Year two of ESPN Events’ foray into gymnastics kicks off with an exciting showdown featuring underdogs from different conferences. Big 12 newcomer Arizona and Big Ten powerhouse Michigan are both eager to bounce back from shaky season openers, while ACC contenders N.C. State and Clemson look to build momentum early in the season, with Clemson making its 2025 debut.
N.C. State opened its season with a crucial home victory over Towson, one of this season’s strongest mid-major contenders. Three-event competitors Syniya Thomas, Ashley Knight, and Chloe Negrete led the Wolfpack, using their experience to anchor the lineups—a strength that could again prove decisive. While the Wolfpack surpassed 49 on only one event last week—floor—they showed potential on the other three apparatuses. To secure a win tonight, they’ll likely need to break 49 on at least one more event.
Michigan, just a few years removed from a national championship, had a less-than-ideal season debut as they integrated a high number of new routines. However, the Wolverines boast the No. 1 ranked freshman class, offering plenty of hope for a quick turnaround as these gymnasts adapt to NCAA competition. Among the newcomers, Kayli Boozer and Jahzara Ranger showed promise, and veteran Carly Bauman lived up to her preseason hype, positioning herself as the team’s leader in 2025.
Arizona, just behind Michigan in the rankings after week one, secured a key quad meet win but was held back by a few sub-9.7 scores. All-arounders Alysen Fears and Abigayle Martin showcased flashes of brilliance but had minor errors across their four events. If they can smooth out those mistakes, the Wildcats have a chance to make a big statement tonight as they enter their first Big 12 season.
Making its season debut in only its second year of competition, Clemson is hoping to start strong, building on an impressive first season that saw a regionals appearance. Having lost only one routine from last year’s lineups, the Tigers, led by Rebecca Wells and Molly Arnold, are poised to make another postseason run in 2025. A strong showing tonight could boost their early-season ranking, especially after many teams saw lower scores in week one.
Follow along with the action on video (ACC Network) and live scores!
Rotation 1:
Jordan (UM): Solid Yurchenko full, steps forward.
Adomaites (NCSU): Nice Pak to Maloney. Great lines. Slightly short on dismount.
Lippeat (CU): Pretty front aerial. Split leap split half, solid. A small balance check here and there. Side gainer full, stuck.
Ranger (UM): Huge Yurchenko 1.5, large step forward.
Childs (NCSU): Straddle Jaeger to bail, looked a little far but somehow catches it. Great swing. Blind full to double back, stuck.
B. Clark (CU): Punch front beat jump, solid. Bhs loso, great height and extension. Nice full turn. Split jump straddle quarter, solid. Front Rudi dismount, stuck.
Fears (UA): Fhs front 2.5 to open, pretty. Punch Rudi, bounced back and unfortunately put her hand down. Nice leaps. Front double full, lacked on sauce a little.
Mulligan (UM): Yurchenko 1.5, slight form break in the air.
Myers (NCSU): Nice bail to handstand. Pretty Maloney. Nice double layout dismount.
Nielsen (CU): Bhs bhs loso, so so pretty. Front aerial, small balance check. Nice full turn. Ro 1.5, slight shuffle.
Krohnfield (UA): Nice ro bhs double pike. Slightly overrotated back 1.5, but pretty in the air. Nice leaps. Ro bhs double back, looked a little low on energy but saved it.
Davis (UM): Yurchenko 1.5, slight pike down and large step backward. 9.725
Volk (NCSU): Bail to handstand, seemed a little rushed but solid. Nice swing throughout. Double layout, almost gets the stick.
Church (CU): Bhs loso, lifts her front leg to save it. Switch leap split half, pretty. Nice full turn. Front 1.5, stuck.
Martin (UA): Huge ro Bhs double pike to open. Pretty front layout Rudi. Switch half split full, pretty but a little short. Nice ro bhs double back.
Thaxton (UM): Yurchenko full, lands with chest a little low. 9.625
McCright (CU): Bhs loso, so pretty. Split jump tuck full, solid. Side aerial beat jump, not sure if that connection will count. Side back gainer full, stuck.
Strom (UA): Rudi to back loso, great height. Cat leap to switch half, pretty. Ro bhs double pike, great finish.
Diaz (UM): Yurchenko 1.5, slightly under rotated and steps backwards.
Harper (NCSU): Clear hip handstand to Gienger, slight bend in elbows. Bail to handstand, solid. Nice double layout, stuck.
Kuhl (CU): Bhs loso loso, solid. Split half, great height. Nice full turn. Ro tuck 1.5, stuck.
Mueller (UA): Ro bhs double pike, great amplitude. Switch side straddle full, nice height. Front layout front 1.5, a wee bit short. Ro bhs double back, love to see three pass routines ahhhh.
Totals: Michigan 48.950, NC State 48.850, Clemson 48.775, Arizona 48.500
Rotation 2:
Mueller (UA): Yurchenko full, solid.
Adler (NCSU): Bhs loso, solid. Nice full turn. Switch leap straddle half, nice control. Pretty side aerial. Side gainer full, stuck.
Lippeat (CU): Ro bhs double back, nice height. Switch half Shushunova, great amplitude. Ro bhs 1.5 to punch front 1.5, love this pass.
Derr (UA): Nice Yurchenko full.
Ranger (UM): She just caught her release with one hand??? Girly is a beast wow. Nice bail to handstand. Double layout, small step.
Hall (NCSU): Nice full turn. Cat leap split half, pretty. Solid front aerial and straddle 1/4. Side gainer full, stuck.
Holman (CU): Fhs double full, dances right out. Switch side straddle half, a little low. Fhs Rudi to back loso, lands Rudi with soft knees but recovers that SO WELL.
Martin (UA): Solid Yurchenko full.
Jordan (UM): Nice bail. Pretty blind full to double back, stuck.
Thomas (NCSU): Nice full turn. Bhs loso, pretty. Straddle 1/4, great height. Side aerial, loses her balance a bit but fights to stay on. Side gainer full, stuck.
Minner (CU): Fhs 2.5, pretty in the air. Switch half to Shushunova half, this was so fun to watch. Front double full to back loso, so so solid.
LaRusso (UA): Solid Yurchenko full, stuck cold.
Diaz (UM): Nice straddle Jaeger to bail. Great lines. Double layout, fights for the stick but takes a step.
Knight (NCSU): Side aerial to ro, solid. Straddle 3/4, nice height. Nice full turn. Front toss, ever so steady and elegant. Front gainer full, stuck.
Jackson (CU): Full twisting double back to open. Nice height on leaps. Front through to ro bhs double back, great amplitude.
Strom (UA): Another solid Yurchenko for the Wildcats.
Vore (UM): Nice Tkatchev. Bail to handstand, a little short. Nice dismount, small step.
Harper (NCSU): Bhs loso, solid. Cat leap straddle 1/4, pretty lines. Nice full turn. Front toss pike, nice height.
Arnold (CU): Dynamic opening pass, great height. Great amplitude on leaps. Ro bhs 2.5 punch front, so clean.
Fears (UA): Solid Yurchenko full, small step.
Bauman (UM): Pretty Jaeger to immediate bail. Nice blind full to double back, almost stuck.
Negrete (NCSU): Front aerial bhs, pretty. Nice full turn. Pretty leaps. Ro 1.5, stuck and ever so beautiful.
B. Clark (CU): She just did a Biles…HELLO. I don’t even care that she sat it down, that’s just so cool. Switch half wolf full, nice amplitude. Closed it out with a stuck final pass.
Totals: Michigan 97.925, Clemson & Arizona 97.525, NC State 97.400
Rotation 3:
Walsh (CU): Yurchenko full, stuck.
Mueller (UA): Beautiful Ray. Nice bail. Love the pace she swings at. Double layout, stuck.
Parenti (UM): Nice full turn. Bhs loso, solid. Switch leap switch leap, nice extension. Front aerial to split jump, love the connection. Ro 1.5, almost gets the stick.
Adler (NCSU): Ro bhs double full straddle jump, I love love love this pass. Nice leaps. Super short in last pass but recovers it well.
Arnold (CU): Nice Yurchenko half, might’ve been a little short.
Boozer (UM): Cat leap to front aerial, leg lift and immediately falls. After such a good routine last week, it’s hard to see her fall. BHS LOSO series gets her back on track.
Hadrick (NCSU): Good extension on leap series, beautiful toe point in the turn, back 1.5 to front layout final pass, nicely done! OOB on first pass
Brown (CU): Yurchenko full, small step in place on the landing.
Krohnfeldt (UA): Maloney to bail, small leg separation in the air. double layout dismount, stuck! She’s a former national champ on the bars for a reason, y’all.
Bit of a delay between beam routines, will be interested to see how this goes after all the discourse last weekend.
Vore (UM): BHS LOSO, bend at the waist, but doesn’t fall. Progress! Small lean after the aerial, small step on the dismount.
Zultevicz (NCSU): 2.5 to punch front, little messy knees in the air. Lost a little toe point on the leap series, double tuck was good. Underrotates her third pass and lands on her knees.
Holman (CU): FHS pike half, VERY LOW landing, but a stick. Most of the deductions will come from that landing.
Deets (UA): Beautiful lines on her handstands! Double layout dismount, stuck. Arizona could creep into a higher placement after some mistakes by Michigan.
Mulligan (UM): Really need the 5th year to settle this lineup. Beautiful connection on the series, moving through her choreo quickly. Beat jump to straddle half, nice. Side aerial, small adjustment on the landing. BHS tucked 1.5 dismount, good reset.
Thomas (NCSU): Double pike to open, good distance and control! Switch side to straddle full, good. Hop back on the second pass, good rise on the connection pass at the end.
Minner (CU): Tucked 1.5, big step forward on the landing.
Derr (UA): Tkatchev, good catch. Pak salto, tiniest separation of the leg. Full twist double tuck dismount, little off to the side with a small step. But it should be a solid score.
Ranger (UM): Good full turn to open, small lean after the series. Lots of confidence on her front toss, round off double tuck dismount, very nicely done!
Knight (NCSU): front double twist to open, some leg separation in the air. LOVE the split position in the leaps, this is such a fun event for N.C. State! BEAUTIFUL float in the layout on the last pass!
Kuhl (CU): Yurchenko full, tiniest pike down in the air.
Fears (UA): Tkatchev, great toe point! Clear hip to bail to handstand, maybe slightly off-center in the position, but good lines overall. Double layout stuck. Arizona should drop the 9.65 from Martin.
Bauman (UM): Need a hit to drop a 9.125. Good confidence while moving through the routine. BHS LOSO, solid. Gainer pike off end dismount, little bit of damage through that routine. Needs a 9.725 to keep the lead, it should be that.
Negrete (NCSU): Double pike to open, good position in the leap series. Underrotated the double tuck and took a step forward, but overall a good routine!
Totals: Michigan 146.700, Arizona 146.600, Clemson 146.325, N.C. State 146.125
Michigan had a four-tenth lead heading into the 3rd rotation; it’s now down to one tenth and Arizona is heading to beam, one of its stronger events. Michigan had a rough go on floor on Sunday, it CANNOT afford to have that happen again with Arizona surging.
Rotation 4:
Zultevicz (NCSU): Yurchenko full, loose knees and pike down in the air, small step back.
Lippeat (CU): Ray to overshoot to low bar, good flow between the skills. Full pirouette to double tuck, stuck. Good start, the Tigers will need to do that across the board if they want a shot to win.
Fears (UA): BHS LOSO, good control. Side aerial, split jump to ring jump, didn’t lose toe point not one bit. Small shuffle of feet on the dismount.
Parenti (UM): double pike to open, step back on the landing, slightly low chest. Switch half, looked like she made it all the way around on both leaps.
Adler (NCSU): Yurchenko full, tiny form issues on the pre-flight. Tiniest pike down before the landing.
Berry (CU): Maloney to Pak salto, beautiful form, cleanest one I’ve seen. Nice final handstand, double layout stuck. 2/2 so far for the Tigers!
Lenczner (UA): BHS LOSO, nicely done! Hadn’t competed a routine until last weekend, so this is really special to her. Side aerial, pretty, RO 1.5 twist, stuck!
Mulligan (UM): Double tuck to open, possibly out of bounds and definitely off balance on that. Leaps looked good from what I could see, double pike to close, much cleaner landing on that pass. That step could be the difference the way Arizona is hitting beam.
Negrete (NCSU): Yurchenko full, LOTS of rise off the table, flared it out right before the landing. Very nicely done!
Jackson (CU): blind to straddle Jaeger, barely caught the bar, but immediately goes to the overshoot. Full-in, smallest movement of the feet on the landing. Clemson quietly cruising on bars!
Mueller (UA): Can clinch the AA with a 9.85. Side aerial LOSO series, nailed it! Switch leap to straddle jump, good split in the air. RO 1.5 dismount, sizeable step forward on the landing.
Boozer (UM): front tuck through to double tuck, another OOB. Switch ring a little questionable in the air, but working through it. Back 1.5 to front layout, good rise between the skills. Two OOB are not what Plocki wanted.
Wright (NCSU): Yurchenko full, good form off the table, hop back on the landing.
H. Clark (CU): Blind to piked Jaeger, mistimed the release and hits the ground. Hits it on the 2nd time and connects it to the overshoot. Double layout stuck.
Strom (UA): Double wolf turn, little wobbly. Small wobbles throughout the leap series, but stays on. BHS LOSO, nicely done. RO 1.5, stuck. Arizona controlling what it can control on beam and doing a good job at it!
Thaxton (UM): tucked full-in, MUCH improved from last week, sizeable step back. It’s nice to see that the Wolverines haven’t lost their spirit on the sidelines. Front tuck through to double tuck, much more control on the landing. Good reset routine!
Thomas (NCSU): Yurchenko full, worked hard to try to get the stick, but took a small step forward.
Wells (CU): half turn to Tkatchev to overshoot, slightly short on the pirouette. full-in, step back on the landing.
Martin (UA): Now trying to drop a 9.675 from Strom. Switch leap to stag jump, nice. BHS LOSO, the tiniest wobble but does well. Front aerial, very pretty. BHS gainer full, gets the landing!
Bauman (UM): Front double full to open, lacked a little split on the leaps, but looks like she will get them all the way around. Back 1.5 to front layout to close, nicely done. This is a lot closer than a lot thought it would be!!
Knight (NCSU): FHS pike half vault to close their meet! Slightly low chest on the landing, but does not move her feet!
Kuhl (CU): In for Rutherford here on this event. Ray to overshoot to low bar, looks like she got the handstand on top of the high bar. double layout, some leg separation from the side. Will erase Hannah Clark’s fall though.
Deets (UA): Following a massive 9.900 from Martin! BHS LOSO, slight wobble but covers it. Hitch kick to switch side, good. Cat leap to front toss, LOVE her form on this event. Switch leap to gainer full dismount, WOW! Will drop Strom’s score, but what will they end with?
Ranger (UM): 9.825 will give Michigan the win. Double layout to open, little bit of a low chest. Leaps looked good, I would’ve liked a tiny bit more split. Front layout through to double tuck, another tiny step but nothing major. It’s a good routine, but will it be enough to get Michigan the win? 9.900 and the freshman wins the meet for Michigan!
Final: Michigan 195.925, Arizona 195.825, Clemson 195.350, N.C. State 195.000
Everyone catch your breath because we have to do this all over again two more times tomorrow.
Event Winners:
All Around: Mueller (UA): 39.175
Vault: Diaz (UM), Fears (UA) & LaRusso (UA): 9.850
Bars: Bauman (UM) & Fears (UA): 9.900
Beam: Deets (UA) & Martin (UA): 9.900
Floor: Ranger (UM): 9.900
Live blog by Jessica Brock
