The Dismount: Week 1 - College Gym News

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The first full weekend of NCAA gymnastics is finally over and man were there some exciting matchups! From Denver’s Nina McGee scoring her first ever perfect 10 on floor to George Washington’s 196+ team total to Missouri upsetting Illinois, LSU upsetting Oklahoma, UCLA upsetting Alabama and N.C. State upsetting Penn State — we’re not sure we could have dreamed of a more exciting start to 2016. Read all about the 26 Division-I competitions from this past weekend and click the various links for full results, each team’s recaps, highlight videos, photo galleries and more!

The competition was neck-and-neck the entire time, but a late beam fall from Oklahoma and strong performances on floor to close out LSU’s night proved to be the difference maker. Tiger freshman Sarah Finnegan completed an outstanding beam routine for a 9.925 while Gnat closed the show with a bang on floor for a 9.95. While both teams had mistakes, the Sooners held the slight lead going into the last rotation. However, a fall from Kara Lovan, even though the routine still went 9.425, ultimately sealed the deal for LSU. The competition was a strong start for both teams, and the outcome really could have gone either way. But the night belonged to the Tigers.

In Florida’s first meet under head coach Jenny Rowland, the Gators had a slow start with scoring a 49.2 or lower on their first three events. While it did not count toward the team score, Boren fell on what was the team’s only Yurchenko one and a half. On beam, Florida looked more comparable to its success in previous years with a pair of 9.9s from Boren and Fassbender. Ernst also made her collegiate debut with a 9.875 on beam. Sloan finished with a 39.5 all around. TWU opened its season with a decent meet and a few mistakes that give the team room for improvement. For a complete recap, check out ourquick hits.

Despite leading after each of the first three rotations, UCLA’s strong showing on floor put the Bruins ahead of the Crimson Tide to close out the meet. UCLA freshman Katelyn Ohashi competed all four events in her much-anticipated college debut, falling on bars but posting an impressive 9.8 and 9.85 on beam and floor, respectively. Redshirt junior Peng-Peng Lee and senior Danusia Francis closed out the Bruins’ beam rotation with near-perfect marks of 9.95. Lee competed a completely hands-free routine due to a recent thumb surgery while Francis finished with her signature transverse side aerial to back full dismount. On floor, UCLA continued the crowd-pleasing routines with 9.95s from Sadiqua Bynum and Hallie Mossett. Angi Cipra also tallied a 9.925 for her fun routine featuring a cellphone ringtone in the middle of the performance. While the Tide didn’t win the meet, there were still many bright spots across all four events. Katie Bailey and Kiana Winston had 9.9s on bars for the highest marks of the meet on the event, and Mackenzie Brannan won vault with a 9.9 as well. On floor both Bailey and Carley Sims scored 9.9s. Sims choreography got the UCLA crowd on its feet — an impressive accomplishment considering they’re used to the excellent choreography from Miss Val.

Beautiful #bluetooth routine by @PengPengCLee goes 9.95! #GoBruins #BruinStrong pic.twitter.com/tshqVo9mQr

— UCLA Gymnastics (@uclagymnastics) January 10, 2016

There was never any doubt Utah would lose this competition. However, had the team on the other side of the floor been a more formidable opponent, the story might have had a different ending. The Red Rocks’ competition was not perfect by any means. Mistakes here and there added up and the team only managed to total a low 196 for the win. There were lots of new faces in the lineups after Utah graduated a massively successful class. Most notably, freshman Sabrina Schwab tallied a 9.9 on floor after filling in last minute for fellow newcomer McKenna Merrell who was supposed to perform on the event. Junior Baely Rowe also had a 9.925 on bars and BYU senior Makenzie Halliday, who is married to a Utah football player, won the all around. For a more-detailed account of the meet, check out ourquick hits.

Kailah Delaney sets the high mark for the Red Rocks on the vault with a 9.85! #goutes https://t.co/nHHAJXWpyC

— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) January 9, 2016

Michigan continued its success in the 2016 season with another near-197 win, this time defeating Georgia at home. Junior Nicole Artz had a standout meet, winning bars, beam, floor and the all around while freshman Olivia Karas continued to impress, winning vault and floor despite having a not-so-good day on bars and beam. Georgia also stayed up there with Michigan for the majority of the meet. But the Gym Dogs’ downfall came on beam where they had two falls and another below average score to only total a 48. Senior Brittany Rogers competed in the all around for the first time since her sophomore year and freshman Sydney Snead excelled in her collegiate debut, putting up strong marks on three events, including the highest of the night on bars. Michigan will look to get over the 197 hump while Georgia will need to go back and make some real changes to ensure beamplosions don’t become a thing again in 2016.

There were bright spots and places for major improvements for each team at the NorCal Classic Sunday afternoon. California easily came away with the win after consistent performances across the board. The team didn’t have any standout routines — it’s highest score across the events was Jessica Howe’s 9.875 on floor — but it didn’t have any major mishaps either with its lowest counting score coming from a 9.7 on beam. Stanford on the other hand had larger pendulum swings during the competition. Sophomore Elizabeth Price notched 9.9s on bars and floor and also took the all around title with a 39.5. However, the Cardinal was forced to count a fall on beam after both fifth-year senior Ivana Hong and Haley Spector fell on their routines. The team also put up two Yurchenko layout vaults, something the top teams in the country rarelyeverhave to do. Sacramento State’s Lauren Rice, sister of Stanford senior Taylor Rice, stood out for the Hornets on floor with a 9.875 to finish second behind Price.

Both teams definitely looked like it was the beginning of the season. But obviously, that’s fine because it is the beginning of the season. However, that leaves a lot of room for improvement that needs to be filled. While Oregon State started a bit rough on vault, the Beavers picked up the pace on the remaining three events with near-49 totals. The Tigers, on the other hand, showed they aren’t hurting too bad from losing so many standout routines from their record-breaking 2015 season. Hitting 49 on each event, the team made a strong case for its 2016 campaign. Caitlin Atkinson had arguably the best Yurchenko one and a half of the entire weekend and earned a 9.925 for the effort. Abby Milliet also picked up wins on both of her events with a pair of 9.875s while Beaver Jamie Radermacher won floor and Maddie Gardiner won the all around despite not having the top score on any event.

#Auburn‘s score of 196.175 is the second highest total in a season opener in program history (2009). #WarEagle

— Auburn Gymnastics (@Auburn_Gym) January 10, 2016

Arizona State looked like a completely different team after barely being able to put up five gymnasts on each event in 2015. While the Gymdevils didn’t come out with the win, the result was a definite step in the right direction. Nebraska, on the other hand, had a rough showing. With a depleted roster, the Huskers were trailing at the halfway point of the competition. But strong floor and vault rotations brought the team back ahead in the end. Laeng competed in the all around, something she didn’t often do last season, and did it well, winning or sharing all four event titles as well as the all around. Bowling Green’s Alyssa Nocella on floor was the highlight for the team, as she won a share of the floor title with a 9.85 for her effort.

Illinois came into Columbia as a pretty heavy favorite over the Tigers. However, the team left upset. No. 23 Missouri battled to a win in its first meet of the season, defeating Illinois by just 0.275 and tying its highest total in a season opener. The Illini only managed two scores of 9.7 with the remaining four competitors’ marks below that. On bars, Mary Jane Horth impressed with a 9.9 routine, but the lineup also had to count two 9.625s after Erin Buchanan only posted a 9.1. Beam was much better, with four gymnasts performing 9.8 or better routines. The same could be said about floor. On the other side of the floor, Missouri quietly outlasted its opponent, with Shauna Miller taking the vault title with a 9.85 for a beautifully-stuck Yurchenko full and Kennedi Harris winning floor with a 9.9. Ward won a title of her own on beam where she tied Illinois’ Giana O’Connor’s 9.85.

It was a long time coming but Nina McGee finally got the perfect 10 on floor she deserves. The fifth-year senior grabbed the attention of the crowd in the last rotation of Denver’s tri-meet in the first competition of the season, scoring a perfect mark. The score was the first of its kind in 2016. The Pioneers also wound up taking the team title while McGee picked up more crowns, winning bars and the all around as well. West Virginia’s Kirah Koshinski scored a 9.875 on vault for the win and Denver’s Claire Hammen and Southern Utah’s Danielle Ramirez tied for the top score on beam. SUU’s Kristie Yee also took a share of the top spot on bars.

When you remember that you scored a perfect 10.0 last night… #DU1NATION pic.twitter.com/3AWFtT1SLo

— Denver Gymnastics (@DU_Gymnastics) January 10, 2016

In one of the first upsets of the season, N.C. State pulled off a win over Penn State in Nittany Lion territory. Weak vault scores and two falls and a hit but unsteady routine on beam were the difference makers for Penn State against the Wolfpack. However, newcomer Kiera Brown, who transferred from Georgia after being dismissed last summer, performed in the all around for the first time in her collegiate career, posting a top-notch 9.95 on bars and nailed her beam routine for a 9.8. While N.C. state didn’t have any outstanding scores like Brown on bars, the team did stay consistent enough to pull out the win, lead by Nicole Wild’s strong beam performance for a 9.9.

Arizona impressed in its first competition under first-year head coach Tabitha Yim. Not only did the team “shatter” its attendance record with nearly 4,000 fans but it won the meet over Big 10 opponent Michigan State. Yim wasn’t the only new face on the floor for the Gymcats. Freshmen Skyler Sheppard (beam) and Lauryn Mattson (vault) debuted routines, each scoring 9.825s for their efforts and winning or sharing the event titles. Madison Cindric, Gabby Laub and Schneider also impressed, winning or sharing titles on vault, bars and floor, respectively. The team’s 195.7 was easily enough to beat Michigan State and left ample amount of space for improvement throughout the season. The Spartans didn’t leave empty handed, though. Lisa Burt took a share of the bars title with her 9.85 and Kira Frederick shared the floor crown with her 9.825. Elena Lagoski won the all around.

When @AZGymnastics set an attendance record and win opener for @AZGymCoach #DabOnEm pic.twitter.com/d1Ynw7NDOr

— Arizona Athletics (@AZATHLETICS) January 9, 2016

Minnesota started its season off fairly strong after a not-so-hot intrasquad just a week prior. Senior Lindsay Mable was the queen she is on three of the four events but struggled on bars. However, she still came away with the all around title as well as the top scores on vault and beam. Teammate Madeline Hanley took home the bars title while Iowa State’s Meaghan Sievers won floor.

Finally healthy, Kentucky looked like a new team compared to the one held together by tape last season. Posting a 49 on vault and high scores scattered throughout the other three events, the Wildcats impressed a sold-out crowd of nearly 8,000 on its way to defeating Ball State by over three points. The freshmen in particular stood out. Katie Stuart shared the vault title with Sidney Dukes who also won the bars and all around crowns. Fellow newcomer Alex Hyland won beam. Junior Taylor Puryear rounded out the successful night for Kentucky with a floor win after tallying a 9.875 on the event.

Washington’s Allison Northey impressed in the Huskies’ first competition of the season despite the team losing to Ohio State. The Buckeyes’ Taylor Harrison, who qualified to compete at NCAAs last season, won beam with a 9.825 while Northey took home titles on floor and in the all around. Ohio State freshman Alexis Mattern won vault with her unique piked Cuervo and teammate Kaitlyn Hofland was finally back from injury, competing a handful of unusual skills to spice things up.

In both teams’ second meet of the weekend, the fatigue showed just a tad. Both Missouri and Lindenwood’s overall totals were lower than their first day of competition Friday, but not by much. The Tigers posted another solid 195 score while the Lions, in their first home meet of the season, stayed in the 192-range. Missouri’s Kennedi Harris continued to excel on floor, picking up a 9.875 to go along with her 9.9 from Friday and teammate Morgan Porter won the all around with a 39.25 as well as a share of the vault title and the bars crown.

Despite not being quite as strong as the opening weekend, Central Michigan still came out on top. Freshman Kasey Janowicz continued to impress while Teet, Clements and Bolender also had success, winning bars, beam and floor titles, respectively. UW-Whitewater’s Chloe Rehberg was the only non-Chippewas event winner with a 9.75 on vault.

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