Tonight, we return to Morgantown for West Virginia’s final home meet of the season. This year has been a challenging one for the Mountaineers, with injuries and coaching changes taking their toll. As a result, they are at risk of missing the postseason for the second straight year. If they want any chance of qualifying, they’ll need a complete, high-scoring meet tonight. With senior night celebrations for lineup staples like Brooke Alban and Anna Leigh, expect the scores to trend higher than in previous meets.
Arizona, meanwhile, has remained near the top of the Big 12 in its inaugural season in the conference. A win here would likely secure a spot in the night session of the conference championships, but the Wildcats may opt to rest some of their top contributors to test their depth before the final stretch of the season. If they go with their strongest lineup, look for Alysen Fears to lead the way—she paces the team in NQS on vault and bars and boasts a season-high 39.450 in the all-around.
Rotation 1: WVU vault, AZ bars
Alban (WVU): Y full, some elbow bend on the table, good height and distance, solid stick for the landing. 9.750
Mueller (AZ): FLOATY Ray release, lots of height, bail to handstand, good position on top of the bar, pretty final handstand, she held that position! DLO dismount, some form in the air with a tiny hop. 9.800
Tuohy (WVU): Y full, much cleaner off the table, piked down on the landing with a step back. 9.700
Krohnfeldt (AZ): Maloney to bail to handstand, little off center on the handstand position, DLO dismount, chest was forward so she had to take a step on the landing. 9.800
E. Smith (WVU): Y full, lots of distance, little bit of a knee bend in the air, hop back on the landing. 9.725
Derr (AZ): Ray release, caught it close. Pak salto with some leg separation, tucked full in dismount with an arm swing and a step. 9.800
Nelson (WVU): Y full, very nice laid out position off the table, good height, landed off to the side with a step back. 9.650
Martin (AZ): Maloney to Pak combination, pretty in the air, half pirouette looked solid, DLO dismount, had the landing, took a step out of it. 9.700
DiCello (WVU): Y full, clean block off the table, flared out as she spotted the landing, the tiniest foot movement back. Should be a good score! 9.825
Deets (AZ): half pirouette to Tkatchev, super high in the air, nice transition to the low bar, back up to high, DLO dismount, bit of a lean forward to keep the landing, so should be a deduction for the low chest. 9.775
Rice (WVU): Tsuk full, went a little too hard for the stick and landed low with some bent knees, didn’t move her feet much on the landing, but will likely be the drop score. 9.675, jk not the drop score
Fears (AZ): Tkatchev release to open, clear hip handstand looked good, bail to handstand was loose and caused some form issues, DLO dismount, hop in place with a lean. 9.575
After 1: AZ 48.875, WVU 48.675
Bit of a slow start to this meet, neither team could really dial in on landings. DiCello led WVU with a 9.825, while the Wildcats had three 9.800s at the beginning of the rotation to lead the way. Arizona is heading to its weakest event on vault; the Mountaineers finding some landings here on bars could help close that gap.
Rotation 2: AZ vault, WVU bars
LaRusso (AZ): Y full, good height and distance off the table, noticeable arm bend, hop back on the landing. 9.725
Alban (WVU): clear hip to Geinger, good distance and catch, nice transition to low bar, DLO dismount, small foot movement in place. 9.750
Derr (AZ): Y full, some bent knees in the air, piked down on the landing, but no foot movement. 9.800
Leigh (WVU): blind to straddle Jaeger, good arm form on the catch, Pak salto with some leg separation, DLO dismount, 2/2 on hit routines so far! 9.750
Mueller (AZ): Y full, good form off the table, nice layout position with a small hop back on the landing. 9.750
McDonnell (WVU): Ray release, caught it reallyyyyyyy close, Pak salto with a lot of straddle from this angle, back up to high bar, DLO with a hop back on the landing. 9.700
Martin (AZ): Y full, good amplitude, not quite as much distance as previous vaults, small hop back on the landing. Arizona hitting clean form on vault! 9.825
Brown (WVU): blind to straddle Jaeger right on top of the bar, little short on the handstand, bail to handstand on low bar looked good, pretty final handstand, whippy DLO with a step back on the landing. 9.700
Fears (AZ): Y full, great height because of how straight her arms were off the table, flared out at the end, hop back on the landing. 9.775
Lowe (WVU): blind to piked Jaeger, she’s had some trouble with that release in the past but not today, caught it perfectly, Pak salto to switch kip, she’s flowing through this routine well, blind full to double back, stuck. Best routine of her season so far. 9.875, season high, ties a career high!
Strom (AZ): Needing to drop a 9.725. Y full, didn’t have a ton of block off the table, lacked some distance, but a stick to end the rotation. 9.750
Macy (WVU): blind to piked Jaeger to immediate overshoot, looked like she struggled with it just a touch, it wasn’t quite as clean as it has been. Might’ve been short on the last handstand, DLO with a hop back on the landing. 9.700
After 2: AZ 97.775, WVU 97.500
Honestly….this is a lot closer than I expected. West Virginia hit its second highest bars score of the season, capped off with Lowe winning the event with a 9.875. Arizona used clean form and minimal deductions on the landings to extend its lead at the halfway point. This is shaping up to be a fun one!
Rotation 3: WVU beam, AZ floor
Leigh (WVU): BHS LOSO, balance check with a bend at the waist, cat leap switch half beat jump, got some confidence back after the mishap on her series, side aerial looked good, front gainer full dismount with a step back. 9.575.
LaRusso (AZ): front double full to open, stutter step on the landing. switch side straddle full leap series, nice toe point throughout. Back 1.5 to front layout second pass, some knee bend in the air but nice open hips, ends with a Rudi, good opening routine for Arizona. 9.800
DiCello (WVU): Pretty full turn to open, BHS LO LOSO, looked a little off in the air, but saved it with a tiny adjustment. Switch leap switch leap, I hate that series but she makes it looks good so I guess it’s fine. RO 1.5 dismount with a stick. 9.725
Fears (AZ): I guess I’ve never noticed she opens this with the Macarena? RO 2.5 twist to open, nice tight twist in the air. Good extension on her leaps, nice open hips throughout. Back 1.5 to front full final pass, lacked a little amplitude on the full but still a very difficult pass and she nailed it. 9.800
Lowe (WVU): full turn to open, balance check at the end. BHS LOSO, nicely done. Side aerial to beat jump, this redone routine has done WONDERS for her. Beat jump to split 3/4, nice 180 in the split. RO 1.5 with a hop forward. 9.775
Derr (AZ): Front double full to open, I am LOVING the vibes of this music. Toe point and extension on the leaps was really nicely done. Front layout front full, bit of a bounce on the landing, not sure what happened there, but a really good routine! 9.775
Brown (WVU): BHS BHS LOSO, solid throughout. Switch leap pike jump, not many should do a pike jump, but hers is pretty so I’ll let it slide. Double twist dismount, nailed it. That should be a really good score for the Mountaineers. 9.825, I’m good with that.
Martin (AZ): double pike to open, little early when she opened and took a step forward on the landing. Front layout front full, I really didn’t think she had the punch to get the full around but good on her. Nice extension on the leap series, double tuck to close, too much power that time and sat it down. 9.100.
Adams (WVU): Pretty turn to open, front aerial, she usually connects it to the BHS series but had some wobbles. Goes for the BHS LOSO and misses her foot and falls, Leigh’s 9.575 will now count. Gainer pike to finish, step forward. 9.125
Strom (AZ): Rudi to LOSO first pass, very floaty on the layout. Hello amplitude on the leaps WOW. RO 1.5 to front full, bit of loose knees in the full and lacked a liiiiiittle bit of rotation, but it was a hit. 9.850
Webster (WVU): Competitive debut after a few exhibitions for this freshman! Side aerial, pretty sizable leg lift, repeats and does a switch leg series with another leg lift. Gets her composure back on the leap series, RO 1.5 with a step back on the landing. 9.400….I’m not sure if that’s mathematically possible but.
Mueller (AZ): Need a hit to drop Martin’s fall. Double pike to open, bit of a low chest on the landing, but got the stick. Switch side straddle full, pretty. IDK if it’s the floor or what, but Arizona hasn’t been getting the punch on the combo passes it normally does bc that one looked low too. Double tuck to close, will drop Martin’s 9.100
WEHRY’S ALIVE. YAY. But WHY not just let her redshirt and keep her an extra year AGH. I am conflicted.
After 3: AZ 146.825, WVU 145.800
The door was open for a split second, but Arizona managed to drop a fall while WVU had to count some low scores that expanded the lead to over a point. Mountaineers need a hit floor set to get a score that will help improve its NQS, while the WIldcats just need to not fall apart on the beam. Easy enough?
Rotation 4: AZ beam, WVU floor
Fears (AZ): BHS LOSO and…a fall. You know, I’m starting to think I might have jinxed her. Maybe. Side aerial to help get her back on track. RO 1.5 dismount with a stick. Not the way you want to start a rotation, let’s hope the Wildcats can pick it back up. 9.175
Alban (WVU): Double pike to open, nice control on the landing! Front layout front full, bit off on the punch and takes a step back. Nice amplitude and rotation on the leap series. Double tuck, low chest on the landing, but no foot movement. 9.725
Lenczner (AZ): Pretty wolf turn to open! BHS LOSO, solid. Split jump to stag jump, little loose in the stag position. Side aerial, nicely done. RO 1.5 with a stick. Good reset routine for Arizona. 9.750
Tuohy (WVU): Front double full to open, was off on the FHS and took a deep knee bend on the landing. Not quite as much height as I’ve seen from her before in her leap series. Back 1.5 to front layout, good rise in the layout. 9.775
Also WHY ARE WE SPLIT SCREENING???
Rock (AZ): Good control on that full turn. BHS LOSO, very solid. Arizona looking good so far after an early fall. Cat leap to front toss, little low but got the landing. RO 1.5 with a step back.
Maness (WVU):
Mueller (AZ):
Lowe (WVU):
Deets (AZ):
E. Smith (WVU)
Martin (AZ):
Leigh (WVU):
FINAL:
VT:
UB:
BB:
FX:
AA:
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Live blog by Savanna Wellman
