Welcome to the first conference championship meet of 2022! Today, I’m in Kitty Magee Arena on the campus of Texas Woman’s University to bring you what’s expected to be a close matchup for the top spot.
Illinois State comes into the competition as the team to beat after eclipsing the 195 mark in five of the last six meets. However, it should be noted that the Redbirds did slip back to 192.800 when the team traveled to BYU two weeks ago, so this team is not unbeatable. Consistency on beam has been a bit of a struggle all season, but strong vault and floor lineups have been able to carry the team to strong scores on most weeks. On vault, the Redbirds are led by Angelica Labat and Alana Laster’s Yurchenko one and a halves. Both have gone over 9.9 several times this season. Madison Kipp has been a strong performer for Illinois State all year, especially on bars and beam. However, she has proven to be a viable option to step into the all around as needed, posting a career high of 39.200 earlier this season. Jaye Mack has been upping her consistency on floor as the season went on, going 9.850 or higher in all of her last eight performances. Keep an eye out for her sky high piked full in.
Lindenwood has had a season full of really high highs and a few lows. Bars and vault have been areas that were make and break most meets. If those two events were hit, the rest of the competition could fall into place. If the Lions were inconsistent there, the team total would likely fall behind the pace of the top teams in the conference and USAG. In fact, the Lions held the top spot for the majority of the season but slipped down to third in the last few weeks. Gayla Griswold’s upgraded Yurchenko one and half has gone as high as 9.975 this season. She nearly stuck the vault again last weekend for a 9.925 in the regular season finale. Normally a three event athlete, Griswold has even stepped into the all around a couple times this season. Another routine to watch would be Hadley Roberts on beam. Her triple series is so smooth and as consistent as they come. Also take a peek at Simone Evans on vault. She will be bringing one of the most unique vaults to the competition.
SEMO has had itself a year. The Redhawks roster has been plagued with injury for the majority of 2022, but that has not stopped them from making the most out of every competition. SEMO has returned to having six athletes on every event which will help it to hang with the top teams during this competition. Madison Greene and Anna Kaziska have turned into a strong one-two punch on floor, both able to score over the 9.900 mark. Kaziska has been approaching perfection in the last few weeks with a pair of 9.95s on the event. Speaking of 9.95s, the Redhawks have a new partial holder of the program bar record in Jolie Miller. She combines beautiful lines and unique skill combinations to wow both the crowd and the judges. A key piece to SEMO’s success today will be all arounder Lydia Webb. She has scored as high as 39.075 this season but has been having some struggles with consistency in recent weeks. All of the Redhawks will need to bring their best to put some pressure on the rest of the conference.
Centenary comes into conference after posting a season high 191.575 last weekend. Consistency has been a major struggle for the Ladies this year, but things started to fall into place in their home finale. Career highs set last week included Kendall Sanders’ 38.875 in the all around, Xian Baumgartner’s 9.750 on floor and Lacey Wedge’s 9.700 on vault. Taylor Ann Wilson also swang her way to a season high 9.850 on bars. She will look to replicate that performance here to challenge for the conference title on her signature event. The main goal of the day will be to not count any mistakes and end the season on a high note.
Host Texas Woman’s University has had a strong second half to the season, going over 194 in each of the last seven meets. In the last few weeks, the Pioneers have been able to slide into the second ranked spot in the conference and USAG. Madeline Gose had a slow start to the season after an abbreviated preseason due to injury but has returned to postseason form just in time. Any event she is competing on is one in which she is a threat for the title. Isabel Goyco has been performing beautiful gymnastics on bars and floor this season. Traditionally known as more of a floor specialist, Goyco has been stepping up in a major way on bars in her senior year, scoring as high as 9.825. She is also one of a few names on the short list of people most likely to contend for a conference floor title. Bars has been a bit up and down for the Pioneers in 2022. The determining factor in the team’s potential to overtake the other top teams today will be the ability to hit on that event. On the bright side, TWU is competing at home, so the team will be able to feed off of the home atmosphere.
The key to the meet for every team today will be consistency. Generally, all five teams have had some up and down meets in 2022. The winner of the MIC championship will be the team who is able to hit when it counts and avoid counting any mistakes. This might be one of the most competitive conference championships in, so get excited for the action!
With Illinois State and TWU just one spot apart in the national rankings, those are the teams with the highest likelihood of walking away with a championship. However, Lindenwood can challenge to repeat for the seventh year in a row with a hit here.
Introductions are underway! First event should be starting shortly!
Rotation 1: Centenary VT, Illinois State BYE, TWU UB, SEMO BB, Lindenwood FX
Lavelle (CC): Yurchenko Layout. 9.45
King (TWU): Blind, Jaeger. Huge and good distance. Overshoot. Good last handstand. Blind full, double tuck. 9.775
Maxwell (SEMO): BHS LOSO. Nice. Split full, not quite around. Back 1.5 dismount.
Evans (LU): Back 1.5, front layout. Tour jete half, split full. Double tuck, chest up. The corral is already broken lol 9.825
Plaza (CC): 9.55 for a Tsuk layout. better shape and height this week.
Lazarus (TWU): Looked like a fine routine. Knees gave some on the dismount. 9.725.
Speller (SEMO): Finessed the series with a smile and transition into dance. Switch leap, switch half. Nice. Off on the front toss to scale. Punch front full dismount. A hop in place.
Podges (TWU): Good catch on the Jaeger. Pak salto. 9.775
Sanders (CC): 9.6 for a Yurchenko half with a hop forward.
Good routine for Caffey for LU on floor.
Huff (CC): Yurchenko tuck full with a step to the side.
Griffith (TWU): Blind, Jaeger. Overshoot. Crank that giant. FTDT with a medium hop back. Chest up.
Reader (SEMO): Front toss from the knee, BHS. Hitch kick, switch side. Front toss piked. Pretty. Aerial full dismount.
Moon (LU): Double back first pass. Smooth Rudi LOSO. Back 2.5 last pass. The crowd goes wild. The corral has been broken for the third time… 9.675
Goyco (TWU): Very close on the Geinger, couldn’t connect to the shoot. Double tuck, pretty and stuck. 9.450
Webb (SEMO): Front toss to scale. Pretty. Switch leap, split 1/4. Front Aerial, BHS swing down. Good this week. Stuck gainer full from connection. 9.675. The beam scoring is tight.
Big Tkatchev from Mara Johnson on bars. 9.850
Lopez (LU): OOB on the opening pass. Pretty leap series. Back 1.5, front layout. A little low but around. 9.600
Miller (SEMO): BHS LOSO. Solid. Foot slipped on the dismount but kept it on her feet by pure will power. 9.500
Roberts (LU): Tucked double back. High but lack of position on the first flip. Double pike. Her amplitude is insane. Back 1.5, front layout. Could’ve been higher on the layout. Good set. 9.800
Kaziska (SEMO): Front Aerial, split jump. Good extension. BHS LOSO, perfection. Wow. Switch leap, split 1/4. A little under extension there. RO back 1.5 dismount, stuck. 9.700. Um…. I did not see that score, but OK.
Griswold (LU): Double pike. Front full, front lay. Good height on the second flip. Good amplitude on the leap as well. Double tuck. A slide back on the lunge. Should be a big score. 9.825
AFTER ONE: TWU 48.925, Lindenwood 48.925, SEMO 48.150, Centenary 48.025, Illinois State BYE
Well that was a whirlwind. TWU is tied with Lindenwood after its more inconsistent event, so the Pioneers did what they needed to do. SEMO left some tenths out there, but were able to avoid counting a fall. The Lions will be heading to vault, so they need to optimize their scoring potential there to stay in the meet. Centenary posted one of the highest event totals on the year.
Rotation 2: Lindenwood VT, Centenary BYE, Illinois State UB, TWU BB, SEMO FX
Laster (ISU): Overshoot, right in handstand. A gigantic Tkatchev. Higgens to double front. Lovely. Good start for them. 9.725
Moon (LU): Yurchenko full, short with a hop forward. 9.650. Seems high to me.
Six (TWU): Switch leap, straddle 1/4. Good. Front toss connected to a beat jump. Loved it. A small hop on the dismount. 9.700
Reader (SEMO): Double back. Nice and high. Good set. She went off. 9.750
Evans (LU): her hands slipped on the table. Oh no. 8.925
Doctor (ISU): Jaeger. A little jerky on the catch. Overshoot. Double layout. She pulled in some but stuck. 9.775
Lopez (LU): Very close to the table on the Yurchenko full. A little scary. Step forward. 9.525. No way.
Good set from Woodring on beam for TWU. 9.700
Ockler (SEMO): High double tuck. Some chest down. Switch side, popa. Rudi, chest very low. 9.600
A hard fall from Kipp on her release. Her back looks like it HURTS. Her heels nearly touched her head.
Podges (TWU): BHS LOSO. A check. Switch leap, switch half, beat. Gainer pike, chest down with a hop forward. 9.775…Eh.
Daniels 9.825 for LU on vault.
Pretty FHS front pike from Reed on vault. 9.750
Griswold (LU): VERY squatty on the 1.5 today. She just barely avoided the fall though with quads of steel. 9.625. Seems…impossible? That was greater than four tenths in landing deductions.
Maxwell (SEMO): High double tuck. Back 1.5, front layout. Good. I missed the first pass, but it’s a front double full. 9.750
Kipp is up for ISU. I hope she’s OK.
Kunzman (TWU): BHS LOSO LOSO. Yes ma’am. Switch, switch. Under position on both. Small hop on the dismount. 9.800
Webb (SEMO): Back 2.5. Nice. Rudi to LOSO. She has black lipstick on and I am LIVING for it. Back 1.5, front lay. Her legs gave some on the landing but fine. 9.750
Iribarren took several steps out of her double front dismount on bars. Just avoided the sit. 9.350
King (TWU): BHS LOSO. Sharp. RO back 1.5 dismount. Stuck. 9.800
Labat (ISU): Toe hand, HUGE ray to overshoot. Good last handstand. Medium step out of the FTDT. 9.800
Greene (SEMO): Front handspring, Rudi. Solid. Double tuck. Chest up and stuck. OK! 9.750. I disagree.
Gose (TWU): BHS LOSO with an arm wave. Switch leap, switch half. A little straddle-like for my taste. Side Aerial in connection. very Nice. RO back 1.5, stuck. Loved that. 9.775
Another make from Fox on bars. 9.650
Kaziska (SEMO): Front double full, lovely. Her normal. Switch side, popa. S-E-M-O. Back 1.5, front layout. Rudi. Stuck. I hope this is a big score. 9.850
AFTER TWO: TWU 97.625, Lindenwood 97.275, SEMO 97.000, Illinois State 48.300, Centenary 48.025
The Kipp injury in the middle of the lineup hurt some of ISU’s momentum. The team did an amazing job of fighting through the rest of the rotation, but the scores did not put the Redbirds in the most ideal spot. TWU is getting the job done so far today. The Pioneers are not leaving a lot of wiggle room for the mistakes other teams are having. Lindenwood vault was a little tight. It looked like the Lions were trying a bit too hard. SEMO did its thing on floor. The Redhawks’ tumbling this year is just lovely. Here’s to hoping that momentum carries to vault.
Rotation 3: SEMO VT, Lindenwood BYE, Centenary UB, Illinois State BB, TWU FX
Centenary still has seven athletes in grips. Who is going?
Fox (ISU): BHS BHS LOSO. She’s off. Oh no. 8.950
Bonzagni (TWU): Double tuck, some chest down. Leaps nice and around. Front full, front lay. One of her better ones. Rudi with crossed legs. 9.750
9.450 from Miller on vault for SEMO with a Yurchenko layout.
Reader (SEMO): Yurchenko full, some leg form and low amplitude but solid landing. 9.575
Robinson (ISU): Side Aerial, nice. BHS LOSO, wolf jump. I love that unique connection. Switch half, beat. Wild arms on the leap. Gainer full, stuck. 9.650
Webb pulls out the Yurchenko full on vault this week. 9.675
McCary (CC): Clear hip, Tkatchev. Overshoot, closer to HS this time. Double tuck with a hop step back. 9.300
Solid Routine from Pierce on floor from TWU. I caught her Back 1.5 to front full. Intense routine as usual. 9.875
Greene (SEMO): A near stick on her full. 9.725
Knaps (CC): Swing half, Geinger. Caught it. A front hip circle? Good last handstand, Clear hip, blind full, double tuck. 9.125
Iribarren (ISU): Side Aerial. Good. She’s off on her series. Switch half. 9.175. That will have to count.
HUGE double pike from Muns. OMG. Another huge double obviously. The hug she just gave her assistant coach was adorable. 9.800
Ockler (SEMO): A hop in place on the Yurchenko full, very pretty in the air. 9.825
Laster (ISU): Front toss, solid. BHS LOSO, some squat but good. RO back 1.5 dismount. 9.625
M Johnson (TWU): It’s the expression for me. OOB on her opening double. Wolf full, switch half. Rudi, nice with the chest up. 9.650
Kipp (ISU): She’s in on beam. Let’s go. BHS LOSO. So pretty. So solid. Switch leap, switch half. RO back 1.5 dismount with a pace forward. 9.775
A large gap in the scores for Baumgartner on bars. 9.650/9.200 split. She had to do some improv and was missing her second release as she skipped her toe up. Ended up being 9.375
Gose (TWU): Double pike. Textbook. Sky high leap pass. Back 1.5, front layout. A dramatic Shushinova. Rudi. Gigantic. 9.825
Labat (ISU): Front Aerial. Lovely lines. BHS LOSO. solid. A leg up wobble. Switch half connection. Good. BHS back 1.5 dismount. 9.725. Mhm. OK.
Sanders (CC): Geinger, overshoot. Smooth. Double layout. A little lock-legged with a step forward. 9.700
Goyco (TWU): Double pike. My jaw is on the floor. Front lay, front full. Double tuck. Mic drop at this point. That routine was so good. 9.850. what.
Wilson (CC): Toe hand, Maloney, pak. Pirouette right in HS. FTDT with a step back. Landed back on her heels. 9.775
AFTER THREE: TWU 146.725, SEMO 145.375, Lindenwood 97.275, ISU 96.250, Centenary 95.525
ISU counting a fall on beam is unfortunate and detrimental to its quest for a title here. Kipp returning to the lineup was just what the team needed, and it was stunning. Centenary stayed on the equipment on bars, but there was some goofy extra swings and such going on. On the bright side, that was a season high on the event. TWU was lights out yet again. It’s the Pioneer’s meet to lose at this point, and they’re going to vault…
Rotation 4: TWU VT, SEMO BYE, Lindenwood UB, Centenary BB, Illinois State FX
Lazarus (TWU): Yurchenko full, a LARGE hop back due to a pike down. 9.625
Decroo (ISU): Double tuck, nice height and chest up. Switch side, popa. Front lay, front full. Double tuck, stuck cold. 9.800
Molina (CC): HS BHS LOSO. Pretty . She fell on the front Aerial this week. 8.750
King has entered the vault chat and she killed it. Nearly stuck, textbook full. 9.775
Muns (TWU) : A flared out Yurchenko full with a hop back. 9.800
9.725 on bars for Daniels. Caught her huge Tkatchev.
Cooper (LU): Overshoot, may have hit her heels on the floor. Double layout, small hop in place. Good set for her. 9.750
Quigg (ISU): Double back. Nice. Some chest down. Double tuck, better landing on that one. 9.725
Stuck vault from Emerson Adams. T dubb wants that title. 9.825. I think some more score differentiation is needed here.
Deshler (CC): Front Aerial BHS series. A better double stag this week. Switch leap, split. Gainer full with a step back. 9.600
Delchev, a little low. Pretty double layout from LU on bars. Stuck. 9.825. Scott I think. The names are not flashing correctly at the moment.
Baumgartner (CC): BHS BHS LOSO, a leg up wobble. A large wobble on the full turn. Punch front full dismount, stuck. 9.575
Wojcik with a 9.775 on bars.
Fox (ISU): OOB on the first Rudi. Double pike. Good landing. 9.725
Woodring (TWU): A hop on the full this week. Pretty in the air. 9.800
Moon (LU): A very strong set. Pretty Maloney to overshoot. Nearly stuck double layout. 9.800.
Laster (ISU): Front double full, good control. Wolf full, split full. So much amplitude that she paused in the air. OK. Rudi, LOSO. A little awkward in the Layout, but managed. 9.825
Lopez (LU): Geinger. Pak salto. Some handstand things. Blind full, very late. Double tuck. 9.675
Lavelle (CC): BHS LOSO. Stuck her hip out and jumped off. Cat leap, switch side. Cat leap, side Aerial. Off again.RO back 1.5 dismount. 8.300
Labat (ISU): Front double full, A little on her heels but pulled it around. The leaps are HUGE. OMG. Back 1.5, front layout. Pretty lines. Rudi. A small step on the landing. 9.800
Stephens (CC): Front Aerial, BHS series. Nice and solid. split, tuck 3/4. Good. BHS back 1.5 dismount in the tucked position. A small step. 9.600
Mack (ISU): Piked full in. Nearly stuck. OK miss. YOu did not have to do us like that. Switch side, popa. Front through to double tuck. If she doesn’t win floor today, I might have to riot. 9.875. NO.
Sanders (CC): BHS Layout toe feet, her foot missed and she’s down. Switch side, very nice. Some foot form. Switch leap, tuck full, another bobble. Punch front full, stuck. 8.700
AFTER FOUR: TWU 195.750, Lindenwood 146.175, SEMO 145.375, Illinois State 145.275, Centenary 141.850
So that is a season high team score from TWU. Need I say more?
ISU is heading to its best event, so it will be looking to finish the meet strong. Lindenwood needs a 49.600 on beam to take the title. Seems unlikely, but crazy things happen every day.
Rotation 5: Illinois State VT, TWU BYE, SEMO UB, Lindenwood BB, Centenary FX
Ugh. ISU is on vault while SEMO is on bars. What am I supposed to watch when Labat and Miller will be going simultaneously?
Fox (ISU): Yurchenko Arabian. Small step forward. 9.625
Speller (SEMO): This is her debut bar performance. Overshoot hand. Blind, front giant, half, double back. Not a 10.0 SV but SEMO just needed a sixth routine. She did that. 9.050
Deshler (CC): Front lay, front full. Nice and around. 9.575
Good half on vault from Doctor. 9.750
Mack (ISU): A hop in place on a Yurchenko full. 9.750
Heard (ISU): Yurchenko full, huge. Big hop back. 9.775
Appleget (LU): BHS LOSO. So solid. Side Aerial, a little stall in the air but fine. Near stick on the 1.5 dismount. 9.725
Baumgartner (CC): Double tuck. Balked on the second pass. front full alone. Back 1.5, front tuck. Absorbed instead of punching into that front tuck. 9.600
A stick for Laster again. Holy crap. That was so good. 9.900
Labat (ISU): A little whiplash-like on the landing but huge 1.5 Yurchenko with a pace forward. 9.825
Moon (LU): BHS LOSO. Solid. Straddle 3/4. Front Aerial, beat. Right on. Gainer full, stuck. She put it all out there. 9.775
Albrecht (SEMO): Toe hand, Maloney, overshoot. Managed a small hand slip. Blind full, double tuck. Tried to college stick but chest forward. 9.425
Rush (LU): Side Somi. Good. BHS LOSO. Just stunning. Yes. Split, split 3/4. Back leg lacked extension. Side Aerial full. Stuck with chest down. 9.775
Huff (CC): Double tuck. Good. Rudi to stag. Very low chest on the rudi led to a WILD jump. Back 1.5 front layout. Good finish. 9.475
Wojcik (LU): Front Aerial, BHS. Nice. Side Aerial with an arm wave. Switch leap, split 3/4. Back leg short of extension. Cat leap, side aerial full. A drive by salute. 9.700
L Johnson (CC): Double pike. Overcooked it. Several steps out of the second pass. OOB and an ankle roll. Strong last pass, back 1.5 to front layout. 8.775.
Webb (SEMO): Jaeger. Archy. Overshoot. Blind full, double tuck. Stuck. Strong routine for her. 9.775
Roberts (LU): SHE PUT UP A FIGHT FOR THAT TRIPLE SERIES. Switch leap, double stag. Cat leap, gainer full. Stuck. 9.625
Ockler (SEMO): Toe hand, Maloney, Pak. So pretty. Nice pirouette. FTDT. Stuck. My jaw is on the ground again. 9.900. PERIOD.
Lavelle (CC): Double pike, good control. Front lay, tucked front full. Back on her heels but saved it. OOB on dance? Oh OK. Double tuck, just squeaked that one out. 9.350
Miller (SEMO): Piked Tkatchev, Ezhova. YES. YES. Double layout. STUCK. Way to finish a meet SEMO! 9.950 from one judge, but we’ll settle for a 9.900 today. It’s casual.
Sanders (CC): Double pike. SOLID. Switch side, popa. Rudi. Twisted right into the floor and landed quite short. Didn’t connect the jump out of it. Front full, front layout. Good last pass. STOP! Lindenwood was cheering through that entire routine. I love college gymnastics. 9.500
FINAL: TWU 195.750, Lindenwood 194.875, Illinois State 194.275, SEMO 193.425, Centenary 189.225
Well TWU took advantage of its home environment and went lights out all day long. There was no room for mistakes from any other team, but the other top contenders counted mistakes that could not be overcome. Illinois State put up a fight on vault in the final rotation. However, it could not so easily forget the falls counted on beam and bars. Lindenwood needed to be nearly perfect on beam to stay in this one after a shaky vault rotation. The Lions were tight on beam as well, but did enough to handily take second place over the Redbirds. SEMO fought through MICs as it has done all season. Anna Speller stepped into the bar lineup for the first time this season to help her team, and the one-two punch of Ockler and Miller was UNMATCHED. Centenary was just doing silly gymnastics tonight. Mistakes that haven’t happened all season occurred today. Vault was one of the season’s highest, but the momentum did not continue past there.
The six year streak of LU MIC victories is over. Get ready for USAG nationals…
As an aside, the fact that Anna Kaziska is not on the beam podium is borderline robbery.
We are have a griddy off in Kitty Magee Arena. I love the MIC.
AA Winner: Angelica Labat, 39.150
VT Winner: Alana Laster, 9.900
UB Winner: Lindsay Ockler & Jolie Miller, 9.900
BB Winner: Steelie King, 9.800
FX Winner: Jaye Mack & Alix Pierce, 9.875
Live Blog by Tavia Smith
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