Woooooooo baby. No. 2 at No. 1? What did we do to get so lucky!? We have Elizabeth in Norman bringing you photos from this headliner, and I’m here in Chicago blogging. Don’t worry, I survived the polar vortex; I hope you all did too.
Let’s start by talking about how Oklahoma is, and has been, one of the very top programs in the country for solidly seven years now, and its meets are still only aired on a weird local channel most of us don’t get. It’s great. Very good. That’s how you grow your audience! Maybe this is why your stands are always empty! Shade intended.
Anyway, my constant fury at everything aside, this should be a very fun meet. I expect we’ll see Maggie Nichols back on all four after Bruised Heel-gate 2019, since this is such an explosive matchup.
This should be a battle in every way, but I’m maybe most excited about the Trinity Thomas vs. Olivia Trautman freshman showdown. While Trautman isn’t an all arounder this year, she and Thomas are well matched on her three events with only hundredths of a point separating their averages on all three.
Oklahoma has the edge on vault (No. 1) and beam (No. 1), while Florida is slightly ahead on bars (No. 1) and floor (No. 2). That the Sooners and Gators trade top spots back and forth like this means we’re set up for a thoroughly tight and exciting meet. Will Florida be the second team to break 198? Will it be able to take advantage of this high-powered matchup to put some distance between itself and No. 3 UCLA?
Vault is where the Gators lose the most ground to the Sooners. Oklahoma is ahead in difficulty, but if Florida can find landings and keep things close after two rotations, the second half of this will be extremely interesting.
The postseason implications here rest mainly in pride and bragging rights. A big road score for Florida would be great for RQS, but this meet is about a preview of the battle we could see for the title in Fort Worth.
Remember to keep an eye on our social media for Elizabeth’s photos!
https://twitter.com/GatorsGym/status/1091413373328199681
The hype is real, friends.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BtO8tB2l9Ee/
Hey friends incoming message from my phone. I’ve been stuck in some of the best hell Chicago public transit has to offer, but should be home juuust in time for first vault. See you back here soon!
MADE IT with two minutes to spare!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BtXBPhCFddE/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=14piv84bfaqvi
I ran for nothing, the OU basketball coach is still yammering about the Big 12 being a tough conference.
Kelly Garrison: “One team will be going home with an L. A learning experience, not a loss!” Well…both but okay.
OU will be putting up six 10.0s WITHOUT Maggie Nichols. That’s fairly mindblowing.
Ohh the back of the Florida leo is gorgeous.
Sounds like Nichols will be on bars and beam again tonight, still no vault or floor.
Rotation 1: Oklahoma vault, Florida bars
Lehrmann (OU): Y1.5, nice in the air, small hop to the side.
Boren (UF): Tkatchev, good. Clear hip hand to bail hand, nice, maybe a touch loose in her middle. DLO, tiny hop back.
Webb (OU): Y1.5, small hop forward, good form.
Gowey (UF): Ray, good. Toe hand to pak, good extension. Lovely toes. DLO, chest low small hop.
Degouveia (OU): Y1.5, big distance, not super high. Looked like a very small hop.
Hundley (UF): Maloney to pak, great flow, van Leeuwen, her usual great catch. Full-in stuck. That’s the classic Hundley set you want to see.
Stern (OU): Y1.5, knees bent, big step forward. They’ll want to drop that.
Thomas (UF): Maloney uprise to clear hip hand, pak, caught ever just too close. Toe hand to van Leeuwen, amazing handstand, DLO stuck.
Trautman (OU): Y1.5, stuck, feet messy in the air.
Schoenherr (UF): Toe hand to blind, Jaeger. Bail hand, good position. Blind full + double tuck stuck.
Dowell (OU): Y1.5, huge, hop forward. She’s so powerful.
Skaggs (UF): Tkatchev, huge + pak, good. Great handstands and toes DLO stuck. Phew!
Chant (UF-exh): Tkatchev, toes, almost over on a handstand. Bail hand. Short last handstand. DLO, very pikey, hop back.
AFTER ONE: Florida 49.675, Oklahoma 49.575
HOLY COW. WHAT. That was a very intense first rotation. The difference is just that Dowell hop, essentially. This is CLOSE. Scores are, of course, too high (Thomas went 9.975, despite a slightly close catch and staggered feet on her DLO landing, but we also saw a 9.9 for Degouveia’s low Y1.5, so it’s high in both directions.) but this is truly thrilling gymnastics.
Rotation 2: Oklahoma bars, Florida vault
Trautman will be on bars! Her AA debut.
Cheney (UF): FTY, very high, very big hop back. Can’t be doing that tonight!
Webb (OU): Great first handstand, huge pak! van Leeuwen, nice. Toe blind + double front 1/2 with a step.
Chant (UF): Tsuk half, nice body position! Garrison called it a full am I losing my mind? Maybe!
Trautman (OU): Toe hand + Tkatchev, some feet. Bail hand, bend arms, shy of vertical. DLO, hop back.
Reed (UF): Y1.5, big distance, large step forward.
Thomas (OU): LOL TRAUTMAN WENT 9.875 WHAT. Toe blind _ Jaeger, good. Bail hand, nice handstand, little loose in her core. DLO, hop back.
Nothing agains Trautman, but. No
Schoenherr (UF): Y1.5, stuck COLD. shooooot that was gorgeous.
Dowell (OU): Tkachev, great turn over. Little far on handstand. Bail hand, good. Little shy last handstand. DLO, hop back.
Boren (UF): Y1.5. so high, sort of steps/hops three times out, leg sep on the table. SO SO HIGH. Just too much power. Kelly wants her to Yurchenko double back. I buy it.
Lehrmann (OU): Hect mount. Blind + Jaeger, good. Toe hand + bail hand, holds it. half in half out, stuck. A great set.
Thomas (UF): Y1.5, big hop to the side. Tried for the stick.
SCREAMS happening, a Lehrmann 10? YEP. I’m not even mad at that one, and not just because she’s on my Fantasy team.
Nichols (OU): Ray, some feet. Pak, good catch. Toe hand van Leeuwen. DLO, stuck, bigger foot stagger than those we’ve seen from everyone else, but I have a feeling that will slide.
Alexander (UF-exh): Nice FTY, just a hop.
AFTER TWO: Oklahoma 99.3, Florida 98.825
As expected, vault hurt Florida. Starting with the lead softened that blow. There was…more crack. The Lehrmann 10.0 was about as real as any we see. The crack is still being pretty evenly distributed, for the most part, so things feel about right. The Gators really let those landings get away from them.
Heading into this next rotation, the Sooners are going to an event where they are No. 1, and the Gators to an event where they are No. 2 just a hair behind UCLA. So expect more fireworks.
Rotation 3: Oklahoma beam, Florida floor
Trautman (OU): She moves so confidently. Impressive as a freshman leadoff! Bhs loso, some bent arms on the bhs, but pretty legs. Cat + switch side, good. Front toss small hop up on her toes. RO 3/2, I could not see her feet.
Johnson-Scarpf (UF): They’re spelling her name “Scharph” lol. Double tuck, stumbles back out, maybe three steps and an OOB. Front lay + front 1/1 + stag, good, not quite as high as she could go. Switch 1/2 + sush 1/1, gorgeous. She’s as expressive a performer as ever. Double tuck, good landing this time.
Lehrmann (OU): Her signature gorgeous mount, wonderful as always. Flowing well through dance and the full turn. Bhs loso bhs swing down, misses the swing down completely. I don’t think she’ll get the skill, and there’s a fall. The bhs loso covers her series. Switch + switch side. Front aerial, break at hips. Gainer 1/1.
Hundley (UF): Whip + double tuck, bit of a stutter step into the lunge. Double pike, better landing but still a touch uncontrolled. Switch side + sush 1/2, cheated the rotations a bit. 3/2 + front lay, there’s the landing.
Woodard (OU): Pressure is on for sure. Side aerial bhs, bent back knee. Front toss, bobble but works through it. Switch + switch + beat, good. Side aerial + 1/1, stuck. Not her best, but good recovery from the fall.
Reed (UF): DLO, BIG good landing. Tour jete 1/2 + wolf 1/1. Wolf 1/1s are just not cute, guys. FHS front lay rudi, very good, great amplitude on the rudi. Double pike, lunges to the front. The Gators needed that.
Showers (OU): Bhs loso, offline, drops a shoulder a bit and steps back but stays on the beam. Beat + split 1/1, steady. Switch, she falls! Splits the beam. Oh, my. Good recovery, dances out. We’ll see what they take on that. She did get her feet on before falling, which is key. Beat + bhs swingdown. Cartwheel + gainer 1/1, good.
Boren (UF): DLO, good, little loss of control on the lunge, front foot slides. 3/2 + front lay, much better landing. She’s soooo into the dance, truly great. Double tuck, she could’ve done a triple it was SO HIGH. SO HIGH. Wow wow.
Webb (OU): Bhs loso, good. Lehrmann was 9.575, so they took .3 on her fall on the beam. Cat + front aerial, turns to the side and drops shoulders a bit. Switch + switch, good. Side aerial + 1/1, stuck.
Thomas (UF): Engaging from the first measure of music. So good. She’s a mummy in a haunted house, apparently. DLO, HUGH excellent landing. So solid. FHS front 1/1 front lay, good. Switch ring to tour jete 1/1. Double pike, great, just stays in. Butterfly to end. Again, wow.
Nichols (OU): Front aerial + split, good. Bhs loso, totally solid. Switch + split, good oversplit. RO 3/2, stuck. I mean, they’ll go 10.0. If they don’t I’ll be shocked. 9.975! Interesting.
Baumann (UF): Double tuck, great landing. 3/2 + front 1/1, kept twisting on the landing a bit but covered it with dance like a pro. Tour jete + split 1/1, good. Double pike, stuck the landing, controlled lunge. The Gators rolled through those last four.
Dowell (OU-exh): Front aerial + layout two feet. Switch + switch, little shy of 180 on the first. Kotchetkova, looove. Front 1/1 stuck cold. That’s an argument to stay in the lineup.
Schoenherr (UF-exh): Double pike, excellent landing and lunge. Tour jete 1/2 + wolf 1/1, I didn’t hate that wolf 1/1 as much as usual. 3/2 + front lay, big amplitude. Fhs rudi, some legs in the air but good landing. Good to know UF has that in its pocket!
AFTER THREE: Oklahoma 148.5, Florida 148.425
Well then. This has gotten close again! The Showers score was…generous and kept the Sooners in this. Judges took .3 for a fall onto the beam, rather than the .5 for a complete fall. That’s correct, but there were other things. That didn’t feel like a 49.2 rotation. Florida has the momentum here, but ending on beam when you’re amped can be a challenge. This will be a battle to the end, it seems.
Rotation 4: Oklahoma floor, Florida beam
Kelly: “Everyone in the country is watching this meet tonight.” Take that up with this team’s local Fox network deal, my dear.
Skaggs (UF): She’s so exact in her movements. Wolf turn 2/1, solid, great held leg position. Switch + split. Bhs loso, drops a shoulder. Cat + side aerial + 1/1, small hop and lower chest.
Webb (OU): FHS front 2/1, totally solid. She’s such an engaging performer. 3/2 + front 1/1 good. So much drama in this set. Tour jete 1/2 + split 1/1, little lacking in the split positions. FHS rudi, excellent. Some little things, but a good start!
Hundley (UF): Front aerial + sisonne, pretty. Bhs loso, she miiiiight get the pause deduction. Cat + switch side HUGE. RO 3/2, stuck. Good set from her.
Showers (OU): Double pike, so high, great landing. Her classic super expressive dance is intense as ever this year. Rudi, little bouncy on the landing but good in the air. Tour jete 1/2 + split 1/1. Whip 1/1 + front 1/1, lands low and FALLS BACK. Oh baby. The Sooners are not making this easy.
Boren (UF): She has great presence. Gainer front toss, good. Bhs loso break at the hips and a fall. WELL. Here we go. Pressure city for everyone. Switch + straddle, good. Cat + gainer loso, no problems. Cartwheel + gainer full, stuck.
Draper (OU): Talk about a stressful time to be up! Whip half + 3/2, good, some leg cross in the air. FHS front 1/1 + front 1/1, some loose knees, good landing. Switch + switch 1/1, good splits. Okay, that gets them back on track. Not the hugest set, but it’ll do!
Gowey (UF): Now pressure is on for her! Swtich + straddle, good, great split positions. Bhs loso loso, solid. Front aerial + sisonne, good. She seems calm. Gainer 1/1 stuck. Okay! This is still a meet!
Draper 9.95 is something.
Degouveia (OU): This is intense from the moment she steps on the floor. FHS 2/1, great landing. Front lay front 1/1, solid. Switch 1/1 + popa, some bent knees on the switch. 3/2 + front 1/1, good landing, crossed feet in the 1/1.
Thomas (UF): Switch 1/2 + beat, so gutsy. Bhs one arm + loso, excellent. Front aerial + wolf. Dances right out of full turn. RO 2/1, small hop. Wow that is a CLEAN routine.
Degouveia 9.975. Crack is in the house.
Dowell (OU): SHE DOES THE DOWELL. A touch on her heels on the landing, but that’s picky. 3/2 + front lay, good. Tour jete 1/2 + popa. Front lay + front 1/1, great landing. Love it.
Baumann (UF): Bhs loso no movement. Switch + switch 1/2, so solid. Side aerial, so steady. RO 3/2, stuck. Phew! Okay, it’s down to Trautman.
Trautman (OU): DLO, leg sep, but great landing. Front lay + front 1/1, very good. She’s such a performer! Tour jete 1/2 + popa, looked like she feel to the side a touch, covered well. Double tuck, excellent. Kelly: “She’s just got power coming out of her everywhere.” Uh.
FINAL: Oklahoma 198.325, Florida 198.025
Okay, OU went 49.825 there. It was a stellar floor rotation, but there were three 9.975s in a row. That’s at one judge throwing a 10.0 for three routines in a row. That is…not okay. The Sooners were a touch cleaner there at the end, but I think these teas were closer matched than .3, wild as that sounds.
The Gators won’t complain about a road 198, though. That’ll be handing come RQS time!
It was a weird meet, at times awesome and at times very nervy. Some April routines, some very February routines. We might get to see a rematch in Ft. Worth!
Live blog by Emily Minehart
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