Happy meet day, gymnastics fans! Every one of the teams competing in this semifinal are dreaming of nationals, and it all starts today! The top two scoring teams in this session will advance to the Ann Arbor regional final on Saturday.
Alabama missed out on nationals last year, and the Crimson Tide are surely hoping for this year to turn out differently. Alabama is coming off an impressive performance at the SEC championships, where it took second place with a 197.750. The Tide has also scored above 198 multiple times this season, and with more scores like that, nationals could be in its future.
Michigan is another team that fell short of qualifying to Fort Worth last year. But now that regionals are in its home arena, things may be looking a bit different. The Wolverines don’t have as much momentum as they’d probably like after the Big Ten championships, where they only took third place. However, those teams that came out on top of Michigan at Big Tens won’t be competing at this regional, so the Wolverines have an opportunity to prove that they are the top dogs competing in Crisler.
Kent State has had a Cinderella year. The Golden Flashes went from being ranked 41st in the country in 2023 to qualifying to regionals and avoiding the play-in round in 2024. This meet is a great opportunity for Kent State to prove that it deserves to be in the postseason in a sort of low-stakes environment. Let’s face it, a nationals run isn’t exactly realistic for this team, so the Golden Flashes have the chance to go lights out with a “nothing to lose” mentality.
Finally, we have Penn State. These final weeks of the season have been a bit of a rollercoaster for the Nittany Lions. They’ve scored within the 195, 196, and 197 range all throughout the last three weeks, so it’s hard to say which of these performances we’ll see today. Big performances from Ava Piedrahita and Kalea McElligott will be crucial to Penn State’s attempt to push into Saturday’s final, so watch out for those stars for Penn State!
Rotation 1: Alabama VT, Penn State UB, Kent State BB, Michigan FX
Sears (UA): Yurchenko full, good height, she flares it out and has a good landing. 9.85
Johanson (PSU): Mounts on the high bar with a nice handstand. Tkatchev was good, could use more height. Pak down to low, some leg separation. Short on the last handstand and sticks the double layout! 9.75
Bauman (UM): Starts off with a front double twist with great form and a very controlled landing. Switch half wolf full wolf full was pretty as well. Next is a back 1.5 to front layout, another perfect landing there. 9.875
Rankin (KSU): Nice flic lay to start her routine, very solid landing. Switch leap straddle quarter, could use some more straddle on that jump. Cat leap to side aerial, some flexed feet but a good landing. Split half, a bit shy of 180. Cat leap to a gainer pike and she takes a step back. 9.75
Mulligan (UM): First pass is a front tuck through to a double tuck, she kind of cowboys but the landing was nice and controlled. Switch side half to straddle jump to Shushunova was great, very nice flexibility. Next is a double pike, nice pointed feet in the air and a good landing. 9.85
Riley (KSU): Nice flic lay, some foot form issues but good landing. Switch leap split full was good. Tuck full, big wobble but stays on. Side aerial, looked unsure but solid landing. Finishes with a side gainer full and she sticks it. 9.625
Hudson (UA): Yurchenko 1.5, some slightly loose legs in the air and hops forward on the landing. 9.775
Gallentine (PSU): Mounts on the low bar and starts with a Maloney to Pak, gorgeous form just some foot separation on the Pak. She’s been nailing the handstands. Maybe takes a hop in place on the double layout but I think her feet stayed glued. 9.85
Brooks (UM): First pass is a full out, good lunge but her front foot slid a tiny bit. Tour jete half to split full was good, she goes above 180. Next is a front tuck through to double tuck, perfect control on that landing! 9.925
Piedrahita (PSU): Starts on the low bar with a Maloney to Pak, great form on both skills. A bit short on her last handstand and takes a hop back on the full in. 9.8
Wilson (UM): Starts with a full in, great height and control in her lunge, maybe some slightly flexed feet though. Switch side half to straddle jump was great, very nice flexibility. Last pass is a front layout to Rudi, she sort of stumbled out of it and I don’t think she went out but she may have. Or not, she got a 9.925
Rushlow (PSU): Mounts on the high bar with a blind to Jaeger to bail, perfect form throughout. Tad short on her last handstand and takes a small hop forward on the full out. 9.85
Thaxton (UM): Starts her routine with a full in, good control as she steps into her lunge. Beautiful switch side to Popa, way above 180. Next is a front tuck through to double tuck, her chest is kind of low on the landing and she lunges forward. 9.85
Murphy (WMU): Piked front toss, she wobbles but the form was gorgeous. Flic lay, some flexed feet and a tiny wobble at the end. Split jump to ring jump, solid landing there. Dismounts with a cartwheel to gainer full and she sticks it.
St. Clair (WMU): First pass is a back 1.5 to front layout, beautiful form and a great landing. Cat leap full to tour jete half to Popa, shy of 180 on that Popa. Next pass is a front double twist, her back foot slides a little bit but nothing crazy. Good routine! 9.85
After 1: Michigan 49.475, Alabama 49.300, Penn State 49.075, Kent State 48.725
The first rotation is in the books, and I’d say it was a good one for each one of these teams! Alabama had some good vaults, only a few looked out of control. Penn State looked great on bars, it showed off beautiful lines but gave up some tenths on landings. Kent State had a fall on beam but the rest of the lineup was able to make that score disappear. Michigan’s landings on floor weren’t quite as solid as usual, but the Wolverines are still in the lead after one.
Rotation 2: Michigan VT, Alabama UB, Penn State BB, Kent State FX
LaCoursiere (UA): Starts on the low bar with a Maloney to Pak, her legs are glued together the whole time. Nice Van Leeuwen, again perfect form. A bit short on the last handstand and she fights for the stick on the full in. 9.9
Rankin (KSU): Starts off with a front tuck through to double tuck, great control into that lunge. Switch side Popa wolf full was good, could use a bit more straddle in that Popa. Next is a double pike, she’s a bit quick to her lunge but overall good landing. 9.8
Hudson (UA): Mounts on the low bar and starts with a Maloney to shootover, she’s a bit loose on that shootover. Blind full to double tuck was good, she stuck it! 9.85
Morrison (UM): Nice Yurchenko 1.5, good dynamics and takes a hop forward on the landing. 9.9
Rudnitskaya (KSU): Nice double pike to start out, good form and a solid landing. Switch side to Popa was good, she goes above 180 easily. Back 1.5 to front layout, the landing was good but the layout was a bit low. Nice double tuck to finish, good landing there. 9.725
Wilson (UM): Really good Yurchenko 1.5, she got a lot of distance and I think she stuck it! At the most it was a hop in place. 9.95
The Alabama crowd is chanting for a 10, I only saw the landing but it was pretty good!
McElligott (PSU): Really good flic flic lay to start, absolutely perfect form and she didn’t even think of wobbling. Switch leap to straddle quarter was good, a bit shy of 180 on that jump. Finishes with a roundoff 1.5 and she sticks it! That was a great routine for Penn State. 9.875
Brooks (UM): Another nice high Yurchenko 1.5, just a tiny hop forward at the end. 9.925
Waligora (UA): Mounts on the high bar and hits a nice handstand. Blind to Jaeger to bail was good, very good form. Another good handstand to finish the routine and she hops back on the double layout. 9.85
Herring (PSU): Super solid front toss to back handspring, she looks very confident. Side sumi was also very solid. Beat jump to straddle three quarter, that was gorgeous! She goes above 180. And she sticks the tucked front full! Penn State is killing beam! 9.9
Thaxton (UM): Yurchenko full, some flexed feet in the air and a hop back. 9.775
Machado (UA): Starts on the high bar with a Pak down to low, great form. Beautiful Van Leeuwen up to high, she does a great job keeping her legs together. Toe on blind full to double tuck and she takes a hop forward. 9.825
Guns (KSU): First pass is a front layout to Rudi, great controlled lunge. Switch ring to switch half was very pretty. Nice tour jete half, she has good leaps. She finishes with a double pike, her landing looked a bit low from my angle but her lunge was good. 9.825
Blanco (UA): Mounts on the low bar and starts the routine with a Maloney to Pak, beautiful as always. Great Van Leeuwen to high bar. Hits her final handstand and sticks her full in! The Alabama crowd is excited about it! 9.95
Franz (KSU): Starts off with a Rudi to layout stepout, a little loose in the Rudi but good overall. Switch half to wolf full, she turned the switch half a bit quick to get into that second jump. Next up is a double tuck, her chest was a tad low and she lunged forward. 9.825
Boris (EMU): Very solid flic flic lay to start her routine. Beat jump to split three quarter was nice. She looks very calm and confident up there. And she finishes with a stuck roundoff 1.5! 9.85
Murphy (WMU): First pass is a front tuck through to a super high double tuck! Wow she gets some height. Switch ring to tour jete half was gorgeous, she has nice leap positions. Next is a Rudi to a straddle jump, that jump is very controlled. She finishes up with a double pike, she has to lunge forward, but the WMU crowd is pumped up about that great routine! 9.9
After 2: Michigan 98.900, Alabama 98.775, Penn State 98.400, Kent State 97.825
Wow, what an impressive rotation! Penn State went absolutely lights out on beam and is hanging in there with Alabama. The Crimson Tide gave up some points on its bar landings, but we know it can be strong on beam. Michigan put up some great vaults as usual, including a massive 9.950 from Gabby Wilson. We’re halfway through and the two favorites are in the lead!
Rotation 3: Kent State VT, Michigan UB, Alabama BB, Penn State FX
Rankin (KSU): Yurchenko full, pretty big pike down but she sticks it! 9.75
Hudson (UA): Front aerial to back handspring was very nice, very confident. Switch leap switch leap was good, maybe a bent back leg but nothing crazy. Nice switch half, but a bit short of 180. Takes a hop back on her roundoff 1.5. 9.775
Migliore (KSU): Yurchenko full, also some pike down and a hop in place on the landing. 9.75
Waligora (UA): Alright she does a back handspring, she must’ve been off cause she stopped. Flic lay and she falls off. Nice side aerial, no problems there. Split jump to tuck full, small wobble but takes care of it. Dismounts with a roundoff 1.5 to a stick. 9.15
Rudnitskaya (KSU): Yurchenko full, less pike down than the others and a small hop at the end. 9.825
Kramer (PSU): Starts off with a front handspring front double twist to a front tuck, great form and landing! She controls her power very well. Switch leap through to tour jete half to wolf full was nice too. Next is a front handspring Rudi to layout stepout, another great landing! 9.85
Burgess (UA): Alright, she had a long wait, let’s see if she can hit after the fall. One armed back handspring to lay was gorgeous, didn’t even think of wobbling. Nice side aerial, solid landing there as well. Switch leap to beat jump was pretty. Beat jump to switch side was also good. She finishes with a stuck gainer pike! That wasa a flawless routine, even more impressive after pressure! Way to go! 9.925
McElligott (PSU): Nice double pike to start out, good control into her lunge. Switch ring to switch half to wolf full was nice as well. Nice back 1.5 to front layout, not super high but good landing. Finishes with a double tuck, her chest was low and she kind of hopped forward into that lunge. 9.85
Bauman (UM): Starts on the high bar with a nice handstand. Toe on blind to a nice high Jaeger to a gorgeous bail. Her lines are really pretty. Blind to a double front and she sticks it! What a great routine. 9.95, well deserved!
Piedrahita (PSU): She starts her routine with a nice full in, great height and nice landing too. Switch half to wolf full, good control but good height too. Finishes with a front tuck through to double tuck, she squats a little low but saves the fall. 9.775
Adams (UA): Front aerial was very pretty and confident. Good flic lay, just a small wobble. Switch leap to split jump, very pretty flexibility. Dismounts with a back handspring to 1.5 and takes a small hop forward. 9.9
Herring (PSU): First pass is an Arabian with the best control into her lunge we’ve seen all day, that was great! Gorgeous switch side half to straddle jump, way above 180. Finishes with a back 1.5 to front layout and she holds that stick before lunging. Great routine! 9.9
Jordan (UM): Mounts on the high bar with a nice held handstand. Blind to Jaeger, shootover down to low and she really holds it. A little over on her blind full and she peels off. She gets back up and does it again and takes a step back on the double tuck. 9.2
Blanco (UA): Gorgeous front aerial. Stunning flic lay lay, small wobble at the end. Really nice switch leap to beat jump. I may have missed a leap watching a bar fall. Roundoff 1.5 and she clicks her heels together. 9.9
Salcedo (PSU): First pass is a double front, she cowboys it and is a bit quick to her lunge but overall a very good pass! Nice switch full to split full (?), great extension. Roundoff layout stepout as a side pass. Next is a front layout front full front pike, that pike really rose and the landing was perfect! 9.85
Boris (EMU): Starts with a nice double pike, she kind of jumps to her lunge but overall good. Back 1.5 to front layout, much better control on that landing. Switch half to split full was nice, nice straight legs. Finishes with a double tuck, similar to the first pass she jumped into the lunge but it was fine. 9.825
After 3: Michigan 148.275, Alabama 148.175, Penn State 147.625, Kent State 146.750
After a fall on beam, Alabama was able to stay confident and not only put up acceptable scores, but great ones! Michigan ended its bar rotation with a fall, but it didn’t matter since it came after five solid scores. Penn State continues to put on a great showing on floor. Amani Herring scored a 9.900 for a stellar routine. Time for the last rotation! Our favorites are looking pretty good to advance, but who will win the session? Will Michigan keep its lead or will the Tide show out on floor and take the lead?
Rotation 4: Penn State VT, Kent State UB, Michigan BB, Alabama FX
Behner (KSU): Starts on the low bar with a Maloney to shootover, slight foot separation on the Maloney. Stalder to double tuck and she sticks it! 9.75
Mulligan (UM): Cat leap to front aerial, very good form and confidence. Flic lay, she wobbles and falls off. Beat jump to straddle half, slight wobble but I’m being picky. Dismounts with a back handspring to tucked 1.5 and she takes a step forward. 9.225
Johnston (PSU): Yurchenko full, pikes it down but gets the stick. 9.85
Schultz (KSU): Starts on the low bar with a Shaposh to shootover, her legs are glued together. Struggles to get to that last handstand and hops forward on the double layout. 9.725
Guggino (UM): Wobbles on the full turn. Flic lay, slight wobble but stays on. Straddle jump to straddle half, wobbles there too, needs to settle in. Nice side sumi. Finishes with a back handspring to 1.5 and takes a step forward. 9.775
McElligott (PSU): Yurchenko full, piked hips in the air and a hop in place on the landing. 9.85
Tsipis (KSU): Starts on the high bar with a nice handstand. Blind to a high Jaeger. Pak down to low, her legs are apart. Short on the last handstand, blind full and sticks the double tuck. 9.825
Burgess (UA): Starts with a really nice high double pike, keeps that front foot in place on her lunge. Next pass is a double tuck, she has to jump into that lunge instead of stepping. Switch side to Popa, a tiny bit shy of 180 on the Popa but I’m being picky. Finishes with a front full front layout, she looked off and her form was kind of weird but she stayed on her feet. 9.8
Vore (UM): Flic lay, some flexed feet but a good landing. Slight wobble on the turn. Front toss was good, no problems there. Straddle jump to split half and she wobbles and falls. Roundoff 1.5 and she hops sideways. Michigan should be far enough ahead of Penn State, but we’ll see. 9.025
Herring (PSU): Yurchenko full, tries to flare out but pikes down but gets the stick! 9.875
Jamison Sears is staying loose and showing us some great dance moves before her floor routine!
Bauman (UM): Nice flic lay, very solid landing. Split jump straddle half was good, she looks calm. Side sumi with straight legs, super solid and great form. Dismounts with a gainer pike with a hop back. 9.825
Sears (UA): Starts off with a super high double layuot and she sticks it, doesn’t even lunge! She is having so much fun with this routine. Wow, gorgeous switch half to Popa, she goes above and beyond 180. Split full down to her knee was good. Next pass is a front tuck through to double tuck, small hop forward but not crazy. 9.85
Brooks (UM): Flic lay lay, wobbles but saves it. Switch leap to beat jump was good, good flexibility. Front toss, another slight wobble. Back handspring to double twist and gets the stick!
Boris (EMU): Full on pike off, lands with a low chest and takes a small sideways hop.
Hudson (UA): First pass is a front layout front double twist and the landing was great. Penn State is screaming because they just found out they made it to the final! How exciting! Switch half wolf full was great. She’s staying very composed through Penn State yelling “we are Penn State” to her music. Nice double tuck, lunges forward though.
Mack (ISU): Piked full in, kind of slides into her lunge but great pass in the air! Switch side to Popa, such great straddle positions. Next pass is a front tuck through to double pike and she sticks it! Nice routine!
Final: Alabama 197.450, Penn State 196.925, Michigan 196.725, Kent State 195.650
Wow, what a shocking end to this meet! Michigan was forced to count a fall on beam and allowed the red-hot Nittany Lions to come in and take second place and advance to the final! Heartbreaking for Michigan at home, but exciting for the Tide and Penn State!
Event Winners:
Vault: Wilson, 9.950
Bars: Blanco, Bauman; 9.950
Beam: Burgess, 9.925
Floor: Brooks, Wilson; 9.925
All Around: Wilson, 39.575
READ THIS NEXT: 2024 Ann Arbor Regional Preview
Live Blog by Emily Lockard
