The 2025 NCAA season is finally here! While most eyes are focused on teams ranked in the top 36 nationally, these three teams, especially UC Davis and Sacramento State, have been on the verge of something special for years while Oshokosh is the three-time defending NCGA champion.
UC Davis comes into the meet finishing 2024 at No. 47 and is fresh off a record-breaking season for the program. The Aggies broke 197 for the first time in program history and have the potential to take it a step further in 2025. Senior Keanna Abahram is in her final year with the program and is primed to lead UC Davis as the top returner on three of the four events.
Like UC Davis, Sacramento State is coming off a record-breaking year of its own where the floor team set an event record of a 49.425 in 2024. The Hornets’ potential has the ability to skyrocket in 2025, as the team moved into a brand new training facility this July. With head coach Melissa Genovese heading into her second season at the helm of the program, Sacramento State is a team to watch.
While Oshkosh isn’t the favorite walking into its season opener, the Titans have dominated at the NCGA level for the past three years. Head coach Lauren Karnitz led the squad to a third-straight NCGA title and things do not look to be slowing down in 2025.
Update: Announcers said Keanna Abraham has scratched the meet due to a foot bruise. UC Davis will miss out on its top returner on vault, beam, and floor.
Rotation 1: Sacramento State VT, UW-Oshkosh UB, UC Davis FX
Gilman (SAC): Nice distance on a Yurchenko layout half and takes just a small controlled hop backward. 9.725.
McGibboney (UWO): Tkatchev + shootover, but the camera is glitching a bunch. I did see a STUCK full twisting double back dismount though. 9.750.
Scafani (UCD): Solid double pike to start but moves both feet on the landing. Leap series is a switch ring + tour jete half + wolf jump full. Solid height on the back 1.5 + front pike and takes a hop forward. Lacks a bit of amplitude on Rudi, but gets a nice stag jump out of it. Solid start.
Wilson (SAC): Big Yurchenko full, takes a big hop backward and another step on that landing though. Some flexed feet as well.
Reichow (UCD): Front tuck through to double back and takes a step out of bounds on the landing. Switch half + wolf jump full + wolf jump full for the leap series, solid. Double pike to dismount and takes a big step backward.
Driessen (SAC): Awesome yurchenko full! Huge height and takes a step on the landing.
Romano (UWO): Short on the first handstand. Jaeger to shootover and has some loose form. Giant full + double tuck to dismount, short on the handstand and lands short, taking a big step forward. 9.325.
Morgenthaler (SAC): Nice height on the Yurchenko full but didn’t look fully prepared for that landing. Takes just one big step back though.
Wyly (UCD): Big height on the double tuck, nearly steps out but keeps that heel up to stay in bounds. Switch ring + tour jete half + Popa and short on some of those split positions. Front tuck through to double pike and gets it around nicely, but moves that front foot on the landing.
Zimmerman (SAC): Big block on the Yurchenko full and takes a big step backward. Maybe a slight pike down on the landing. 9.725.
Hayden (UWO) Giant full + double tuck dismount, short on the landing. Stream did not show the rest of the routine. 🙁 9.500.
Ray (UCD): Huge double pike! Takes just a controlled step back. Tour jete half + Popa + Popa, nice height but not very precise and short of 180 degrees. Front tuck through to double back, finds the landing and takes just a step back. 9.750.
Lutrell (SAC): Beautiful Yurchenko full! Big height and just a scoot back on the landing. Best one from the Hornets for sure. 9.800.
Moneymaker (UCD): Really solid Rudi + LOSO! Throws her chest a bit forward on the landing, Beautiful control on that landing. Front tuck through to double tuck and lands its nicely. Maybe a small shuffle on the front foot. 9.825!
Marshall (UCD): Starts off with double tuck, nice control on the landing but low chest. Switch half + wolf jump full, solid. Front layout + front full, just a controlled step forward. Double pike to dismount, solid landing but another slightly low chest position. Overall, that was really good. Update: Apparently she got an OOB deduction (I did not see her go OOB) and she also received a neutral deduction for going overtime. 9.625.
After 1: UC Davis 48.525, Sacramento State 48.475, UW-Oshkosh 47.875
What a start for each of these teams. UW-Oshkosh had a solid showing on bars and stuck two of their dismounts. One of its highlights was junior Reanna McGibboney’s 9.750 career-high on bars. Sacramento State and UC Davis typically scored a bit higher on their respective events last season, but both teams had no falls.
Update: Reanna McGibonney’s bars score was lowered to a 9.700 – just 0.025 off her career-high.
Rotation 2: UC Davis VT, Sacramento State UB, UW-Oshkosh BB
Cohen (SAC): Nice straddled Tkatchev to start. Clear hip + Pak, leg separation. A wee bit short on the half pirouette on the low bar, but keep good rhytym. Double layout dismount, closed hips and takes just a small hop. 9.725.
Ratkowski (UWO): BHS + LOSO and lifts her leg in in the aier on the landing. Split jump + back tuck, some flexed feet and short of 180 degrees. Switch leap + switch half, again missing these split positions. BHS + back 1.5 and takes a step forward on the landing.
Morganthaler (SAC): Straddled jeager to start, catches a tiny bit close. Nice glued feet on the pak salto! Sticks the double layout dismount.
Kim (UCD): Big height and distance on the Yurchenko full and takes a big hop back. Gets her arms back pretty far on the table, which explains the distance.
Romano (UWO): Confident full turn to start. Front aerial + BHS, solid connection but some flexed feed. Switch leap + split jump and short of 180 degrees on those splits. Big height on the front toss and connects it to a split jump. Back 1.5 in a tuck position to dismount and takes a hop forward.
Wyly (UCD): Yurchenko full and is short on rotation, forcing her to take a big step forward with her chest down.
Jones (SAC): Goes for straddled jaegar but lets go too early and is way too far to catch the bar. Remounts and go for a Pak with a leg separation. Solid half pirouette on the low bar. Dismounts with a double layout, nice height but has some flexed and a hop on the landing.
Ray (UCD): Yurchenko half on, front tuck half off. Nice height and block, but has flexed feet on the air and lands with a big hop that is off center. 9.800.
Cienkus (UWO): Solid full turn to start. BHS + LOSO, slight wobble but get its back together. Switch leap + split jump, short of 180 degrees. Cat leap + front toss + beat jump, solid. Lands a bit low on the front toss though. Back 1.5 dismount and sticks it cold! That was great.
Sitzman (SAC): Big straddled jaegar + shootover, nicely done. Giant full + double tuck and sticks the landing.
Houghton (SAC): Another big straddled jaegar. A little arch on the handstand on the high bar, but recoups well with a nice Pak. Double layout dismount and another stick! That was great!
Wilson (SAC): ANOTHER straddled jaedar but its nicely done. Solid Pak salto down to the low bar. Giant full + double tuck and takes a step to the side on the landing. Looked a little crooked on the giant full too.
Steele (UWO): BHS + LOSO, big wobble. Switch leap + split jump, solid. Slight balance check on the full turn. Back 1.5 dismount and takes a small step forward.
Jakubiak (UWO): Start off with a confident full turn. BHS + LOSO, looks a bit hesitant but everything came together. Cat leap + switch leap, short of 180 degrees. Switch leap + straddle jump 1/4, judges will take on those splits. Takes a step on the dismount.
After 2: Sacramento State 97.175, UC Davis 96.925, UW-Oshkosh 96.350
The Hornets took over the lead after the second rotation thanks to a pair of 9.8+ scores from Hannah Sitzman and Kara Houghton. Sacramento State recovered well after a fall from Athena Jones early in the lineup. UC Davis was without Keanna Abahram’s Yurchenko 1.5, but still managed a 48.300 overall – only 0.275 off of their average on the event last season. UW-Oshkosh scored more than a point higher than their season average on beam from last season and are keeping the meet close.
Rotation 3: UC Davis UB, Sacramento State BB, UW-Oshkosh FX
Scafani (UCD): Straddled jaegar + shootover and catches a bit close to the bar and struggles through that connection. Giant full + double tuck and sticks the landing.
Gilman (SAC): Starts off with a BHS + LOSO and its solid. Good full turn to follow. Nice side aerial. Staddle jump + straddle 3/4, solid. Back 1.5 dismount and takes a hop forward.
Zeilinger (UWO): Front full + front full and has too much power and steps out of bounds. Switch straddle 1/2 + straddle jump, solid. Double tuck dismount and takes step forward with a low chest. 9.500.
Morgenthaler (SAC): BHS + BHS + LOSO and is off the beam. Nice pike jump + straddle jump 1/2. Back 1.5 with a step forward.
Wakita (UCD): fall on the straddled jaegar to start the routine. Really beautiful Pak salto and nice half pirouette! Has a major hiccup on the low bar but keeps it going. Dismounts with a double layout.
Jakubiak (UWO): Solid Rudi + LOSO, but throws her chest forward on that first element. Switch straddle + straddle 1/2 for the leap series. Goes for an E rated second pass – a front double full – and takes a step to the side. Nicely done. 9.800.
Moneymaker (UCD): Maloney to Bail – that was a beautiful handstand. Double layout dismount and takes a step backward.
Leeman (UWO): Wolf jump 1.5 to start. Roundoff straight to double pike, takes a couple steps backward and is out of bounds. Switch half + wolf full, solid. Rudi + LOSO to dismount, solid landing but moves that front foot. 9.525.
Zimmerman (SAC): BHS + BHS + LOSO, really nice form and control on that. L hop + switch straddle, nicely done. Front gainer full off the side of the beam and sticks that landing. Great work.
Cienkus (UWO): Really nice back 2.5 for her first pass and takes a controlled step forward. Clean leap series. Rudi + split jump, nice pointed toes! Super clean work so far. 9.775.
Jones (SAC): BHS + LOSO to start the routine, nice height and control. Switch leap + split 3/4, clean. Hits the side aerial. Back 1.5 dismount and waves her arms, but gets the stick.
Ratkowski (UWO): Front layout + Rudi mount, steps back and to the side on that. Switch half + wolf jump full, nicely done. Front tuck through to double back, lands really short and falls to her knees. It was going well until that.
Lutrell (SAC): BHS + LOSO, solid. Split jump 3/4 + beat jump. Solid full turn. Change leg aerial – really unique and nicely done. Back 1.5 to dismount and takes a small hop forward.
McGibboney (UWO): Roundoff straight to double pike, big height but takes a big step back. Switch straddle + straddle jump, nicely done. Front layout + Rudi, a little crooked but makes it work. Isolated switch leap and ends by crowing herself. Really fun, expressive routine!
After 3: Sacramento State 146.150, UC Davis 145.300, UW-Oshkosh 144.600
Sacramento State heads into the final rotation nearly a point ahead of UC Davis after a stellar one-two punch on beam from Sarah Lutrel and Kara Houghton. Grace Gilman started the rotation off with a bang of her own, recording a 9.800 in the leadoff spot. The Hornets’ 48.975 is a school record score on the event during a season opener.
Every team had a fall in the third rotation, and they will want to avoid any more as they head into rotation four.
Rotation 4: UW-Oshkosh VT, UC Davis BB, Sacramento State FX
Zeilinger (UWO): Messy Yurchenko full and lands really short. Limps away from that vault but looks okay.
Scafani (UCD): BHS + BHS + LOSO and saves the landing by lifting her leg up ever so slightly. Solid full turn and leap series. Gainer full off the side and sticks the landing.
Dumas-Guzman (SAC): Rudi + split jump and throws her chest forward on that first flip, but still makes it aroud nicely. Takes an uncontrolled step back, though. Second pass is a front layout + front full, some soft knees and stuggles to make that around. Switch half + Popa + Popa for the leap series and judges will take a precision deduction there.
Chiu (UCD): Solid wolf turn to start. BHS + back pike, slight hesitation but controls it. Switch leap + split jump, nicely done. BHS + back 1.5 and takes a step forward.
Lucero (UWO): Yurchenko full and lands really short, putting her hands down. Looks like the that stung the ankles a bit too.
Schmitt (SAC): Whip to double tuck for her first pass and its nicely done! Dismounts with back 1.5 + front layout and its floaty.
McConkay (UWO): Nicely done Yurchenko tuck full and sticks the landing!
Houghton (SAC): Front layout + Rudi, nicely done with a controleld step forward. Switch straddle + Popa, good work there. Nice high chest position on the double pike dismount.
Jakubiak (UWO): Big Yurchenko full, slightly piked but defnintely the best vault of the rotation.
Wakita (UCD): Didn’t catch the full routine, but has a silly fall to her knee after her full turn. That adds pressure to the rest of the lineup.
Lutrell (SAC): Really solid double pike to start. Front layout + front full for the second pass and takes a controlled step forward. Tour jete half + Popa, nicely done. Dismounts with a double tuck and gets the landing.
Ray (UCD): Solid side aerial to start. Follows that up with a controlled BHS + LOSO. Cat leap + switch half + split jump + beat jump and nicely connects all of those elements.
Gilman (SAC): Big double pike to start but takes one big step out of bounds. Tour jete half + Popa and gets that nicely around. Second pass is a front layout + front full, opens up nicely for that landing. Dismounts with a double tuck and lands short, and has to hop forward.
Just saw a big crash on vault from UW-Oshkosh. I didn’t catch who it was, but landed really short on a Yurchenko tucked full. Ouch.
Moneymaker (UCD): Falls on the front toss. Tries again because she needs to connect a BHS out of it, but has another wobble. That might affect her start value. Gainer full off the side to dismount and takes a step backward.
Jones (SAC): Nice double tuck to mount, nearly keep the tuck open throughout. Tour jete half + Popa + Popa, some deductions there. Front layout + front full, nicely done. Rudi and nails it.
Oshiro (UCD): Starts off with a BHS + LOSO, nicely done. Goes for a standing LOSO and its clean. Really beautiful switch ring + split jump! Cartwheel + gainer full off the side and takes a small step forward.
FINAL: Sacramento State 194.700, UC Davis 193.375, UW-Oshkosh 191.175
After trailing UC Davis heading into the second rotation, Sacramento State came back with solid routines on bars, beam, and floor to win by over a point. Their total is the third highest season opener in Hornet program history.
UW-Oshkosh was in the mix after three rotations, but fell apart on the vault. Multiple gymnasts crashed on their attempts, but they have the rest of the season to figure that event out. They were solid everywhere else.
VT: Megan Ray (UC Davis), Sarah Lutrell (Sacramento State) 9.800
UB: Hannah Sitzman (Sacramento State) 9.850
BB: Rylin Zimmerman (Sacramento State) 9.850
FX: Amelia Moneymaker (UC Davis) 9.825
AA: Amelia Moneymaker (UC Davis) 37.775
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Live blog by Aaron Doyle
