The first of three Big Ten championship sessions this weekend will be crucial for four teams, as their postseason hopes hinge on strong performances.
Nebraska has secured its spot at regionals and is almost certainly locked into the first round. While there are no immediate postseason stakes for the Huskers, they will still want a strong score in preparation. Nebraska has been consistent, scoring in the high 195s to low 196s, but hasn’t surpassed 196 since early February. Getting back into that range would provide momentum heading into, and potentially through, the first round.
Washington comes off a season-best 196.575 and will aim to build on last weekend’s performance, which included a 49.525 on beam. While the Huskies aren’t yet guaranteed a regional spot, the probability of missing is slim at just 11.96%. A 196.075 or higher would secure qualification.
Rutgers and Illinois face the most pressure. Rutgers, currently just outside regional contention, has been steadily improving and recently posted a season-high 196.550. The Scarlet Knights are one of the few teams on the bubble that can control their own fate—they need a 196.475 to guarantee a top-36 finish.
For Illinois, hosting the championships provides an advantage, but postseason qualification will require outside help. While not yet mathematically eliminated, current projections give the Illini just a 0.01% chance of finishing in the top 36.
This will definitely be an exciting first session, especially with the weight of the postseason attached to many of the teams’ outcomes. The meet will be streamed on the Big Ten Network, and scores can be found here.
Rotation 1: VT Washington, UB Illinois, Nebraska BB, Rutgers FX
Navarro (Washington): Yurchenko full to get this session started off and a great clean landing a little hop back. 9.675
Brown (ILL): Geinger to shoot over leg separation on both of those but makes it through. Double layout dismount and nails it! 9.650
Jencks (NEB): BHS LOSO, solid. Front toss a little off not bad. Switch leap to straddle half good. Round off 1.5 dismount and a hop forward on that. 9.725
Uhlenberg (Rutgers): Front layout to front rudi, a little loose in the rudi. Huge double tuck, great clean landing. Switch half to wolf full wolf full is huge to end! 9.800
Schaffer (UW): Yurchenko full, a hop back on that landing. 9.700
Denning (ILL): Maloney to immediate shoot over is loose on both but makes it through and a great final handstand. Double layout and fights for the landing, small movement. 9.750
Gard (NEB): BHS LOSO is great. Beat jump to side aerial is solid, switch leap switch leap split jump really well done. Gainer pike off the end stuck! 9.75
Larsen (Rutgers): Opens with a nice double pike. Front layout to front rudi to double stag, good maybe a little low. Third pas a nice back 1.5 to front layout, clean routine for Rutgers! 9.800
Lin (Washington): Y. full, hop back and a pike down on that landing (maybe two hops back on that landing). 9.675
Dixon (ILL): Another Maloney, loose on the catch, to shoot over combo a little short on that. Double layout smallest scoot back on that. 9.675
Kraus (NEB): BHS LOSO really well done. Hitch kick to switch leap, breaks that connection and is off a little to beat jump. Side aerial is a little off, pulls it back on. Gainer tuck full to end. 9.625
Adrian (Rutgers): Back 1.5 to front full is good. Switch half to wolf 1.5 dance series is pretty moving into choreo. Punch front rudi is really well done to close. 9.850
Tubbs (Washington): Y. full and sticks it cold!!! 9.825
Cho (ILL): Maloney to Pak, back up to the high bar with a VL, beautiful. Double layout STUCK! The best routine thus far for the Illini! 9.925
Sikon (NEB): Candle mount is good, wobble on that first cartwheel. BHS LOSO is a little off but makes the adjustment. Cat leap to switch half very nice. BHS tuck 1.5 dismount, step back on that landing. 9.675
*waiting for a judging conference to conclude on floor
McDonough (Washington): Y. full and a hop back/ left out of bounds but clean in the air. 9.775
Goldsmith (Rutgers): Punch front double full and really out of control but makes it work into her choreo. Punch front full to front layout much better landing. Switch side to straddle full. Front 1.5 to back layout to huge straddle jump to close out this great routine! 9.825
Burns (NEB):BHS LOSO LOSO perfect. Beat jump to straddle half, nice. Round off 1.5, small hop forward, but a clean routine. 9.775
Bolden (Washington): Y. full, big hop back and a step after that. 9.650
Saltness (ILL): Big opening Ray and misses it. Remounts and redoes her Ray and is really close this time but catches it. Pak down to the low bar is better. Blind full double tuck dismount and sticks that landing, UGH. Such a good routine. 9.125
Griffin (NEB): Front toss to BHS, a little under rotated on that but saves it. Switch to split is good. STUCK round off 1.5 to close!
Dildy (Rutgers): Front thru to double tuck, is huge. Gorgeous leaps into straddle full, nicely done. Double pike, fights for that landing but holds it in bounds! 9.850
Gow (ILL): Shaposh to immediate bail, a little loose but good. Toe on front pike half dismount and fights for it! Comes it clutch after that fall! 9.675
Leese (Rutgers): Full-in to open is huge and super clean. Switch half to straddle full, well done. Front thru to double tuck to close is also BIG and ends with a clean landing.
AFTER ONE: Rutgers 49.275, Nebraska 48.750, Illinois 48.675, Washington 48.650
Scores are a little hard to come by here unfortunately so will update as we get! The first rotation was a solid start for all teams across the board. Rutgers has an early lead after a strong floor rotation and a HUGE 9.950 from super-senior Emily Leese in the anchor spot for the Scarlet Knights. Illinois avoided counting a fall from Saltness in the fifth spot, but came away with a bit lower of a rotation total, but still sits in third after one. Washington really needs to have a big night tonight in order to cement itself in regionals, but with a lower score to start it off on vault it has some ground to make up.
Rotation 2: VT Rutgers, UB Washington, BB Illinois, FX Nebraska
Chevaire (Rutgers): Y. full, huge and a small adjustment 9.75
Oppegard (UW): Blind to piked Jaeger, shoot over down to the low bar good so far. Double layout, step back on that landing. 9.675
Kauffman (ILL): Front aerial to LOSO, almost off but saves it. BHS 1.5 dismount sticks it! 9.725
Gard (NEB): Double tuck is good, switch ring to split full. Front layout front full and it out of bounds. Double pike to close is good! 9.600
Larsen (Rutgers): Y. full, drops her chest with a hop back but clean in the air. 9.700
McWilliams (UW): Straddle Jaeger is close and loose on that catch right to shoot over. Double layout dismount with a big step back on that. 9.625
Saltness (ILL): BHS LOSO, great landing on that. Cat leap to switch side is good. Beat jump to split full, maybe a little short on that rotation. Front gainer full off the side and sticks it!! Big routine after that mistake on bars! 9.825
Sikon (NEB): Double tuck to open, nails that landing wow. Back 1.5 to front full and is down on that pass. 8.800
Schenkel (Rutgers): Tsuk tuck 1.5 and that is stuck! Arm movement but big vault for her! 9.800
Lin (UW): Toe handstand to Geinger to shoot over is great. Full-in to close and just a step back. 9.75
Byrne (ILL): BHS LOSO and is off. Straddle jump is nice. Beat jump to sheep jump, flexed feet on that and is a little off on that. Round off double twist and a small landing adjustment. 9.100
Kraus (NEB): Another big double tuck to start and a scoot back on that landing. Torjete full to straddle full is nice. Back 1.5 to front layout is good. Double pike is the best landing and gets the Huskers back on track! 9.800
Riley (Rutgers): Y. 1.5, lots of power, a little loose in the shape in the air and a big step forward. 9.700
Moody (UW): Maloney to immediate Pak is great, maybe a little loose on that catch. Full- in to end and a STUCK landing! 9.800
Coppola (ILL): Needs a big routine for the Illini here. Side aerial swing thru to round off, have not seen that series in so long and the connection is great! Switch leap to split jump to beat jump is good. Missed what skill it was, I think side aerial, but is off the beam. Back 1.5 dismount is stuck but the Illini will have to count a fall. 9.250
Dildy (Rutgers): Y. full and a hop in place but really clean! 9.800
Shaver (NEB): Big front thru to double tuck, the front foot slides on that landing. Leaps are good down the side into floor choreo. Second pass, double pike, short on that and has to take a step or two forward on that landing. 9.725
Tubbs (UW): Maloney to shoot over is clean. Double layout to close it out STUCK! 9.925
Clancy (ILL): BHS LOSO, is great. Switch leap to straddle 1/2 is great. Round off 1.5 dismount STUCK! Illini needed that big! 9.825
Jencks (NEB): Front layout to front rudi, clean opening pass. Double tuck to finish really clean landing. 9.825
Leese (Rutgers): Y. 1.5, and underrotates that and sits it down. 9.225
Cho (ILL): BHS LOSO, excellent. Switch leap, smallest hesitation, switch half to beat jump. 1.5 dismount and fights for the stick! 9.875
McDonough (UW): Bling to straddle Jaeger is HUGE. Shoot over is good. Blind full double tuck and a hop forward on that landing. 9.800
Homecillo (NEB): Big double pike to start and a significant slide back on the landing. Back 1.5 to front layout is good. Double tuck to close, pretty much sticks that and ends strong for the Huskers! 9.800
AFTER TWO: Rutgers 98.025, Washington 97.600, Nebraska 97.500, Illinois 97.175
Rutgers still in the lead after two, even with a mistake in the anchor spot. Vaults were strong and clean for the Scarlet Knights and it needs to keep delivering on bars and beam to keep its post season dreams alive. Washington had a better rotation on bars but is lacking that extra *polish* it had last competition and needs to really start honing in on these details to keep its spot. Nebraska and Illinois both had mistakes in its lineups and while the Huskers came away unscathed after an early mistake, Illinois unfortunately had to count a fall on beam and is a ways behind the top spot heading into the second half.
Rotation 3 VT Nebraska, UB Rutgers, BB Washington, FX Illinois
Peterson (NEB): Y full and just a small hop in place. 9.725
Uhlenberg (Rutgers): Blind to straddle Jaeger, a little low but nice. Really loose on that bail and misses the handstand and the last. Double layout is stuck but loose in the air. 9.775
Lin (UW): BHS LOSO is good. Switch leap to switch half great. Round off 1.5 dismount and a good sized hop forward. 9.800
Joelson (ILL): Front thru to double tuck really nice landing. Switch side half to wolf full. Double pike to close is clean to lead off for the Illini! 9.750
Jencks (NEB): Y full and is really low and immediately grabs her hand. Maybe jammed her finger. 8.975
Earley (Rutgers): Geinger to immediate shoot over REALLY beautiful. Blind full to double tuck and tries to hold onto it, but two steps out of that. 9.750
Navarro (UW): BHS BHS LOSO lifts her foot but keeps it on. Switch side is good Round off 1.5 is a little off to the side and takes a step 9.725
Brown (ILL): Whip to double tuck, love that pass but really out of control and runs out of bounds. Front full to front lay. Switch side to straddle full is good on that rotation. 9.250
Baechle (NEB): Tucked Yurchenko 1.5, big step out of bounds to the left. 9.675
Rains (Rutgers): Blind to straddle Jaeger takes an extra swing into her shoot over and barely makes that. Stalder to double tuck, big step back. 8.975
Oppegard (UW): BHS LOSO is good. Leap to Switch half, a little short of 180 to beat jump. Side aerial, small adjustment. Gainer full dismount, a little low but sticks that. 9.825
Banks (ILL): Front double twist is very nice. Split full to wolf full to wolf full is good on rotation. Back 1.5 to front lay loose in the air but pulls it around. 9.725
Pech (NEB): Y. 1.5 just a step back on that landing and loose form in the air. 9.750
Adrian (Rutgers): Tkatchev to Pak is great. Great last handstand blind full to double tuck STUCK! 9.900
Hallinan (UW): Front toss to back tuck series is really well done. Switch leap to split jump. Front aerial is good and ends with a round-off 1.5, squatty on the landing and a hop forward. 9.700
Gow (ILL): Rudi LOSO to start, really long LOSO but keeps it in. Front double twist, a little out of control but makes it work. 9.825
Sikon (NEB): Y. full and a sizable hope back on that landing 9.725
Dildy (Rutgers): Maloney to immediate Pak, nice pirouette on top of the bar, full- in dismount to close, small hop forward on that landing. 9.825
King (ILL): Double tuck and flares that out wow! Switch side 1/2 to straddle 1/2, great height. Back 1.5 to front full is great! 9.90
Moody (UW): BHS LOSO and is off the beam. Switch leap to split jump is pretty. Side aerial is good, but goes back and redoes that connection to a split jump. Round off 1.5 stuck landing on that. 9.225
Schenkel (Rutgers): Blind to piked Jaeger to shoot over well above horizontal. Toe on pike half dismount, drops her chest really low and kicks backward. 9.725
Shaver (NEB): Y. 1.5, great in the air, too much power with a big step forward. 9.775
Cho (ILL): HUGE full- in to start clean landing on that first pass. Switch leap to switch half to wolf full is beautiful. Front thru to double tuck, pretty big scoot back but good to close! 9.875
Tubbs (UW): Front aerial, maybe a little hesitant, BHS LOSO series. Split 3/4 slight chest drop. Piked Gainer off the end, STUCK! Needed that for the Huskies! 9.650
AFTER THREE: Rutgers 147.00, Washington 146.300, Illinois 146.250, Nebraska 146.150
Rutgers is still holding strong after the third, pretty much taking control of the lead for now. However, the rest of this competition for Rutgers and Washington especially comes down to its final rotation performance. Rutgers avoided a mistake on bars, and came away with a strong event total of a 48.975. Nebraska also avoided counting a mistake after a possible injury from Jencks on her vault, but is now sitting in last. Luckily, it is already headed to regionals. Illinois had its best rotation of the meet thus far and needs to end strong on vault. Washington really needs a big one here if it has hopes of qualifying, and ending on floor, it certainly has the capability to do that.
Rotation 4: VT Illinois, UB Nebraska, BB Rutgers, FX Washington
Burns (NEB): Blind to piked Jaeger a little loose on that catch. Shoot over is nice, nails that handstand. Double layout dismount step back on that landing. 9.725
Coppola (ILL): Yurchenko full, small hop back a little loose in the air. 9.725
Hallinan (UW): Front lay, front full, front pike opening pass. Round off double tuck is REALLY low, but keeps it up with just a step forward. 9.675
Adrian (Rutgers): BHS LOSO is nice. Switch leap to switch half, a little under 180. Round off double twist to end and STICKS it! 9.825
Sikon (NEB): Blind to straddle Jaeger to immediate shoot over is nice. Blind full is a little off and double tuck stuck! 9.825
Kauffman (ILL): Yurchenko full, nice landing, just a scoot back. 9.75
Schaffer (UW): Punch double front twist, a little cross over step. Switch half to wolf full. Back 2.5 middle pass is NICE. Ends with a 1.5 to front layout, nicely done 9.800
Rains (Rutgers): BHS LOSO, almost a little off with her back foot but adjusts. Cat leap to front aerial is good. Split jump to split ring, another wobble but keeps it on. Gainer full off the side, stuck! 9.800
Shaver (NEB): Maloney to Pak is caught really close, pirouette is a little weird but really fights for it and sticks her double layout! 9.725
King (ILL): Y. 1.5, hop forward with some leg form in the air coming down. 9.750
Lin (UW): Front handspring to front double twist, a little under rotated and a step to the side. Round off 1.5 to front layout, nice. Ends strong with a front 1.5, good landing. 9.825
Larsen (Rutgers): Full turn, small wobble. BHS LOSO solid. Round off 1.5 and her leg is almost down and keeps it up but takes a step. 9.600
Byrne (ILL): Y. full, nice landing on that, hop back, small pike down. 9.725
Kraus (NEB): Ray to shoot over, loose on that catch but nice. Full-in, hop forward on that landing. 9.800
Smith (Rutgers):BHS BHS LOSO, arm circles to try and save it but is off. Switch leap to switch leap, back leg low on both. Round off 1.5, big step back on that. 8.875
McWilliams (UW): Rudi to LOSO is pretty, a little wobbly on that landing due to the sting mat. Double pike is a little over rotated but holds onto it and doesn’t let her foot move. 9.90
Goldstein (ILL): Yurchenko full, small hop back, a little pike down on that landing 9.750
*Cho is out of vault, Goldstein stepped in for Cho
Peterson (NEB): Maloney to shoot over, fights for that handstand. Full in dismount, nails it!! 9.800
Riley (Rutgers): Needs a big routine following that fall to keep them in it. BHS LOSO, lifts her front foot but keeps it on. Split jump to split ¾. Side aerial, big wobble but recovers. BHS to 1.5 dismount, stuck! 9.625
Bolden (UW): HUGE full-in and fights to keep her foot down on that landing. Switch half to wolf full are pretty. Front double full is excellent to close. 9.850
Clancy (ILL): Yurchenko 1.5 NAILS THAT. (some knees in the air but she sticks it!!) 9.9!
Griffin (NEB): Maloney to Pak is pretty, VL back up and a toe on front half, STUCK! 9.775
Dildy (Rutgers): Piked front toss to BHS series is great Cat leap to switch side is good. Straddle 1.4 jump. Cartwheel flighty Gainer full off the side, STUCK! 9.850
Navarro (UW): Big double tuck to start great landing. Switch side to straddle full. Round off 1.5 to front layout is nicely done a little legs in the air. Double pike is good to close! 9.800
FINAL: Rutgers 195.700, Washington 195.350, Illinois 195.125, Nebraska 195.075
Rutgers leads going into the second session, but it is too soon to tell if it will make post season. With a couple slip ups throughout the meet, it ended strong and earned a first place finish after maintaining the lead all night. Thankfully Nebraska is already qualified, because its fourth place finish was not an indicator of how the Huskers can compete. Illinois’ season comes to a close as a team, but several individuals will certainly see post season in the coming days and with Washington’s performance tonight secured its spot! Stay tuned for a full weekend of Championships!
VT : Clancy (ILL) 9.900
UB: Cho (ILL) 9.925
BB: Cho (ILL): 9.875
FX: Leese (Rutgers) 9.950
AA: Dildy (Rutgers) 39.325
READ THIS NEXT: Leotard Rankings: Week 11
Live Blog by Julianna Roland
