Session one of these championships is already complete and two teams have already solidified their places into the final on Saturday night! Two more teams will be looking to advance to these finals in tonight’s evening session and see where they stack up to the teams who have already qualified for tomorrow.
Lindenwood is coming in as the heavy favorite to be one of the two advancing in this session, having had a stellar final season as a program. The Lions were crowned the MIC Conference Champions this year, and are coming into this competition averaging a 195.468, having broken the 197 mark once in January this year. The team will be looking to put up another solid day to get them into the second half of this championship competition and vye for another title. The Brown Bears will also be competing in this second session and are starting on its night off on beam, which has the capability to be a really strong start for the team. This past weekend, junior Julia Bedell had the chance to compete at the Gainesville regional qualifying on floor, and has been an outstanding, consistent competitor all season. The Bears will be looking for her to put up some big scores, and have the night it knows it can have to get that second spot into the team final.
Rounding out the six qualifying teams is the host, West Chester University coming in right behind Brown at No. 62. This last spot is truly up for grabs, seeing that WCU and Brown are only ranked one place apart, and with this being in WCU’s home arena, this might give them the confidence they need to qualify into the team final. Like session one, there are several individuals competing in this session, with an entire squad of athletes from the University of Bridgeport with eight event specialists and another all-arounder, Abigail Kenney, in this session. We will also have the chance to see three athletes from Fisk, four from Centenary and five from Talladega, representing their teams in tonight’s competition.
This is going to be another exciting competition, let’s get into it
Rotation 1: Individuals (VT), WCU (UB), Brown (BB), LU (FX)
Evans (LU): First pass a nice back 1.5 to front layout. Torjete full, questionable on getting that all the way around. Second pass a big double tuck to close, what a great lead off for Lindenwood! 9.825.
Marcus (Brown): BHS LOSO, nice. Front tuck ,really good. Beat jump to split ¾, good. Finishes with round off 1.5 dismount hop forward on the landing, great lead off! 9.775.
Betts (WCU): Starts with a blind full to shoot over, right back up with a toe up to the high bar and a double layout dismount, a little shape issue, but a great routine! 9.55.
Weiner (Brown): BHS LOSO, good start. Switch side, nice. Cat leap to side aerial, good. Dismounts BHS Gainer full off the side stuck! 9.700.
Rodriguez (WCU): Blind full right a Pak down to the low bar. Back up with a toe up and ends with a BIG full in dismount! 9.600.
Jones (LU): Fall on the last pass, but otherwise a good routine from what I saw. 9.050.
Kramer (Brown): Side aerial to BHS to start the routine. Straddle jump to straddle ¼, really nice Y extension leg hold, love. Switch leap to split ¾, not all the way 180, but good. Ends punch front full, hop on the landing.
Ringas (WCU): Mounts in between the bar to a clear hip to a Geinger, a little leg separation on the catch to a shoot over, loose back on the catch but a good connection, to a really nice double layout dismount, STUCK!
Duffus (Talladega) VT: Yurchenko tuck full, good! 9.650.
Williams (Talladega): Yurchenko tuck full STUCK!
Wicker (WCU): A really clean bar set and a huge double layout to end! 9.525.
Lin (Brown): fall on couldn’t tell what skill ends with a cartwheel tuck 1.5 stuck. 9.200.
Peart- Williams (Talladega): Yurchenko layout full STUCK 9.825.
Eskew (WCU): Blind full to Geinger, really nice form on that, Pak down, also really nice form ending with a huge double layout dismount, step back on that. 9.725.
Ford (Brown): BHS LOSO, good, really solid. Switch leap to split jump, nice. Side facing split ½, touches the beam, Brown going to have to count a fall on this event Side aerial, good landing. Dismounts with a BHS Gainer full off the side, hop back. 9.325
Coleman (WCU): Really nice handstand to start a great straddle Jaeger right to shoot over, beautiful. Blind full double tuck to finish!
Staruk (UB): Tsuk layout full, really difficult vault wow! Just a little short on the landing. 9.625.
Xing (Brown): BHS back pike to two feet for series but it off on that. Really nice beat jump to standing LOSO. Split jump to straddle ¼, good. Double full dismount, hop forward on that. 9.10.
Griswold (LU): Really nice double pike to open. Switch side to straddle full down the side going into her second pass of a front full to front layout, a really nice rise on that second flip. HUGE double tuck to end! 9.875.
Chuy (Talladega) Bars: Really nice Maloney up and a shoot over, a little loose on the low bar catch. Dismounts with a nice double layout dismount chest down on the landing. 9.475
Kenney (UB): Beam: Opens up with a standing front tuck to back tuck, good. Cat leap to switch half, a little short. Ends punch front rudi, good routine to start off! 9.775.
Jones (LU): Huge double pike to start! Right into front full to front layout for her second pass. Switch lep to Torjete full, doesn’t fully get that around. Last pass a back 1.5 front layout. 9.875.
After 1: Lindenwood 49.200, West Chester 48.350, Brown 47.800
First rotation done! Lindenwood had an early mistake in floor but covered it well and ended strong with a great event score. West Chester started this meet off well for them on bars, and looked SO joyful getting to compete in front of their home crowd! Brown had to count two falls on beam, so looking for them to rally to stay in this to get one of the two spots into finals. Individuals did really well, Kenney started off her day in the all-around with a great 9.775 on beam, and Chuy with a 9.475 on bars! Lots of energy in here, LOVE IT.
Rotation 2: LU (VT), Individuals (UB), WCU (BB), Brown (FX)
Kramer (Brown): Opens up with a punch front layout to front rudi, a little low chest but a nice first pass. Switch ring to switch ½, really nice extension. Second pass, a nice double tuck, a little squatty but keeps it up. 9.80.
Marshall (WCU): BHS LOSO, is off on that. Cat leap to side aerial, small wobble. Switch leap to Gainer pike off the end, falls on that dismounts, looks like she might’ve hurt her arm (?) 8.675.
Appleget (LU): Yurchenko full small hop back.
Jones (LU): Yurchenko full, really clean landing. 9.750.
Aucoin (UB): Free hip to nice Geinger, to Pak and a BIG full out!!! WOW! 9.400
Baechle (LU): Yurchenko full, smallest hop ever back. 9.850.
Keane (WCU): BHS BHS LOSO triple series, really nice, small leg lift and wobble. Switch leap to split jump, a little short of 180. Front walkover, good. Beat jump. Gainer pike off the end to finish. 9.675.
Imbarlina (UB): Nice handstand to start a huge Tkachev, misses her catch on that. Back up with a shootover, a little loose in her back. Dismounts with a blind full to double tuck. 8.675.
Marcus (Brown): First pass is a big double tuck, lots of power but comes out of bounds. Switch side ½, good. Second pass, back 1.5 to front tuck and ends with a switch side to straddle full, straddle full. 9.575.
Berkley (LU): Yurchenko full a little close to the table but a good vault. 9.650.
Eskew (WCU): BHS LOSO to start, lifts up her foot on that. Switch ½, a little short on that split. Cat leap to side aerial, good. Gainer full off the side, good landing. Last two keeping WCU back on track! 9.650.
Xing (Brown): Whip to double tuck to start off, good. Switch side to straddle full, good gets it all the way around. Big double pike, a little short on that. 9.800.
Caffey (LU): Yurchenko full, small step forward on that. 9.675.
Whitaker (WCU): Beat jump to split full, really good gets it all the way around. BHS LOSO a little loose legs but keeps it on. Cat leap to front toss to beat jump, good connection. Gainer pike off the end to finish!
Griswold (LU): Yurchenko full, big hop back but really nice. 9.750.
Peart- Williams (Talladega): HUGE Ray to start, toe handstand down to a nice Pak, good last handstand into a double tuck dismount, a little short but keeps it up. 9.600.
Davis (Brown): First pass double pike, Switch ring to switch ½ ring, really difficult leap. Such beautiful dance into this second pass, a whip ½ to front full, really nice. Switch half to straddle full, good to end! 9.9.
Cascadden (WCU): Standing LOSO to start, really nice. Switch leap to straddle ¼, good connection. BHS LOSO, really solid. Beat jump to split ¾, little adjustment. Ends with a round off 1.5 dismount, really great routine!
Nokes (UB): Blind to nice straddle Jaeger to shoot over, a little loose in the connection. Blind full to double tuck dismount, small shuffle back on that. 9.475.
Dewar (Brown): Back 1.5 to front full to start. Double tuck second pass, a little short, nice routine!
McFarland (WCU): BHS LOSO, love the aggressive finish, really solid. Hitch kick to side aerial, really good. Switch leap to split ½, nice. Round off 1.5 to end this routine! 9.800.
Chuy (Talladega) Beam: Cat leap to switch side, a little short on that split but keeps it on. BHS LOSO, lifts the leg but keeps it on. Cat leap, front toss to beat jump, not sure if she’ll get the credit for the cat leap, and a little wobble on that. Ends with a punch tuck front full off the end. 9.50.
Bedell (Brown): HUGE full in to start off this routine. Torjete ½ to split full. Second pass, Front through to a really high double tuck, really uncharacteristic fall on that for her, but she’s back up and is okay. 9.050.
Kenney (UB): Floor: First pass opens with a really nice 2.5. Second pass rudi, really nice landing. Switch half, wolf full to straddle full, good. Ends with a front half I think, maybe took off funny?
After 2: Lindenwood 97.975, West Chester 96.925, Brown 96.725
Lindenwood has a solid vault rotation, a little bit lower scoring for them than they are used to, but they are holding their lead well. Brown definitely caught up to West Chester in this rotation, but with the fall from Bedell, that might have been the score they could’ve replaced with a lower one in this rotation. Nonetheless, Brown put up some really great floor scores and is only two tenths behind West Chester who really rallied after a fall in the first spot and came back with great strength in the rest of the lineup. Half way!!
Rotation 3: Brown (VT), LU (UB), Individuals (BB), WCU (FX)
Gruber (WCU): Front double full sits it down , switch side half to straddle jump, good. Second pass punch front layout front full, good. Split full to straddle 1.5, Last pass, front rudi good.
McAleavey (UB): Starts off this routine with a BHS LOSO, good. Beat jump, right to side aerial to split jump, really nice, fluid connection. Switch leap to split jump, good. Dismounts with a Gainer full off the side, really nice routine! 9.525.
Ford (Brown): Yurchenko tuck full, sits it down. 8.975.
Jones (LU): Really nice Ray, lots of amplitude on that, to shoot over, nice last handstand into a double layout dismount. 9.725.
Kramer (Brown): Yurchenko layout full, step back but good picking it up after a fall. 9.65.
McFarland (WCU): Front through to double tuck to start, really nice. Switch leap through to split full to wolf full, good. Double pike second pass, really good landing to end! 9.775.
Xing (Brown): Yurchenko layout full, good landing. 9.750
Cooper (LU): Starts this with a blind to piked Jaeger to shoot over, really nice form on that connection. Ends this routine with a huge double layout dismount, small hop forward. 9.775.
Dewar (Brown): Yurchenko layout full, small hop on that landing. 9.725.
Molina (Centenary): Beam: BHS LOSO, really nice, split 3/4, nice. Side aerial, is off on that. 9.025.
Bedell (Brown): Yurchenko layout full, small step back. 9.80.
Kraus (LU): Really nice Ray to a shoot over, great connection. Ends with a HUGE full-in dismount STUCK! 9.825.
Lin (Brown): Yurchenko layout, good vault for them. 9.550.
Eskew (WCU): Front through to double tuck really nice. Switch side half to straddle full, really good. Front layout to front full second pass really nice. Switch half to straddle full. 9.725.
Moon (LU): Opens this routine with a Shaposh up to the high bar, a little loose legs on the back seing and back down with a overshoot back down and a double layout dismount, small step forward. 9.725.
Kenney (UB): Vault: Yurchenko half on, front tuck off, small hop in place, really nice! 9.75.
Rodriguez (WCU): HUGE double pike to start, really nice height and power on that. Switch side half to straddle full, doesn’t get it all the way around. Punch front full to front pike second pass. WCU is so into this routine I love it!! Ends with a really nice double tuck! 9.825.
Appleget (LU): Really nice first handstand, free hip to Geinger, beautiful right to a shoot over and ends with a beautiful double layout dismount STUCK! 9.875.
Imbarlina (UB): Front aerial, is off on that. Gets back up to try again and connects it this time to BHS. Front aerial, split jump to straddle ¼. Switch leap to straddle ¼, ends with a BHS tuck 1.5 dismount, big hop on the landing. 9.175.
Fred (WCU): Clean double pike to open up, switch side to wolf full, doesn;t get the front leg all the way up on the wolf. Front full to front pike, really nice rise on that. Switch ½ to wolf 1.5, a little shy on the last half. Ends whip to back 1.5 a little short but keeps it up, really nice routine! 9.700
Maldonado (Talladega): Beam: Front toss, good. BHS LOSO solid. Switch leap to switch side, really nice. Split 3/4, good landing on that. Dismounts with a Gainer full off the side, small hop back. Really nice start to her night!
Cascadden (WCU): Wolf 1.5 to open the routine, good. First pass double pike, really nice on that. Front layout to front full, nice control. Switch side to straddle full. Nice back 1.5 to front pike, really nice end for her! 9.850.
Barry (UB): Starts with a BHS LOSO, lots of height really nice, really aggressive on that. Switch leap to straddle ¼, really good. Front aerial to split jump, wobbles on that and is off Standing Gainer front full of the end for dismount, sticks it. 9.00.
Chuy (Talladega)Floor: Front rudi to straddle jump, nice. Switch side to wolf full, good. Big energy, LOVE this routine, so much energy. Second pass a front layout to front full, good landing to end! 9.825.
After 3: Lindenwood 146.900, West Chester 145.80, Brown 145.20
Lindenwood has a pretty good lead and is looking strong heading into its last rotation on beam! West Chester picked it up on floor and is six tenths ahead of Brown and just needs to hold onto that lead with clean vault landings through to the end. Brown can pick it back up on bars and come back to get that last spot. Chuy and Maldanado for Talladega both had great performances in their individual events, and are putting up a strong performance for Talladega in their first showing at Nationals! Last one!
Rotation 4: WCU (VT), Brown (UB), LU (BB), Individuals (FX)
Sullivan (WCU): Yurchenko layout, really nice. 9.60.
Dewar (Brown): Geinger, loose on the catch and comes off, Shoot over, blind full to double tuck dismount, pulls in really close and lands under the bar. 8.300.
Moon (LU): missed the series I think, switch leap to split ¾, good connection on that. Front aerial to a beat jump, nice. Gainer full dismount off the side. 9.75.
Rodriguez (WCU): Yurchenko tuck full small step back, good! 9.625.
Weiner (Brown): Blind full to Geinger, pretty loose on both. Shoot over to horizontal and a blind full, really big leg separation on that to a double tuck dismount. 9.225.
McFarland (WCU): Yurchenko tuck full, jumps in place. 9.60.
Marcus (Brown): Maloney nice, right to shoot over, nice handstand to blind full, double tuck, good! 9.725.
Gruber (WCU): Yurchenko layout, STUCK! Really nice!
Williams (Centenary): Starts off with a nice double tuck. Back 1.5 to front pike second pass, good routine!
Jones (LU): BHS LOSO, big wobble on that. Hitch kick to switch side, a little low on that split, right to beat jump. Round off 1.5 to end.
Coleman (WCU) Yurchenko layout, small step back. 9.55.
McKeown (Brown): In bar mount, to blind change to Tkachev misses the grab, shoot over, a little loose, but ends with a nice double layout dismount, little shuffle on the landing, loose legs. 8.80
Eskew (WCU): Yurchenko full on tuck off small step back. 9.75.
Davis (Brown): Starts with Maloney up to Pak down, a little leg separation on both those skills. Ends with a nice blind full to double tuck, stuck!
Reece (Fisk) : Front through to a big 2.5! Switch half to straddle full to wolf full. Second pass double pike, almost goes out but keeps it in!
Farrell (Brown): Starts with a nice Maloney, Pak down, a little loose on that catch. Ends with a blind full to double tuck, stuck! 9.825.
Appleget (LU): Switch leap to pike jump, good. BHS LOSO, really solid series. Standing LOSO, nice amplitude on that. Round 1.5 dismount to finish off this routine.
Kenney (UB): Bars: Free hip to Maloney, misses the catch and pings under, shoot over, good, holds it. Ends toe on, front pike ½ dismount, stuck! 9.075.
West Chester sees they made it to National Finals (first time ever!!) cue the tears !!
Kraus (LU): BHS LOSO, nice series. Hitch kick to switch ½ to beat jump, good split on that. BHS Gainer full off the side, stuck!
Aucoin (UB): Punch rudi to start off her floor routine, lots of power and is out of bounds. Switch half, ring nice. Second pass, punch front layout front full, good. Such a fun routine! Switch side to straddle jump before her last pass, and ends with a back 1.5 to front full, really nice!
Final: Lindenwood 195.625 West Chester 193.975, Brown 192.525
West Chester in tears! Its first time ever qualifying to National Finals in their home arena! How exciting! Lindenwood is also advancing to the finals; it put up a good performance, but was a little shaky on the last event, so looking for them to come back hungry tomorrow night. This isn’t the way Brown wanted to end, but there were most definitely highlights throughout this meet. Tune back in tomorrow at 7PM EST for the Finals! YAY!
Advancing to Finals: Lindenwood and West Chester
Event Winners:
VT: Baechle (LU) 9.85
UB: Appleget (LU) 9.875
BB: Kramer (Brown), McFarland (WCU), Maldanado (Talladega), Jones (LU), Kraus (LU) 9.80
FX: Davis (Brown) 9.9
AA: Jones (LU) 39.150
READ THIS NEXT: Previewing the 2024 USAG National Championships
Live blog by Julianna Roland
