Welcome to the chaos of conference championship weekend! This afternoon kicks off session one of the Big 12 Championships, featuring BYU, Iowa State, and West Virginia. While only one of these teams is guaranteed a postseason berth, the other two have a chance to punch their ticket with a big performance today.
No. 33 BYU had a slow start to the season but has gained momentum in recent weeks. The Cougars are locked into regionals and are aiming to avoid the play-in round for the third consecutive year. To do so, they’ll need at least a 196.700— a mark they’ve only hit once this season. No. 34 West Virginia, once seemingly out of contention, has surged with three straight 196s, putting its regional hopes within reach. A 195.575 today would be enough to secure a spot, a remarkable turnaround given the Mountaineers’ early-season struggles. Meanwhile, No. 37 Iowa State sits just outside the qualifying cut, needing a 196.100 to stay in the mix. It would be a season-high, but with the Cyclones hitting that exact score last weekend at Nebraska, it’s well within reach.
Beyond the team battle, several individuals are also vying for regional spots. Keep an eye on BYU’s Brynlee Andersen, Kylie Eaquinto, and Deb Silva, who are all in contention. Iowa State’s Josie Bergstrom Te-Slaa could qualify as an all-arounder with a strong showing, while Noelle Adams and Haylee Hardin are both in the mix on floor. West Virginia’s Anna Leigh and Sophia Rice are also looking to advance, with Rice coming off a career-high 9.975 on vault last weekend.
With so much on the line, this session promises plenty of excitement—stay tuned to see who rises to the occasion!
Welcome to Saturday! Unfortunately, with yesterday’s results, Iowa State is now out of the mix for regionals as a team. It still can qualify some individuals as we noted above, so this is still an important meet for the Cyclones. An early glance at lineups on Virtius shows that the Cyclones are without Hannah Loyim today; she was spotted in a boot after the Nebraska meet.
Rotation 1: BYU vault, WVU bars, ISU beam
Dudley (BYU): Y full, tiny arm bend off the table, good height and distance, hop back on the landing. 9.725
Alban (WVU): clear hip to Geinger, some leg separation in the air. DLO dismount, pretty position in the air with a hop back. 9.700
Earl (BYU): Y half, really nice block off the table, tiny hop forward on the landing. Some loose knees in the air on replay. 9.775
Looks like we got a conference on Alban’s bars. Why we aren’t watching a beam routine at the same time is beyond me.
Leigh (WVU): blind to straddle Jaeger, Pak salto, some leg separation in the air, but keeps it together on the switch kip. DLO dismount, shuffle backwards of the feet. 9.725
Adams (ISU): First look at the Cyclones on beam. Bergstrom-Te Slaa got a 9.800 to lead them off, followed by O’Brochta’s 9.825. BHS LOSO, small balance check after the layout. Switch leap switch leap, bend at the waist after the second leap. Cut away from that to see Silva’s vault, but apparently she had a fall. 8.775
Kirkham (BYU): Y full, lots of power, some arm bend off the table, sizable hop back on the landing. 9.750
McDonnell (WVU): goes for her Ray, misses her hands on the bar and falls. Been a hot minute since I’ve seen her miss that skill, so hopefully they can drop that score. Pak salto, some leg separation. DLO dismount, some leg form with a hop back. 8.975
Silva (BYU): Y full, no leg separation at all throughout, stick with a tiny lean to the side. 9.850.
Eaquinto (BYU): Y full, good height and distance off the table, hop back on the landing.
Wilke (ISU): Cat leap front toss back tuck series, fought to not move but should get credit for the connection. Cat leap switch side, balance check after the leap. RO 1.5 dismount with a hop forward. Good comeback after Adams’ fall. 9.750
Lowe (WVU): Coming after Irwin’s 9.625. blind to Jaeger, my stream glitched but I’m going to assume she made it. Had to readjust her skills mid routine, added a Pak salto with leg separation, DLO dismount with a hop back. 9.350, will count.
Had to reload my stream, but Thomas sticks her RO 1.5 beam dismount, a much needed hit for the Cyclones this rotation. 9.850
Macy (WVU): blind to Jaeger to immediate overshoot, goes for her DLO, underrotated with a step forward. They will drop McDonnell’s fall, but have to count Lowe’s mistake. 9.725
Sgarbossa (ISU): Needs a hit to drop Adams’ fall. Wolf turn to open, keeps her balance well. BHS swing through to side aerial, really unique series that she does well. Pretty extension on her leap series. Cat leap side somi, really nice. RO 1.5 dismount with a stick. 9.875
After One: ISU 49.100, BYU 48.900, WVU 48.125
All three teams had some struggles in this opening rotation, but it’s Iowa State who comes away with the lead after four counting scores in the 9.800 range, capped out by Sgarbossa’s impressive season-high 9.875. West Virginia scored its lowest number on bars in a while, but it is their weakest event. It should be an uphill climb from here. BYU quietly cruised through vault as it heads to bars, one of its weaker events.
Rotation 2: BYU bars, WVU beam, ISU floor
Leigh (WVU): BHS LOSO, solid. Cat leap switch half beat jump, little bit of hesitation, but kept moving. Side aerial looked solid. Front gainer full with a hop forward on the landing. 9.725
Guinee (ISU): Front double twist, has to cover a little stumble out of it. Switch half wolf full wolf full, little loose on the form throughout. Front layout front full, some loose knees but overall a solid start! 9.725
Kirkham led off BYU’s bars with a 9.800 and Glazier had a hit routine. 9.775
Lowe (WVU): BHS LOSO, nailed it. Looking confident after a miss on bars. Side aerial with a balance check to beat jump. Split jump split 3/4, nice 180 position. RO 1.5 with a hop forward. 9.725
Schell (ISU): FHS Rudi to stag jump, travels backwards on the stag, but gets the landing. Nice toe point and rotation on her leaps. RO 1.5 to front layout, nicely done. 9.825
Brown (WVU): BHS BHS LOSO, spot on. Switch leap straddle jump, good 180 position on the leaps. RO double twist dismount with a stick. 9.850
Eaquinto (BYU): Maloney to Pak, good form throughout. Gets her final handstand on the high bar, DLO dismount with a solid landing. 9.825
Wilke (ISU): Some DCC inspired choreography here. Back 1.5 to front full, didn’t quite get the rise needed and has to take a fall. Gets back on track with her leap series. Double pike to close it out, the tiniest low chest on that landing.
Nelson (WVU): BHS LOSO, tiny slide back. Cat leap to side aerial, very nicely done. Cat leap switch side, little low on that switch position. BHS gainer full with a stick. 9.750
Jorgensen (BYU): Ray release spot on, good transition to low bar, DLO dismount with a slide back on the landing. 9.700
Adams (ISU): Good front double full and dance immediately out of it. FLO to front 1.5, good rise on the 1.5 to get it all the way around. Cyclones fighting back. 9.850
Bramblett-Wilde hit a 9.925 on bars, BIG boost for BYU.
DiCello (WVU): BHS LO LOSO, spot on. Switch leap switch leap, good position on the leaps. RO 1.5 dismount with a stick. Fantastic routine for DiCello. 9.850
Hardin (ISU): DLO to open, lots of height, bounces out of it with a leg up. Love the height and toe point of her leap series! Routine’s been watered down to two passes, ends with a back 1.5 to FLO. 9.850
Webster (WVU): Looking to drop a 9.725. Side aerial swing through to side aerial to two feet. Pretty leap series! RO 1.5 dismount, fought to keep the stick! 9.800
Bergstrom-Te Slaa (ISU): FLO front 1.5 with a jump out of it, interested to see what the judges are going to do with that. Back 1.5 to front layout to close, some soft knees throughout but gets ithe pop to get it around. Cyclones will drop Wilke’s fall, but will it be enough for them to keep the lead? 9.800
After 2: ISU 98.150, BYU 97.950, WVU 97.100
Cyclones continue to lead after scoring 49.050 on floor, BYU is close behind after Bramblett-Wilde’s 9.925 and WVU had a clean rotation on beam, led by DiCello and Brown with 9.850s. WVU is going to need a big floor rotation if it wants to qualify to regionals, but floor is a strong event for the Mountaineers. It can be done, but it’s not a guarantee.
Rotation 3: ISU vault, BYU beam, WVU floor
Dudley (BYU): BHS LOSO, spot on. Switch leap straddle quarter, good extension in the leaps. RO 1.5 with a stick. Good start for the Cougars! 9.875
Wills (ISU): Y full, good height and distance, hop back on the landing.
Alban (WVU): Double pike to open, nice high chest with a tiny hop back. Front layout front full, nice controlled step out of it. Switch side straddle full, nice height throughout. Double tuck to close, had to scoot that front foot back ever so slightly but a solid hit to start. 9.825
Sgarbossa (ISU): Y full, lots of height and distance, but a significant hop backwards. 9.625
Millar-Crossman (BYU): BHS LOSO, off on the layout but makes the correction to stay on the beam. Cat leap switch half, nice 180 position. Beat jump straddle half, not quite as good of a position on the straddle. Front full dismount off the end, keeps the stick. 9.850
Adams (ISU): Y full, very clean form in the air, hop back on the landing. 9.750
Rice (WVU): FHS rudi split jump, nice opening pass for the freshman! Love the choreography throughout this routine. Front layout front full, really clean landings out of each element. Ends with her leaps series into a shushunova, very nicely done! 9.900
Hoke (BYU): BHS LOSO, really solid. Split jump straddle half, balance check after the straddle half. Side aerial has another balance check out of it. RO 1.5 dismount with a hop forward.
Lowe (WVU): Double tuck to open, bit of an uncontrolled step back on the landing. Lots of height and extension on the leap series. Back 1.5 to front layout, much more controlled on the landing. Double pike to close, had to fight for the control but kept it on her feet. 9.750
Margraf-Benson (BYU): Front aerial, usually connects out of it, but only managed the one skill. Cat leap front toss, tries to repeat the front aerial but can’t get it the second time, goes for it a third time and connects it to the back tuck. Props to her for getting it done, but this will likely be the drop score. 9.375 originially, upped to a 9.625 after conferencing.
Maness (WVU): Back 1.5 to front layout, dances right out of it. Switch ring switch half, really pretty 180 position out of it. I love her flexibility in this routine. Rudi to split jump, much better than she’s done in the past. Mountaineers on the rise here. 9.775
E. Smith (WVU): RO full-in as a first pass, hops out of it. Nice rotation and toe point on her leap series throughout. Front layout Rudi, not a lot of rise on the Rudi, but she keeps her feet together on the landing and it should be a good score for WVU. 9.750
Silva (BYU): Making her competitive debut on beam here at the Big 12 championships. No pressure, right? Front aerial BHS, little shaky out of the front aerial. Beat jump side aerial, bit of a lean out of the side aerial. Split jump straddle quarter, good extension. BHS gainer full with a stick. What a debut routine!
Leigh (WVU): Needs higher than a 9.750 to improve the team score. FHS front double full, really nice and tight twisting in the air. Switch side straddle full, lots of height in the straddle full. FHS rudi LOSO, slight foot adjustment on the layout, but it’s a hit. It’ll be interesting to see where WVU lands after that rotation. 49.100
Andersen (BYU): BHS LOSO to open, really steady. Beat jump straddle half, tiny balance check after the straddle half. Cat leap side aerial, very clean. BHS gainer full, stuck. Great rotation on beam for the Cougars!
After 3: BYU 147.100, ISU 146.950, WVU 146.200
BYU comes into the lead after a solid rotation on beam! Iowa State only had one score above a 9.800 on vault, pushing it into 2nd place. West Virginia had a good number on floor, but needs a 49.375 on vault to guarantee a spot at regionals. It’s a tough ask, but we’ll see what happens.
Rotation 4: WVU vault, ISU bars, BYU floor
Alban (WVU): Y full, lots of height and distance off of the table, tiny hop back on the landing. 9.675
Millar-Crossman (BYU): Double tuck to open, great chest position, controlled step back on the landing. Nice toe point on her leaps. really made sure the judges knew she was all the way rotated with her landing. Front layout front full, slight stumble out of it, but it’s a solid opening routine.
Tuohy (WVU): Y full, really good form in the air. Stick on the landing. We only got the view from the back, so not sure if she piked down or anything, but we’ll see. 9.750
Matern (BYU): Front double full to open, little loose in the knees on the twist. Back 1.5 to front tuck, not really sure if that’s what she intended to do? Switch ring to L hop full, unique combination. Rudi to split jump, lot of height on the split jump.
Bergstrom-Te Slaa (ISU): blind to straddle Jaeger, really nice catch. Bail to handstand, held it on top of the low bar to show it off. Blind full to double tuck, a little stumble out on the landing.
Nelson (WVU): Y full, good layout position in the air, hop back on the landing. Mountaineers’ fate will likely lie in the hands of someone else for them to qualify to regionals. 9.700
Dudley (BYU): Double pike to open, solid position in the air. Switch side wolf full, really nice leaps. Good combo pass, had really nice rise on the layout in the second skill. Double tuck to close, very nicely done!
Bochow (ISU): Really pretty blind to straddle Jaeger, handstand on low bar was really pretty as was the final handstand. DLO dismount, hop on the landing. Cyclones trying to end on a high note! 9.800
DiCello (WVU): Y full, knee bend was a little deep on the landing, but she kept her feet still. She had a great block off the table with nice distance, a bit of a low chest though. 9.750
Schooley-Meyers: Back 1.5 front layout, nice rise in the layout! Fun choregraphy throughout, keeps really nice toe point on the leap series. Double tuck to close, solid landing, shoulder angle was a bit off but keeps her feet planted.
“continues to eat on floor”….no, never say that again please.
Rice (WVU): Tsuk full, nice run into the table, looked like she piked it down every so slightly before the landing, but takes a tiny step back on the landing. 9.800
Ricks (ISU): Tkatchev to immediate Pak Salto, her teammates are going CRAZY! DLO dismount with a stick, what a way for Iowa State to end its season as a team. 9.775
Eaquinto (BYU): Double pike first pass to open, she just kept rising in the air and it was a beautiful pass. switch ring half to wolf full leaps looked really good! Back 1.5 to front full final pass, didn’t have as much rise on the layout with some leg separation.
Andersen (BYU): A curtain call routine for the Cougars as they have this session locked up. Rudi to straddle jump, traveled backward just a little in the air. Switch ring switch half, good split position in those leaps. Back 1.5 front layout to close, some looseness in the knees on the twist and leg separation in the layout.
Final: BYU 196.275, ISU 195.775, WVU 194.875
West Virginia’s fate for regionals now lies in the hands of UC Davis later tonight. The Mountaineers started rough on bars, but were able to fight back. Iowa State ended its season on a high with a solid bars set and BYU came from behind to take it at the end. BYU will be in the play-in round at regionals.
VT: Silva (BYU) – 9.850
UB: Bramblett-Wilde (BYU) – 9.925
BB: Andersen (BYU), Dudley (BYU), & Sgarbossa (ISU): 9.875
FX: Rice (WVU) – 9.900
AA: Bergstrom-Te Slaa (ISU) – 39.000
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Live blog by Savanna Wellman
