The qualification race to USAG nationals has all but wrapped up, but don’t look away yet—while Seattle Pacific has a lead of nearly six tenths over challenging Brown, the Bears have a double-meet weekend coming up and a fair bit of momentum heading toward the season. Small-team individuals like Hannah Stahlbrodt of Southern Connecticut State and Cami Bea Austin of Centenary have also likely punched their tickets to nationals already.
Keep in mind that West Chester was apparently unable to travel to its intended meet this weekend due to a COVID-19-related university halt on nonessential travel outside the state. If this is true, we’re still quite short on details about the situation, but it could affect how the rest of the season looks for the Golden Rams.
Below you’ll not only find fast facts from every USAG meet this weekend (for more on DI and NCGA teams, check out their respective Dismounts), but the overall USAG standings, top scores and a few superlatives for some of our favorite moments as well.
Routine of the Week
Bianca Leon (SCSU) UB – 9.900
This is not the exact routine with which Leon set a program record this weekend—unfortunately, video hasn’t materialized of that one. But this slightly lower-scoring set from a few weeks ago will give you an idea of what it looked like.
Most Unique Routine
Jolie Miller (SEMO) UB – 9.775
It took Miller a few attempts to get this routine consistent, but now she’s hit three good ones in a row. I’m really excited because with a pike Tkachev and a Ezhova, it’s a remarkable set.
Thanks to SEMO coach Jason Collins for sending us this video!
Most Beautiful Routine
Natalie Yang (Penn) BB – 9.800
Yang has been in and out of the lineup at Penn for various reasons, but when she’s in, there’s nothing more special to watch in USAG gymnastics. Her form and flow on this event are so lovely.
Overall Standings
| Place | Team | Average |
| 1 | Lindenwood | 194.280 |
| 2 | Texas Woman’s | 193.885 |
| 3 | Bridgeport | 193.830 |
| 4 | SEMO | 193.780 |
| 5 | Yale | 193.695 |
| * | Pennsylvania | 193.375 |
| 6 | Air Force | 192.975 |
| 7 | West Chester | 192.910 |
| 8 | Seattle Pacific | 192.795 |
| 9 | Brown | 192.200 |
| 10 | Southern Conn. | 190.700 |
| 11 | Centenary | 190.62 |
| 12 | Cornell | 190.580 |
Top Scores
| Gymnast | Team | Event | Score |
| Bianca Leon | Southern Conn. | UB | 9.900 |
| Kyndall Baze | Lindenwood | FX | 9.900 |
| Ryan Henry | Lindenwood | FX | 9.900 |
| Bria Northrop | Texas Woman’s | FX | 9.900 |
| Isabel Goyco | Texas Woman’s | FX | 9.900 |
| Kathryn Doran | Bridgeport | UB | 9.875 |
| Maya Reimers | Bridgeport | BB | 9.875 |
| Lindsay Chia | Yale | BB | 9.875 |
| Jordan Streete | Bridgeport | VT | 9.850 |
| Mei Li Costa | Brown | UB | 9.850 |
| Courtney Mitchell | Lindenwood | UB | 9.850 |
| Jacey Baldovino | Yale | UB | 9.850 |
| Anna Salamone | Air Force | FX | 9.850 |
| Aleah Leman | Lindenwood | FX | 9.850 |
| Gayla Griswold | Lindenwood | FX | 9.850 |
| Anna Kaziska | SEMO | FX | 9.850 |
The Highlights
| No. 53 SEMO, No. 60 Air Force at No. 49 Lindenwood | ||||
| Full Results | LU: 195.325 | SEMO: 194.500 | Air Force: 193.175 | |
| VT: Baze 9.800 | UB: Mitchell 9.850 | BB: Mitchell, Chavez 9.825 | FX: Baze, Henry 9.900 | AA: Henry 39.175 |
The Big Storyline: A majestic floor rotation and a season-best on vault added up to a season high and a second 195-plus score for Lindenwood, despite a counted fall. Courtney Mitchell and Ryan Henry continue to lead the team. SEMO recorded a fifth-straight 193-plus score, including a season high beam rotation. Air Force struggled on beam and couldn’t compare with the other two, though there were individual highlights like a career high floor score from Anna Salamone.
Implications: Lindenwood stayed on top of USAG rankings with its season high. In USAG rankings, SEMO rose from No. 5 to No. 4, beating Yale.
| No. 6 LSU, No. 17 Arkansas, No. 67 Centenary at No. 50 Texas Woman’s | ||||
| Full Results | LSU: 197.000 | Arkansas: 196.300 | TWU: 192.250 | CC: 191.625 |
| VT: Shaffer 9.925 | UB: Lovett, Hambrick, Harrold 9.875 | BB: Campbell 9.925 | FX: Carter, Campbell 9.925 | AA: Gianfagna 39.000 |
The Big Storyline: Texas Woman’s had a disappointing showing on its senior day, as a beam issue compounded the problems caused by a continually struggling bars rotation. Floor continues to excel, as two Pioneers scored 9.900 on that event. Centenary got its best road score of the season and its second-best score outright. Cami Bea Austin finished ninth on floor against DI/DII teams.
Implications: Texas Woman’s holds steady at No. 2 in USAG, while Centenary has passed Cornell again and rises to No. 11.
| No. 32 Ohio State and No. 51 Bridgeport at No. 24 Arizona | ||||
| Full Results | Arizona: 196.225 | Ohio State: 195.700 | Bridgeport: 193.250 | |
| VT: Leydin 9.925 | UB: Swartzentruber 9.900 | BB: Brovedani 9.900 | FX: Hodges 9.875 | AA: Roland 37.275 |
The Big Storyline: Bridgeport had an indiscriminate smattering of weird mistakes across every event but vault (which was great!) and was unable to record a consequential total on the road at Arizona. Even incredibly resilient Julianna Roland had a bad day, with two misses.
Implications: Bridgeport’s ranking didn’t change, but it’s now within firing range of SEMO and could really use a better showing next weekend at UCLA.
| No. 27 Maryland, No. 52 Towson, No. 53 Yale, No. 62 William & Mary at No. 41 George Washington | |||||
| Full Results | GW: 195.825 | Towson: 195.625 | Maryland: 195.300 | W&M: 194.725 | Yale: 193.300 |
| VT: Silberman, Marr 9.875 | UB: Wright 9.950 | BB: Chia 9.875 | FX: Chambliss 9.900 | AA: Chambliss 39.400 | |
The Big Storyline: Yale delivered a fine total at this quint meet and was able to marginally improve its NQS, despite finishing last. Lindsay Chia finishing first on beam is great news: The sophomore has always been immensely stylish, but took a little while to convert that into regularly great scores.
Implications: This doesn’t change the ranking outlook for Yale but coming up so short against conference-mate William & Mary is cause for concern with the ECAC championship now just around the corner.
| No. 54 Bowling Green, No. 57 Penn, No. 58 West Chester at No. 48 Temple | ||||
| Full Results | Penn: 194.000 | Temple: 193.975 | WCU: 192.000 | BGSU: 188.700 |
| VT: East 9.875 | UB: Castrence, Brooks 9.825 | BB: Yang, Nodarse 9.800 | FX: East 9.900 | AA: East 39.225 |
The Big Storyline: This was another great meet for Penn, cracking the 194 mark for the second time this season and walking away with an individual beam title for Natalie Yang as well as the overall victory. The Quakers excelled on floor as well, finishing with a 48.925. West Chester was slightly subpar on vault and bars and delivered a total that won’t add to its NQS. Yolanda Nodarse tied with Yang for the beam win.
Implications: Penn avenged its loss to Temple a month ago and looks strong heading into ECAC championships. West Chester slipped back to No. 7 in USAG standings.
| No. 54 Bowling Green, No. 79 Rhode Island College at No. 64 Brown | ||||
| Full Results | BGSU: 193.900 | Brown: 193.500 | RIC: 180.000 | |
| VT: Lawson 9.900 | UB: Fochler 9.925 | BB: East 9.850 | FX: East 9.875 | AA: East 39.300 |
The Big Storyline: Brown had a great senior meet, with soaring vault and floor lineups carrying it to a season high. The Bears led Bowling Green for most of the meet. Continuing upgrades on vault have been key for Brown—it now has four Yurchenko fulls in the main lineup.
Implications: Brown’s rankings hold steady, but it has closed the gap between itself and No. 8 Seattle Pacific substantially, with a double meet weekend on deck.
| No. 65 Southern Connecticut, No. 66 Cornell at No. 47 Rutgers | ||||
| Full Results | RU: 195.625 | CU: 190.950 | SCSU: 190.300 | |
| VT: Hall 9.850 | UB: Joyner, Leon 9.900 | BB: McLachlan 9.850 | FX: Huang 9.850 | AA: Joyner 39.225 |
The Big Storyline: Southern Connecticut had a great day on bars, led by a program record by freshman Bianca Leon. The other three events scored lower than in past weeks, leading to a lukewarm team total. Cornell’s bars revival continued but vault and bars were a little below standard.
Implications: Southern Connecticut holds its position in USAG and national rankings. It’s effectively out of contention for a USAG nationals team spot now, which is not unexpected. Cornell dropped down to No. 67 and last place in USAG, lagging behind Centenary.
Records: Leon’s 9.900 on bars is not only a program record, it is only the fifth 9.900+ by any SCSU gymnast on any event in program history.
Article by Rebecca Scally
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