The Utah Regional final is here! This could be a closely fought battle between UCLA, Minnesota, Utah, and Denver for just two regionals spots.
As expected, UCLA and Minnesota advanced out of their semifinal session. UCLA will be hungry for a 198+ score in the final to prove itself a National Finals contender and put some distance between itself and the other times. Minnesota will likely need to have the meet of its life to advance, but with gymnasts like Mya Hooten and Ava Stewart on the team, the Gophers cannot be counted out.
Utah and Denver join UCLA and Minnesota after a dramatic semifinal. Unseeded Denver upset the No. 13 Stanford with a season high and the highest score of the semifinal. The Pioneers are putting all the pieces together when it matters most, and if they hit like they did on Thursday, UCLA and Utah could be in trouble. Utah proved it is not infallible after a nervy beam rotation in the semifinal, and will want to get back on track to keep its record streak of qualifying to Nationals alive. Another 10.0 from Grace McCallum on bars certainly wouldn’t hurt.
Rotation 1: Minnesota VT, Utah UB, Denver BB, UCLA FX
Pearl (Minn): Yfull, a bit pike-y in the air and a small hop back. 9.8
Smith (UU): Pak, Van Leeuwen, good form on both. Underrotates the dismount slightly and lands with chest down and a step forward. 9.8
Cooley (DU): Bhs loso loso, nails it. Switch leap, tiny hip check, split leap. Full turn is clean. Bhs gainer full with a small bounce in place. 9.875
Rosen (UCLA): Opens with a double tuck, great controlled lunge. Double pike is good. Switch ring, switch half, wolf full, no major problems. Back 1.5 to front lay, dances out of it. Good lead off for UCLA! 9.85
Steensland (Minn): Yfull, some knees and a medium hop back. 9.75
Glynn (UU): Maloney to bail, tiny bit of leg separation. Sticks the stalder to double tuck cold. 9.9
Gallen (DU): Bhs loso, solid. Switch leap, very low switch half, beat jump. Easy full turn. Gainer pike, stuck. 9.925!
Webster-Longin (UCLA): Front double twist, a quick lunge out of it. Back 1.5 front lay, shows control on the lunge before continuing with her dance. Clean Rudi to close. 9.9
Moraw (Minn): Yfull, great form and just a tiny bounce on the landing. 9.8
Neff (UU): Clear hip to Gienger and falls. So uncharacteristic of her, and pressure is on for Utah. Big cheers as she remounts the bar. Crisp bail. Small step on the dismount. 9.000
Iwai (DU): Switch leap to split quarter, good. Bhs loso loso, tiny foot adjustment. Quick full turn. Cartwheel gainer full, stuck! 9.9! Denver did not come to play tonight!
Malabuyo (UCLA): Double pike, some foot form but likely won’t be deducted. Gorgeous switch ring to switch half to wolf full. Back 1.5 to front lay with quite a bit of leg form. 9.85
Crump (Minn): Y1.5, good height and a controlled step forward on landing. 9.85
Morgan (UU): Maloney to Bhardwaj. Good Van Leeuwen, and gets the stick on the dismount. Great reset for Utah! 9.85
Mabanta (DU): Wolf turn, tiny chest dip at the end. Leap to switch half to beat jump, smooth connection. Bhs loso, good. Tucked gainer full, STUCK. 9.95!!
Campbell (UCLA): Big tuck full in to open. Sky high in her leaps, wow. Front lay to front full, good. Closes with a double tuck, so high and a perfectly controlled landing. 9.9
Stewart (Minn): Y1.5 with a big step forward. 9.8
Zirbes (UU): Straddle jaeger, really pretty. I missed the middle of the routine but she sticks the full in with a big lean forward. 9.875
Thompson (DU): Side aerial to bhs, gorgeous. Switch leap to side somi, keeps control of it. Calm full turn. Gainer pike with a small step. 9.85
Moors (UCLA): Double twist to punch front, one of the more controlled ones she’s done. This routine is absolutely hypnotic. Beautiful floaty LOSO. Rudi, stunning. 9.95
Hooten (Minn): Y1.5, tries for the stick but has to take a small step forward. 9.875
McCallum (UU): The crowd is going CRAZY for her. Stalder to Maloney to pak, beautiful. Van Leeuwen, legs GLUED together. Perfect final handstand. Full in, stuck. If Thursday’s routine is a 10, this could absolutely be one too. And yep, there it is, 10.0.
Ulrich (DU): Bhs loso, small foot adjustment. Full turn is good. Front aerial to beat jump, no problem. Gainer pike, stuck. 9.9
Chiles (UCLA): Double lay, really overrotates it and has to lift her front leg to stop herself from going out of bounds. Punch front to double back, much better on the landing.
AFTER ONE: Denver 49.550, UCLA 49.450, Utah 49.425. Minnesota 49.125
Denver having the lead after beam – and with a new season high at that – is HUGE. The Pioneers will need to keep this momentum going through the rest of the meet, with their best event to come at the end. UCLA and Utah will be disappointed not to have been able to count huge scores from Chiles and Neff, but still had strong rotations. With vault behind them, Minnesota will be looking to make up the difference on its stronger events.
Rotation 2: UCLA VT, Minnesota UB, Utah BB, Denver FX
Lee (UCLA): Yfull, great height and drills the stick! Great start for UCLA! 9.9
Jencks (Minn): Straddle Tkatchev, very low on the bail. Double lay, small hop in place. 9.75
Morgan (UU): Bhs bhs loso, tiniest hip check and snaps the arms back to prevent further movement. Switch half, a small pause before the beat jump but likely won’t be taken. Clean full turn. Gainer front full, stuck. 9.875
Rorich (DU): Punch front to double back, great control. Not the most directionally precise on her leaps but great extension. Double pike, bounces back in the lunge. 9.8
Jenkins (UCLA): Y1.5 with a big hop forward. 9.8
Harrington (Minn): Maloney, some leg separation, better on the pak. Gorgeous final handstand. Full in, small foot shuffle and chest down on landing. 9.8
Winger (UU): Bhs, loso, bhs, no major problems. Switch leap, split jump is a bit low. Bhs, gainer full, small scoot back. Judges’ conference on the score, not sure why. It comes in as a 9.8. Changed to a 9.625 during the third rotation
Reidenbach (DU): Caught the last past, huge double tuck to a good lunge. 9.875
Moors (UCLA): Front hs pike half, takes a few stumble steps back. 9.775
Crump (Minn): A bit short on the first handstand. Archy Maloney, a bit of leg separation on the pak but the judges might not see. Double lay, a little pike-y in the air but stuck! 9.8
Smith (UU): Candle mount to start. So calm on the front turn. Bhs loso, good. Front aerial, misses the connection. Repeats the skill, gets the connection to the split leap and split quarter that time. Sticks the gainer pike. Really impressive after such a long wait! 9.875
Iwai (DU): Back 1.5 to front lay to stag jump, very pretty. Double tuck, a big of chest down on landing but hides it with the lunge. A bit short of split on her leap pass. 9.825
Webster-Longin (UCLA): Y1.5, the smallest of hops on landing. 9.95
Stewart (Minn): Love the straight leg casts. Great Maloney to pak. Van Leeuwen is good. Toe on front pike half with a small hop back. 9.85
McCallum (UU): Double wolf turn, beautiful. Bhs loso, good. Switch leap, leap, no problem. Gainer tuck off the end of the beam, stuck. 9.95!
Cooley (DU): Front lay to Rudi, good. Back 1.5 to a floaty front lay. 9.9!
Campbell (UCLA): Yfull, flared and stuck! 9.925, one judge gave her the perfect 9.95.
Hooten (Minn): Piked tkatchev to shootover. Full twisting double back with a small shuffle. 9.85
Neff (UU): Side aerial to bhs, perfect. The crowd was completely silent during the series and cheered the moment it was over. Side aerial, a bit nervy. Cartwheel gainer full, stuck. Great bounce back routine for her!
Mabanta (DU): Front lay to Rudi, good control. Lovely extension on the switch ring half. Back 1.5 to front lay, really good. Denver is keeping the momentum going! 9.925!
Chiles (UCLA): Tucked half on half off, tries to stick but steps back and then steps quickly back into the salute. 9.9
Lyden (Minn): Maloney, tight bail. A bit short on the last handstand. Double lay with a step back. 9.875
Padurariu (UU): Double wolf turn, has to swing her arms a tad to keep control. Front aerial to bhs, nice and smooth. Split jump, sheep jump, small check. Gainer pike with a step forward. 9.8
Ulrich (DU): Double lay, bouncy lunge out of it. Good control in her leaps. Back 1.5 to a pretty front lay, dances out of it. Double pike, good lunge. 9.950, wow!
AFTER TWO: Denver 99.050, UCLA 98.925, Utah 98.825, Minnesota 98.300
Denver casually putting up a season high on floor after just putting up a season high in beam right when it matters most is so impressive. Third at the halfway mark is not where Utah wanted to find itself, but it is only a tenth behind UCLA, and this is likely a battle that will come down to the final rotation! Minnesota had good but not great bars and will likely need one of the other three teams to stumble in order to have a chance at advancing.
Rotation 3: Denver VT, UCLA UB, Minnesota BB, Utah FX
Brusch (DU): Yfull, great in the air and a small hop back. 9.85
Campbell (UCLA): Beautiful first handstand. Maloney with some leg separation, good bail. Double front, stuck! 9.85
Koch (Minn): Kicks out of the full turn. Bhs loso, no wobbles. Beat jump to split 3/4, very short of 180 on that. Front toss to scale, holds onto it. RO 1.5 twist, stuck! 9.875
Glynn (UU): My computer lagged and I missed the first pass. Back 1.5 to front lay, good control on the lunge to stay in bounds. 9.85
Mabanta (DU): Yfull, very similar to Brusch with a small hop back. 9.85
Rosen (UCLA): Maloney, great form, pak with a bit of leg separation. Double lay with a small hop forward. 9.825
Stewart (Minn): Split jump to split ring. Bobble on the front aerial BHS swingdown connection, it’ll be interesting to see if the judges take that. Bhs gainer full with a step forward. 9.675
Zirbes (UU): Front double twist, tries to stick it but slides back a little. Nice extension in her leaps. Back 1.5 to front full, a little awkward on landing but makes the lunge. 9.85
Ulrich (DU): Y1.5 with a hop forward. 9.8
Webster-Longin (UCLA): Caught the dismount, clear hip to double tuck stuck. 9.85
Moraw (Minn): Bhs to loso, good. Nice controlled side aerial. Beat jump to split 3/4, good. Bhs gainer full stuck.
Neff (UU): Front double twist to punch front, gorgeous. Front full, front full, dances out of it. 9.925
Reidenbach (DU): Y1.5, underrotates and lands deep and has to take several steps back. 9.625
Malabuyo (UCLA): Slightly short on the first hand. Maloney, pak. Really archy half pirouette with some leg form. Toe on to full in with a small shuffle. 9.85 is a bit generous imo
Rowray (Minn): Bhs loso, solid. Switch leap to straddle half with a balance check. Front toss to wolf jump, nice quick connection. Front gainer full stuck. 9.825
Gilstrap (UU): Get the tissues ready for her last floor routine in the Huntsman. Front lay to Rudi, stuck cold. Front lay to front full, beautiful. 9.95!
Casali (DU): Y1.5, underrotated with a small stumble back. 9.75, that will have to count.
Esparza (UCLA): Caught the dismount, double lay with a step forward. 9.825
Pearl (Minn): Series is clean. Switch leap to straddle quarter, solid. Front aerial to beat jump, nice. Bhs gainer full, stuck! 9.9
Smith (UU): Front double twist to front tuck, perfect control on the landing. Good position on the switch ring. Rudi to loso, beautiful. Great routine! 9.925
Mundell (DU): Y1.5, underrotated again with a step back. 9.65, Denver will have to count that as well.
Chiles (UCLA): Piked Tkatchev to pak, good. Floaty double lay, small hop back. 9.9
Lyden (Minn): Candle mount. Double wolf turn, no problems. Bhs loso, beautiful. Cat leap to split quarter, very short of split. RO 1.5 twist, stuck! 9.9
McCallum (UU): Full in, bouncy lunge out of it. Punch front to double back, good. Beautiful routine! 9.975!!
AFTER THREE: Utah 148.450, UCLA 148.200, Denver 147.950, Minnesota 147.650
A lights-out floor rotation gives Utah the lead going into the last rotation! UCLA had a middle of the road bars rotation but holds onto the second spot. However, UCLA still has beam to go, so anything can happen. Three underrotated Yurchenko 1.5s in a row and a sub-49 vault score puts Denver in third, but this is a team capable of a huge bars rotation that could make up the difference. Minnesota had some strong beam routines and will look to close the meet on a high. This should be a close one!!
Rotation 4: Utah VT, Denver UB, UCLA BB, Minnesota FX
Zirbes (UU): Y1.5 with a step forward. 9.85
Casali (DU): Maloney, bail, good. Slightly short on her last handstand. Double lay with a hop back. 9.775
Lee (UCLA): Front aerial to split jump with a hip check. Bhs loso, leg up check. Switch leap, straddle jump, solid. Full turn good. Bhs gainer full, stuck. 9.75
Jencks (Minn): Front double twist, wonky lunge out of it. Back 1.5 to front lay, very short, big stumble back, I’m impressed she kept it on her feet. Rudi to straddle jump to close. 9.725
McCallum (UU): Y1.5 with a big step forward. 9.8
Ulrich (DU): Maloney, pak, so much height and great form. Patient final handstand. Double lay with a scoot back. 9.875
Rosen (UCLA): Switch leap, split jump. Beat jump to onodi with a small check. Bhs loso, solid. RO 1.5 twist dismount, stuck. 9.85
Swartzmiller (Minn): Rudi to a big double stag jump. Switch half to a straddle 3/4? Guessing that was supposed to be a straddle full. Back 1.5 to front lay, good control on landing. 9.85
Neff (UU): Y1.5, big step forward. 9.85
Rorich (DU): Straddle jaeger, good bail. Great final handstand. Double lay with a bounce in place. 9.9
Chiles (UCLA): Bhs loso, rock solid. Cat leap to straddle quarter, no problem. Full turn with the tiniest adjustment out of it. Side aerial, a little awkward but no major breaks. RO double twist with a scoot back. 9.9
Pearl (Minn): Oof, stumbles in the approach for her last pass and doesn’t make anything around. Tough break for her. 8.825
Glynn (UU): Y1.5 with a small hop forward. 9.925
Cooley (DU): Big Ray, slightly low on the bail. Double lay, stuck with her chest down. 9.85
Campbell (UCLA): Bhs layout to two feet. Leap, switch half, balance check and tries to hide it with dance. Patient full turn. Cartwheel gainer full, stuck. 9.875 is very generous
Gonsiorowski (Minn): Tuck full in, slides a bit in the lunge. Caught the combination pass out of the corner of my eye but it looked good. Double tuck, great control. 9.85
Smith (UU): Omelianchik, underrotates and takes a big step back. 9.8
Hebinck (DU): Pretty pak. Double lay, stuck! 9.9
Alipio (UCLA): Loso, bhs, loso, solid. Side aerial, snaps the arms back to avoid a wobble. Leap to switch leap to beat jump, no problem. Tucked gainer full, stuck. 9.9
Koch (Minn): Front double twist, quick lunge out of it. Back 1.5 to front lay, dances out of it. Rudi to close.
Johnson (UU): Y1.5, STUCK! The Huntsman is on their feet! 9.95
Mundell (DU): Straddle Tkatchev, bail, both very pretty. Double lay, tries to stick but has to hop forward into the salute. 9.875
Malabuyo (UCLA): Wolf turn, no problem. Bhs loso with a small check. Front aerial to beat jump to bhs swingdown. Split jump to split ring, pretty. Bhs gainer full with a tiny hop back. That should do it for UCLA. 9.9
Hooten (Minn): Tuck full in, BEAUTIFUL, the lunge is just a formality. Front full to front pike, no problem. Double tuck, another great landing. What a routine! 9.9
FINAL: Utah 197.825, UCLA 197.625, Denver 197.350, Minnesota 196.850
Utah and UCLA advance! Utah came back in a big way in the second half of the meet, and UCLA held on to the second spot the whole way through. Denver will look back on that vault rotation and wonder “what if?” but should still be so proud of itself for advancing to the regional final and giving the top seeds a run for their money. Minnesota had some stumbles, but still closes its season on a strong note.
INDIVIDUAL QUALIFIERS:
VT: Rosie Casali, Denver
UB: Rylie Mundell, Denver
BB: Brynlee Andersen, BYU
FX: Mya Hooten, Minnesota
AA: Madison Ulrich, Denver
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