The MIC has ditched being the only Friday night Conference competition, but welcome to the final meet in Hyland Arena, home of the Lindenwood Lions. While this will be a somewhat bittersweet night, the competition is bound to be smoking hot. The 2023 victor, Illinois State, enters the competition as the No. 1 seed. The Redbirds have had a relatively consistent season, maintaining in the mid 195 range for the majority of 2024. The team is led by the likes of Jaye Mack, whose high-flying gymnastics cannot be missed. Don’t forget to watch Angelica Labat either as she enters her fifth and final conference competition.
Lindenwood enters tonight as the No. 2 seed. Coming off three strong road performances, will the Lions be able to claim one final MIC title at home? This team is composed like a well-oiled machine with each athlete consistently doing their part, led by a duo of Hannahs (Moon and Appleget) and Nya Kraus. Even with the loss of Gayla Griswold later in the season, the Lions have not lost steam. Don’t expect the team to stop now.
TWU, at No. 3, is coming off its second 196-plus on the year. The problem is, the Pioneers have yet to score as high on the road in 2024. Will the team be able to keep the momentum going from last weekend? Watch out for Kaitlyn Hoiland who just etched her name in the history books with her 9.950 on bars last Sunday.
SEMO has been having an up and down 2024. While the Redhawks kicked the season off with a program record 197.050 in January, it has not been smooth sailing in recent weeks where counting mistakes on beam has hindered the team’s scoring potential. If SEMO hits its full potential tonight, the Redhawks could make this meet, but beam will likely be a deciding factor. Be on the lookout for one Taylor Ingle to contend for an all around title.
Centenary enters MICs having hit its first 190-plus of the season last weekend on the road. The Ladies will be looking to keep the ball rolling, going another meet without counting missed routines. The team has been led by several athletes who’ve stepped into lineups midseason including Sophie Schmitz and Claire Flores. Don’t forget Lacey Wedge’s huge Arabian double front, either.
Rotation 1: Lindenwood VT, Centenary BYE, Texas Woman’s UB, Illinois State BB, SEMO FX
Why am I crying watching Lindenwood walk out? Not quite over the fact that this is the last time we’ll see gymnastics in Hyland Arena… Don’t worry guys, the stage is set for a stellar competition.
I might be wrong, but it looks like Griswold is dressed out and warming up vault for Lindenwood. Could be a game changer. Will keep you guys updated.
Hamilton (SEMO): Back 2.5 to open. 9.700
Appleget (LU): Yurchenko full with chest up and a pace back. 9.750
Opening with a stuck double back connection from Lainey Hunt from TWU. 9.675
Robinson (ISU): Cat leap, side Aerial. Yes. Perfection. Gainer full is stuck. Strong lead off routine. 9.875
J. Jones (LU): A little dancey-dance. A longggg delay. Yurchenko full with a sizeable step back.
Zarlengo (TWU): Blind, piked Jaeger. Overshoot. Loose on the catch. Double layout with a hop back.
Napolitano (SEMO): Down on the back 2.5 front tuck. Couldn’t get her feet back under her. Double tuck is bouncy with a large hop into the lunge. Switch leap.
Bowns (TWU): Toe hand, Maloney, overshoot to HS. Blind full, double tuck. Held onto the double for way too long, several steps and sat it down. 9.225
Ziegenfelder (ISU): I looked up and she was on the ground again. Straddle 3/4, sharp arms. Gainer full, stuck. Way to bring it back. Having a mistake in the two spot will put pressure on the rest of the lineup, though. 9.175
Baechle (LU): Flared out that full with a baby hop back. 9.825
Crouch (SEMO): Rudi to double stag. A little bouncy. Switch side, wolf full. Not quite sharp on the positions. Back 1.5, front full. Just in bounds. Slightly off center in the corner. Great set to bring it back for SEMO.
Berkley (LU): Yurchenko full is basically stuck. Off center to the left.
Gilmore (TWU): Finished with a stalder to double tuck. Stuck. Get hype. 9.750
Davis (ISU): BHS LOSO. On the money. Strong. Switch, switch half. Snapped it around. Front toss. A touch low, but good control. Back 1.5 is stuck. A great reset routine that should be a great score. 9.875
Judging conference happening on floor.
Ingle (SEMO): Back 2.5 to punch front. Flirted with the line there, but kept it in like the veteran she is. Layout to rudi. Nice finishing pass.
Lau (ISU): Newcomer of the year!! BHS BHS LOSO. A larger wobble. Switch leap, straddle half in combination. Solid. Gainer full is stuck to finish. Way to fight for that routine. 9.825
Hoiland (TWU): Blind, piked Jaeger. Overshoot. Blind full, right on top. Double tuck with a step back. 9.750
Caffey (LU): A stutter step on the Yurchenko full. Chest up nice and high.
Webb (SEMO): Will never get over her choreo. Back 2.5 and spotted the landing. Lovely. Switch ring, tour jete half. Finished with the back 1.5 to front layout. Whipped it around.
Kipp (ISU): BHS LOSO. LEANNN. Managed well. Switch leap, switch half. Slightly slow on the connection. Back 1.5 with a hop in place. 9.775. According to the broadcast, she needed a 9.825 to push for a regional qualifying spot on beam.
Ferrari (TWU): Blind, Jaeger. Blind, straddle back to HS. Double layout with a step to the side. 9.775
Griswold (LU): Huge amplitude on the Yurchenko full from GG. Just a hop. This is her first meet back in the lineup, so I’m assuming the coaching staff went with the safer option.
Greene (SEMO): Front lay, Rudi. Stuck. Just a chest forward lean. Double tuck. Huge.
Labat (ISU): Front aerial. Lovely. BHS LOSO. Just Angelica things. Easy. So solid. So confident. Switch leap, switch side. Back 1.5 dismount is absolutely stuck. Yes ma’am. A queen. 9.925!!!!!!!!!!! SCREAMING
AFTER ONE: Illinois State 49.275, Lindenwood 48.975, SEMO 48.800, Texas Woman’s 48.675
ISU came out swinging for the fences, not only surviving beam, but scoring the second-highest total on the year. Lindenwood set itself up nicely on vault, although leaving some tenths on the table with landings. SEMO avoided counting an early lineup fall, keeping itself int he race with strong routines from Ingle and Greene. An uncharacteristic fall from Bowns forced TWU to count a sub-9.7 on bars, not ideal on conference day.
Rotation 2: SEMO VT, Lindenwood BYE, Centenary UB, Texas Woman’s BB, Illinois State FX
Six (TWU): A middle split to open. BHS LOSO. A little correction. Strong leap connection. Front toss to beat. Good amplitude there. Strong opening routine for the Pioneers.
Wabi (ISU): Front double full to open. Strong control. Rudi, LOSO right to the lunge. Great lead off for ISU.
Kuehn (SEMO): Y layout half with just a step forward. Great line in the air.
Hernandez (TWU): BHS LOSO. Hip out a touch but managed well. Switch leap, switch half, beat. A touch slow in the rhythm department. BHS back 1.5 with a medium hop forward.
Williams (CC): A long debate.
Double tuck for Davis. Back 1.5 to front full. I love that this pass is becoming more main stream. Front full, front pike. Under with a hop back.
Napolitano (SEMO): Y tuck full with a hop back.
Woodring (TWU): BHS LOSO. Front leg came up a touch. Switch leap, switch leap combo is nicely done. Front toss is right on. Stuck dismount to finish.
Williams (CC): Clear hip, overshoot. Nice HS position. FTDT to finish. Tried to hold onto it but took a step forward.
Lopez (SEMO): Y full, with a larger step back. A little crunchy on the table.
Laster (ISU): Salute. Front double full to open. Switch leap, wolf full, split full. Off on the punch. Dancing along. Rudi, LOSO. Just floated down.
King (TWU): BHS LOSO. An arm wave. Brought it back quickly. Punch front. A lean and leg up wobble. Switch leap, straddle 1/4. Back 1.5 is stuck, a little quick to the salute.
Webb (SEMO): Y full, chest a touch forward. Just a scooch back.
Lavelle (CC): Clear hip, overshoot, toe up to high. Better distance. Hit the last HS. Double layout with a VERY early release, having to pike down. Just a hop.
Brkjacic (TWU): BHS LOSO. Sharp arms. Solid leap series. Front toss to beat. A small check. BHS gainer full, nicely stuck. 9.900!!!
Donovan (ISU): Double tuck to open. A small foot adjustment. Great amplitude on the leaps. Front lay, Rudi to finish. Strong set from her to keep the ball rolling.
Greene (SEMO): Y full, with a baby hop. A little close on the entry, but managed quite well.
Myers (CC): Blind, Jaeger. Some loss of toe point. Overshoot. A leg separation. Blind full, double tuck. A step forward, chest down. 9.425
Hoiland (TWU): Front aerial, BHS. Kept it moving. An arm wave on the leap connection. Cat leap, side aerial. Small foot correction on the dismount landing. 9.875
Labat (ISU): Front double full to open. Back 1.5, front layout. A small leg separation on the twist. Rudi to finish.
Flores (CC): Toe hand, Maloney, overshoot to 45 degrees. Double layout with a medium hop back.
Mack (ISU): Putting my pen down. Full twisting double pike. Just a small foot correction. Switch side, popa. So much height. ISU! Front through to double pike. Opened it up. What like it’s hard? Sheesh.
Schmitz (CC): Birthday girl in the house! Blind, Jaeger. Good turnover. Had to take an extra swing before the cast. Overshoot to hand. Blind full, double tuck. A touch lock-legged with a hop forward.
AFTER TWO: Illinois State 98.475, Texas Woman’s 97.775, SEMO 97.550, Lindenwood 48.975, Centenary 46.375
Illinois State was a 9.825 factory in that rotation, the obvious highlight being Jaye Mack in the anchor spot. Texas Woman’s dominated on beam, going 49.100 on the event. SEMO vault was highlighted by a 9.850 from Madison Greene, although the team counting nothing below 9.700. Centenary had a slow start on bars, but will look to pick things up in subsequent rotations. Roxanne Myers was the high score on the event.
Rotation 3: Illinois State VT, SEMO BYE, Lindenwood UB, Centenary BB, Texas Woman’s FX
Kipp (ISU): Y full, is nearly stuck. Chest up. OKAY! 9.850. SEASON HIGH.
Baechle (LU): Casted over. Switch kip. Maloney, overshoot. Loose on the catch. Double layout with a step forward. 9.325
Molina (CC): HS, BHS LOSO. A check. Cat leap, side aerial. Chest nice and high. Looking confident. Front gainer full is stuck. Yay! 9.775
Heard (ISU): Slow on full, but strong landing on the Y full. Yes ma’am.
Six (TWU): Opens with her combination pass. Strong shaping on the leaps. Double tuck, chest down, but brought it up quickly.
Schmitz (CC): BHS LOSO, A lean. Cat leap, side aerial. Fighting. Strong shaping on the straddle 1/4. BHS full, is stuck. Won’t be up to level with that dismount.
J. Jones (LU): Ray. Overshoot. Great amplitude in this routine. Double layout with a lean and foot correction.
Robinson (ISU): Y full with larger step back.
Gose (TWU): Double pike to open. So much amplitude. Switch side, popa, popa. Front full, front lay. A little pike-y in the shape on that full. Rudi to finish. Not quite around.
Newsome (LU): bLIND, Missed on the straddle Jaeger. overshoot from a jump off the high bar. Blind, Double front a step back.
Vidtor (CC): Hitch Kick, switch side. Some arm circling. BHS LOSO. Good height there. Cart wheel for the side skill requirement. A little check on the turn. Gainer pike with a step back. 8.800. So I’m guessing I missed a fall on her jump connection, maybe?
Laster (ISU): A larger step forward on the Y full and a half.
King (TWU): Double pike with a larger lunge. Back on the heels on her connection pass. Switch ring, tour jete half. Double tuck, opened. Strongest landing of the three.
Kraus (LU): Ray to overshoot. FTDT is HUGE and amazing. Stuck. Yes. Celebration of the century.
Mack (ISU): Great pop off the table on her Y full. A hop back.
Brkljacic (TWU): Front through to double tuck. Off center. Hop wolf full, not often to see those in the NCAA. Fun. Double pike a slide back.
Murdock (CC): Off on the gainer BHS to back tuck series. Switch leap, SLOW connection into the second jump. Gainer full with a step back.
Labat (ISU): Y full and a half. Thought she had the stick. Just a baby hop forward.
Moon (LU): Shaposh to overshoot. Double layout, with a hop back. Great open shape in the air.
Woodring (TWU): Double pike, open and huge. A larger lunge. Switch side, popa. Cheated a little with her foot position into the popa. Front full, front layout. Double tuck, a little forward on the landing. 9.9. Seems a touch high, but I’m not in charge. Still a great routine.
Lavelle (CC): Split, straddle 1/4. BHS LOSO. Jumped off the beam. Cat leap, switch side. Not quite around on the 1/4 in my opinion. Back 1.5 with a hop.
Appleget (LU): Clear hip, Gienger, overshoot. A little close, but fought for the connection. Double layout with chest forward. A step forward.
Hernandez (TWU): Front through to double pike. Chest low. Hopped forward into the lunge. Switch side half, straddle jump. Back 1.5 to front lay. Back on her heels.
Foret (CC): BHS LOSO. Switch side, snapped her heels together. Slow bringing her legs down. Cart wheel… Split, split 3/4. Not quite 180 on the second jump. Switch leap, gainer full. Stuck. Way to finish the rotation.
AFTER THREE: Illinois State 147.575, Texas Woman’s 146.975, Lindenwood 97.575, SEMO 97.550, Centenary 93.500
Welp. Lindenwood had to count a fall on that rotation. That will likely put it out of the race for the time being. I do feel like vault scoring was considerably tighter than the floor scoring on that event. Illinois State has put itself as the clear front runners after three rotations, but this is gymnastics. Anything can happen. Texas Woman’s put on a floor clinic, led by fifth year Daisy Woodring. Shout out Rylie Molina for the beam career high in the lead off spot.
Rotation 4: Texas Woman’s VT, Illinois State BYE, SEMO UB, Lindenwood BB, Centenary FX
Zarlengo (TWU): Yurchenko full, with a hop to the side.
Ingle (SEMO): Blind, Jaeger. Great height. Overshoot HS. Great shaping in this routine. Blind full, double tuck. A pause and then the step back.
Moon (LU): BHS LOSO. Right on. Switch leap, split 3/4. Front aerial to beat jump. Smooth connection. Gainer full is stuck.
Huff (CC): Rudi to double stag. A beloved routine they say. Switch side half. A heel slick. Switch side, wolf full. Back 1.5 front layout. Back on the heels a touch. 9.600
Y full, with some leg form on the table from Brkljacic. Great shape in the air, just a hop back.
Flores (CC): Double tuck. A little front foot adjustment. Front lay, front full with some leg crossing.
Kossuth (LU): BHS BHS LOSO. A lean. Strong shaping to hold on with minimal wobbles. Cat leap, switch half? Looked a little not like a split to me. Stuck gainer full. Great set.
Isbel (TWU): A step forward on the Yurchenko full today. Not quite enough pop off the table.
Hamliton (SEMO): Vault over mount. Gienger to overshoot. Smooth connection. FTDT with just a pace back. Great height.
J. Jones (LU): BHS LOSO. Sharp arms, slight lean. Cat leap, switch half, beat. A lack of back leg, slightly.
Plaza (CC): Front half to back 1.5 to open. A unique opening pass. Punch front full. Switch half, to jump full. Mistimed the punch. This will be the score to drop as there will likely be some start value issues with that leap pass.
King (TWU): Dynamic Yurchenko full with a step back.
Webb (SEMO): Toe hand, Blind, Jaeger. Too close. And peeled off at the bottom. I’m in mourning. Overshoot to horizontal. Blind full, double tuck. A hop forward.
Rush (LU): Reigning MIC beam champ. Hitch kick side somi. Nicely done. BHS LOSO. She’s in it tonight. A double stag in combination. Gainer full, stuck. Lions back in the game.
Schmitz (CC): Front full, front lay. Some stutter stepping. Great line on the switch half ring. Switch ring, switch half. Double full to finish, some knee give on the landing.
Woodring (TWU): A baby scoot back on her Yurchenko full. Great amplitude off the table.
Lopez (SEMO): Blind, Jaeger. Short HS before the overshoot. Blind full, double tuck with a scoot back.
Appleget (LU): Switch leap, switch leap, pike jump. A touch slow. BHS LOSO. Yes. Beat, LOSO. Lost the arm position and had to take a very large wobble. Back 1.5 to finish is stuck.
Hoiland (TWU): A hop in place on her Yurchenko full. Great shaping throughout that routine.
Williams (CC): Double tuck is nicely done. Back 1.5 to front layout. Switch half, split half? Not precise on the landing positions. Switch half, popa. Great routine from her.
Kraus (LU): BHS LOSO with a small lean. Switch half is nicely done. Stuck gainer full. Jumping around to celebrate. Appropriate response, as always. 10.0 from one judge… Go off queen
Crouch (SEMO): Toe hand, Maloney, overshoot. Not quite in HS. Toe on front pike half. Chest low.
Wedge (CC): Everyone be quiet. Sat the Arabian double front. Switch side half, straddle jump. Front lay, front lay. That will be a sv problem. Normally a front full in that combination.
AFTER FOUR: Texas Woman’s 195.875, Illinois State 147.575, Lindenwood 146.800, SEMO 146.050, Centenary 141.250
TWU went lights out on vault, setting the score to beat in this next rotation. Illinois State will need to beat a 48.300 on bars to take the title. Lindenwood had some bright spots on beam including a 9.875 from freshman Jaidan Kossuth and a 9.900 from Nya Kraus. A 49.275 on beam is nothing to mess around with. SEMO will look to finish the meet strong on beam. Centenary floor was highlighted by a season high 9.725 from Olivia “Willie” Williams.
Rotation 5: Centenary VT, Texas Woman’s BYE, Illinois State UB, SEMO BB, Lindenwood FX
Chodon (SEMO): Cat leap, front toss. A little squatty. Punch front full with a hop forward.
Robinson (ISU): Toe on, maloney, overshoot, toe hand. Toe on front pike half. 9.700
Evans (LU): Back 1.5 front layout to open. Tour jete half, popa. Nice and around. Double tuck was great, chest up, well controlled.
McClung (CC): Yurchenko pike, open shape. A step back. 9/300
Hawksworth (ISU): Clear hip, Gienger to overshoot. Small leg separation. Hit the last HS. Double layout, double to her knees. That’s unfortunate. That was a great routine up until the dismount.
Caffey (LU): Front lay, Rudi. Great connection pass to open. Nice and around on the leap to get credit. Tuck full, tuck jump. Interesting. Double tuck. Overdone, with some extra squatting on the landing. Legs of steel.
Foret (CC): Yurchenko layout with a step back.
Kuehn (SEMO): BHS LOSO with a stutter step. Nice shape on the straddle 3/4. Back double full. Yes ma’am.
Grolla (ISU): Maloney to pak. A little late on the turn on low. toe on blind full, double tuck. A hop forward.
Schmitz (CC): Stuck Yurchenko layout with a lean forward.
Appleget (LU): Front full, front layout. Easy money. Snapped that leap right around. Should easily get credit. Tour jete half, popa. Nice. Double pike, pretty low, mat slid out from under her with a step forward.
Kipp (ISU): Blind, straddle Jaeger. Great distance. Overshoot handstand. Crumbled down to the bar. Blind full, double tuck. Wow. Did not expect that to happen. Caught at just on the wrong angle. ISU will now be counting a fall.
Greene (SEMO): LOSO LOSO. Cat leap, side aerial. Beat, split 3/4. Gainer pike is stuck. Way to come back after the fall at the beginning of the routine.
Kraus (LU): Back 1.5 front layout. Great shape. Double pike, chest up with a small slide of the front foot.
Huff (CC): Chest down with a step back on the Y tuck full.
Wabi (ISU): Blind, Straddle Jaeger. Overshoot. Hit the HS. Blind full, double tuck. A medium step back. Way to come back with a hit to get things back on track.
Baechle (LU): Double front full. Great opening pass. Strong leap pass. Back 1.5, front full. 9.900
Speller (SEMO): Front toss, BHS. A little slow on the connection. Switch half, beat. Lovely lines. Likin. YES MAAM! Punch front full with a hop forward.
Plaza (CC): Tsuk layout
Labat (ISU): Ray is huge, but just missed. In shock. Counting two falls is not ideal for trying to win a team title. Toe hand, Ray to overshoot. Had to redo it to get credit. Double layout with a hop forward.
J. Jones (LU): Double pike. Chest forward. Covered with a hop straight to the lunge. Front full, front lay. Great shape. Back 1.5, front layout. Will it be enough? This will be the ultimate comeback, if so. I love college gymnastics 🙂 9.900
Webb (SEMO): Cat leap, front aerial, BHS swing down. Lovely lines. BHS gainer full, stick. Great finish for the senior.
Ingle (SEMO): BHS BHS LOSO. Right to the lunge. Switch leap, straddle 1/4. Such a beamer. Back double full to finish. Stuck with a chest lean.
Final: Lindenwood 196.075, Texas Woman’s 195.875, Illinois State 195.100, SEMO 194.275, Centenary 188.550
Welp. Lindenwood got the job done one final time. Coming back from counting a fall in the second rotation and roaring back on floor in the final rotation was something to behold. Texas Woman’s held its own all day and has so much to be proud of. Illinois State seemingly had the title in the bag heading into the final rotation, but several uncharacteristic mistakes from seniors ultimately left the Redbirds in third. Taylor Ingle brought the meet home for SEMO on beam with a 9.850. Centenary had some bright spots tonight with career highs from Rylie Molina on beam and Olivia Williams on floor.
AA Winner: Jaly Jones (Lindenwood), 39.125
VT Winner: Kaitlyn Hoiland (Texas Woman’s) and Angelica Labat (Illinois State), 9.875
UB Winner: Nya Kraus (Lindenwood), 9.875
BB Winner: Angelica Labat (Illinois State), 9.925
FX Winner: Reese Baechle (Lindenwood), Jaly Jones (Lindenwood), Jaye Mack (Illinois State) and Daisy Woodring (Texas Woman’s), 9.900
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