The Mount: Week 7

By Elizabeth Grimsley, Christina Marmet and Caroline Medley

We’ve got another strong slate of meets on tap and an extra day to fit it all in with President’s Day on Monday. However, a lot of teams have double meet weekends, so we’re fully expecting lineup experimentation, exploration of depth and, hopefully, two strong meets each time out. As always, find an updated injury report, previews of the upcoming meets, our predictions on the top matchups and all the links you could possibly need.

Out of Action or Questionable for Week 7

• Alabama: Mackenzie Brannan (bone chip removal surgery, seen training bars on Snapchat 2/14 but no dismount)
• Arkansas: Amanda Wellick (torn Achilles), Sarah Shaffer (elbow injury, according to Arkansas meet notes)
• Auburn: Telah Black (unknown, out for 2017 season), Sarah Garcia (hip surgery), Abby Milliet (knee injury, out for 2017 season according to SEC Network)
• California: Cassidy Keelen (dislocated kneecap, questionable for rest of season), Toni-Ann Williams (torn Achilles tendon, out for 2017 season)
• Michigan: Brianna Brown (unknown, has not competed in past six meets)
• Missouri: Morgan Porter (torn Achilles), out for season
• New Hampshire: Makenzie Kerouac (ankle surgery)
• Penn State: Mason Hosek (concussion, out a few meets), Chanen Raygoza (right foot in a boot – Sept. 2016)
• Sacramento State: Annie Juarez (ankle)
• SEMO: Kenna Skepnek (left knee brace – Oct. 2016)
• Stanford: Elizabeth Price (sprained toe – did not compete last week)
• Utah: Kim Tessen (torn ACL), out for 2017 season

No. 22 Iowa, No. T-41 Maryland, No 50 Pittsburgh at No. 20 George Washington: Friday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. ET
In what should be a close matchup between Iowa and George Washington as well as Pittsburgh and Maryland, the importance it there for high scores with the switch to RQS right around the corner, and later on, seeded regionals spots up for grabs. George Washington is coming off a throw-away meet at Missouri where there were struggles on vault and bars, producing a score in the 194s after a couple weeks at 196. However, the Colonials typically perform well at home, so the team will be looking to bounce back this weekend. Iowa is coming off the opposite result from this past weekend, outlasting Illinois and UIC with a mid-196. Then there’s Pitt and Maryland, both of which have had their struggles this year as wella s upsets. So the second part of the competition will come down to who finishes third. Maryland has a leg up merely because of scoring potential but Pittsburgh can challenge if it hits.

Caroline: Since it’s at home, I’ll say GW. Last week was concerning, so this is its chance to bounce back.
Christina: I’ll go with GW. I wouldn’t hold last weekend against it, and it will be back at home so expect a strong showing.
Elizabeth: Despite the low last week, I’m going with GW due to its history of strong performances at home.

No. 10 Georgia, No. 2 LSU, No. 15 Missouri, No. 1 Oklahoma at GYMQuarters Invite: Friday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. ET
This is pretty much the meet everyone’s been waiting for all season long. Not only do fans get a chance to see four premiere teams compete on the floor at the same time, the top two in the country will square off to determine which really is the best at this time. Oklahoma has been steady throughout 2017, scoring another 198 last weekend, and Maggie Nichols has continued to dominate, posting yet another perfect 10, this time on floor. It’s only a matter of time until she earns another. What we’re waiting on now, apart from the perfect mark on bars to complete the set, is to see if the superstar freshman will ever make a mistake. It’s bound to happen at some point, right? LSU started out the season as one of the favorites for the national title but has since slipped, scoring lower and lower, but only slightly, each meet in the recent weeks. The Tigers will really have to eliminate mistakes and bring it back to that first-meet form if it wants to challenge an Oklahoma team that’s just as good on the road as it is at home. Missouri and Georgia will also put on a show. While Georgia is the stronger team at this point in the season, it’ll have its own battles. While beam falls haven’t been a problem in recent weeks, lower scores and no big numbers at the end of the lineups has hurt the Gymdogs and kept them from another 197. That’ll be the goal in St. Louis. Missouri hasn’t been the same since losing Morgan Porter, but can show it’s bouncing back with a hit here. The “other” Tigers will look to put together a solid performance across the board, complete with stuck Omelianchik vaults and high-flying tumbling.Caroline: Oh god. I want LSU to win, but I can’t take my bias into account. Gonna go with OU.
Christina: This is going to be gooood. But I don’t predict an upset, so I’ll go with OU.
Elizabeth: I’m going with OU. I think the Sooners are the stronger team right now and have the power of Maggie Nichols on their side. No matter what, this meet will be phenomenal to watch.

No. 17 Auburn at No. 6 Alabama: Friday, Feb. 17 at 8:30 p.m. ET
This will be the second time both teams compete against each other this season after the Elevate The Stage meet held on neutral site a few weeks ago. There, Alabama didn’t have a clean or particularly strong performance, especially on uneven bars where the Tide scored a mere 47.850. In spite of all of this, it still came away with the win. Since then, the team has improved and has scored two 197s+ in a row, both away and at home. While Alabama seems to be finding its stride, Auburn is still looking for its first win of the season and to put up a complete and solid performance. This will be very tough for the Tigers to get their first win here in Tuscaloosa, but they will simply aim to score in the mid-196, if not better, to improve their RQS. A place in the evening session of the SEC championships seems likely out of reach for the Tigers at this point in the season, but a strong and clean showing at this meet can only boost their self-confidence and may create momentum for the remainder of the regular season.

Caroline: Alabama at home? Yeah, it’ll be the Tide.
Christina: Alabama, for sure. While the Tide has got to compete better on the road, I can’t see a loss here at home for it.
Elizabeth: The Tide will Roll right over Auburn.

No. 36 Stanford at No. 47 Arizona State: Saturday, Feb. 18 at 3 p.m.
Who would have thought at the beginning of the season Stanford against Arizona State would be a close matchup? Arizona State has slowly but steadily made its way up from the dregs of the Pac-12 to post its highest score since March of 2015 last weekend with a 195. Stanford, meanwhile, is on a downward spiral, sitting in a precarious position at No. 36, the last qualifying spot to regionals. If the Cardinal isn’t careful, i’ll run out of meets to drop come RQS and be stuck up a creek with no paddle. Yes, the team was without leader Elizabeth Price because of a—wait for it—sprained toe, but it goes to show the lack of depth, or rather lack of useable routines, on the roster if everything crumbles with one gymnast out with an injury. With the competition being in Tempe and the Sundevils being on somewhat of an upswing as of late while Stanford’s been on a downswing (who would have guessed vault was the Cardinal’s best event last time out), there’s a very real chance of Arizona State earning its first conference win since 2014.

Caroline: With Ebee? Stanford. Without, as I’m guessing will happen? I’m gonna have to go with ASU.
Christina: I’m totally going with ASU! The Sun Devils are coming off a great weekend and they know they can perform and score well. Stanford on the other hand… I’ve lost all hope.
Elizabeth: I’m going to go out on a limb here and choose ASU. If it has a good meet like last weekend, even having Ebee back won’t help the Cardinal…

No. 4 UCLA at No. 5 Utah: Saturday, Feb. 18 at 10 p.m. ET
The Bruins will be coming off a high after last weekend’s performance at home, with multiple 10.0s awarded and scoring the best team score of the season. UCLA is still playing with its lineups, but we finally got to see the return of Angi Cipra to the floor lineup, to the delight of most. The Bruins are also continuing the tradition of competing hard and unique skills, like we saw with Ohashi bringing back her risky flight series on beam, or Mossett going for a Danusia-inspired sideways dismount on that event as well. UCLA will certainly want to put out its best lineup possible if it hopes to defeat Utah at home. On the other land, the Utes will look to bounce back from their first loss of the season at Oregon State. They are capable of a cleaner performance than what we saw last weekend, and they will want surely to clean up their bars routines, as it is probably where they gave the most away. All in all, this will be a close and exciting matchup to say the least. Can the Bruins continue their momentum for their last regular season away meet, and will the Utes let themselves be defeated at home by their direct Pac-12 rivals? This competition is undoubtedly one of the most exciting of the weekend.

Caroline: I’m so pumped for this one!!! UCLA did so well last week, but that was at home… I have to say Utah for the same reason.
Christina: This is going to be a great one. I’m going to go with Utah because of the home-court advantage.
Elizabeth: I was going to go with Utah because it always seems to have a meet where it just outscores everyone’s dreams. But I think UCLA is too much stronger, so I’m going Bruins!

No. 25 Arizona at No. 14 Washington: Sunday, Feb. 19 at 4 p.m.
Both of these teams have been surging as of late but one more so than the other. Washington is coming off a huge 196.750 against Arizona State last weekend. The Huskies also sit as the No. 4 team in the Pac-12 and are eyeing that night session spot at the conference championships with no real challenger closing in. With beam figured out, and the fabulous Elise Ray at the helm, this team is poised to continue its success. However, Arizona has picked it up in the past few meets, finally earning the upset that was three meets in the making, this time against California. The Wildcats still have some fine-tuning to do with mistakes costing them bigger scores. But getting back some of their gymnasts from injuries that plagued them earlier in the season will be a big key to this success. If Washington continued what it’s been doing, it’ll be unstoppable against Arizona. And Arizona will need to be on more so than it has been of late to challenge the GymDawgs.

Caroline: Washington! Arizona had a great meet last week but that was against a rundown Cal team. Washington is on the rise, and I think they’ll pull out the W.
Christina: Washington. I know Arizona had a great showing last weekend and beat Cal, but I’m not sure it can beat Washington at home quite yet. Washington is the stronger team and has the highest scoring potential here.
Elizabeth: I think Washington has been too good lately, and Arizona too back-and-forth. So I’m going with the Huskies.

Other Notable Matchups
No. 3 Florida at No. 23 Arkansas: Friday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. ET
After narrowly missing a 198 score last week, Florida will look to continue its dominance against Arkansas. However, maintaining the girls’ health is also a priority. Kennedy Baker was limited only to bars after a nasty bout with a stomach bug, and Alex McMurtry wasn’t able to make her floor debut as she had originally planned. Maegan Chant, too, has been out a few weeks with a nagging ankle injury. Getting these key contributors healthy may be what brings Florida over that next major threshold. Arkansas, on the other hand, will be looking for a big score to boost its standing going into RQS rankings. Rather than winning, the Gymbacks should focus on shooting for that 197, largely by improving landings and keeping their cool under pressure.No. 7 Boise State at No. 32 Utah State: Friday, Feb. 17 at 9 p.m. ET
​Boise State is on quite a hot streak as of late, knocking down program records left and right as the team currently sits just outside the TOP 6 at No. 7 in the nation after week six. The Broncos put up a massive 197 road score at Denver and don’t look to be stopping any time soon. Backed by all arounder Shani Remme and other standout contributors Sandra Collantes and Sarah Means as well as freshman and Olympian Courtney McGregor, the team is quietly taking down teams on its way to its best chance at a nationals berth in years—or maybe even ever. With another opportunity to get a high road score in its pocket this weekend at Utah State, the team will be sitting pretty come RQS if it can manage to continue its success. Utah State will have to strategize this meet as it enters a double meet weekend for week seven with this as its first competition and then a travel meet to UCLA to wrap things up. Stamina will be tested and lineups shifted to ensure no one burns out or aggravates any existing nagging injuries.

No. 33 BYU at No. 13 Southern Utah: Friday, Feb. 17 at 9 p.m. ET
Southern Utah has had an up-and-down season so far, starting the season with a couple of low marks and beam troubles but also setting two back-to-back program records in its last two competitions. This week the Thunderbirds are back home and will look to continue the history-making season with, at the very least, another solid 196 to pad its RQS. However, there are still some areas to improve. That four-fall beam rotation will unfortunately always be in the back of the gymnasts’ and fans’ minds, so making sure something like that never happens again is crucial. Nationals-contending teams do not fall three, four, five times off the beam and live to tell the tale. However, to give SUU credit, the beam troubles look to be a thing of the past as the lineup has looked much more solid and secure in recent meets. As for BYU, the team has been led as of late by Brittni Wilde Hawes, who has taken down her bars career high score twice this season, first with a 9.900 in the first meet of the season and again this past weekend with a 9.950. The question will be whether she can keep it up on the road and bring her team to that level as well.

No. 12 Oregon State at No. 18 California: Saturday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m.
This should actually shape up to be a thrilling competition despite Cal’s recent slump and Oregon State’s upset over Utah. Both teams are capable of mid- to high-196s on a good day, so if Oregon State can keep up the same work it put in against Utah and Cal bounces back from losing Toni-Ann Williams to injury, this one should be one to watch. However, there’s room for concern for both teams. The Beavers can get a bit 9.7-y on some early-lineup routines, and the same goes for Cal. But in recent weeks the Bears have taken it to another level, struggling on bars and here and there on the other events. Injuries have depleted the depth, so working to get some of those minor things healed should help just as much as cleaning up bits and pieces.

No. 28 Minnesota at No. 11 Denver: Saturday, Feb. 18 at 8 p.m.
Minnesota had one phenomenal meet then promptly said no thank you please and went back to its 2017 ways of 193s and 194s on a good day. Denver, is having the opposite happen to it as it had one not-great meet surrounded by a handful of good scores. The competition this past weekend, in particular, was strong for the Pioneers, as they outlasted Boise State by less than a tenth for the win. With this competition also in Denver, the Pioneers should continue to excel, putting up another solid score leading into the switch to RQS. Minnesota will need to figure out landings, consistency and other small details if it even wants to stand a chance against Denver on the road. The two teams have faced each other once already this season, but it’s yet to be seen whether the outcome will change from round one.

No. 9 Kentucky, No. 62 Penn, No. 63 William & Mary at No. T-41 Maryland: Sunday, Feb. 19 at 2 p.m.
In what will be a relatively easy meet for Kentucky to get the W at, it will be more about staying consistent on the road for the Wildcats. Two of the program’s three history-making records this year have come and home and the other under Florida’s notorious scoring in Gainesville, so the team has yet to have a strong road meet to add to its RQS. Preventing another degression like what occurred a few weeks ago will be the first goal. Making the meet into a mid-196 at the very least, but ideally a 197, will be the next step. Landings, handstands and overall consistency will be the key to making this happen. Maryland should pretty easily claim the second-place finish at this quad while Penn and WIlliam & Mary will battle it out for third.

No. 20 George Washington, No. 22 Iowa at No. 2 LSU: Sunday, Feb. 19 at 3:30 p.m. ET
Look forward to this meet. In what is a typically slow day of the weekend for college gymnastics, this Sunday brings us a second matchup between Iowa and George Washington while also adding in the LSU and Baton Rouge home crowd factor to the situation. The Tigers won’t have trouble winning this meet, but that doesn’t mean it’s not one to watch. With RQS starting, each team will want one last chance to throw out an unsatisfactory score from the start of the season and replace it with something more attractive. LSU will look to keep pace with Oklahoma after facing off against the Sooners Friday night while Iowa and GW each have road scores to erase. Lineups will also be interesting to examine as this competition is all three teams’ second of the weekend. Will the coaches choose to rest big names or test those stars’ stamina in preparation for the postseason.

No. 49 Bridgeport, No. 32 Utah State at No. 4 UCLA: Monday, Feb. 20 at 4 p.m.
UCLA will be back home Monday for a President’s Day matinee. The Bruins will also be back to its home scoring environment they last experienced when they scored two bars 10s and a number of other near-perfect scores. After a competition in front of Utah’s 15,000 fans, this return to Westwood will be much appreciated. But with it being the second meet in three days, you can almost certainly expect Miss Val to experiment with lineup depth to rest some of the bigger names. It’s unlikely Madison Kocian will compete the all around a second time but fans might get the opportunity to see the likes of Mercedes Sanchez on beam or floor, Grace Kramer on floor, Macey Toronjo on beam or floor and more. It’ll also be interesting to see how the Bruins perform with these lineup changes. The strength of a team is only as great as its third-string beam worker, right? Utah State will also likely work around resting bigger names. Bridgeport, however, is actually quite used to competing multiple times in a weekend, even back-to-back days. But with a roster as large as the Purple Knights’ have, it’s easier to manage. While Bridgeport won’t win this meet by any means, it actually had a good chance of challenging Utah State. The Knights have completed a couple of big wins this season, including defeats of New Hampshire and N.C. State on separate occasions.

These aren’t the only meets happening this weekend! To see all the matchups all in one place, take a look at our master schedule. You can also find live scoring and video links below.

Do you play Fantasy Gymnastics and don’t see a team some of your gymnasts’ teams competing this weekend? See if they’re on a bye this week (or competing twice) below, and check out the entire byes and doubles list here.

Byes

• Ursinus

Doubles

• Alaska
• Brown
• Eastern Michigan
• George Washington
• ​Hamline
• Illinois State
• Iowa
• Lindenwood
• LSU
• Maryland
• New Hampshire
• Seattle-Pacific
• Springfield
• UC-Davis
• UCLA
• William & Mary
• Winona

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