Michigan State enters this session as the favorite following last week’s statement win over Ohio State. The Spartans have eclipsed 197 in four consecutive meets, and reaching that mark again would make them difficult to catch. Beam remains the key variable after several uncharacteristic breaks in recent weeks, including a missed acrobatic series from MaKayla Tucker, who will be looking to rebound.
Minnesota poses the strongest threat. The Gophers have thrived at home and carried that momentum onto the road in recent weeks. Back in their own arena, they’ll aim to replicate the stuck vaults that fueled their performance against UCLA while delivering a composed beam rotation. Arianna Ostrum will be central to those efforts and is capable of producing momentum-shifting scores.
For Rutgers and Illinois, this meet presents a valuable opportunity to secure a strong road number ahead of postseason selection. Rutgers is coming off one of its best vault and beam showings of the season and will look to sustain that progress while tightening bars. Illinois, still chasing its first 196-plus score, will need a bounce-back vault rotation and additional scoring support alongside Chloe Cho.
The meet will be streamed on BTN and scores can be found on Virtius.
Fair warning to everyone reading, I am live blogging this meet on less than 3 hours of sleep so it should be fun.
Rotation 1: Illinois vault, Michigan State bars, Rutgers beam, Minnesota floor
Coppola (ILL): Feet throughout that Yfull with a hop back and closed hip position with a pike down. 9.75
Howard (MSU): Falls on the church. 8.85
Adrian (RU): Clean full turn. Slight lean at the end of the loso series. Short of split on the switch to switch half. Sticks the ro double full. 9.8
Saltzmann (MIN): Feet on the double pike but controlled. Controls the front full front layout. Hit the leap combo. Good chest up on the double tuck. 9.85
Clancy (ILL): Slipped on the block and only did a Yfull. 9.625
Cosman (MSU): Legs glued on the Maloney to pak salto. Short last cast. Hit the giant full to stuck double tuck. Feet on the dismount 9.825
Beaulieu (RU): Had several leans and wobbles in this routine. 9.55
Gerdes (MIN): Big bounce back on the front tuck through to double tuck. Good ring positions in the switch ring to switch ring half. Controlled the double pike with a low chest. 9.85
Kauffman (ILL): Leg separation on the Yfull and lands with a low chest and took a large step forward. 9.65
Tucker (MSU): Legs glued on the Maloney to bail. Small hop back on the toe on front pike half. 9.8
Larsen (RU): Knees and feet on the loso series. Short of split on the switch to switch half. Big hop forward on the ro back 1.5. 9.675
Byrne (ILL): Small leg seperation on the Yfull block and took a hop back. Good open hips. Some feet. 9.775
Smith (MSU): Legs glued on the Maloney to pak salto. Great last cast. Sticks the double layout. 9.9
Smith (RU): Solid triple series. Short of split on the switch to switch. Step back on the back 1.5 dismount. 9.75
Gonsiorowski (MIN): Leg separation on the Full in, but controlled the landing. Controlled the front tuck through to double tuck. Off on the rotations in the triple leap combo. 9.9
Cho (ILL): Stuck the Yfull with a very low chest. 9.8
Riley (RU): Solid loso series. Agressive split to split 3/4s. Lean on the side aerial. Small step forward on the back 1.5 dismount. Good leg position on the dismount. 9.75
Zsarmani (MSU): Clean Maloney to pak. Step forward on the double layout dismount. 9.8
Ostrum (MIN): Great amplitude on the front tuck throught to double tuck. Carried the amplitude to the leap combo as well. Could have used more height on the loso out of the Rudi. 9.925
Dildy (RU): A little extra arm wave between the front toss to bhs. Great height on the front toss. Solid leaps. Small stutter steps on the cartwheel to gainer full. 9.8
Kellerman (MSU): Not te most height on the jaeger. Hit the bail. Small hop on the double layout. 9.825
Lyden (MIN): Clean leg positions on the back 1.5 to front full. Great amplitude on the leap series. Controlled the back 2.5. 9.925
AFTER ONE: Minnesota 49.525, Michigan State 49.150, Rutgers 48.725, Illinois 48.700
Minnesota started out with a huge score on floor to get the meet started which is something one could have expected. Michigan State came back from a fall in the first routine to put up a solid team score. That will be challenging to continue on beam. Rutgers couldn’t replicate the beam success from last week, and Illinois had some low chests that will leave both teams behind the top two teams after one.
Rotation 2: Minnesota vault, Illinois bars, Michigan State beam, Rutgers floor
Stewart (MIN): Large step back and off the mat on the Y1.5. Bent knees throughout. 9.475
Brown (ILL): Falls on the geinger. 8.975
Abney (MSU): Solid double wolf. Slow loso series. Slow connecting the switch to split leap. Small hop forward on the side aerial back tucked 1.5. 9.75
Chevaire (RU): Controlled the double pike. Clean front layout to front full. Missed the leap rotations. Squatty landing on the double tuck. 9.575
Moraw (MIN): Very clean body position in that Yfull. Just a little pike down and small step. 9.85
Duplissis (MSU): Solid bhs bhs loso. Slow connecting the switch to back tuck. Arm wave on the full turn. Small step forward on the back 1.5 dismount. 9.775
Crumo (MIN): Sticks the Y1.5. Holds the landing with a lean. Minor leg sepeations on the block and in the air. 9.9
Larsen (RU): Large lunge with the front foot sliding back on te double pike. Low amplitude on the Rudi to double stag. Didn’t get the wolf full all the way around. Controls the back 1.5 to front layout. 9.775
Dixon (ILL): Leg Separation on the Maoney and an loose bail. Sticks the double layout dismount. Some leg separation in that too. 9.7
Smith (MSU): Great amplitude on the loso series. Great position on the leap combo. Small hop back on the RO double tuck. 9.85
Adrian (RU): Great control on the back 1.5 to front full. Wrong rotation on the leap combo. Overroates the first jump to cheat the wolf 1.5. Hits the Rudi. 9.825
Cho (ILL): Clean Maloney to pak. Legs glued on the VL. Sticks the double layout. 9.925
Trostel (MSU): Hit the switch to straddle. Wobble on the Onodi. Hit the traverse split half. Solid loso series. Great amplitude on the gainer full. 9.825
Nguyen (MIN): Large step forward on the Y1.5. Closed shoulder angle, some leg separation on the last half turn and some feet. 9.8
Saltness (ILL): Arch on the first cast. Good height on the tkachev. Hit the pak. Good giant full finish and hops forward on the double tuck. 9.775
Cosman (MSU): Clean double wolf. Smooth side aerial to bhs. Clean switch the Korbut. Sticks the back 1.t with a lean and an arm wave. 9.775
Dildy (RU): Great control on the front through to double tuck. Hit the switch side half to Popa. Sticks and then steps into the lunge on the double pike. 9.9
Gow (ILL): Leg separation on the Maloney. Shy of handstand on the bail. Stuck the toe on front pike half. 9.775
Leese (RU): Leg split on the full in, but controlled the landing. The camera cut mid jump so couldn’t tell rotations. Controlled the front tuck through to double tuck with some feet. 9.85
AFTER TWO: Minnesota 98.750, Michigan State 98.275, Rutgers 97.800, Illinois 97.675
Minnesota and Michigan State are at the top of the standings at the halway point like what was expected. Michigan State already completed its most challenging events so while the Minnesota lead is substantional, it can still be oversome in the next two rotations.
Rotation 3: Rutgers vault, Minnesota bars, Illinois beam, Michigan State floor
Chevaire (RU): Good opening Yfull with a pike down at the end and a small hop. 9.775
Gerdes (MIN): Leg separation on the Maloney before the bail. Sticks the FTDT. Good toe point. 9.875
Lebster (MSU): Floaty Rudi to loso. Controls the front double full. Good amplitude on the leaps. 9.725
Larsen (RU): Big bounce like a pogo landing on that Yfull. 9.575
Saltness (ILL): Holds the leg in front on the full turn. Solid loso series. Good amplitude on the cat leap before the switch side. Lean on the side aerial. Another lean on the split 3/4s. Step on the front gainer full dismount. 9.675
Marquart (MSU): Controls the full in. Could have had more amplitude on the Rudi to loso. Clean switch ring to tour jete half. 9.85
Schenkel (RU): Small hop forward on the tsuk tucked 1.5. Flexed feet throughout. 9.825
Byrne (ILL): Hits the candle and full turn. Walks out of the loso series. Great position in the sheep jump. Large step back on the double full. 9.725
Ostrum (MIN): A little close on the jaeger. Legs glued on the pak. Legs glued on the double layout as well and sticks the landing. 9.925
Riley (RU): Small hop forward on the Y1.5. Legs seperate on the block and bend a little early. 9.825
Coppola (ILL): Overcooked the full turn. Hits the side aerial to round off. Lean at the end of the switch to split. Solid aerial round off. Small step back on the back 1.5. 9.75
Slevin (MIN): Clean Maloney to pak. Legs glued on the toe hand to VL. Step back on the double layout. 9,85
Ortiz (MSU): Big bounce back on the full in. Stayed in bounds. Feet on the front through to double tuck. Off on the leap rotation. 9.875
Clancy (ILL): Hits the side aerial. Good amplitude on the loso series. Clean switch to straddle half. Sticks the back 1.5. 9.9
Saltzmann (MIN): Hit the jaeger. Legs glued on the bail and the double layout dismount. Sticks the landing. Great pointed toes throughout. 9.875
Leese (RU): Off on the block and just does a tucked Yfull with large steps back. Jams her finger on the table. 9.5
Cho (ILL): Solid loso series. Clean switch to split half to sissone. Sticks the back 1.5. 9.95
Lyden (MIN): Clean Maloney to bail. Big double layout, keeps her legs together, and sticks the landing. 9.875
Smith (MSU): Sticks and goes into the lunge on the full in. Great amplitude on the leap combo. Almost stumbles back out of the front tuck through to double tuck but saves it with just a front foot lift. 9.85
AFTER THREE: Minnesota 148.175, Michigan State 147.550, Illinois 146.675, Rutgers 146.625
Going into the last rotation we the battle for third as we expected with Rutgers and Illinois neck and neck. The battle for first looks a little different. Minnesota is a different beast at home so it isn’t much of a suprise to see the the Golden Gophers have kept the lead, but Michigan State hasn’t performed to expectations either. The Spartans will be looking for as many stuck vaults as possible to put the pressure on Minnesota on beam.
Rotation 4: Michigan State vault, Rutgers bars, Minnesota beam, Illinois floor
Duplissis (MSU): Step forward on the Y1.5. Twists a little early, leg separation on the table and some soft knees. 9.8
Ostrum (MIN): Solid loso series. Clean positions on the switch to split quarter. Hit the side aerial. Sticks the gainer full. 9.925
Joelson (ILL): Feet on the front tuck to double tuck. Controlled the double pike. 9.825
Marquart (MSU): Off to the side on the table on that Y1.5. Lands and steps over the line. 9.75
Stewart (MIN): Hit the candle. Great positions on the split to split ring. Smooth front aerial to bhs swingdown. Hits the wolf turn. Small step back on the bhs gainer full. 9.8
Tucker (MSU): Small hop forward on the Y1.5. Centered on the mat with great height. 9.8
Earley (RU): Legs glued on the geinger to overshoot. Great giant full finish and sticks the double tuck with a little low chest. 9.825
Moraw (MIN): Solid loso series. Hit the side aerial. Clean beat to straddle 3.4s. Great amplitude and sticks the gainer full. 9.925
Brown (ILL): Controls the whip to double tuck. Hit the front full to front layout. Good amplitude on the switch side half to straddle. 9.725
Smith (MSU): Great height on the Y1.5 with a large step forward. 9.85
Rains (RU): Big jaeger to overshoot. Ebows on the stalder and has a large hop forward on the double tuck. Lands with a low chest. 9.75
Rowray (MIN): Solid loso series. Hits the switch combo. Great front toss to wolf. Sticks the front gainer full. 9.925
Banks (ILL): Controls the front double full. Slightly short of rotation on the two wolf fulls out of the tour jete half. Needed more height. Controls the back 1.5 to front layout. 9.725
Zsarmani (MSU): Big bounce forward on the Y1.5. Great amplitude. 9.775
Pearl (MIN): Knees on the bhs loso. Great amplitude on the switch to split quarter. Smooth front aerial to beat. Moved one foot on the gainer full dismount. 9.8
King (ILL): Hit the double tuck. Great amplitude on the switch side half to straddle. Stutter steps out of the back 1.5 to front full. 9.65
Kellerman (MSU): Great height on the front pike half and has a small hop back. Lacks some distance. 9.85
Dildy (RU): Hit the Maloney to pak. Huge FTDT and sticks it. Open tuck position. 9.85
Lyden (MIN): Hits the double wolf turn. Smooth loso series. A little short of rotation on the switch side half. Sticks the back 1.5. 9.95
Cho (ILL): Hits the full in. Controls that landing. Good height on the switch to switch half to wolf full. Controls the front tuck through to double tuck. 9.9
Schenkel (RU): Huge piked jaeger to overshoot. Chest leans forward on the toe on front pike half and sticks it. 9.875
Gow (ILL): Lacks height on the loso out of the Rudi. Around on the tour jete half to split full to tuck full. Controls the front double full. 9.8
FINAL: Minnesota 197.700, Michigan State 196.625, Rutgers 195.750, Illinois 195.650
Rutgers and Illinois kept it close until the end, but Cho was not able to get the help she needed to pull of the win over Rutgers and a score above the 196 mark. Minnesota pulled off the upset due to a season high team score combined with the low score from Michigan State. The Spartans will look at that meet and see lots of easy things to fix to beat Minnesota come the conference championship meet where these teams will compete again.
VT: Crump 9.9
UB: Ostrum, Cho 9.925
BB: Lyden, Cho 9.95
FX: Swartzmiller, Ostrum, Lyden, Tucker 9.925
AA: Ostrum 39.625
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Live blog by Alyssa Van Auker
