front full was good, just some slightly bent knees. Switch side to wolf full was nice to finish the routine. 9.825
After 3: Denver 148.525, Towson 147.275
Another great rotation for both teams! No record-breaking scores here, but still very solid on both sides. Denver got over its beam jitters and scored a 49.425, which is its highest of the season so far. Towson put up a 49.200 on floor and only had one routine scoring below 9.8! Towson is on track to get its highest score of the season, but the Tigers still have to conquer the beam. Let’s see what happens!
Rotation 4: Towson BB, Denver FX
Looks like Denver has a little bit of a student section forming by floor! They’re starting chants and getting people excited, I love the energy!
Weitz (TU): Switch leap to split jump to start the routine, some bent legs on that. Front aerial to beat jump was nice, good form there. Nice flic lay, a slight wobble at the end but she covers it up. Split jump to ring jump, wobbles on that as well. Finishes with a cartwheel to side gainer full, that gainer full really rises! 9.675
Rorich (DU): First pass is a front tuck through to a double tuck, her chest may have been a bit low but not too bad. Absolutely beautiful switch side Popa Popa, she shows off some stellar flexibility there. Next is a double pike, she was a little quick to the lunge and dances out of it, we’ll see if the judges deduct for it. 9.875
Hong (TU): Side aerial to side aerial series, a bit slow but still connected and she has great form! Split jump to straddle three quarter was stunning, especially that straddle quarter. Split jump to split three quarter now, that was beautiful as well. Finishes with a stuck front full! That was a gorgeous routine. 9.75, I think that’s a bit low.
Iwai (DU): First pass is a back 1.5 to front layout to a stag jump, nice control going into the jump. Beautiful switch full, she went over 180 there. Next up is a nice high double tuck with a controlled landing. Switch half to Popa was nice as well. good routine! 9.875
Minervini (TU): Starts with a front aerial to beat jump connection, she had a decent sized wobble in between the two. Flic lay, another decent wobble there. Split jump to split three quarter, not quite as good as Hong’s but still good. Finishes with a side gainer full and she sticks it! Just a slight pike in the hips on the way down. 9.65
Mundell (DU): This was supposed to be Reidenbach, but Mundell got subbed in last minute. Her positive momentum from today should carry her to a good routine. Starts with a front layout front full, she was a bit unsure on that landing and her feet shuffled but nothing major. Switch leap to switch full was nice, good flexibility. Finishes with a really nice double tuck, very controlled landing! Switch half wolf full to finish up, what a great day for Rylie Mundell! 9.85
Keener (TU): Nice high flic lay, just has a pretty big leg-up wobble at the end. Switch leap to tuck three quarter, very solid. Cat leap to front toss to beat jump, just a bit low on the landing for the front toss. Finishes with a stuck side gainer full. 9.575
Casali (DU): Really nice Rudi to back layout to start out, very high and very controlled! Switch half wolf full wolf full was nice. Last pass is a 2.5 to front tuck and it was perfection! She opened up at the perfect time to nail the front tuck! That was a great routine. 9.925
Girot (TU): Flic flic lay series, very solid landing! Nice split jump straddle quarter, that straddle went over 180. Wobbles on the full turn. Finishes with a side aerial to tuck 1.5 and takes a step forward on the landing. 9.675
Ulrich (DU): She just has so much confidence in her presentation, especially for a freshman. Starts with a open double tuck and she bounces back and goes out of bounds. Nice switch side to split full. Nice back 1.5 to front layout, much more controlled on that landing. Finishes with a solid double pike, again a much better landing on that pass. 9.65
Portillo (TU): Front aerial, big wobble and she comes off. Flic lay is next and she falls again. Ok somehow I missed the leaps, but she finished with a side gainer full, she piked it down a lot but she stuck it. 8.575
Hutchinson (DU): Absolutely perfect front double full to start out, she stepped out of it so gracefully. Gorgeous switch half to split full. Back 1.5 to front layout was very floaty and controlled. Finishes with a Rudi to straddle jump, beautiful and controlled as always! 9.95, one judge gave a 9.9 and I’m extremely confused about that.
Final: Denver 198.000,Towson 195.600
Today was a great meet for both teams involved! Denver just barely scored its second ever 198, and Towson’s 195.600 is its highest of the year! Towson had a very shaky beam rotation, but when the Tigers figure out their nerves on that event, they will be a force to be reckoned with in the EAGL!
Event Winners:
Vault: Mundell, 9.900
Bars: Rorich, Hebinck, Hutchinson, 9.975
Beam: Mundell, Hutchinson, 9.925
Floor: Hutchinson, 9.950
All Around: Hutchinson, 39.700
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