Perfect Scores All Around While Arkansas Is Eliminated From SECs
As it so often does, the SEC stole the show this weekend, with all eyes on Arkansas and Alabama to see who will be left out of conference championships while judges in every other meet got score crazy trying to steal the spotlight. Perfect 10s reigned this weekend as teams tighten up in preparation for the postseason and finalize who can and will make their top six moving forward.
Meet of the Week
Kentucky at Florida
With multiple perfect 10s and questionable judging, this meet delivered exactly what fans expect when tuning into a highly-ranked SEC dual. The Gators got an easy win thanks to their trio of perfect 10s, with Danie Ferris sticking a Yurchenko one and a half on vault for the first 10 of her career, Selena Harris-Miranda notching her first on beam, and superstar Leanne Wong finishing the night with perfection on floor. All elevated Florida to the nation’s highest score of the year—198.625—firmly cementing itself amongst the title favorites entering the postseason.
Other contenders: In a win over visiting Western Michigan, on-the-rise North Carolina put everything together for a big 196.750 team total—good for sixth-best in program history. It was a culmination of the year for the Tar Heels, who are set to make a significant jump in the rankings this season and end a regionals drought.
Gymnast of the Week
Jade Carey, Oregon State
With chatter abound about whether the Olympic champ can or will return for a fifth year of NCAA gymnastics, Jade Carey let none of it affect her on senior night, earning a pair of perfect 10s on beam and floor en route to an insane 39.925 in the all-around. In front of a record-breaking crowd, too. That total tops the country and will keep Carey on top of the rankings as the postseason nears, on track to be the one to beat for that title at the national championships.
Other contenders: Freshman phenom Kailin Chio is no stranger to sticking her Yurchenko one and a half on vault, but this week got a different result as she earned the first perfect score of her career for her efforts. Another resume booster in the freshman of the year race for the LSU rookie.
Performance of the Week
Grace McCallum (Utah), Beam
Like her Olympic teammate Carey, McCallum reached perfection while being celebrated on senior night, earning a 10.0 on beam for the first time in her career. Making wolf turns look acceptable, McCallum’s set helped the Red Rocks to a new season-high on beam of 49.600 and push the Utes to victory in a rivalry dual with UCLA.
Other contenders: After years of dealing with injury, Auburn’s Olivia Greaves is finally healthy and hitting her stride. In Friday’s dual against LSU, Greaves shined on her signature event, putting herself on 10-watch moving forward with a 9.975 on bars.
Outrageous Moment of the Week
The biggest controversy of the weekend is one we’ve seen coming, as this year’s new SEC championship meet is set to include only eight of the nine conference teams due to conference expansion. This week, Arkansas officially lost the race to the top, finishing the regular season ranked ninth amongst league teams despite still ranking in the top 20 nationally. Yes, this isn’t the only conference tournament in college sports that doesn’t include every team (like the Big Ten in basketball), but excluding just a single team feels cruel.
Hidden Gem of the Week
Skyelar Kerico (Penn), Vault
The Penn junior has been a contender in The Dismount multiple times this season as Skyelar Kerico has been an Ivy League standout, and this week takes top honors by etching her name in the Quakers’ record books. Nailing the landing of her Yurchenko one and a half on vault, Kerico earned a 9.925 to notch the highest-ever vault score in program history.
Viral Moment of the Week
Gymnasts continue to use their talents and platforms for good—advocating, supporting, and raising awareness at every opportunity. California’s Miki Aderinto has been creatively braiding words into teammate Kyen Mayhew’s competition hair for the last few weeks, and in the Golden Bears’ first quad meet of the weekend, chose to braid “JPC” on Mayhew in support of assistant coach John Carney who is currently battling cancer.
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Article by Brandis Heffner
