Hello again! I’m live from Littlejohn Coliseum for the second annual Clemson Gymnastics intrasquad meet.
‘Tis the season, as it’s the most wonderful time of the year (at least it is from my perspective)! College gymnastics is just around the corner! Last year, the debutant Clemson Tigers had a historic season. After three long years in the making, they set their sights on the competition floor and let the gymnastics world know they weren’t coming to play. They ended the 2024 season at regionals in Gainesville, Florida. The Tigers look to enter this season by building off the momentum they built last year.
For those of you who may be new to college gymnastics, we have a series of features that can help you understand what’s going on in the always-evolving and exciting world of NCAA gym!
- College Gymnastics 101: A Guide for Football, Basketball, and Other Mainstream Sports Fans
- College Gymnastics 102: Another Guide for Mainstream Sports Fan
- College Gymnastics 103: Yet Another Guide for Mainstream Sports Fan
Now that you’re acquainted and excited for what’s to come, grab a seat and some refreshments. The Tigers are getting ready to show off and have some fun!
Beam
Lippeat: Front aerial bhs swing down, nice and clean. Switch leap switch side, nice lines. Side aerial beat jump, solid. Pretty full turn. Front gainer full from the side, small studder.
B. Clark: Nice straddle mount. Aggressive front tuck beat jump. Bhs loso, just off to the side and comes off. Nice full turn. Switch leap straddle half, solid. Front Rudi dismount, almost stuck.
Church: Beautiful artistry in her mount and dance. Bhs loso, slight balance check but pretty. Nice extension in her leaps. Side aerial split jump, beautiful lines. Pretty full turn. Round off 1.5, stuck cold.
Nielson: Nice full turn to start. Switch leap straddle, solid. Bhs bhs loso, pretty. Gorgeous cat leap side aerial. Ro 1.5, almost stuck.
McCright: Shows off pretty lines and flexibility in her split-style mount. Bhs bhs loso, hits the beam cap and comes off the back. It was SO beautiful otherwise. Side aerial split jump, solid. Side gainer full, stuck cold.
Wells: Solid full turn. Switch leap split 3/4, nice lines and extension. Bhs loso, pretty. Ro full, stuck.
Kuhl: Bhs bhs loso, stuck and oh so solid. Switch leap tuck 3/4, pretty. A little shaky on full turn. Ro tuck 1.5, just a smidge extra sauce on take-off and takes large step forward upon landing.
Walsh: Nice full turn to start. Bhs loso, solid. Cat leap front toss, nice amplitude. Switch leap split jump half, pretty. Ro 1.5, stuck.
Holman: Solid bhs loso to start. Nice full turn. A little off on switch leap and breaks the series. Side aerial beat jump, slight balance check. Ro 1.5, slight step to the side.
H. Clark: Front toss bhs, solid. Love the creativity in this series! Full turn, small balance check. Switch leap split jump to beat jump, slight form in switch leap but overall pretty lines. No dismount, but can’t wait to see what she’s cooking up in the world of dismounts.
Floor
Lippeat: Ro bhs double back to open. Love the upbeat music and choreography, so fun! Nice switch leap to shushunova. Front full to front full, great height. Such a fun and engaging routine to open up.
Minner: Fhs front full to open. Solid leaps. Fhs front full to back loso, I LOVE this pass every time someone does it. The 80s rock and EDM blend brought a smile to my face.
Holman: Fhs Rudi, solid pass to open. I loved the fun EDM Tuck jump full into dance leading up to next pass. Ro bhs 1.5, pretty in the air, solid landing.
Jackson: The routine starts with the Sportscenter intro, LOVE. Does a back timer to open…wonder what this pass could be *insert eyeballs-looking emoji here* Hip-hop mixes are always so fun to watch ah! Ro bhs double back, I think?? the camera was a wee bit in the way.
Wells: Another fun hip-hop/EDM mix! Does a back timer to open as well. I can’t wait to see what passes they all have tucked up their sleeves. Tuck full straddle full straddle half, great amplitude. Ro front full through to ro bhs double back.
Clark: Lots of old-school hip hop this year…I’m so here for it. Ro bhs double back to open, great height. Nice leaps. Front lay front full to front tuck, love the spice this pass has.
Walsh: Oh hello, a Tate McRae floor routine!?!? Sign me up to watch every time. Does a front pass timer to open. Switch full straddle half, nice height. Front lay front full front tuck, glad more gymnasts are doing this pass, its so fun to watch.
Vault
Wells: Yurchenko full with half-turn jump. We’re sure to see a lot of Yurchenko 1.5 timers tonight!
Walsh: Yurchenko full with half-turn jump.
Jackson: Yurchenko full with half-turn jump.
Kuhl: Yurchenko full. So glad to see her vaulting ah!
Minner: Yurchenko tuck 1.5, I love her block so much.
Nielson: Yurchenko layout, intrigued what this could be a time for!
Bars
Lippeat: Straddle Ray to bail, solid. Nice lines throughout. Full pirouette to double back dismount.
Berry: Nice toe-on. Pretty Maloney to Pak. Double layout dismount.
Jackson: Straddle Jaeger to bail. Love the aggressiveness throughout. Full-twisting double back dismount.
Wells: Straddle Jaeger to bail. Pretty and aggressive swinging throughout. Nice full-twisting double back dismount.
Clark: Pretty piked Jaeger to bail. Nice handstands. Doesn’t do a dismount. Can’t wait to see what she does in-season!
Nielson: Nice toe hand. Bail to handstand. Pretty double lay dismount.
Kuhl: Straddle Tkachev, a wee bit close. Nice bail. Doesn’t do a dismount but I’m equally intrigued to see what she does this season as well!
The Tigers will be live and in action on January 6th in Oklahoma City for the Sprouts Collegiate Invitational.
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Live blog by Jessica Brock
