Surprise! Welcome to a tri meet featuring two MIC conference foes and the rising Michigan State Spartans.
Lindenwood is coming off its second-highest score of the season last weekend at Nebraska. While some new faces have made their way into lineups late this season, the Lions have not slowed pace. Hannah Moon reigns as the new Lindenwood bar program record holder, Hannah Appleget continues to dominate in the all around and Nya Kraus combines all the energy with clutch performances.
Michigan State is taking a pivot this week, originally planning to be at TWU for a Sunday afternoon matinee meet. The Spartans continue their meteoric rise, scoring a season high on senior night. Keep an eye out for Sage Kellerman on vault! Illinois State enters today’s competition after hitting a season high 196.275. Get excited about seeing Jaye Mack’s piked full in during the final rotation.
Rotation 1: Illinois State VT, Lindenwood UB, BB, Michigan State FX
Genuinely confused why the broadcast is doing features on the non-home teams while zooming in on another teammate that in fact is not being featured, but alas. Welcome to a Saturday of college gymnastics.
Kipp (ISU): Yurchenko full has great pop off the table. A little landing correction, chest up.
Baechle (LU): Maloney to overshoot, some loss of leg form. Short last HS. Double layout, pretty stuck landing.
Beaufait (MSU): Short on the back 1.5 to front layout. Had to take a couple stutter steps back. Rudi, chest slightly low but controlled.
Heard (ISU): Great Yurchenko full from the senior. So much joy. Her team is obsessed.
J. Jones (LU): Ray to overshoot. Smooth connection. Yes. Double layout, another hit.
Tucker (MSU): Rudi LOSO. Flirted with that OOB line, but kept the heel just in. A veteran move. Double turn to tour jete half. A unique connection. Double full to finish. Back on the heels again with a step back to manage.
Yurchenko full, chest up with a hop back from Mya Robinson.
Moon (LU): Maloney to overshoot to toe up to high. Double layout with a hop back.
Laster (ISU): Yurchenko one and a half, huge with a medium hop forward. Considering how short her vault in touch was… way to come out with some confidence.
Kraus (LU): Ray to overshoot. Great form. Hit the last HS. FTDT, chest quite low to hold onto the landing.
Mack (ISU): YESSSSS. Yurchenko full is ginormous. Great dynamic block, chest up. Just a shuffle back.
Stephen (MSU): Front through to double pike. A small adjustment of the front foot. Front double full. Very nicely done. Great extension and maintenance of the leg form throughout.
Cooper (LU): Blind, piked Jaeger to overshoot. Double layout, stuck with a lean back.
Labat (ISU): Great opening on the Yurchenko full and a half. A medium step forward.
Appleget (LU): Clear hip, Gienger is missed. Didn’t quite get her dowel around the bar. This will be interesting since she typically connects to another release. Overshoot from some extra swings. Double layout, stuck. Nice finish.
Oh (ISU ex): Yurchenko full has great distance, some leg form on the table. Hop back and an arm circle on the landing.
Harkness (MSU): Dynamic FTDT to open. Good control. Great extension through the leap pass, hitting all her positions with precision. Front through to double tuck. Yes. Great finish. Perfect control.
Newsome (LU ex): Blind, Jaeger to overshoot. Right on. Perfect distance. Hit the last HS. Double front with a step back.
Ni. Smith (MSU): A two foot stick on a FTDT is insane. But also, do we expect anything else from Nikki? Back 1.5 to front lay. Get form in the air. Double tuck is literally out of the frame.
Reingold (LU ex): Jaeger has some loss of foot form and a touch archy on the catch. Pak salto. More leg separation. Blind full double tuck, stuck with chest low.
Schulte (MSU): FTDT, a little overcooked with a step of the front leg in the lunge to control. Her adductor strength is insane. Switch half, popa, straddle jump. Textbook. Front through to double tuck. Stuck again. My word. MSU floor, way to bring it back.
Ny. Smith (MSU ex): FTDT, chest a touch low so had to take a step forward into the lunge. Go Green! Go White! Switch leap, switch side, popa. “Good air on the high splits there.” Couldn’t have said it better myself. Front through to double tuck. Yes ma’am. Collect your crown.
AFTER ONE: Michigan State 49.275, Illinois State 49.225, Lindenwood 48.825
I can’t say that I expected Michigan State to only be up by only a half tenth after one rotation, but hey, that’s gymnastics. The Spartans started off the rotation looking a bit shaky, lacking some power on passes, but the floor squad brought it home with consecutive 9.9-pluses from Harkness, Smith and Schulte. Lindenwood had so many 9.775s flashed that I thought there must be a typo, but turns out that was every single counting score. What are the odds? Illinois State had a great opening rotation, highlighted by Jaye Mack’s 9.900 and Angelica Labat’s 9.875.
Rotation 2: Michigan State VT, Illinois State UB, Lindenwood BB, FX
Robinson (ISU): Toe hand, Maloney. Lower back swing. Overshoot, toe hand, toe up to high. Close on the catch. Toe on front pike half. Short with a step forward.
Schulte (MSU): Stuck Yurchenko full to open the rotation. Small lean adjustment.
Moon (LU): BHS LOSO
Hawksworth (ISU): Overshoot from an extra swing. Double layout with a hop.
Sorry, my TV aborted mission there, so I missed some gymnastics… My sincere apologies.
Zsarmani (MSU): Stuck Yurchenko full and a half. YESSS! So pretty, so amazing.
Kossuth (LU): BHS BHS LOSO. Small balance break. Cat leap, switch half. Gainer full to finish with a lean.
Grolla (ISU): Toe hand, Maloney, pak salto. Toe blind full, double tuck. Small correction.
Stephen (MSU): Another great vault with a larger step forward.
Ni. Smith (MSU): Yurchenko full and a half. A small hop but couldn’t hold it.
Kipp (ISU): Huge Jaeger. Overshoot. Blind full double tuck with a hop back.
J. Jones (LU): BHS LOSO. Sharp. No balance worries there. Cat leap, switch half, beat jump. Dance right out of the turn to cover up. Back 1.5 is stuck to finish.
Kellerman (MSU): A baby step forward on the FHS front pike half today.
Wabi (ISU): Blind, Jaeger. So floaty. Overshoot right to the transition. Blind full to double tuck, stuck. A little too much cowboy on that, but who knows if the judges can see that from the side.
Ortiz (MSU ex): Yurchenko one and a half doesn’t quite have the power today.
Rush (LU): Hitch kick side somi. Right on. BHS LOSO. She’s in it. Switch leap, split jump, double stag. Some slowness on that connection. Gainer full, stuck.
Labat (ISU): Toe hand, Maloney, overshoot. Adjusted her grips on the squat on? I’m sorry? I think this at least a rhythm deduction. Double layout has great form with some leg giving on the landing.
Appleget (LU): Switch leap, switch leap, pike. Not quite hitting the split position. BHS LOSO. Right on. Beat, LOSO. Such a hard connection, but she makes it look easy. A decorative lunge for some finesse. Back 1.5 is stuck. Great set from her!
Why are we acting like a pre-routine is not customary across all of NCAA gymnastics?
Kraus (LU): So calm, so confident. BHS LOSO. On the money. Sharp arms into the lunge. Hitch kick, switch half, beat. Some lean on the switch half, but managed to keep it moving. BHS to gainer full is stuck with a lean to the side. THE JOY.
Parton (LU ex): Snaps and claps. BHS LOSO. A little crooked and couldn’t quite correct it. Switch leap, double stag jump. Back in it. Front toss, lean to beat. Some loss of connection there. Gainer full with a step back. She’s going to be a great beamer once she gets more reps under her belt in competition. She has great presence up there.
Wojcik (LU ex): A middle split to open for the senior. Cat leap, side aerial. Some arm circling. Soft smiles. Saying her key words. Front aerial, BHS. Very crooked on both. Hung on by willpower alone. Switch leap. Arms wild. Beat to split jump to get the jump requirement. Gainer pike with a small hop. Such a fighter up there.
AFTER TWO: Michigan State 98.950, Lindenwood 97.875, Illinois State 97.700
Michigan State went off on vault, led by a career high 9.975 from Olivia Zsarmani. When I tell you, “I’m still picking my jaw up off the floor after that routine,” I mean it so sincerely. Illinois State left some tenths out on the table having to count the 9.475 opening score from Robinson and an uncharacteristic 9.675 from Labat. Lindenwood beam was steady, counting nothing below 9.8 with Nya Kraus concluding the lineup with a 9.875.
Rotation 3: VT, Michigan State UB, Illinois State BB, Lindenwood FX
Schulte (MSU): Shaposh, overshoot. Right to handstand. Double layout, stuck, small lean.
Robinson (ISU): BHS LOSO. Switch half, beat. Cat leap, side aerial. Stuck gainer full to finish. Great opening routine. 9.900!!
Caffey (LU): Front lay, Rudi. Floated it down. Not quite sharp on the rotation on her leap. Double tuck. Stuck. Wow.
Jackard (MSU): Some loss of form on her release, a touch close. Blind full, double tuck, landed with her momentum going forward and had to take a step salute. She does not look amused.
Ziegenfelder (ISU): Jumps right up. Front aerial to LOSO. Beat to straddle 3/4. A check on the turn. Gainer full with a hop back.
Stephen (MSU): Toe hand, Maloney, overshoot. FTDT is stuck. 9.900
Moon (LU): Back 2.5 to open. Split ring full. SHHHH. Rudi, LOSO. Floated it around. Just lovely.
Kellerman (MSU): Blind, Jaeger. Floated. Overshoot. Tight on the catch. Snappy on the HS. Double layout with a hop back.
Davis (ISU): BHS LOSO. Some soft knees. Switch leap, wobble. Stuck dismount to finish.
Appleget (LU): Front full, layout. Double pike is QUITE squatty on the landing.
Ni. Smith (MSU): Toe hand, Maloney, pak. Feet glued. Fell on the pirouette on low. So out of her norm. Solid dismount to finish, but that will be the routine to drop.
Lau (ISU): BHS BHS LOSO. Triple series in the house. Switch leap, straddle half. Slipped on her back foot, but kept it on.
Lopez (LU): Double tuck, huge lunge to control. Front full, front pike. Good control. Switch half, wolf 1.5. Lost some foot form on the split position. Back 1.5 to front lay.
Harkness (MSU): Gienger is lovely. Great position. Overshoot. “Twisting throw to the next bar.” FTDT, a touch lock-legged on the landing with a hop.
Kipp (ISU): BHS LOSO. Small correction managed well. Switch leap, switch half. Smoothly done. Back 1.5 is stuck. Way to goooo!
Baechle (LU): Front double full with a little loss of control. Dance on out. Switch side, popa. LIONS! Back 1.5 to front full, back on her heels but held on for dear life.
Labat (ISU): Front aerial. Pardon me. So beautiful. BHS LOSO. Small lean check. Switch leap, switch half attempt. Off, so it ended up being more straddled. Back 1.5 with a hop.
J. Jones (LU): Double pike is huge. Front full, front lay well controlled. Not quite around on the tour jete full leap. LIONS! Back 1.5 front layout. Strong finish to the routine.
Mack (ISU ex): Front tuck mount. So hard. A larger chest down lean. Right to the releve out of the turn. BHS LOSO. Sharp arms. Cat leap, switch side. Did she just fall from a lapse in concentration? Back 1.5 with a step back.
Krenzel (LU ex): Rudi, staggered on the landing. Whip half, front full. Not a pass we see everyday. A valdez for fun. Switch leap, tour jete full. LIONS! Split ring full. Not quite in position.
Donovan (ISU ex): “Clean entry onto the beam there.” Front toss, LOSO. Such a hard connection. Kept it moving nicely to get the credit for the skill. Beat, straddle 3/4. A panicked lean. Straddle jump. Great positioning. Gainer full, stuck. Yay. Go senior!
R. Jones (LU ex): Front double full, just made it around. Great to see her back on floor after missing time due to a preseason injury. Rudi to double stack. “Hops for dayzzz.” Some loss of toe point on the leap pass. Back 1.5 to front tuck with some extra power. Danced out.
AFTER THREE: Michigan State 148.000, Lindenwood 146.975, Illinois State 146.800
Okay, but this MIC matchup is about as close as anticipated. With Illinois State going to one of its better events in floor, the Redbirds might be able to make the comeback in the final rotation. Lindenwood has lost some vault difficulty with fifth year Gayla Griswold out, so the Lions will look to be as clean as possible. Michigan State avoided counting a fall, but did have to count an uncharacteristic 9.725 from Jori Jackard. The team was led by Gabrielle Stephen’s 9.900.
Rotation 4: Lindenwood VT, UB, Michigan State BB, Illinois State FX
Wabi (ISU): Front double full to open. Switch leap, split full, popa. A griddy for funsies. Rudi LOSO to finish.
Kalefe (MSU): BHS BHS LOSO. Off on the switch leap, tuck 3/4. Cartwheel gainer full is stuck. So the pressure is on for the rest of the lineup.
Parton (LU): Yurchenko layout with some pike in the air. A step back.
J. Jones (LU): Yurchenko full, almost stuck but not the one second hold. A step back.
Tucker (MSU): Front aerial BHS. Kept it moving. Beat, split 3/4. Solid. Hitch kick, side aerial. Leg up wobble. Gainer full in connection to finish.
Davis (ISU): Double tuck, stuck. Back 1.5, front full. Mouth open with excitement. Finished up with another connection pass.
Appleget (LU): Stuck Yurchenko full from her! Not the highest vault as far as amplitude but textbook twisting technique.
Laster (ISU): I love this rouitne. Front double full. So controlled. Who does a leap with more amplitude on a split full? I don’t know. Rudi, back tuck. Her legs gave, but we fight on to see another day.
Harkness (MSU): Switch, switch. Cat leap, side aerial, back 1.5 in the tucked position is stuck.
Berkley (LU): Great pop off the table on her Yurchenko full today. Just a hop back.
I also have yet to comment on Baechle on vault. It was solid for 9.775.
Donovan (ISU): Double back to open with a slide back. Switch half, wolf full. Front lay, Rudi.
Schulte (MSU): Switch leap, switch half, beat. Slow on the connection due to being slightly crooked in the air. BHS LOSO. Switch leap, gainer full. Stuck with a touch of hip rise.
Caffey (LU): Yurchenko full, back on the table but stuck.
Lopez (LU ex): Yurchenko full, not the best block so she had to pike down quite a bit. A step back.
Garcia (MSU): BHS LOSO. A small correction. Such a pretty beamer, amazing lines. BHS gainer full, stuck. Chest up.
Labat (ISU): We missed the first pass. Back 1.5 to front layout. Squatty. Rudi to finish. A touch bouncy. 9.800
Stephen (MSU): The commentators love a mount of any variety. It’s so wholesome. Front toss in a layout position. BHS LOSO. Right to the end of the beam. Back double full with a step forward to finish.
Mack (ISU): full twisting double pike. A small correction. Great amplitude on the leaps. ISU! Front through to double pike, overcooked with a couple steps to manage.
Ortiz (MSU ex): BHS LOSO. Big smiles. Switch leap, straddle 1/4. Front toss. Yes. So confident. BHS back 1.5 to finish. So stuck. A great routine for the freshman.
Hestermann (ISU ex): Front lay, front full. Double tuck. So solid. Such an intense routine. So happy for the senior getting to show off on her senior day.
Final: Michigan State 197.050, Illinois State 195.975, Lindenwood 195.825
Today’s competition will neither help nor hurt the MSU NQS. The Spartans looked a touch shaky throughout today’s competition, but the team still managed to score over 197. That speaks volumes to the level of potential of this team this year. But also, one should consider that Michigan State did have to deal with last minute travel plan changes this weekend. Illinois State floor was able to just outpace Lindenwood for a narrow victory on its senior night. Lindenwood had a strong finish to its meet, counting nothing below 9.700.
AA Winner: Gabrielle Stephen (Michigan State), 39.500
VT Winner: Olivia Zsarmani (Michigan State), 9.975
UB Winner: Gabrielle Stephen (Michigan State), 9.900
BB Winner: Madison Kipp (Illinois State), 9.900
FX Winner: Nikki Smith (Michigan State), 9.925
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