Just one week before the hometown Eagles compete in the Super Bowl, Philadelphia plays host to a rare five-team regular season gymnastics meet. This will be the second time in one weekend that Towson, Temple, and New Hampshire face off, as all three teams competed in Friday night’s Towson Invite. Towson currently sits just behind George Washington in second place in the EAGL standings but has posted the highest team score in the conference this season, a 195.600, making the Tigers the favorites tonight. However, the meet is expected to be a tight competition, especially between Temple and LIU, who will be battling for position in the standings. Tonight will also play host to some of the most underrated floor routines in the country, with Aine Reade’s rare and thrilling round-off double layout and Temple sophomore Kyrstin Johnson’s viral Kendrick Lamar routine.
Here reporting for duty! It’s my first live blog of the season and I chose a five team meet because I just really wanted some more chaos to finish up my weekend…
Follow along with live stats here and the video here in case I miss something.
Obsessed with the fact that EAGL Championships will be held in the Liacouras Center, Temple’s basketball arena! I’m a Temple alum and know how awesome and historic that venue is.
Rotation 1: Temple Vault, New Hampshire Bars, George Washington Beam, LIU Floor, Towson BYE
Weklar (Temple) VT: yurchenko half, piked down a bit and small hop forward. Tidy in the air. 9.625
Izzo (George Washington) BB: some legs on triple series to start but hits. Chest down and small hop forward on 1.5 dismount. 9.750
Sanchez (LIU) FX: sticks the double tuck to open. 9.575
Haro (Temple) VT: sizable hop back, good chest position on yfull. 9.600
Before (UNH) UB: Pak legs come a bit apart but floaty, might have tapped her feet, nice last handstand, very squatty on the dismount. 9.650
Claiborne (LIU) FX: back 1.5 to front pike, crossed legs in the air. Leaps not fully 180. 9.525
Renfigo (Temple) VT: Floaty, nice form in the air on yfull, small hop back. Double tuck looked secure but stumbles back, manages to stay in bounds. 9.750
Mullin (UNH) UB: Shap to bail was fine, full-in dismount steps back, good difficulty. 9.625
Budd (Temple) VT: almostttt stuck yfull. 9.775
Montevago (George Washington) BB: Secure BHS LOSO, confident presence, aerial very small check, sticks 1.5 dismount. 9.850
Moreno (UNH) UB: Lovely form on Shap to bail. Small hop step back on dismount. 9.800
Perreault (LIU) FX: double back a bit more secure than the last but a slide back. Good form on leaps. Front lay to front tucked full looked off from the start and sits it down, glad it wasn’t anything worse because amplitude looked quite low. 8.900
Schugman (Temple) VT: hop back on yfull. 9.725
Johnson (Temple) VT: big bound out of y1.5, better form in the air. 9.625
Arthur (UNH) UB: Slightly off on handstand out of release, handstands period, very high double tuck and steps froward. 9.625
Peters (George Washington) BB: tentative on straddle, another stuck dismount. Pretty clean on the non-leg events today thus far! 9.700
Cartwright (LIU) FX: back 1.5 to front lay stayed on her feet. Double tuck better landing with chest up. 9.625
Sheremeta (George Washington) BB: Cool press mount, BHS LOSO light check, another check on leaps but better after side somi, wolf half no hesitation. Stuck dismount, another one for GWU. 9.750
Varano (Temple) exhibitioned a pike half vault.
Danilchenko (LIU) FX: front tuck through to double tuck clean form. Went OOB on the last pass but a hit. 9.425
DeHaan (George Washington) BB: falls on mount, standing back LOSO better. I definitely jinxed these two lineups with the falls, oops. I loved the daring skills. Stuck front dismount. She is Temple junior Reese DeHaan’s sister. 9.200
Barrington (LIU) FX: Back 1.5 front lay, hit that and previous pass, goes for a ring leap, love to see a three pass routine. 9.700
After 1: George Washington 48.775, Temple 48.500, New Hampshire 48.375, LIU 47.850, Towson 00.000
Rotation 2: LIU Vault, Towson Bars, New Hampshire Beam, George Washington Floor, Temple BYE
Kazmierski (George Washington) FX: Double back secured landing, front 1.5 solid as well. 9.675
Sanchez (LIU) VT: ylay substantial step forward. 9.475
Harvey (New Hampshire) BB: Gainer pike stuck to open. 9.700
Holmes (LIU) VT: ylay again, piked but a better landing than the first. 9.425
Burke (George Washington) FX: punch double front squatty but secure landing, slides more out of double back. 9.725
Reade (New Hampshire) BB: switch to pike jump, sticks dismount. Redemption after bars fall. 9.725
Greene (Towson) UB: Piked jaeger to shoot over. 9.850
Perreault (LIU) VT: Handspring front pike, better landing than last week in that she doesn’t stumble super far out of it. 9.750
Claiborne (LIU) VT: first twisting vault for LIU and it’s stuck, pretty piked down. 9.725
Hong (Towson) UB: Jaeger caught close, double front step forward. 9.800
Fall from Ockerbloom on beam. 8.975
Belanovski (Towson) UB: nice first handstand, flexed feet on Tkatchev but good amplitude, squatty but stuck full-in dismount. 9.800
McMullen (New Hampshire) BB: Hits BHS LOSO. Slight check on side aerial. 1.5 dismount slight movement. 9.725
Sheremeta (George Washington) FX: great amplitude and position on leaps. Hit routine. 9.825
Burkhart (LIU) VT: Yfull tucked and another stick, chest higher in the air. 9.750
Cartwright (LIU) VT: Anchors with one more yfull, large step back. 9.750
Challman (New Hampshire) BB: squats almost looks like a stick on back 1.5 dismount but steps back. 9.725
DeHaan (George Washington) FX: punch front 1.5 to straddle, straddle is huge! Front full to front LOSO secure. 9.825
Dennis (Towson) UB: Piked jaeger right into bail, last handstand no issues, toe-on dismount stuck. 9.875
Minervini (Towson) UB: Huge Tkatchev to bail, stuck DLO. Powerful end to the lineup. 9.825
Mullin (New Hampshire) BB: Small check on side aerial, 1.5 small hop forward. 9.650
Whitman (George Washington) FX: Another amazing floor routine in the building today. Cowboys second half of double front. Double front easily bouncy. 9.850
After 2: George Washington 97.725, New Hampshire 96.900, LIU 96.300, Towson 49.150, Temple 48.500
Rotation 3: George Washington Vault, Temple Bars, Towson Beam, New Hampshire Floor, LIU BYE
Safran (George Washington) VT: chest slightly down on yfull but just a small step back. 9.775
DeHaan (Temple) UB: Piked Jaeger no issues, bail catches it weird. 9.575
Kenefick (Towson) BB: Triple series bent legs but sticks cold. Hop forward on dismount. 9.775
Boss (New Hampshire) FX: Just gets the front double full around, a bit low. 9.625
Katz (George Washington) VT: yhalf pretty close to the vault lands and small hop, very high. 9.750
Brueck (Temple) UB: Fall on toe-on Tkatchev, feet were flexed. Legs apart on Pak, stuck DLO. 8.825
McMullen (New Hampshire) FX: Love the tambourine music. Back 2.5 punch front solid landing. Double tuck high and chest up, great ending. 9.725
Minvervini (Towson) BB: Misses connection into side somi. She did not repeat her series after the miss. 9.375
Burke (George Washington) VT: Tsuk full some leg form in the air. 9.725
Varano (Temple) UB: Jaeger goes better than the last, Pak legs together good form, chest low but stuck DLO. 9.550
Simpkins (New Hampshire) FX: Low first pass but stays on her feet, front full better landing. Double tuck controlled lunge. 9.475
Trotter (Towson) BB: BHS LOSO no hesitation. Unique front toss to seat skill, hit the dismount. 9.800
Whitman (George Washington) VT: Secure 1.5, step forward. 9.675
White (Temple) UB: toe-on front pike half shuffle back. 9.650
DeHaan (George Washington) VT: Hits yhalf, steps back not too big. 9.675
Mullin (New Hampshire) FX: open front through double tuck, step forward. 9.675
Izzo (George Washington) VT: piked down on yfull, goes far but big step back. 9.625
Hong (Towson) BB: Lovely 180 leap positions, back 1.5. 9.875
Weklar (Temple) UB: Almost comes off on bail but stays on the bars, hop back on double tuck dismount. 9.675
Keener (Towson) BB: BHS LOSO slight check to the side. Front toss deep but hits connection to beat jump. 9.750
Reade (New Hampshire) FX: So much amplitude on round off DLO, a crowd pleaser. good control on front full as well. 9.875
S. Stallings (Temple) UB: Hits piked jaeger to bail, giant full double tuck small hop in place. 9.850
Dennis (Towson) BB: major check early on, front aerial, stuck gainer full off the side. 9.750
Challman (New Hampshire) FX: rudi to back LOSO super floaty. 9.825
After 3: George Washington 146.325, New Hampshire 145.625, Towson 98.100, Temple 96.800, LIU 96.300
Towson has had a few shaky moments but overall looking like the team to beat today. I am really impressed with George Washington’s combination of power and artistry. I look forward to seeing how the Revolutionaries finish out on bars. Temple has shown it will not give up after a tough point mid-rotation, which is a lot to be said for the Owls’ bars lineup.
Rotation 4: New Hampshire Vault, LIU Bars, Temple Beam, Towson Floor, George Washington BYE
Schugman (Temple) BB: front series no hrsitation. Hop on dismount. 9.750
Hogan (LIU) UB hit. 9.650
Moreno (New Hampshire) VT: decent-sized hop back on yfull. 9.750
Kenefick (Towson) FX: back 1.5 to front lay. very close to OOB but keeps it in. 9.650
Ockerbloom (New Hampshire) VT: big full, amplitude but chest down and step forward. 9.650
Ruskey (Temple) BB: hit series. Back 1.5 shuffle forward, two hits thus far. 9.575
Welch sticks double back for LIU. Conference for her routine for 10.000 vs. 9.850 for SV.
Mullin (UNH) VT: piked down but smaller hop back on yfull. 9.800
Poblete (Towson) FX: Double back controlled, chest a bit low. Leap positions are solid. back 1.5 to front half to leap, difficult to end, nice. 9.700
White (Temple) BB: BHS LOSO no movement. step forward on back 1.5 dismount. 9.625
McMullen (UNH) VT: staggers a bit out of yfull. 9.475
Calafati (Towson) FX: front full front pike controlled, good second pass as well. Leaps are 180 with amplitude. 9.725
Toniolo (LIU) UB: small hop forward on dismount. 9.525
Reade (UNH) VT: Not the most amplitude and pretty big step back on yfull. 9.675
Dunne (Temple) BB: BHS LOSO check, front aerial to split more secure. gainer full chest way down but stuck. 9.700
Hong (Towson) FX: I recognize her music but can’t tell from what. front double full just gets it around. Front lay controlled to end. 9.800
Sanchez (LIU) UB has a fall early on. 8.750
Mowes (UNH) VT: yhalf is clean. 9.700
Dorunda (Temple) BB: Triple series leg form in the air but no hesitation. Pretty straddle position no movement. Small hop on dismount. 9.700
Minervini (Towson) FX: front lay to back 1.5 clean, wolf jump combo slightly wonky to land, back 1.5 front lay right up to the line and stayed in bounds. 9.550
Kliewer (LIU) UB: Maloney some leg form, feet a bit flexed on DLO piked down but decent landing. 9.625
Donabedian (Temple) FX: front aerial BHS. Some minor checks, side somi, back 1.5 arm circle but sticks it. 9.500
Carraro (LIU) UB: Falls and does not finish her routine.
Belanovski (Towson) FX: Dances out of front double full. Another OOB on her Rudi to back LOSO. Powerful routine with tons of potential.
After 4: New Hampshire 194.200, Towson 146.525, George Washington 146.325, Temple 145.275, LIU 143.650
Towson has opened the door for George Washington to creep in in the final rotation.
Rotation 5: Towson Vault, George Washington Bars, LIU Beam, Temple Floor, New Hampshire BYE
Hogan (LIU) BB: Check breaks connection between front aerial and leap. 8.950
Hoffman (Towson): yfull pretty piked down. 9.650
Safran (GWU) UB: Sticks DLO to end. 9.700
Johnson (Temple) FX: No better dancer! Big double pike slides a bit out and keeps in bounds. Punch through to double stuck STUCK cold. 9.750
Poblete (Towson) VT: super piked down full. 9.625
Tyeryar (George Washington) UB: Step back on dismount. 9.700
Figueroa (LIU) BB: BHS LOSO secure, dismount small step. 9.575
Haro (Temple) FX: Front through to double tuck controlled slight slide. Hit routine, fun music. 9.675
Katz (George Washington) UB: Legs slightly apart on bail, last handstand a bit short, Tkatcehv caught between bars, giant full double tuck good distance slight step back. 9.775
DeCroo (Towson) VT: Step forward on yfull. Pretty low amplitude. 9.700
Bills-McCoy (LIU) BB: comes off on series. 8.850
DeHaan (George Washington) UB: Piked Jaeger super close to the bars and somehow doesn’t clip. 9.825
Belanovski (Towson) VT: Yfull best so far and sticks. 9.900, first of the day.
Dorunda (Temple) FX: Good landing on double back. Leaps are 180, I like the EDM mix, front lay to front 1.5 not the most amplitude. 9.700
Perreault (LIU) BB: Neat press mount. Comes off as well, three falls for the Sharks now. 8.775
Harper (Towson) VT: small hop back, clean yfull. 9.725
Montevago sticks dismount for George Washington after lovely stalder work. Wow, 9.975. Second of the day.
Gardner pike front half, shuffles feet and kind of looked like her hands might miss the board. Hit to end. 9.725
Sheremeta’s Pak had legs come apart but better landing to end. George Washington had an ideal rotation to gun for the lead at the end. Towson will take it though, Gardner went 9.725. Sheremeta would have needed 9.975 and got 9.75.
Cartwright (LIU) BB: Stayed on for her series. Hop in place back 1.5. 9.725
Schugman (Temple) FX: Solid landings for all passes. 9.800. Donabedian closes for the Owls, front 1.5 to back LOSO, it will be crazy to think of Temple without her at the end of this season, such an institution at this point. Leaps somewhat low amplitude. Front double full to end, great landing. 9.825.
OMG, a score was changed for George Washington after an inquiry for Zoe Safran on bars. She now goes 9.750 and George Washington up to 195.400 vs. Towson’s 195.375.
FINAL: Towson 195.375, George Washington 195.400, New Hampshire 194.200, Temple 194.025, LIU 190.250
George Washington takes the win for the second time this weekend after doing so at Friday’s Towson Invitational. The Revolutionaries’ and the Tigers’ trajectory this season reminds me a little of the aforementioned Eagles’ season against NFC East rival Washington- going into the title game, they were 1-1 on the season. We’ll see which of these powerhouses takes the title at the EAGL Championship, a meet very much previewed today.
VT: Belanovski 9.900
UB: Montevago 9.975
BB: Hong 9.875
FX: Reade 9.875
AA: Mullin 38.75
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Live blog by Katherine Weaver