There were fewer new leos this week than the previous four but good ones nevertheless! The criteria is the same as always: up to three points for design; two points for fabric and sparkle; two points for school spirit; and three points for overall appearance. This week’s guest judges are Tara, our Big 12 and MRGC editor, and Brandis, our men’s editor.
Oregon State: 8.833
https://twitter.com/BeaverGym/status/1091787510038970368
| Design | Fabric/
Sparkle |
School
Spirit |
Overall
Appearance |
Total | |
| Elizabeth | 2.6/3 | 1.8/2 | 1.8/2 | 2.7/3 | 8.9/10 |
| Tara | 2.8/3 | 1.9/2 | 1.8/2 | 2.9/3 | 9.4/10 |
| Brandis | 2.4/3 | 1.8/2 | 1.6/2 | 2.4/3 | 8.2/10 |
Elizabeth: This is officially my new favorite Oregon State. Everything from the classic black to the funky back to the sparkles to the rhinestone beaver on the sleeve are wins. I can’t really find fault in it except maybe I would have liked to see a touch more orange. Maybe orange rhinestone sleeve cuffs or something minor?
Tara: LOVE LOVE LOVE! I like how the deep V looks on this, and I love how the sparkles accentuate and make up the front design. The back gives it some flair, and the beaver on the sleeve tells me, “Oh, this is an Oregon State leo.”
Brandis: The back is a bit too open for me, but I love the creativity in the design overall. The mesh strip in the front with the belt of rhinestones does a great job of making this leo look very classy. Like Elizabeth, the only big flaw for me is the lack of school spirit. Incorporating some orange throughout would just elevate this one to the next level.
Oklahoma: 7.833
https://twitter.com/OU_WGymnastics/status/1091497430338682886
| Design | Fabric/
Sparkle |
School
Spirit |
Overall
Appearance |
Total | |
| Elizabeth | 2.4/3 | 1.8/2 | 1.8/2 | 2.6/3 | 8.6/10 |
| Tara | 1.3/3 | 1.8/2 | 1.7/2 | 1.4/3 | 6.2/10 |
| Brandis | 2.6/3 | 1.7/2 | 1.7/2 | 2.7/3 | 8.7/10 |
Elizabeth: I really liked this one. It photographed super well too. I liked the introduction of black and gunmetal silver to the color palate. Plus, the design was flattering on all the gymnasts and almost athletic looking despite being more of a “pretty” design.
Tara: I generally like OU leos, but there’s just something about it that’s throwing me off. The top is too busy for me. I like the concept and balance of colors, and I always enjoy how the Sooners incorporate “OU” on the back; I just wish the top was even just a little less busy.
Brandis: I’m not entirely sure what the design is on the top, but it comes across very well. It’s different but it works. I like how much white and silver was brought into it, but I do think that takes away a little from the school spirit aspect. However, this is definitely my favorite of the week.
LSU: 7.833
https://twitter.com/lsugym/status/1091509770975105024?s=21
For a better view of the “sternum hole,” click here.
| Design | Fabric/
Sparkle |
Pink Meet
Spirit |
Overall
Appearance |
Total | |
| Elizabeth | 2.1/3 | 1.7/2 | 1.7/2 | 2.4/3 | 7.9/10 |
| Tara | 2.6/3 | 1.7/2 | 1.8/2 | 2.5/3 | 8.6/10 |
| Brandis | 1.7/3 | 1.5/2 | 1.6/2 | 2.2/3 | 7.0/10 |
Elizabeth: Why did LSU have to go and ruin a fairly pretty leo with a weird sternum hole. The only perk is that you can only tell it’s there from certain angles and lighting. I don’t love this shade of pink, but I do like the design sans hole.
Tara: I don’t quite get why the weird sternum-mesh hole was included in the design (you don’t even notice it half the time either). I really enjoy the leo overall though, and it’s great for a pink meet leo. Simple but elegant and just enough pizazz.
Brandis: Definitely not on board with the sternum hole, but overall I enjoy this leo. While it doesn’t scream pink meet or LSU, it does a decent job at marrying the two together in a simple and professional look.
Florida: 7.767
https://twitter.com/collegegymnews_/status/1091502708610093056
| Design | Fabric/
Sparkle |
School
Spirit |
Overall
Appearance |
Total | |
| Elizabeth | 2.2/3 | 1.7/2 | 1.7/2 | 2.3/3 | 7.9/10 |
| Tara | 2.4/3 | 1.8/2 | 1.7/2 | 2.6/3 | 8.5/10 |
| Brandis | 1.8/3 | 1.6/2 | 1.6/2 | 1.9/3 | 6.9/10 |
Elizabeth: This leo uses one of my favorite styles of leo backs, so that automatically makes it a win for me. I also loved the classic Florida blue and white look. My only complain is that from just the front I couldn’t remember if I’d seen it before or not because it basically looks like every other Florida leo in existence.
Tara: I really enjoy this! I love the back; it’s super elegant and lovely. I like the front too, even though it does remind me of other Florida leos. If there’s a style you had to repeat, this front would be up there. And the orange sparkles are a nice touch too.
Brandis: I think the front is simple yet elegant, but I’m not a fan of open backs. However, I do like the different style of open back that gives it more variety and does well to complement the traditional front side of the leo.
Pitt: 7.333
https://www.instagram.com/p/BtRVPzJnX46/
| Design | Fabric/
Sparkle |
School
Spirit |
Overall
Appearance |
Total | |
| Elizabeth | 1.5/3 | 1.6/2 | 1.9/2 | 1.8/3 | 6.8/10 |
| Tara | 2.0/3 | 1.8/2 | 1.9/2 | 2.3/3 | 8.0/10 |
| Brandis | 1.5/3 | 1.7/2 | 2.0/2 | 2.0/3 | 7.2/10 |
Elizabeth: This leo was for the team’s retro meet, so I’m fine with the old-fashioned Pitt colors being used. However, I don’t like this neckline at all. The rounded-ness isn’t too flattering. I do love the script Pitt and the ombre sleeves though.
Tara: THIS is how you modernize retro. It reminds me a lot of some of Pitt’s other leos, and that’s not a bad thing in this case. The Pitt script is gorgeous, ombre is always a win for me and the colors are balanced nicely.
Brandis: Yay for ombre! Although it may be a tad plain, I love how simple it is yet how much school spirit it still displays. Outlining “Pitt” with rhinestones gives it the sparkle it needs without overdoing it, and the leo is just oozing with the retro Pitt feels.
Iowa State: 6.933
https://twitter.com/CycloneGYM/status/1091912567436558336
| Design | Fabric/
Sparkle |
School
Spirit |
Overall
Appearance |
Total | |
| Elizabeth | 1.4/3 | 1.2/2 | 1.5/2 | 1.5/3 | 5.6/10 |
| Tara | 2.6/3 | 1.6/2 | 1.6/2 | 2.4/3 | 8.2/10 |
| Brandis | 2.1/3 | 1.4/2 | 1.3/2 | 2.2/3 | 7.0/10 |
Elizabeth: Meh. The black is nice and the Cyclones good school spirit, but as a whole this leo just looks like one of those fancy bathing suits that’s bottoms and a bandeau top connected by thin ribbony material. Also, doesn’t Air Force have a similar leo?
Tara: I really enjoy this! I think it looked even better in motion than it does in this picture. I love the balance of the mesh and fabric, as well as how the lines frame the “Cyclones” on the front. And you should know by now that I like geometric designs like this. It’s simple yet elegant and still has school spirit with the “ISU” on the arm in addition to the script “Cyclones.” I also love the rhinestones on the cuffs of the sleeves—gorgeous!
Brandis: As an Iowa grad I’m supposed to hate everything Iowa State, but this leo is definitely an exception. Another leo this week that lacks some school spirit with no nods to ISU’s colors, but the design for me is nice. The horizontal strips of mesh and fabric are done, well and it’s not overkill with sparkles.
UIC: 6.733
| Design | Fabric/
Sparkle |
School
Spirit |
Overall
Appearance |
Total | |
| Elizabeth | 1.9/3 | 1.4/2 | 1.4/2 | 2.0/3 | 6.7/10 |
| Tara | 1.9/3 | 1.6/2 | 1.4/2 | 2.2/3 | 7.1/10 |
| Brandis | 1.8/3 | 1.5/2 | 1.3/2 | 1.8/3 | 6.4/10 |
Elizabeth: It’s kind of depressing knowing the school was willing to pay for fancy new leos that the team will likely only wear for one year yet doesn’t feel like saving the team. Cool cool cool cool cool. Maybe they’ll get to keep them as a memento. Anyway, I like this. It’s not my favorite design, but it looks good on and doesn’t have any necessarily bad features.
Tara: I like this, but I don’t LOVE it. I like the concept of the front and how the same sparkle-formed shape is repeated in multiple other places on the leo to bring it together. I’m not a huge fan of the white stripes along the shoulder area or the neckline—it just seems so different than the rest of the leo to me—but it’s not a bad leo by any means.
Brandis: I’m all for simplicity, but this one might be a little too simple. The white and sparkles on the lower sleeves are a great touch as is the design on the front, but from afar I’m not sure that the design came across as well as it did in the picture.
Rutgers: 6.000
Looking forward to competing at the RAC on Saturday!#RUGym #PinkMeet #GoRU #GetYourJerseyOn pic.twitter.com/J3KLHGRXSG
— Rutgers Gymnastics (@RUGymnastics) January 28, 2019
Note: Pink leo is not the one in the video still but is featured in the video.
| Design | Fabric/
Sparkle |
Pink Meet
Spirit |
Overall
Appearance |
Total | |
| Elizabeth | 1.2/3 | 1.4/2 | 1.6/2 | 1.3/3 | 5.5/10 |
| Tara | 1.9/3 | 1.4/2 | 1.8/2 | 1.8/3 | 6.9/10 |
| Brandis | 1.7/3 | 0.7/2 | 1.5/2 | 1.7/3 | 5.6/10 |
Elizabeth: This leo is not for me. I like the shade of pink used, but the design just isn’t doing it for me. Often, the cut in sides look is pretty flattering, but this almost is too extreme?
Tara: I actually don’t mind this! It’s definitely different, which I appreciate, and I enjoy the geometric design. It’s borderline too much, but it’s not bad either.
Brandis: Not a fan of this one. I appreciate Rutgers trying something new with the design for a pink meet leo, but I wish it was more sparkly instead of just shiny.
READ THIS NEXT: Leotard Rankings: Week Four
Article by Elizabeth Grimsley, Tara Graeve and Brandis Heffner
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