The action in University City is about to heat up with the first of three rounds kicking off today at 1 p.m. ET with semifinal one!
Michigan State rolls in as the top dog in this session after a massive 198.150 at the Big Ten championships just two weeks ago. The Spartans have a really good shot – like a 99.39% chance – of moving on to semifinal two as they aim for their first-ever national championship appearance. The team definitely has what it takes, showing its strength all season long, but it’ll especially need to nail those beam routines to snag one of the top two spots.
Right behind Michigan State is Kentucky, coming in at No. 9 after finishing sixth at the SEC Championships. The Wildcats didn’t have their best showing at conference, so they’ll be looking to bounce back from the last couple of weeks to grab that second advancing spot – they’re the next likely pick. However, don’t count out Ohio State and Penn State! If both of those teams are on their game, they could definitely sneak in and steal one of those semifinal two spots. Penn State will basically have home-court advantage competing in its own arena, but it’ll need to put up its best performance of the year to make that happen. Similarly, Ohio State will be leaning on its strong all-arounders and athletes who compete on multiple events, especially Tory Vetter, Sidney Washington, and Rylee Guevara. With a season-high of 196.875, the Buckeyes will need to be on point with every single routine to give themselves a chance to move forward.
Rotation 1: VT Kentucky, UB Ohio State, BB Penn State, FX Michigan State
Rodriguez (UK): STUCK Y. full, huge. 9.85
Harkness (MSU): Huge full in to start, controlled landing on that. Split leap full to wolf full, nicely done. Front tuck through to double tuck, sticks and steps wow. 9.9!
Washington (Ohio): Maloney to Pak, a little loose legs on the Pak catch. Blind full to double tuck, hop back on the landing.
Maul (PSU): BHS BHS LOSO, great, so fast on that. I love her speed in this routine, very fluid. Full turn, nice. Switch leap to straddle ¼, good extension on that. Round off 1.5 dismount, hop back on the landing. 9.800
Procasky (UK): Y. full, another stick!!!! 9.9!
Walker (Ohio): Blind to piked Jaeger, Pak, really nice for on that.Dismounts blind full to double tuck, stuck!
Leary (PSU):BHS BHS LOSO, loving these triple series and so well done! Split jump to sheep jump. Dismounts 1.5, STUCK! 9.85
Tucker (MSU): Front rudi to jump, great on that! Fun routine love it! Second pass, front double full great control on that. 9.825
Rizo (UK): Y. full, small scoot back. 9.80
Reutzel (Ohio): Blind to straddle Jaeger immediate shoot over, double layout dismount, small landing movement but great routine!
McElligott (PSU): Another triple series! BHS BHS LOSO, and again, really well done, smallest adjustment. Switch leap, back leg a little low, to straddle ¼. This entire lineup so far has been moving well. Dismounts 1.5, small hop forward. 9.825
Wilson (UK): Front handspring front pike half, STUCK!!!!! 9.9!
Beaufault (MSU): Punch front double full, great control on that. Great leaps down the middle. Back 1.5 to front layout, nice ending. 9.850
Salcedo (PSU): BHS LOSO, nice, a small adjustment. Standing front tuck, wow! Great job on that landing and goes down into choreo. Gorgeous wolf jump. Split jump to straddle 3/4, feet a little too far apart on that, but nails front full off the end to close.
Magnelli (UK): Front handspring front pike half and another stick!! 9.875!
Vetter (Ohio): HUGE Tkachev a little too close to the bar, clear hip to shoot over, great handstands so far. Full in dismount to end.
Stephen (MSU): front through to front rudi, great on that. Front double full to end. 9.9!
Latronica (PSU): Front aerial to beat jump, well connected kept it moving. BHS LOSO, solid Really pretty lines on this event! Split jump to double stag ring, no movement on that. Ends Gainer full off the side stuck!
Killough-Wilhelm (UK): Y. 1.5, buckles a bit on the landing but looks to be okay. 9.825
Rader (Ohio): Maloney to the high bar, shoot over, nails the last handstand and a stuck double layout.
Smith (MSU): Huge full in with great control on the landing wow. Switch half to straddle full, solid. Front tuck through to double tuck, amazing. 9.9!
Johnston (PSU): BHS LOSO, moves arms on the landing but not big. Split jump to sheep jump, loving the double sheep jump in this lineup! Beat jump to side aerial, big upper body break on that Cartwheel Gainer full off the side to a stick! 9.750
Parks (Ohio): Maloney up, Pak nice, wobbles on the squat on but ends double layout, small movement
Cesaron (Pitt): Y. full, small step back but a great vault!
Minervini (Towson): BHS swing thru to side aerial, great on that. Split to split 3/4, solid little adjustment. Gainer full tuck off the side! great routine! 9.800
Schulte (MSU): Sky high full in to start, a little out of control on the landing just lots of power!. Switch half, straddle full, straddle. Front tuck through to double back, under rotates and steps forward on that. 9.85
DeHaan (GW)- bars: Missed to Jaeger, redoes it and catches to a shoot over, good recovery, blind full to double tuck and a couple hops forward on that landing.
Sheremeta (GW) – floor: Stuck back 1.5 to front layout, second pass, front rudi excellent control on that and she is performing this! Wolf 1.5, good on that, great routine! 9.825!
AFTER ONE: Kentucky 49.350, MSU 49.400, Ohio State 49.00, PSU 49.150
Michigan State pulls away early on one of its best events, but this is an extremely close competition just after one! All within four tenths, this is going to be a good one! Kentucky had four of six stuck landings and set themselves up well heading to bars. Ohio State had a great start, just little deductions adding up on landings especially. Beam was SOLID for PSU. They came to play. Michigan State floor is something I have always wanted to see in person and it did not disappoint! High energy, even higher tumbling and a strong start for the Spartans. Stand out individuals this first rotation Minervini’s beam was beautiful and confident, and Sheremeta performed floor as is this were her home crowd! Love seeing these individuals shine!
Rotation 2: VT Michigan State, UB Kentucky, BB Ohio State, FX Penn State
Tucker (MSU): Y. 1.5, step back on the landing
Rizo (UK): Missed the first half but sticks the double layout!!
Guevara (Ohio): Nice full turn, moves out of it into dance. BHS LOSO, a little soft knees on the BHS. Switch leap to switch half, gets her hips around on that. Side handstand press down to choreo, LOVE! Dismounts round off double full small scoot back great lead off for them! 9.800
Maul (PSU): Big double tuck to open, nails that. Switch half to jump. Switch half to split full split full. Back 1.5 to front layout to sissone, a little low on the layout, but good opening routine! 9.775.
Doyle (MSU): Y. 1.5, hop forward on that but controlled
Reigert (UK): Blind to huge straddle Jaeger caught far fingertips that, nails the shoot over and holds the handstand. Blind full todouble tuck and takes a step forward.
Smith (Ohio): Sets up front toss to BHS, great connection on that series. Dances into beat jump. Straddle jump to straddle ¼, a little shaky on that. Gainer full off the side sticks it! 9.750
Kaempfer (PSU): Double tuck, nice. Second pass, front rudi to straddle jump, nice on that. Last pass back 1.5 to layout a little low on the layout but nice routine! 9.75
Zsarmani (MSU): Y. 1.5 another controlled hop forward. 9.9!
Procasky (UK): Maloney to Pak, great. Dismounts double layout sticks that!! 9.925!
Walker (Ohio): BHS LOSO, super solid and aggressive arms down on the finish. Cat leap to front aerial beat jump. Hitch kick to switch side, a little closed off on that second leap. Gainer pike off the front, lands a little low and takes a hop forward. 9.700
Leary (PSU): Front double full to tuck really controlled on that landing to stay in. Switch ring to hop wolf full, makes it work. Back 1.5 to front layout, nice! 9.850
Smith (MSU): Y. 1.5, small step back. 9.850
Rivelli (UK): Blind to straddle Jaeger, great distance to the shoot over. Little short on that last handstand but nails the double layout! 9.9!
Vetter (Ohio): solid BHS LOSO. Side aerial, solid. Switch leap to straddle 1/4, BHS Gainer full off the side STUCK. What a routine for her! 9.9!
Stephen (MSU): Y. 1.5 DRILLS IT FOR A STICK! 10.0!!!!!!!!
Rodriguez (UK): Great Tkachev, clear hip to shoot over, nice. Dismounts with a double layout stuck!! 9.9!
Rader (Ohio): BHS LOSO, perfect. MSU is going nuts so way to keep calm. Side aerial another perfect landing. Switch split jump to straddle 1/4, great. BHS Gainer full and just a step on the landing! 9.800
Kramer (PSU): Front double full, great landing. Rudi to huge LOSO what a routine 9.85
Kellerman (MSU): Front handspring front pike half, another stick!!!! another 10??? 9.925
Killough-Wilhelm (UK): Blind to gorgeous piked Jaeger, immediate shoot over and holds the last handstand. Just a hop back on this dismount. 9.875.
McElligott (PSU): Sky high double tuck to start. Love this dramatic choreo!! Back 1.5 to front layout, great ending! 9.875
Warga (Ohio): Front aerial to BHS, beautiful. Cat leap to switch half, just a little low back leg on that. Piked front toss, great Gainer pike STUCK! 9.825
Montevago (GW): Missed the first release but shoot over, nice. Nails the last handstand toe shoot to stalder to stuck double tuck! Great routine!! 9.85!
DeHaan (GW): Round off BHS mount, perfect. BHS LOSO, solid on that. Double full turn WHAAT. Cat leap to switch side, great on that. Side aerial to tucked 1.5, smallest hop forward. What a routine!! 9.825
Minervini (Towson): Love this energy! Great first pass. Solid back 1.5 to front layout. Another great event for her!
AFTER TWO: Kentucky 98.775, MSU 98.925, Ohio 98.075, Penn State 98.300
These teams came to fight today! Michigan State and Kentucky are just a hair apart, but have maintained its lead from vault highlighted with a 10.0 from Stephen!! Penn State is making a statement, currently sitting in third place and looks to just be picking up momentum. Kentucky had a great bar rotation and heading to beam and floor, two of its strongest, they should be in a good place. Ohio State has a little more ground to make up, but defineitly is not out of the picture. Individual performances from DeHaan on beam and Minervini on floor were both excellent from the two all-arounders!
Rotation 3: VT Penn State, UB Michigan State, BB Kentucky , FX Ohio State
Monahan (PSU): Tsuk full, stuck! 9.750
Doyle (MSU): Blind to piked Jaeger, great. Toe handstand a little archy but saves it to the Pak. Dismounts double tuck and nails the landing! 9.8500
Washington (Ohio): Big double pike to open the routine, steps forward on the landing. Right into the second pass front layout to front full, nice. Torjete ½ to wolf full, really nice. Fun choreo before the double tuck, kicks out of it nicely. 9.800
Rodriguez (UK): Switch leap to split jump great. Solid BHS BHS LOSO. Side sumi, small bobble. RO 1.5 STUCK! 9.850
Vihrova (PSU): Front handspring front pike, hop forward. 9.725
Stephen (MSU): Maloney to shoot over right to toe circle. Back to the high bar, gorgeous full in dismount, great height and big distance from the bar drops it in for a stick! 9.950!
Brose (UK): Perfect front tuck, HUGE. Front toss, wobbles and has to go back. Fornt toss to BHS, wobbles on that. Switch leap to beat jump, great. Full turn is nice and goes into RO 1.5 and sticks it. 9.675
Grimes (Ohio): Clean double pike to open. Back 1.5 to front layout, great rise on that STUCK. Switch side to straddle full, hops a little to the side on that landing. Double tuck to end, excellent jump to lunge on that. 9.850.
Kaempfer (PSU): Y. full, bent arms on the table, but a good controlled landing.
Lee (UK): BHS BHS LOSO, big wobble on that but holds it on. Switch leap to straddle 1/4, better on that. Stuck RO 1.5 to end. 9.750
Leary (PSU): STUCK Y. full!! 9.850
Guevara (Ohio): Huge front double full to front tuck to start. Love the energy she brings to this event! Switch side to straddle full, really nice extension. Front rudi to LOSO, great job getting her chest up on that to end this routine! 9.850.
Smith (MSU): Toe on, Maloney, pak nicely done. Super solid handstand on the high bar. Double layout sticks it! 9.925
Bennett (UK): BHS LOSO LOSO right to the edge of the beam wow. Switch leap, low back leg, to beat jump. Gainer pike stuck off the front! 9.9!
Vetter (Ohio): Double tuck to start, small step forward on that. Torjete straddle full straddle full, beautiful. Front layout to rudi, excellent. 9.850
Salcedo (PSU): Yurchenko 1/2 on pike off, good controlled landing. 9.725
Killough-Wilhelm (UK): Front aerial to BHS LOSO, great fluidity on that. Switch leap loose back foot to beat jump. Stuck dismount!! 9.9!
Harkness (MSU): The most gorgeous Geinger, missed the middle but hops back on the double layout.
Johnston (PSU): Y. full, stuck! Penn State okay!!!! 9.825
Magnelli (UK): BHS LOSO LOSO, perfect. Switch leap to straddle 1/4, perfect extension on that. Excellent front aerial, nails it. Full turn is nice, Gainer pike and sticks it!!! 9.950! Wow!
Kellerman (MSU): Blind to straddle Jaeger, nice. Shootover and hold its wow. Double layout small hop forward. 9.875
Minervini (Towson): Y. full on pike off and a small hop forward! 9.800
Hong (Towson): Side aerial to RO, a little slow on the connection but it should be okay. Split jump to 3/4, really well done. Straddle jump, perfect. Front full STUCK! 9.500
Rader (Ohio): Double pike to open, a little hoppy on that landing. Front full to front tuck, nice. Torjete to straddle full straddle full, good rotation. Loving Ohio’s choreo and different style on this event! Ends with a double tuck but is under rotated and has to take a big step on that.
DeHaan (GW): HUGE double pike, wow. Front rudi to straddle jump. Switch side to shushanova down to choreo. LOVE this routine. Front full to front LOSO, okay wow. 9.850
AFTER THREE: Kentucky 148.125, MSU 148.375, Ohio State 147.175, Penn State 147.250
Michigan State and Kentucky have pulled away more in this rotation, but are keeping it close for who gets that first spot. Michigan State had another solid rotation and now it comes down to beam where they could make this lead even bigger, but need to be on on an event that has given them some trouble this year. Penn State is showing out on vault, and is really making a name for themselves in this meet! Ohio State and Kentucky had a couple minor mistakes, but Kentucky is still in a good position to move forward. Also, if you have never seen Delaney DeHaan’s floor choreo, just please go watch it. Minervini had another great rotation on vault and heading to bars, one of her best events, this should be an excellent way to close out an already stellar competition for her.
Rotation 4: VT Ohio State, UB Penn State, BB Michigan State, FX Kentucky
Washington (Ohio): Y. Full, small hop on the landing. 9.850
Schulte (MSU): Switch leap to switch half, nice 180 positions on those two but a wobble on the second. BHS LOSO, nails it and ends Gainer full off the side sticks it! 9.850
Procasky (UK): Front layout to front full, a little low on that. Great double tuck to close out!
Guevara (Ohio): Y. full, hops back on the landing.
Vihrova (PSU): Blind to Jaeger, really close on that. Shoot over and closes out stuck double tuck. Way to come back.
Duplissis (MSU): BHS BHS LOSO, small wobble. Beat jump to 3/4 jump. RO stuck 1.5! 9.775
Magnelli (UK): Front rudi to floaty LOSO. Switch side half to straddle full. Love her energy on floor! Solid double pike to the signature straddle jump to end! 9.875
Leary (PSU): Blind to huge straddle Jaeger to immediate shoot over, blind full to double tuck dismount stuck!
Ruetzel (Ohio): Front handspring front pike, little iffy on the landing. 9.775
Missenheimer (MSU): Front aerial to jump, great connection on that. BHS LOSO, wobbly on that but fights for it. Switch leap to split jump, nice. RO 1.5, small hop forward. 9.750
Grimes (Ohio): Y full, small scoot but their best vault yet. 9.850
Rizo (UK): Huge double pike to start and another equally as beautiful double tuck. Back 1.5 to layout, sticks it but is sqautty on the landing. 9.825
Harkness (MSU): BHS LOSO really great. Switch leap to switch leap, excellent on that connection. Side aerial, nice. Side aerial to tucked 1.5, smallest scoot forward. Best routine yet for MSU on beam! 9.850
Gallentine (PSU): Maloney to Pak really nice. double layout and just a scoot back on that.
Smith (Ohio): Y. 1.5, bent arms on the table and just a hop forward. Love to see the 10 start! 9.90!!
Rodriguez (UK): Front rudi to straight back layout, nice! Switch ring to torjete great on that. double tuck, takes a couple steps back and is out of bounds. Back 1.5 to front half to straddle, nice ending after that. 9.575
Smith (MSU): Gorgeous BHS LOSO. Switch split to straddle 1/2, little adjustment. RO double back! just a slight movement on the landing. 9.875
Vetter (Ohio): Y. full, small hop back.
Latronica (PSU): Hop handstand front giant to gorgeous piked Jaegar. Shotover and nails that handstand. Toe handstand, BIG toe on front pike, small step on that
Killough-Wilhelm (UK): Front double full, good control. Switch to Torjete ring, wow. Back 1.5 to front layout great landing on that. 9.9!
Stephen (MSU): Front kickover laid out wow.. BHS LOSO, great control. Split jump to straddle jump 1/2, good. Round off to double twist, stuck! 9.9!!
DeHaan (GW): Y. full small hop back. What an all around competition for her! 9.825!
Barbanete (PSU): Nice first handstand, blind to pikes Jaeger close on that to immediate shoot over. Clean double layout dismount, just a little knees on the flip and takes a small hop. 9.750
Brose (UK): HUGE double pike, sticks and steps. Front full to front layout. Perfect double full to end! 9.95!!
Sheremeta (GW): Okay mount! Wow! BHS LOSO, solid. Leap to swtich half small wobble. Down to double wolf and a gorgeous Y scale hold. Goes for Gainer and slips to her back but redoes it and nails it! Good for her to get back up and do it again. 9.150
Whitman (GW): Front double tuck, wow. Front double full to front layout. Another front double to close out. This routine is so good every single time. Way to go!! 9.850
Minervini (Towson): Nice handstand to great Tkachev right to Pak, perfect. Dismounts with a stuck double layout!!! Arena is going crazy for her! That was an amazing all around day for her, wow.
FINAL: Michigan State 197.625, Kentucky 197.525, Ohio State 196.400, Penn State 196.225.
Michigan State and Kentucky will be advancing! This was an amazing first day of competition and the top two kept it close until the end! Ohio state and Penn State both had great meets and this was an amazing way for both to close out their 2025 seasons! For Kentucky, beam was a little off in the first few spots, but they pulled it back for the back half of the lineup, and rallied on floor to only put them behind MSU by a tenth. MSU had minor mistakes that added up on beam, but ended strong on this event and maintained its first place lead all the way through. We will be back tonight for the final two teams that will compete again on Saturday!
EVENT STANDINGS AFTER ONE SEMIFINAL:
VT: Stephen (MSU) 10.0!
UB: Stephen (MSU) 9.95!
BB: Magnelli (Kentucky) 9.95!
FX: Brose (Kentucky) 9.95!
AA: Stephen (MSU) 39.750!
FINAL:
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Live blog by Julianna Roland
