A top 15 matchup to start off the weekend as the No. 14 Clemson Tigers head north to take on the No. 9 Michigan Wolverines.
Clemson is coming off a home win in an ACC matchup over Pittsburgh last weekend, but in comparison to Michigan, scored almost a full point lower in its team total. Clemson has gone over the 197 mark only one time this season in late January, and really needs to have a repeat of that competition in order to stay close to Michigan. Coming off a sub-49 bar score this past weekend, this will certainly be an area of focus for the Tigers as it heads into this dual. Although the scoring for Clemson has been pretty consistent across the board with only a handful of hiccups, the Tigers are lacking those big 9.9+ scores from more than one or two athletes in their lineups. Those ‘missing’ tenths might be the thing that adds up this weekend if Clemson doesn’t come away with the win.
Michigan is coming off a season-best 197.475 in one of the three BIG 10 quads this weekend. The Wolverines excelled on both beam and floor, coming away with a pair of 49.475s and eight scores of 9.9+ throughout the competition. Michigan has been steadily building this season, but has struggled with all four hitting at the same time to the capability it can seemingly have until now. The Wolverines have relied heavily on the big scores of a few key players in Carly Bauman, Jahzara Ranger, Sophia Diaz, and Sophie Parenti to name a few, but need to continue to put up big scores in all six spots to keep this high-scoring momentum going into the postseason.
The meet will be streamed on B1G+, and scores can be found on Virtius. Not a B1G+ subscriber? Sign up today for the monthly pass with the code COLLEGEGYM3 for just $10.99/month (regularly $12.99/month).
Rotation 1: Michigan VT, Clemson UB
Davis (UM): Yurchenko full to start off this lineup, a little piked down and a sizable hop on that landing. 9.775
Lippeatt (Clemson): Missed the first half of the routine from the stream but nails her blind full to double tuck and sticks it! 9.875
Guggino (UM): Yurchenko 1.5 and just a small hop on that landing. 9.850
H. Clark (Clemson): Mounts with a nice blind to piked Jaeger right to shoot over, a little loose on that shoot over and takes a step on her double layout dismount. 9.825
Boozer (UM): Yurchenko full, really nice clean landing, small hop on that but really nice! 9.800
Malewski (Clemson): Maloney up right to a Pak and her form is great! Almost goes over on that pirouette with a big arch but saves it and sticks her blind full to double tuck but with a pretty deep squat to hold onto it. 9.800
Jordan (UM): Yurchenko full, another little hop back and some pike down on that. Clean vault though, just not getting these big scores 9.750
Cesario (Clemson): Mounts with a blind to high straddle Jaeger to a well above the bar shoot over but a little loose. Nails and holds that last handstand and just a hop on the double layout dismount. 9.875
Diaz (UM): Yurchenko 1.5 and ALMOST has that landing, just a small hop back. 9.825
Brown (Clemson): Maloney up to immediate shoot over to toe circle. Dismounts with a clean, stuck double layout dismount! 9.925!
Ranger (UM): Yurchenko 1.5 and a big step forward on that landing. 9.825
Jackson (Clemson): Nice opening handstand to a big straddle Jaeger down to immediate over shoot and comes down on her hips almost missing her hand on that. Full in dismount STUCK to end strong! 9.275
*exhibition Sanger (UM): Yurchenko full, super clean in the air and just a step forward on the landing. 9.600
*exhibition Kuhl (Clemson): HUGE Ray to shoot over, loose on that catch but recovers well and fights for the stick on her double layout! 9.825
*exhibition Lew (UM): Yurchenko full, a little low not the biggest block and comes up short with a step on that landing. 9.675
*exhibition Berry (Clemson): Great Maloney to Pak, really nice and clean. Pirouette to toe circle, and a nice double layout dismount with just a step back on the landing. 9.750
AFTER ONE: Michigan 49.075, Clemson 49.300
Clemson takes the early lead in the first rotation with a 49.300 over Michigan’s 49.075. Even with a fall in the anchor spot, the first five for Clemson put up big scores, most notably Brown’s 9.925 in the fourth spot. Michigan had clean vaults in the air, but without any stuck landings, those deductions added up giving the Wolverines just enough to get over that 49 threshold in the first rotation. Moving to bars, Michigan has shown the capability to be able to put up a big score and needs to have a good, hit rotation to close that gap with the Tigers after one.
Rotation 2: Clemson VT, Michigan UB
Clark (Clemson): Huge laid out Tsuk full, really well done and just a hop back on that landing. 9.750
Jordan (UM): Blind to straddle Jaeger, looks like she should’ve gone right to shoot over but recovers well and does a great shoot over from the handstand and end with a nice blind full to double tuck with a hop back. 9.825
Minner (Clemson): Yurchenko tucked 1.5 and STICKS IT! 9.850 (vault judging interesting…)
Clapper (UM): Blind to piked Jaeger, shoot over is a little short, but gets that last handstand and sticks a BIG double layout! 9.90
Holman (Clemson): Front handspring front pike half and a big step back with a slide of her front foot on that landing. 9.775
Diaz (UM): Maloney to start a little pikey on that back swing to a shoot over and a nice double layout but a little too much power and a hop back on that landing. 9.800
Cesario (Clemson): Yurchenko full and finds the landing! Just a slight chest adjustment but her feet are glued! 9.825
Lew (UM): Piked Jaeger is nice to a Pak, slight leg separation on that catch. Nice final handstand to a hollow double layout, locks her knees a bit and takes a couple steps on that landing. 9.775
Walsh (Clemson): Yurchenko 1.5 and just a hop back on that landing. 9.850
Bauman (UM): Stunning blind to huge straddle Jaeger to an above the bar shoot over . Blind to a STUCK double front dismount! Wow! Huge 9.95!
Anastasi (Clemson): Yurchenko full with a step back on that landing. 9.775
Sanger (UM): Nice blind to a huge Jaeger, a little short on the cast into a Pak to switch kip. Good last handstand to a double layout dismount with a hop back on that landing. 9.825
*exhibition Jackson (Clemson): Huge Yurchenko full with just a hop back on that. 9.750
*exhibition Ranger (UM): Ray in nice, a little too fast on the toe handstand to shoot over and is off the bar. Remounts quick and ends with a double layout and a big hop back off the mat on the landing. 9.050
*exhibition Arnold (Clemson): Yurchenko half, a little loose knees in the air and a sizable hop forward on that landing. 9.775
*exhibition Gauger (UM): Nice Ray to shoot over and another loose catch but moves well into her dismount, a double layout with a step back. 9.800
AFTER TWO: Michigan 98.375, Clemson 98.375
Tied at the half way point! So exciting! Both teams tallied the same event scores on vault and bars, I don’t know how common that is, but it seems like its pretty rare!! The vault scores have been a bit low (just in my opinion), and Clemson had some great landings. However, the scores didn’t really reflect it, especially in those 10.0 vaults, like Minner’s, that was landed very well. With a pair of 9.850s, Clemson still put up 49+ score on vault and is right where it wants to be after two.
The Wolverines has a much better second rotation, but its landings are what is really adding up. With only a handful of stuck landings, the routines on the bar were done excellent, but those extra tenths make all the difference. Highlighted by a huge 9.950 from the sixth year Bauman, Michigan will need to keep delivering in the next half if it wants to pull away from Clemson and get a home win.
Rotation 3: Michigan BB, Clemson FX
Davis (UM): BHS LOSO with a little balance check. Moves quickly into her side aerial to beat jump, but another little bobble, not too sure if she’ll get that connection. Sissone to switch half, best landing so bar. BHS gainer full with a hop on the landing. 9.750
Holman (Clemson): Front double full to start and a great landing. Switch side to wolf full down the middle, nice rotation on that. Moves into second pass, front rudi to floaty LOSO to close! Fun ending!! 9.850
Walters (UM): Good full turn to start. Front toss to BHS series, really solid. Split leap to switch half, really nice connection and extension on that. Punch front full and sticks it! That’s going to be a big score for Michigan! 9.900
Minner (Clemson): Front rudi to LOSO, a little movement on her landing. Switch half to wolf full, a little uncontrolled on that landing and doesn’t get that full, clean wolf shape. Front double twist to end, maybe the slightest bit under-rotated on that twist. 9.850
Bauman (UM): BHS LOSO is solid. Split jump to straddle 1/2, looks like there should’ve been something else but doesn’t go for it. Straight leg side sumi is so good. Switch half a little under rotated but good extension and ends with a stuck Gainer pike off the end. 9.825
Lippeatt (Clemson): Strong front layout to front rudi, good landing. Switch leap to switch side 1/2 and goes quickly into floor dance. Sissone into back 1.5 to front layout, great landing and a fun connection to close that out! 9.900
Jordan (UM): Side aerial to BHS, is a little crooked but saves it well. Beat jump to straddle 1/2 a little wobble on that landing. Good full turn and a nice front toss, still a little off with her shoulders and has to adjust but doesn’t give too much up. Another Gainer pike off the end and sticks it! 9.875
Walsh (Clemson): Punch front full front full, really hard connection and does that well. Cartwheel LOSO down to some floor dance, Switch leap to Torjete ring and she has gorgeous extension! Ends with a punch front rudi, nice clean landing on that! 9.900 back to back in this lineup!
Ranger (UM): Big routine for the Wolverines incoming. Great full turn to start. Perfect BHS LOSO LOSO, wow. Switch leap to pike jump, great. Front toss, lands straight up, no movement. Round off double tuck, STUCK. Wow. Wow. Wow. HUGE 9.95!!
Cesario (Clemson): HUGE full-in and a great landing on that. Switch leap to Torjete ring, nice. Ends with a back 1.5 to front layout and takes a couple steps to try and stay in bounds but goes out. Otherwise, a clean routine for the Tigers.
Boozer (UM): Coming off a BIG score, setting her up really well. Switch leap to switch split jump, so good. Front aerial to beat jump, good connection keeps her arms moving into that jump. BHS LOSO, the slightest adjustment ever in her upper body. Ends with a BHS Gainer full and sticks it!! 9.90
Clark (Clemson): BIG double layout, great clean landing. Fun choreo!! Loving her energy in this routine. Front layout to front full to front tuck stuck and a great leap pass into her ending! 9.925!
*exhibition Lew (UM): Triple wolf turn and misses her foot on the landing and is off the beam. Does a 2.5 after and that is good. Cat leap to side aerial, recover well after that mistake. Front aerial to BHS swing down, a little out of control but good. Switch leap to split jump is nice. Back 1.5 dismount stuck to close! 9.275
*exhibition Arnold (Clemson): BIG 2.5 twist to front tuck as her first pass. Torjete full to wolf full wolf full, nice rotation on that. Nice double tuck to close! 9.850
*exhibition Johnson (UM): Solid BHS LOSO after a long wait to go. Cat leap to side aerial and is off on that. Switch leap to beat jump is nice and ends with a round-off back layout to close. Maybe not her plan (?) Talking to head coach right after. 8.450
*exhibition Jackson (Clemson): Full-in is quite low and takes a big step forward. Leap into her wolf 1.5 is a little off and lacks rotation going into that second pass of a front layout to front full and that is a nice landing. 9.650
AFTER 3: Michigan 147.825, Clemson 147.800
A huge third rotation for Michigan posting a 49.450 to get a slight lead over Clemson of just .025 going into floor. Ranger had a huge routine in the fifth spot with a stunning routine and a 9.950! With a pair of 9.9s from Bauman and Boozer, this was an excellent rotation for the Wolverines.
This meet is SO close, wow!! With a 147.800 to Michigan’s 147.825, Clemson is really delivering. The Tigers had a great floor rotation capped with a 9.925 from Clark in the anchor spot after two other 9.90 scores in the lineup. Going into beam, the Tigers need to keep this momentum up that it has had the entire night and fight for every tenth if it wants to come away with the win.
Rotation 4: Clemson BB, Michigan FX
Lippeatt (Clemson): Bobble on that opening full turn. Front aerial to side aerial, really nice and unique series. Switch leap to split jump and almost misses her foot (?) but saves it well. Strong round off 1.5 dismount stuck! Great lead off for this final rotation! 9.825
Davis (UM): Front layout to front rudi to start. Torjete full to wolf full, wolf full right down to her dance. Stuck double pike to end this routine! 9.875
Clark (Clemson): Standing front tuck to beat jump, wow! BHS LOSO really floaty. Good full turn and goes into straddle jump to straddle 1/4, a little form issues in the air and a rudi dismount off the end and a small shift at the end of the that. 9.875
Sanger (UM): Missed the first pass, live stream got funky. Nice leaps into her floor dance and into her second pass, back 1.5 to front layout and almost sits that down so a super squatty landing. Ends strong with her double wolf turn to ending choreo. 9.650
Malewski (Clemson): Nice wolf turn to open this routine. Love her energy on this event! Side aerial to BHS and really fights without a major wobble to keep it on. Switch leap to split jump, a little uneven in the air. Gainer pike stuck off the end! 9.800
Diaz (UM): Great front double full right into choreo. Wolf turn is good and moves into her last pass, front rudi to LOSO and is ALMOST out of bounds. Nice leaps into her ending and really saved it there! 9.925!
Cesario (Clemson): Little wobble on the full turn, but BHS LOSO is perfect. Switch half and misses the split and is almost off. Redoes the switch half, still a wobble but keeps it moving into her split jump. Dismounts with a back 1.5 and a small hop. 9.500
Bauman (UM): Really strong front double full. Torjete half to wolf full wolf full is great. NAILS the back 1.5 to front layout. Really great routine in this fourth spot! 9.950!!
Kuhl (Clemson): Needs a big one here if Clemson wants to keep pace after a near perfect 9.95 from Bauman. Strong BHS BHS LOSO to start. Beat jump to double stag ring jump, small adjustment. Full turn, another small adjustment. Back 1.5 and a small shuffle on the landing. 9.825
Walters (UM): Nice front double full but a little loose knees in the air. Torjete to straddle full to straddle jump, beautiful extension on that. Back 1.5 to front full done really well and a fun ending! 9.90
Walsh (Clemson): Holds onto that releve on her full turn. BHS LOSO, a little wobble but nothing major. Front toss to beat jump is excellent. Beat jump to ring jump, another tiny adjustment but handles it well. Round off 1.5 STUCK to end! The Tigers needed that!! 9.850
Ranger (UM): Double layout is huge but out of bounds on that. Leaps are good into floor dance. Second pass, front layout step out to a stuck double tuck! 9.750
*exhibition Clark (Clemson): Front toss to BHS is good. Big wobble on that full turn. Good switch leap to split jump. Front toss to one leg scale and hops on that but keeps her leg in the arabesque. Front full with a hop back on the landing.
*exhibition Guggino (UM): Big double pike but is also out of bounds on that. Switch side full to straddle jump, nicely done. Loving this floor dance. Front layout to front rudi, a little low with the chest, but a good routine to cap the night for the Wolverines!
*exhibition Church (Clemson): Moving super quick and aggressive on the beam. BHS LOSO solid! Switch leap to straddle 1/4, really nicely done. Switch half, a little wobble but not bad. Y scale!! Dismounts with a round off 1.5 stuck! 9.825
FINAL: Michigan 197.225, Clemson 196.975
VT: Guggino (Michigan) 9.850
UB: Bauman (Michigan) 9.950
BB: Ranger (Michigan) 9.950
FX: Bauman (Michigan) 9.950
AA: Cesario (Clemson) 38.925
A close competition the entire night and wow! A great day for both teams tonight in Ann Arbor. Michigan had some landing issues on the first two events, but had a huge beam rotation to give it a small lead heading into the fourth rotation where a big 49.40 won the meet for the Wolverines and gave it its third 197+ score in a row.
Clemson really showed up tonight coming in as the ‘underdog’ five spots below the Wolverines heading into this meet. With a strong opening rotation, the Tigers had the lead and then continued to keep it close until the end. Although Michigan got the win tonight, this was Clemson’s second best score of the year and it should head into its second meet of the weekend with an extra boost of confidence.
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Live blog by Julianna Roland
