Another chapter in the Michigan history books emerges tonight as Maile’ana Kanewa-Hermelyn makes her debut as the new head coach for the Wolverines. This will be Kanewa-Hermelyn’s eighth year with the team, stepping up from her previous role as assistant coach. This coaching shift comes after Bev Plocki’s retirement from a 36-year career as head coach for the Wolverines. Tonight will present the first major test for Kanewa-Hermelyn and the Wolverines as they continue the fight to regain their footing as a team. The Wolverines finished ranked No. 17 last season—just four years after claiming the national title in 2021. It’s been a long fall and an upward trudge. Will Plocki’s retirement signal the end of an empire, or might a new era begin to unfold tonight?
This season will see returning sixth-years Carly Bauman and Reyna Guggino. Routines from these tried-and-tested athletes will lend the Wolverines a solid foundation with which to build strong lineups. Incoming freshmen Myli Lew and Quincy Walters could also make their debut in maize and blue, as formerly rated recruits. These athletes could be the key momentum the Wolverines need to launch a successful crusade this season.
The preview is streaming on B1G+ at 7 p.m. EST. Don’t have B1G+? Sign up today for the monthly pass with the code COLLEGEGYM3 for just $10.99/month (regularly $12.99/month).
Rotation 1: FX
Parenti: Here we go! She opens with a confident landing on her double pike, back 1.5 to front full with excellent form, 9.775.
Clapper: Double pike, a small adjustment on the landing, she’s very elegant in her dance, punch front full to layout to close, 9.750. They are interviewing her right after her routine!
Diaz: Energetic music from the jump, a clean FHS double full, you can tell she’s having fun! FHS Rudi to a very floaty LOSO, 9.825.
Walters: Punch front double full, a hop and she steps out of bounds, RO 1.5 to front full, well done. 9.525.
Bauman: FHS double full, a bit of a side step on the landing, her leaps and jumps look effortless, she ends with RO 1.5 to layout, 9.700.
Ranger: Opens with a double layout, it’s long and her heel goes out, front layout step through to double back and nearly sticks the landing, 9.700
Sanger: Her massive double pike sends her out of bounds, but at least with clean form, RO 1.5 to front lay tips back slightly but she saves the landing, 9.475
Boozer: Exhibition, watered down tumbling: front tuck through to back layout, RO 1.5 to front layout, but her dance and form are beautiful.
AFTER ONE: 48.750
A good first showing for the Wolverines out on floor! A couple missteps here and there on landings, but overall, the team looks prepared and confident in their routines. I love that everybody is basically wearing a different leotard: a showcase of Michigan’s extensive collection. The event staff are putting in extra effort to interview athletes, parents, and alumni during the meet.
Rotation 2: VT
Clapper: Yurchenko full, a medium hop back, 9.725
*Johnson performs an exhibition routine on beam.
Davis: Y-full, good height, jumps in place, 9.800
*Sanger exhibition on beam: BHS LOSO, solid, BHS gainer full to dismount, she looks relieved
Jordan: Y-full, she has a pretty extension after the twist, 9.775
Guggino: Y-1.5, gets low height, lands a bit straight-kneed and falls back, she gets up and looks OK, 9.325
Ranger: Y-1.5, a good distance from the table, steps forward, 9.800
Diaz: Y-1.5, slightly short on the landing and takes a tiny step backwards, 9.800
Lew: Y-full, clean form, legs are glued, a small step back, 9.700
AFTER TWO: 97.650 (48.900)
The Wolverines vaulted like it’s early season–which it is and not necessarily a bad thing! They have definite room to improve, especially cleaning up the 9.950 SVs to take advantage of every tenth. Otherwise, a good start. The interviews mention “many upgrades”. We will be eagerly waiting!
Rotation 3: UB
Jordan: Straddle Jaeger, bail to handstand, blind full to double tuck, a controlled landing with a small step, 9.750
*Diaz exhibition on beam
Clapper: Piked Jaeger, her toes are absolutely glued together, dismounts with a speedy DLO, a teeny hop backwards, 9.725
Sanger: Piked Jaeger, too far to catch her Pak, comes off. Finishes with a DLO, chest is low and takes a step forward, 9.000
Lew: Maloney Pak, extra handstand on low bar but keeps going, DLO and goes to her knees, I think she should get extra points for staying on the bar…, 8.900
Parenti: Big Ray to start, Pak is elegant, DLO to a stick, or maybe a little shuffle–the camera work is so shaky it’s hard to tell, 9.800
Bauman: She flips so quickly on her Jaeger, ends with the iconic front double dismount, a small step forward, 9.825
AFTER THREE: 145.750 (48.100)
A couple of flukes may have brought the score total down, but you can tell the foundation is there. The Wolverines have a few returners on bars who showed tonight they can tap right into their competitive experience.
Rotation 4: BB
Parenti: BHS LOSO, a dip in the hips but otherwise steady, front aerial to split jump, RO 1.5 and an ice-cold stick, 9.800
Walters: Biebs on the sound system, everything is just right. Kickover is shaky but she stays on, does it again to connect to BHS, second time’s the charm, looks a little uneasy on her dance but no matter–she sticks her front full, 9.675
Jordan: Side aerial BHS, no issues there, an interesting straddle half down the length of the beam, her kickover is high and solid, gainer pike to end and hitches a ride on the stick train! 9.825
Ranger: She looks confident, BHS LOSO LOSO, her finishes make it clear she is in control, RO double tuck dismount and guess what? Another stick! 9.875
Boozer: Front aerial floats, BHS LOSO executed smoothly, BHS gainer full to a stuck landing. There’s gotta be glue on that mat. 9.900
Bauman: Her dance swings, BHS LOSO, side somi with straight legs is gorgeous, finishes with a gainer pike to a stickyyyy landing, 9.825
Davis: BHS LOSO and side aerial are very solid, a leg up and a fall on her full turn, wobbly on her leaps, dismounts to a RO gainer full, no movement, 9.250
Guggino: She’s moving quickly but deliberately, falls on her BHS LOSO, side somi, foot slips on her split half but she catches it, RO gainer full, a small step, 8.700
FINAL: 194.975 (49.225)
The Wolverines gave us a beam experience worthy of its final rotation placement tonight. Stick after stick showcased incredible attention to detail in a sport where landings matter greatly. Beam was the Wolverine’s top-ranked event last season, and they are well on their way to repeating that in 2026.
This preview had the typical pre-season hiccups, nothing that a bit more competitive experience can’t smooth over. The 2026 squad under Kanewa-Hermelyn appears to be in decent shape, appropriate for this point ahead of the season. They were able to finish routines with a flair and score well while keeping the good energy going. Something to look forward to: the vague notions of upgrades mentioned throughout. How different may the team look come January?
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Live blog by Frances Leadman
