For January’s marquee meet, ESPN is bringing together four of the nation’s hottest and most prestigious gymnastics programs, in what could easily be a preview of this season’s Four on the Floor. Oklahoma comes in as the favorite, holding the top spot after week one and competing in their home state, but with the level of talent on display, any team could come out on top. This meet promises an all-around showdown, as 12 of the top 17 ranked all-arounders from opening weekend will be competing.
Oklahoma, the quasi-home team, kicked off its revenge tour in dominant fashion, posting the top score from Week 1. The Sooners haven’t relinquished the No. 1 ranking in the regular season since February 2022, when Michigan briefly held the top spot. Freshman Faith Torrez led the charge for Oklahoma, while Lily Pederson grabbed attention with her stunning rookie debut, posting three scores of 9.9 or better in the all-around. Jordan Bowers, who finished 2024 as the second-ranked all-arounder in NQS, is poised for a big rebound after what she’d consider an average opening weekend, especially with the heightened stakes.
Right on Oklahoma’s heels is defending champion LSU, which enters the meet at No. 2 after an impressive season opener. Despite the absence of reigning AAI and Honda Award winner Haleigh Bryant, the Tigers cruised to a home victory, with freshman Kailin Chio shining as she posted the best all-around total of any first-year gymnast in week one. Aleah Finnegan, the nation’s leading all-arounder after debut weekend, adds even more firepower, positioning LSU as a serious contender for today’s victory.
NCAA runner-up California can’t be counted out either. The Golden Bears return their top four all-arounders from their program-best 2024 season, with Mya Lauzon coming off a strong start. eMjae Frazier, the other half of Cal’s dynamic duo, didn’t quite hit her stride in Week 1, but if she bounces back as expected, California’s chances for an early-season win skyrocket.
Like LSU and Oklahoma, Utah’s Red Rocks also saw a standout freshman debut in Avery Neff. Despite a fall on floor, Neff showed she’s more than capable of living up to her preseason hype, hitting solid routines on her other three events. With Grace McCallum still working on her vault, Makenna Smith stepped up as the Utes’ leader in week one. Utah’s new core of three all-arounders is ready to compete with the best, and with a strong performance today, the Red Rocks could not only contend for the win, but also break their title drought.
Follow along with video (ABC! or ESPN+) and scores!
Rotation 1: LSU Vault, California Bars, Oklahoma Beam, Utah Floor
Zeiss (LSU): Y1.5. Some leg and foot form issues, but just a tiny hop in place. 9.850
Lauzon (Cal): Hits her opening handstand, smooth Pak, toe on to Maloney half, easy, FTDT, stuck, legs staggered. 9.900
Davis (OU): Low beam choreo to get underway, hits the full turn, BHS LOSO, front aerial, minor toe point issues, good ring jump, dismounts RO double full, tiny hop back. 9.875
Leadoff hit for Smith on floor for Utah. 9.825
Finnegan (LSU): Y1.5. Clean in the air, just a step forward. 9.900
Frazier (Cal): Good Maloney to Pak, small knee break, good half pirouette, dismounts, double layout, hop in place. 9.825
Wells (OU): Opens with her switch leg side aerial, stunning, shoulder drop in full turn, switch leap x2, could use more extension, BHS LOSO, dismounts RO 1.5, small hop. 9.750
Glynn (Utah): Mounts with a front double full, bouncy, a bit under-rotated in her leap series, RO 1.5 front layout, off direction but clean. 9.850
Brock (LSU): Y1.5. Upgrade from the full last week, small knee bend, near stick but hop in place. 9.925
Wiley (Cal): Toe on to Pak, no issues, Maloney half, leg break in the air and then slips off the high bar, remounts, good last handstand, double layout dismount with a hop. 9.075
A hit for Fatta (OU) on beam. 9.875
Zirbes (Utah): Starts with intense music and a stuck front double full, big switch half to Popa, having an issue in the corner and stops her routine briefly before a RO 1.5 front layout with no issue. 9.725
Lincoln (LSU): Y1.5. Huge air, opens early, hop back. 9.825
Cesario (Cal): Blind to massive Jaeger to overshoot, a tad close on the release, short last handstand, nails the double layout dismount. 9.850
Drayton (LSU): Y1.5. Good distance, we’ve seen her get more height, hop to the side on the landing. 9.825
After a fall last week, Utah’s Neff hit floor. 9.900
Pederson (OU): Easy full turn, BHS LOSO, secure, hitch kick to switch side, slightly under 180, side somi, dismounts RO double full, chest up stick. 9.900
Williams (Cal): Great first handstand, floaty Pak, smooth Maloney half, clean final handstand, dismounts double layout hop back. 9.875
Chio (LSU): Y1.5. Slow on the twist but gets it around and drops it down for a stick. 9.950
Torrez (OU): Wolf jump to open, side aerial LOSO, beautiful, full turn, switch leap to straddle jump, good positions, BHS gainer full, huge and sticks. 9.975
Gilstrap (Utah): Mounts with front layout Rudi, chest up and easy lunge, good positions on all her leaps, RO LOSO, closes with front layout front full, soft knees, but good landing. 9.850
Brown (Cal): I believe this is a switch from Kane in the original lineups, short first handstand, clean Pak, toe on to Maloney half is good, hits last handstand, sticks the toe on front pike half. 9.875
McCallum (Utah): Big full-in to start, shuffles on the landing, switch leap to tour jete half, no issues, closes front tuck to double tuck, squats to a lunge forward. 9.825
Totals: LSU 49.450, California 49.325, Oklahoma 49.525, Utah 49.250
Strong opening rotations for every team! The Sooners capitalized on one of their signature events, beam, to take the early lead thanks to Faith Torrez notching the closest score to perfect from any gymnast so far this season. Good landings aided the Tigers on vault to help keep them close, as the Golden Bears and Utes were able to work through some mid-rotation blips to stay in contention. Everyone will be playing catch-up with Oklahoma from here on out, which isn’t an impossible task but will only get more challenging if the other three teams don’t start sticking landings.
Rotation 2: Utah Vault, LSU Bars, California Beam, Oklahoma Floor
Zirbes (Utah): Y1.5. Twisted on the block but worked through it for a good landing, small hop in place. 9.875
Leadoff hit for LSU on bars from Zeiss. 9.825
Davis (OU): Gets underway with a FHS front double full, works into a lunge nicely, switch half, wolf full, sissone, slightly under rotated in the second to third leap, RO 1.5 front layout, steps into choreo. 9.875
Opening hit for Cesario for Cal. 9.825
Winger (Utah): Y1.5. Very clean throughout, not a ton of height but holds for a nice landing. 9.725
Cowan (LSU): Great first handstand, Ray to overshoot, slight leg break, nails last handstand, dismounts double layout, drops in for a stick. 9.950
Williams (Cal): Front aerial to split jump, slow connection but kept moving, BHS LOSO, smooth, switch leap to split jump, BHS gainer full, pikes it down and slides back. 9.875
Neff (Utah): Y1.5. Great height, quick twist, tiny hop forward. 9.925
Dunne (LSU): Tkatchev to Pak, leg separation, carries into the half pirouette, good handstands all around, double layout stuck near stick, soft knees. 9.725
Kane (Cal): Good double wolf turn, side aerial to side aerial, slow but didn’t stop, back tuck, hitch kick to switch side, low back leg, catwheel 1.5 dismount, stuck. 9.900
Fatta a solid set on floor for Oklahoma. 9.875
Smith (Utah): Yhalf on pike off. Near stick, ends up taking a step, good form. 9.850
Chio (LSU): Good Maloney to bail, hits all handstands, blind to Markelov is great, dismounts FTDT, out but sticks it. 9.900
Beam hit from Frazier for Cal. 9.900
Pederson (OU): RO 1.5 to RO 2.5, step forward, FHS front double full, works the lunge into choreo, switch side to Popa, good air.
Step back on a Y.15. from Glynn for Utah. 9.725
Lauzon (Cal): Stuns with her great opening low beam choreo, wolf turn, chest a tad forward, BHS BHS LOSO, great, switch leap to split jump, secure, dismounts RO double full, chest up, tiny slide back. 9.825
No issues on bars for LSU’s Finnegan. 9.825
Bowers (OU): Mounts with a spectacular FHS front double full front tuck, clean double pike second pass, switch leap to switch half to wolf full, well controlled. 9.950
Morgan hits a Y1.5 on vault for Utah. 9.825
McClain (LSU): Church to Pak, close but clean, half pirouette a bit rushed, great last handstand, dismounts FTDT, adjusts her feet in place. 9.925
Mayhew rounds out beam for Cal with a hit.
Torrez (OU): Huge double layout to start, clean tour jete half wolf full, commits to her positions, front tuck to double tuck, easy. 9.950
Rotation Totals: Utah 49.200, LSU 49.425, Cal 49.325, Oklahoma 49.525
Totals: Oklahoma 99.050, LSU 98.875, Cal 98.650, Utah 98.450
The incredible gymnastics continues! Repeat 49.525 event totals from the Sooners has secured them the slight edge, with the Tigers hanging around with Bryant on beam and floor to come. This is still anybody’s to take home! The crowd is definitely giving Oklahoma a lift, and it’s hard to imagine them giving this up on home turf on two strong events, so it’s going to take a remarkable performance from another team to surpass them at this point. With floor still to come from LSU, that’s the best bet, but it has to stay within striking distance through beam.
Rotation 3: Oklahoma Vault, Utah Bars, LSU Beam, California Floor
Pederson (OU): Y1.5. Good block and height, small step forward. 9.825
Smith (Utah): Opens with a good handstand, easy Pak, toe on to Maloney half is good, toe on pike half dismount is stuck. 9.850
Mayhew (Cal): Front double full to front pike to open, quick twitch, switch ring to switch half, couldn’t see ring position from my view, closes with a front full layout half to stag jump. 9.850
A fall from Fatta on her Y1.5 for Oklahoma. 9.175
Ballard hits to leadoff LSU on beam. 9.850
Dunne (LSU): BHS LOSO to begin, some toe form issues, bent knee on the front aerial, switch leap to split jump to ring jump, no problems, gainer pike small hop back. 9.775
Padurariu hit for Utah on bars. 9.800
Torrez (OU): Y1.5. Great form, legs glued together, big hop forward. 9.750
Clean set from Kane on floor for Cal. 9.825
Neff (Utah): Clear hip to Gienger to overshoot is problem-free, hits her handstands, nails the full twisting double layout dismount. 9.875
A hit from Chio on beam from LSU. 9.850
Wells (OU): Y1.5. Great height, small step. 9.850
Cesario (Cal): Full-in to mount, secure landing, switch leap to switch ring half, needs to commit to the position more, closes with a RO 1.5 front layout, clean. 9.850
A wobble for LSU’s McClain on beam but otherwise clean. 9.850
Morgan (Utah): Maloney to Bhardwaj, slight toe cross, easy Maloney half, toe on to toe on tuck half dismount, shuffle to the side. 9.775
Bowers (OU): Y1.5. Pencil-straight in the air, step forward. 9.900
Bryant (LSU): Front aerial BHS, no issues, switch leap, check to the side, doesn’t connect into the split side, full turn, standing front tuck, powerful, dismounts Rudi, sticks it. 9.750
A good set from Frazier on floor for Cal. 9.925
A near-fall from Zirbes on bars for Utah. 9.650
Davis (OU): Y1.5. Huge air, leg separation off the table, sticks it. 9.875
Lauzon (Cal): Easy front double full to front tuck, stuck, switch ring switch half, nice shapes, ends with RO 1.5 front full, stuck cold. 9.900
Small flight series wobble from Finnegan on beam, but otherwise solid set for LSU. 9.925
McCallum (Utah): Chow to Pak is great, Maloney half is excellent, great handstands, FTDT stuck perfectly. 9.975
Keuneke (Cal): Letting the rookie go with five hits in front of her, front double full front pike, under but holds for an okay landing, bouncy leaps, a bit off rotation, RO 1.5 front half, clean into choreo.
Rotation Totals: Oklahoma 49.200, Utah 49.275, LSU 49.250, Cal 49.350
Totals: Oklahoma 148.250, LSU 148.125, Cal 148.000, Utah 147.725
It’s tight at the top! With everyone making up a bit of ground on the Sooners in rotation three, it’s still anybody’s for the taking! The Tigers are heading to their signature event, and if Oklahoma has any more blips, could put Bryant in position to walk it off. The Golden Bears aren’t far behind either, and if they can string together a few sticks, could make some noise to finish off their day.
Rotation 4: California Vault, Oklahoma Bars, Utah Beam, LSU Floor
Williams (Cal): Yfull. Good height and form, large hop back. 9.750
Sievers (OU): Good opening handstand, toe on to Maloney to Pak, smooth, good half pirouette, dismounts FTDT, stuck cold. 9.900
Ballard (LSU): Mounts with a double layout, close to OOB, fought to stay in, RO 1.5 front layout is clean, easy leaps, closes with a double tuck, chest down and step forward. 9.825
Hit on beam from Utah’s Padurariu. 9.750
Cal’s Wiley hits a Y1.5. 9.825
Fatta (OU): First handstand is clean, Church to Pak, great height, works the half pirouette, labored, slide back on the double layout. 9.875
Flight series balance check from Winger on beam for Utah. 9.825
Cesario (Cal): Yfull. Great form throughout, floats, hop back. 9.825
Short full-in from LSU’s Brock on floor. 9.825
Smith (Utah): Back dive mount, held well, full turn, BHS LOSO, no problems, near fall on leap series, bend at the hips, dismounts gainer pike, step back. 9.600
Big hit from Pederson for OU on bars and Dunne for LSU on floor. 9.950 and 9.850
Mayhew (Cal): Y1.5. Good distance, but flat, near stick, hop in place. 9.900
Neff (Utah): Side aerial BHS is clean, side aerial to two feet, split jump to switch side swingdown, great gainer full. 9.900
Drayton (LSU): Huge double layout, switch ring to switch half, a bit off balance after the ring, front tuck to double tuck, stuck, no lunge needed. 9.950
Frazier (Cal): DTY. Slight knee break going in for landing but just a tiny hop. 9.900
Davis (OU): Blind to pike Jaeger, tiny bit close, Pak, great, hits the pirouette, dismounts blind to front double half, legs apart but stuck. 9.975
Lauzon (Cal): Y1.5. Comes in short, fights for the stick and gets it. 9.825
McCallum (Utah): Back dive mount, double wolf turn, slight lean forward, BHS LOSO, big check but stays on, switch leap to split leap, tucked gainer full dismount, small hop. 9.800
Bowers (OU): Blind to piked Jaeger, tad close, Pak, great half pirouette and last handstand, dismounts FTDT small shuffle back. 9.925
Finnegan (LSU): Finishing off the session, opens with a double Arabian to stag, great, switch ring to tour jete half, clean, RO 2.5 to front tuck, stuck cold. 9.975
Rotation Totals: California 49.275, Oklahoma 49.700, Utah 49.075, LSU 49.525
Final: Oklahoma 197.950, LSU 197.650, California 197.275, Utah 196.800
Event Winners:
All Around: Bowers (OU), 39.675
Vault: Chio (LSU), 9.950
Bars: Davis (OU), McCallum (Utah) 9.975
Beam: Torrez (OU), 9.975
Floor: Finnegan (LSU), 9.975
Live blog by Brandis Heffner
