Hello again for the second time this weekend! We’re in Raleigh, NC, for a Sunday afternoon showdown in a highly anticipated ACC matchup as NC State hosts the Cal Bears for the first time. It’s a Wicked-themed meet (how fun!), and it’s also Mental Health Awareness Night, so expect to see plenty of pink and green in the stands and on the competition floor.
California has been a force to be reckoned with in recent seasons, and this year is no different. The Bears are ranked No. 8 nationally and sit in the top 10 on all four events. They’re coming off a win against Clemson, posting a score of 196.925 while sweeping the event titles. Ella Cesario took home three of those titles, including the all-around, with CJ Keuneke, Mya Lauzon, Madelyn Williams, and eMjae Frazier also contributing top-scoring routines.
NC State is riding high after defeating their in-state rival, UNC, last weekend. The Wolfpack not only secured the win but also posted a season-high team score, setting new season highs on vault, bars, and floor. Key performances came from Ashley Knight, Kailee Adomaites, Lauren Wright, Krista Zultevicz, and Chloe Negrete.
Both teams are explosive and a blast to watch. With no Sunday night football this week, grab a snack and enjoy some fantastic gymnastics action!
Rotation 1: NC State VT, California UB
Adler (NSCU): Pretty Yurchenko full. 9.75
Lauzon (Cal): Pretty Pak to open. Nice toe-on Shaposh half. Full-twisting double back, makes it look easy. 9.925
Wright (NCSU): Yurchenko full, solid. 9.775
Frazier (Cal): Maloney to Pak, pretty. Nice aggressive swing throughout. Double layout, stuck cold. 9.875
Zultevicz (NCSU): Yurchenko full, a little soft in the knees on her landing. 9.75
Cesario (Cal): Nice Jaeger to Pak. Pretty pirouette and handstands. Another stuck double layout for the Bears. 9.85
Negrete (NCSU): Solid Yurchenko full, seemed a little short on the landing. 9.775
Williams (Cal): Beautiful Maloney to Pak. Pretty lines throughout. Love how aggressive her double layout was, just a hop backward. 9.85
Thomas (NCSU): Yurchenko full, hops backward. 9.85
Brown (Cal): Maloney to Pak, looked a little tired in the catch but it could just be my angle. Nice Shaposh half. Clean toe-on front pike half, this was a refreshing dismount change from what we usually see. 9.9
Knight (NCSU): Fhs pike half, I LOVE seeing this vault in college. 9.9
Newman (Cal): Solid Shaposh to Pak. Nice handstands. Full-twisting double back, takes a small hop. 9.825
After 1: California 49.350, NC State 49.050
Rotation 2: California VT, NC State UB
Williams (Cal): Solid Yurchenko full. 9.825
Adomaites (NCSU):Shaposh to Pak, solid. Last handstand was a little short. Stalder to double back, almost gets the stick. 9.825
Mayhew (Cal): Yurchenko 1.5, uncharacteristically sits it down. 9.175
Childs (NCSU): Pretty Tkachev to bail, almost misses her grip on low bar catch but covers it up well. Blind full to double back, stuck. 9.775
Cesario (Cal): Solid Yurchenko full, slight bend in her elbows on the table. 9.725
Myers (NCSU): Solid Shaposh to bail to handstand. 9.85
Frazier (Cal): Yurchenko double full, HELLO OMG I’ve never gotten to see this in person and I’m just in awe. 9.85
Volk (NCSU): Bail to handstand, seemed a little rushed but solid. Nice swing throughout. Pretty double layout, almost gets the stick. 9.825
Lauzon (Cal): Yurchenko 1.5, almost gets the stick. 9.875
Hadrick (NCSU): Nice Jaeger to bail. Love her aggressive swing. Blind full to double back, fights for the stick but takes a small hop. 9.825
Brown (Cal): Yurchenko full, stuck. 9.8
Harper (NCSU): Clear hip handstand to Gienger, slight bend in elbows. Bail to handstand, solid. Nice double layout, stuck. 9.85
After 2: California 98.425, NC State 98.225
Both teams are have been so solid on these two events this season, and tonight was no different. I love how aggressive and consistent the Wolfpack and the Bears have been so far!
Rotation 3: NC State BB, California FX
Adler (NCSU): Bhs loso, solid. Nice full turn. Switch leap straddle 1/4, pretty lines. Nice side aerial, love the control. Side gainer full, stuck. 9.8
Mayhew (Cal): Punnch front double full to front tuck, a little low in the front tuck. Switch ring switch half, great height and extension. Ro back 1.5 to Rudi to double stag jump, love this series and the control she had out of the jump. 9.825
Hall (NCSU): Bhs bhs loso, solid. Nice full turn. Switch leap split half, nice amplitude. Front aerial beat jump, a little off balance but makes almost unnoticeable. Side gainer full, stuck. 9.8
Williams (Cal): Front layout to Rudi, beautiful in the air. Nice wolf turn. Pretty switch half split jump. Great amplitude and lines in last pass, solid landing. 9.9
Thomas (NCSU): Nice full turn. Front aerial bhs, pretty lines. Switch leap split half, solid. Straddle half from the side of the beam, small balance check. Side aerial, small balance check here as well. Side gainer full, stuck. 9.7
Cesario (Cal): Huge full-in to open. Switch leap switch ring half, so so pretty. I’ve always loved her floor so seeing it in person is such a treat. Ro back 1.5 front layout, stuck. 9.875
Childs (NCSU): Bhs loso, pretty. Makes her straddle 3/4 look easy. Nice backward shoulder roll. Pretty side aerial, just barely drops her shoulder. Side gainer full also stuck. 9.75
Frazier (Cal): Front through to ro bhs double back, I love the power she has. Switch leap switch ring half split jump, split jump was a little low compared to the rest of the series but overall it was pretty. Ro back 1.5 front full, great control and dances right out of it. 9.85
Harper (NCSU): Bhs loso, solid. Cat leap straddle 1/4, pretty lines. Nice full turn. Front toss pike, nice height. Stuck dismount, the student section loves it. 9.825
Lauzon (Cal): Front double full to front tuck, makes it look easy. Beautiful switch ring switch half. Ro back 1.5 front full, ever so gorgeous. 9.95
Negrete (NCSU): Pretty front aerial to bhs. Cat leap to split half, great lines. Solid full turn. Ro back 1.5, stuck, another stuck dismount to make crowd erupt. 9.9
Taurek (Cal): Ro bhs double pike, solid. Nice amplitude on leaps. Pretty Rudi to front layout, studder steps a little on landing. Ro bhs double back, soft in the knees but holds the landing. 9.35
After 3: California 147.825, NC State 147.300
I love how close the Wolfpack is keeping this meet. This meet is also the first sold-out crowd in program history, what a treat to be a part of this after growing up coming to NC State meets as a kid. Cal’s floor was such a pleasure to watch ahhh. I’m beginning to enjoy this new ACC realignment I think.
Rotation 4: California BB, NC State FX
Cesario (Cal): Bhs loso, solid. Switch leap split half, great control. Nice full turn. Great lines throughout. Ro back 1.5, stuck. 9.825
Adler (NCSU): Ro back double full straddle jump, love the control out of the straddle jump. Switch half switch side, nice extension. Fhs front full front layout, stuck. What a great routine to start off. 9.8
Williams (Cal): Front aerial beat jump, solid. Bhs loso, pretty. Switch leap wolf jump, nice lines. Bhs side gainer full, stuck. 9.775
Hadrick (NCSU): I love her floor music so much. Nice extension on leap series. Beautiful back 1.5 to front layout as her last pass. 9.85
Mayhew (Cal):
Zultevicz (NCSU): Beautiful ro back 2.5 to punch front to open, she always has the prettiest lines. Switch full wolf half, great extension. Ro bhs double back, takes a few small steps but solid overall. 9.75
Frazier (Cal): Front aerial to back loso, small balance check. Nice full turn. Split jump to ring jump, great shape in the ring. Ro back 1.5, almost gets the stick. 9.85
Thomas (NCSU): Ro bhs double back, love how aggressive she is. Great amplitude in her switch leap switch side. A beautiful ro back 1.5 to front layout to end. 9.875
Lauzon (Cal): Pretty wolf full turn, as much as I hate them in elite, it’s nice to see them in college. Bhs bhs loso, solid. Switch leap split jump, pretty lines. Beautiful ro back double full, stuck. 9.9
Knight (NCSU): Punch front double full, I love seeing these again. Nice side aerial into dance. Love the 90s hip-hop mashup she has. Great extension on her leaps. Front 2.5 twist to back loso, pretty in the air. 9.925
Scanlon (Cal): Beautiful wolf turn. Bhs loso, pretty. Switch leap split half, nice amplitude and lines. Ro back 1.5, stuck cold. The sticks have become contagious for the Bears. 9.95
Negrete (NCSU): Now for the moment we’ve all been waiting for. Huge double pike to open. Beautiful front double full to front layout. Switch half split full, great extension. Pretty ro bhs double back, steps forward on her lunge. 9.8
FINAL: California 197.175, NC State 196.550
VT: Ashley Knight (NCSU) 9.9
UB: Mya Lauzon (Cal) 9.925
BB: Abbey Scanlon (Cal) 9.95
FX: Mya Lauzon (Cal) 9.95
AA: Mya Lauzon (Cal) 39.65
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Live blog by Jessica Brock