Eight teams and 15 individuals are ready to compete for a national title, and it all starts today! Dickies Arena is set for another national championship, and the first of two semifinals is going to be a fight until the end to qualify to the final.
The first semifinal will see LSU, Florida, Georgia, and Stanford, and any two of these teams could qualify for Saturday. LSU is coming in as the highest-ranked team in this session, but having missed the national final last season, it needs to fight for every tenth going up against these other three teams. Florida is coming off five straight 198+ scores and having won the SEC championship. It’s entering nationals with more confidence than it’s had in its past few nationals appearances. The Gators are also starting on beam and ending on bars, an event they’re ranked No. 1 on in the nation. It’s the same rotation order as SECs, which proved to be very successful.
Georgia is missing one of its star athletes in junior Lily Smith but has shown its depth and proven it can contend for a spot in the top two. The GymDogs need to have a repeat of the 198.075 they had earlier in the season to go up against LSU and Florida, who have surpassed this number a handful of times already, to truly be competitive and compete for their 11th national title in program history. Stanford is also going to have to fight as hard as it did to advance to Fort Worth to get to the final. Although it has been a bit less consistent in these bigger scores, it does have the same scoring potential, and it is fully possible for the Cardinal to earn one of the two top spots. It is all going to come down to who is having the best day today!
Semifinal one will also see individual competitors:
Vault: Nikki Smith- MSU (R1), Cameron Smith – Ohio State (R2), Tory Vetter – Ohio State (R3), Sage Kellerman – MSU (R4)
Bars: Kellerman – MSU (R1), Smith – MSU (R2), Sophia Diaz – Michigan (R3), Vetter – Ohio State (R4)
Beam: Vetter – Ohio State (R1), Abigayle Martin – Arizona (R2), Smith – MSU (R3), Carly Bauman – Michigan (R4)
Floor: Brie Clark – Clemson (R1), Vetter – Ohio State (R2), Gabi Ortiz – MSU (R3), Smith – MSU (R4)
Semifinal one will be streamed on ESPN2 and scores can be found on Virtius.
Rotation 1: LSU VT, Georgia UB, Florida BB, Stanford FX
Zeiss (LSU): Yurchenko 1.5 small hop forward. 9.850
Bacskay (Georgia): Pak down to start off, nice. VL up to the high bar, nice form of that catch. Blind full lands in the handstand to immediate double tuck dismount and holds onto the stick! 9.8125
Draser (UF): BHS LOSO is solid. Switch leap to switch half, great extension on that. Round off back 1.5 to close out this great lead off and sticks the dismount! 9.850
Robinson (Stanford): Fun lead off! Nice double tuck to start. Memmel turn and almost gets that around and dances out of it. Back 1.5 to front half to sky high jump. Switch ring to Torjete ½, front leg is a little low on that. Yay three pass routine! Goes into a great double pike and a super fun ending! 9.1825
McClain (LSU): Huge floaty Yurchenko full and a small step to the side on that. 9.825
Wahl (Georgia): Nice Maloney to start to a Pak, shoulders a little over on that catch. Ends clean handstand and fights for the stick on her double lay! 9.800
Arana (UF): Opens up with a BHS LOSO, and is almost off but fights to keep it on and takes an extra step. Front aerial is good. Switch leap to switch half, good movement through that connection and dismounts Gainer full off the side and sticks it! 9.700
Walker (Stan): HUGE double pike, super high and a bit uncontrolled on that landing. Switch half to wolf full wolf full and jumps are as high as she tumbles! Ends with a front thru to double tuck and sticks it! 9.8375
Roberts (LSU): Front handspring front pike half and a big step back on that landing. 9.725
Woolford (UGA): HUGE floaty, Pak down to the low bar great. Misses her feet on the first toe handstand and repeats to the VL. Stalder to double tuck dismount, hops forward on that landing. 9.5875
Blakely (UF): Strong triple wolf turn to start wow, excellent control. Front aerial to BHS series is good. Switch half to beat jump is good. Wolf jump is beautiful. Dismounts with a nice Gainer full, sticks it! 9.925
Nguyen (Stan): BIG double layout and nails that landing. Switch side to straddle fun, nicely done into the corner for her front thru to double tuck and ends with her chest down and a scoot forward. 9.7375
Lincoln (LSU): Yurchenko 1.5 STUCK COLD. 9.9625
Scott (UGA):Another huge Ray to floaty Pak down to the low bar. Great VL back up and ends strong with a double layout dismount, small hop back on that landing. 9.8125
Frazier (UF): Full turn is good, moves into her front aerial to LOSO series, so difficult and done extremely well. Split jump to split ring is excellent, great extension on that. Dismounts with a cartwheel 1.5, sticks it! 9.925
Jung-Ruivivar (Stan): Double wolf turn to open up. Strong whip to double tuck, little bit of a bigger lunge. Split leap to switch leap into some floor dance. Whip half to front full last pass and into her ending choreo. 9.8625
Drayton (LSU): Yurchenko 1.5, pretty much stuck scoots her feet together. 9.875
Snyder (UGA): Huge Church to shoot over, well above horizontal. Back up to the high bar, loving the straight body handstand, and finishes with a big full in dismount and gets that landing! 9.800
Roberts (Stan): front thru to double tuck is super clean. Switch half to straddle full great extension on the jump. Second pass front layout front rudi, great control on that. 9.8875
DiCello (UF): Candle mount is good, right into a double wolf turn, great control on that. Switch leap to split jump is good. BHS LOSO is a little off but adjusts well. Front aerial is solid. BHS Gainer full to close, sticks it! 9.8875
Reingold (UGA): Blind to great piked Jaeger a little bent arms on that, nice handstand to Pak down and another good pirouette done on top of the bar. Finishes with a great double layout dismount and sticks it! 9.925
Chio (LSU): Yurchenko 1.5 NAILS IT. Chills in here. 9.9625
Barbosu (Stan): Love her performance here!! Whip to huge double tuck, chest is a little down but doesn’t move her feet. Tuck full to choreo. Excellent 2.5 twist to front pike and a hp forward on that landing. Switch full to her ending! 9.850
Harris-Miranda (UF): BHS LOSO BHS, so difficult and done perfectly. Switch leap to straddle ¼, excellent. Full turn is good and goes into her dismount, a great back 1.5, a small scoot forward. 9.8875
Kellerman (MSU): Blind to great straddle Jaeger a little close on the catch, good handstand to shootover. Dismounts with a double layout, nails that landing! 9.8625
Smith (MSU): Yurchenko 1.5 and a small step back on the landing. 9.850
Clark (Clemson): Love seeing her here and SO excited to see what she pulls out! Huge double layout to open up right into some fun dance. Front layout to front full to front tuck combo sticks it, excellent!! Torjete full to straddle full down to her choreo to end! 9.90!
Vetter (OSU): Good full turn to start. BHS LOSO is solid. Beat jump to side aerial, nice. Switch leap to straddle ¾, great. BHS Gainer full sticks it!! 9.8875
After 1: LSU 49.475, Florida 49.4625, Stanford 49.250, Georgia 49.150
Close between the top two to start this day off! LSU was excellent on vault, minimal to no landing deductions and puts a great score up heading to bars. Florida has beam out of the way and performed like the beam team it has proven to be this season, putting itself in a great position going to the second event. Both Georgia and Stanford are certainly not out of this by any means, but with a few un-stuck landings, some chest down on tumbling, some close catches on bars, both need to work to not let this gap increase.
All individuals hit their first events and look to be having the BEST time rotating with these teams!
Rotation 2: Stanford VT, LSU UB, Georgia BB, Florida FX
Jung-Ruivivar (Stan): Yurchenko full, pretty good size hop back. 9.7625
Zeiss (LSU): Nice Maloney up to the high bar to immediate Pak, pirouette is right on top of the bar, struggles a little to turn and ends with a sky high full in dismount and a tiny hop forward. 9.8375
Gleichowski (UGA): BHS BHS LOSO series is solid. Beat jump to a nice switch half. Solid round off 1.5 to close out, small hop forward.
Barbosu (Stan): Tsuk layout full, couple arm swings to hold onto that but sticks it. 9.700
Cowan (LSU): HUGE Ray, little loose on that catch to immediate shoot over well over the low bar horizontal and ends double layout with a good sized step on the landing. 9.8375
Ferris (UF): Huge funll-in to open up this routine, moves her front foot a little. Switch side to straddle full into her floor choreo. Closes with a strong back 1.5 to front layout, a little low on that and ends with a chomp! 9.875
Tomlin (UGA): BHS BHS LOSO is solid. Good full turn, back 1.5 to close out and hops back on that landing 9.7875
Ulrich (LSU): Maloney to immediate Pak, leg separation on both, pirouette is perfect. Nails the handstand and ends double layout dismount
and takes a step forward. 9.775
Gronski (Stan): Yurchenko full, hop back on the landing. 9.7875
Woolford (UGA): Gorgeous, controlled double wolf turn to start off. BHS LOSO to open up and is solid on that landing. Switch leap to split jump, over extended in those shapes, excellent. Round off double full dismount, hop back on the landing. 9.8375
Frazier (UF): Double layout is huge! Switch ring to switch half to straddle jump down to floor choreo. Closes with a strong front thru to double tuck, and gets that landing! 9.9375
Soma (Stan): Yurchenko full, small hop back. 9.7875
Chio (LSU): Really nice Maloney to shoot-over, back up with a Khorkina, a little weird on that catch and a huge full in dismount but drops her chest and hops froward. 9.800
Blakely (UF): Front handspring double front to stag jump is so good, but uncontrolled and really floats it. Torjete full to straddle full, good on that rotation and height and love this choreo! Ends with a back 1.5 to floaty front full, really great to close. 9.850
Roberts (Stan): Yurchenko 1.5 and takes a couple steps back to keep it on her feet. 9.600
Mustari (LSU): Gorgeous Maloney, leg separation on the back swing to Pak, a little close on that catch pirouette is on top of the bar and a huge full in to end but hops pretty big forward. 9.800
C.Williams (UGA): BHS two foot layout, huge height. Side sumi is great. Beat jump to straddle ¾, great extension, but wobbles big backward and lifts her foot off the beam. Full turn is good, moves right into her dismount, Gainer pike off the end and nails that! 9.8375
DiCello (UF): BIG full-in to start! Second pass it a back 1.5 to front layout, great! 9.8875
Nguyen (Stan): Yurchenko 1.5, small shuffle. 9.8375
Scott (UGA): Full turn is good. BHS LOSO is solid. Front aerial to split jump, good connection for those two elements. Switch leap to split jump, another well over 180 degrees connection. Moon walk in real life!! Crowd goes crazy!! Ends with a front handspring step out to front rudi to close, hop back on that landing. 9.8625
McClain (LSU): BIG Church to immediate Pak, great! Solid in that last handstand to an even bigger full-in dismount a little funky landing but holds onto it. 9.9125
Harris-Miranda (UF): BIG full-in to start off and hops pretty big out of that. Torjete full to straddle full to shushanova to her floor choreo. Ends with a strong back 1.5 to front half to stag jump, perfect! 9.8375
Smith (OSU): Yurchenko 1.5, a little crunchy on the table but NAILS IT! 9.8875
Smith (MSU): Great Maloney to Pak combo, nice pirouette on top of the low bar. Nails the last handstand and a clean double layout dismount, big hop froward and lands with her chest down. 9.7875
Martin (Arizona): Opens up with a nice switch leap to double tag ring jump, nice connection. BHS LOSO, solid. Love her movement on this event, super confident and fluid. Front aerial is nice. Little full turn wobble. Dismounts with a BHS Gainer full, step forward on that. 9.8250
Vetter (OSU): Great double tuck to open. Torjete full to straddle full straddle, a little short on rotation but pulls it around. Ends with a nice front layout to front rudi and crushes this routine!
After 2: Florida 98.900, LSU 98.6625, Georgia 98.400, Stanford 98.1250
Florida pulled ahead by a pretty good amount over LSU with a great floor rotation while LSU struggled a bit on landings on bars that put them in second moving to beam. Georgia had a great beam rotation, but the lack of sticks is starting to add up with other minor deductions, but heading to floor and vault, its not over. Stanford sits in fourth moving half way and with a vault rotation that it may not have wanted and some lower scores having to count, it needs a big bar rotation to keep itself in the meet until the end.
Rotation 3: Florida VT, Stanford UB, LSU BB, Georgia FX
Jung-Ruivivar (Stan): Maloney to Pak combo, such beautiful extension on this event. Piouette is good and ends with a stalder to double tuck and sticks it! 9.9!
Pilgrim (UF): Yurchenko 1.5, small hop froward on that. 9.8500
Coen (LSU): Front aerial to beat jump to start off, nice. BHS LOSO, really floaty and solid coming down. Loving the aggressive approach in her dance and right into switch leap to split jump. Round off double full dismount and gets the landing! 9.7875
E.Williams (UGA): Opens with a strong double pike. Switch side to straddle full and moves right into her front layout to front thru combination pass. Third pass it a great double tuck!
Sorrento (Stan): Maloney up to immediate Pak, nicely done. Pirouette is a little over but a strong double layout to close, chest is down and steps forward. 9.8125
Draser (UF): Yurchenko 1.5 nd takes a pretty big hop / step on that landing. 9.7875
Bacskay (UGA): Opens up with a great full-in. Moves into her second pass, a gorgeous back 2.5 front. 9.850
Zeiss (LSU): Side aerial to start, good. Front aerial to BHS series, connection is the tiniest bit slow but she kept it moving. Switch leap to split jump, good. Double wolf turn is beautiful. Dismounts, Gainer tuck full off the end and sticks it! 9.7625
Robinson (Stan): HUGE straddle Jaeger to Pak, excellent form throughout and a nice full in dismount, nails that landing! 9.875
Frazier (UF): Yurchenko double, smallest movement on that landing! 9.875
Wahl (UGA): HUGE full-in to start off. Second pass is front thru to double tuck, just as high. 1.5 turn into floor choreo is good. Torjete full to wolf full, gets it all the way around to her ending. 9.90
Roberts (Stan): Pak down, great form on the catch and a VL back up. Perfect double layout in the air but takes a step back. 9.8625
Drayton (LSU): Switch half, beautiful extension on that. BHS LOSO series, really flighty and fights for that landing. Switch leap to split jump, good. Full turn is good, a round off double full small hop back on that landing. 9.8625
DiCello (UF): Yurchenko 1.5, good sized hop on that landing. 9.8625
Tomlin (UGA): BIG double Arabian to stag jump, wow, huge! Switch half to straddle full right into her floor choreo. Front layout step out to double tuck to end. 9.90
Lincoln (LSU): Front aerial, misses that first. Goes again to BHS series, still a little off but goes for it. Switch half to beat jump, great extension on the leap. Switch leap to straddle 1/4 and moves right into dance. BHS 1.5 dismount and hops forward. 9.4250
Barbosu (Stan): Clear hip to piked Tkachev to immediate Pak, WOW that was amazing. Nice full-in dismount to end, hop back on that. 9.8375
Ferris (UF): Yurchenko 1.5, and the smallest step to the left. 9.8250
Aquino (UGA): Already loving her energy in this routine, HUGE double layout landed very well to open. Dances into her second pass, front thru to an even bigger double tuck and nails that landing. Switch half to wolf full into her ending choreo to close out a great routine! 9.9375
Soma (Stand): HOLDS that handstand. Floaty Maloney to Pak, really smooth connection through those two. VL back up and a great double layout, a little close to the bar and a hop back on that landing. 9.8125
Beam conference, holding up last two
Harris-Miranda (UF): Yurchenko 1.5, ALMOST got that stick but hops back. 9.8125
C.Williams (UGA): Sky high double layout WOW. Switch side to straddle full is good on rotation and height. Shushanova into floor choreo and moves into her last pass, front thru to double tuck, great landing and big routine for Georgia! 9.9375
McClain (LSU): Very long wait but is on the beam. Switch leap to switch half to beat jump is good. Front aerial to BHS LOSO, nice connection. Side aerial, solid. Signature stunning wolf jump. Laid out Gainer full off the side and sticks it! Long wait, no problem. 9.950!
Diaz (UM): Great Maloney to shoot over combo, back up to the high bar, great final handstand and a nice double layout to a stick! 9.8625
Vetter (OSU): Yurchenko full a good sized hop back. 9.7875
Ortiz (MSU): Big full-in to start, slides back on that landing. Fun routine!! Front thru to double tuck, really well done, much better landing. Finishes with her switch side to straddle full, nice rotation on that! 9.800
Chio (LSU): Round off BHS onto the beam, so solid every time. BHS LOSO gorgeous. Front aerial to split jump, good. Switch leap to split jump solid. BHS 1.5 and finds the landing!
Smith (MSU): Sets up with a nice BHS LOSO series. Beat jump to straddle ½, nicely done and great height on that right into a nice full turn to beat jump. BIG round off double tuck dismount and NAILS IT! Huge routine for her! 9.925!
After 3: Florida 148.1250, Georgia 147.9375, LSU 147.9125, Stanford 147.4125
Change of pace in the standings and Georgia pulls into second! With an outstanding floor rotation, the Bulldogs move into second ending on vault and in order to advance need to do what they are capable of and not overthink those landings. Florida had some solid landings on vault, not its best vault rotation, but enough to keep it in the top spot. With some lower beginning scores in the beginning of the beam lineup, the Tigers find itself a bit behind the top two, but moving to one of its best events are not out of this. Stanford had a great bar rotation, but are still a ways behind the top two and need to have a great beam rotation to end as strong as it can.
Rotation 4: Georgia VT, Florida UB, Stanford BB, LSU FX
Scott (UGA): Yurchenko full sky high flared out, smallest shuffle, great lead off vault! 9.850
Frazier (UF): Opens with a Maloney to Pak combo, great on that. Nice pirouette on top of the bar and finishes with a strong double layout, small shuffle back. 9.8250
Dean (Stan): Side aerial LOSO series, small wobble on that but makes the adjustment. Straddle jump to straddle ¼, such nice extension on that connection. Round off 1.5 to end and fights for that stick! 9.8375
Innes (LSU): Huge front double full to start off. Moves right into second pass back 1.5 to super floaty front layout. Torjete full to straddle full, lacking a little rotation on that. Front rudi to close out to a double stag, solid routine! 9.8635
Bacskay (UGA): Yurchenko 1.5, bent legs in the air and a small hop forward. 9.8375
Pilgrim (UF): Maloney to immediate Tkachev, really difficult combination and really well done! Back down with a Pak, good catch, pirouette on the bar is a little bit over and finishes with a big full in, STUCK. 9.8750
Landry (Stan): Strong double wolf turn. BHS LOSO series, great. Split jump to split ring is good. Loving the scale, such a nice touch to this beautiful routine and a strong Gainer pike off the end. 9.850
Ballou (LSU): LOVE this routine, love her energy. Double layout to start it off and loves pretty low but keeps it up and right into some fun dance. Switch half to wolf full, good on that. Front layout to front rudi is good to her ending. 9.7750
Moll (UGA): Yurchenko 1.5, steps to the side on that.
Blakely (UF): Huge release to immediate Pak to start off, back up to the high bar toe handstand to Higgins grip, front giant to double front half out, STICKS IT.
Robinson (Stan): BHS LOSO is great. Switch leap, a little off but no big adjustment. to split jump well over that 180 mark. Hitchkick to side aerial to beat jump combo and flows through that nicely. Another moon walk! Ends with a round off 1.5, sticks it! HUGE 9.975!
Coen (LSU): Nice front double full to begin, a little loose knees in the twist but good landing. Cartwheel LOSO, right into some dance and her second pass, punch front layout front full, good landing. Torjete full to straddle full straddle full, a little lacking rotation to end this routine. 9.850
Aquino (UGA): Tsuk layout full STICK IT COLD. Georgia wants it!!! 9.925!
DiCello (UF): Huge Church to immediate Pak, back up with a VL, ends with a big full and dismount and the smallest movement back. 9.90
Jung-Ruivivar (Stan): Such beautiful movement on this event. Front aerial to beat jump and moves through it nice. Side aerial BHS series is good. Switch leap to split leap, a little low back leg on the jump combo and ends with a great Gainer pike off the end, stuck! 9.9375
Wahl (UGA): Yurchenko 1.5, small hop forward on that. 9.8875
Drayton (LSU): BIGGEST double layout wow, nice landing on that. Switch ring to switch half, such great extension on her leaps. Second pass huge front thru to double tuck to close! 9.9375
Roberts (Stan): 1.5 wolf turn to start off strong. Up to her switch leap to split jump combo, good. BHS LOSO really nice. Side aerial to split jump moves nice. Ends with a BHS Gainer full, sticks it! 9.900
Harris-Miranda (UF): Gorgeous first handstand and another big Ray, toe handstand to shoot over. Back up to the high bar closes with a perfect double layout dismount! 9.925
C. Williams (UGA): Yurchenko 1.5, almost has the stick and hops back. 9.7625
Chio (LSU): The most controlled full in to start it off, sticks it cold. Switch ring to torjete full, maybe falls out of it a little. Goes into her last pass really strong 2.5 to punch front STUCK to close it out. 10 watch ??? 9.9625
McCusker (UF): Maloney up to immediate pack really well done. VL back up to the high bar , nice final handstand, Stalder to double tuck dismount STICK! 9.9875
Barbosu (Stan): Mounts with a great punch front to Korbut, excellent. Back up to a switch leap to beat jump, nicely done. Full turn is good, moves into dismount, round off double full, sticks it!
Kellerman (MSU): Front handspring front pike half, small hop forward. 9.800
Lincoln (LSU): Another stunning double layout in this lineup done SO well, stuck cold. Stag jump to switch leap to Torjete 1.5, lacking a little bit of a complete rotation on that last leap but gets great height and nails her front layout to front full. 9.9125
Bauman (UM): Full turn is good and right into her series, BHS LOSO, little shoulder adjustment. Switch leap to straddle ½ to beat jump, good connection through those three. Straight leg side sumi, nice. Ends strong with a Gainer pike off the end, sticks it! What a final routine for the sixth year! 9.8375
Vetter (OSU): Sky high Tkachev, clear hip to shoot over and a big full in to end, small step forward on that. 9.7875
Smith (MSU): Sky high full in to start off this fun routine. Switch side ½ to straddle, nice height on both. Second pass, great front thru to double tuck to close.
FINAL: Florida 197.7875, LSU 197.4375, Georgia 197.2625, Stanford 196. 9375
Florida and Georgia will advance to the finals out of this first semifinal! Florida pulled away in this last rotation and showed how strong it is across the board, especially on bars with a huge 49.6625 score. LSU showed up on floor and did exactly what it needed to do to advance with a big 49.5250 total floor with three 9.9+ scores in the back half. Georgia and Stanford put up a great fight tonight and should be proud of its performances throughout the entire year! Now we wait to see who will join the Tigers and the Gators in the final!
Leaders for individual titles:
VT: Chio (LSU) 9.9625
UB: McCusker (Florida): 9.9875
BB: McClain (LSU): 9.950
FX: Chio (LSU) 9.9625
AA: Chio (LSU) 39.6125
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Live blog by Julianna Roland
