Big Ten Championship Session One

Recap

The Big Storyline: Michigan put up a solid performance and its most complete hit since January to win its 26th conference title. Minnesota fell to fourth after counting a 9.0 on beam, opening the door for Michigan State to cap its strong night with a runner-up finish. Ohio State had a tough beam rotation after a solid start and fell to fifth. Iowa’s 196.950 from the early session held strong enough for third. 

Postseason Implications: Penn State didn’t do enough to secure a regionals spot. Ohio State fell out of the seeded spots and will be placed geographically along with Iowa, Illinois and Maryland. Michigan State, meanwhile, secured a three-seed while Minnesota will be a two-seed and Michigan a one-seed.

Records: Sierra Brooks joins the conference meet record books with her 10.0 on vault.

Conference Awards

• Gymnast of the Year: Sierra Brooks, Michigan
• Newcomer of the Year: Skyla Schulte, Michigan State
• Coach of the Year: Mike Rowe, Michigan State

Preview

• No. 19 Illinois | 196.775 NQS | 197.350 season high
• No. 20 Maryland | 196.665 NQS | 197.175 season high
• No. 23 Iowa | 196.465 NQS | 196.825 season high
• No. 37 Penn State | 196.060 NQS | 196.550 season high
• No. 41 Nebraska | 195.895 NQS | 196.750 season high
• No. 44 Rutgers | 195.680 NQS | 196.400 season high

If you can only watch one meet, here’s why it should be this one…

The Big Ten has been thrilling this year. While it’s the evening session top four group that has rightfully run away with accolades, Illinois is peaking at the right time with three-straight 197-plus numbers, including one away. If one team from this group can upset an evening session team, it’s likely the Illini. Nebraska also has a good chance to outperform its seeding, especially after its strong showing at Big Fives where it upset Minnesota. It will take mistakes or an off day from the top group to allow any team from this session to sneak into the top four, but it’s not by any means out of the question.

Seeding information, including starting events and byes, can be found on the Big Ten website.

If this is one of many meets you’ll be watching, don’t miss this…

Iowa hits floor in the fifth rotation, and that’s can’t-miss gymnastics. Tune in around 2 p.m. ET to catch Lauren Guerin and JerQuavia Henderson chase elusive 10.0s and fight to repeat as co-floor champions. In rotation six, just a bit later in the afternoon, Illini Mia Takekawa takes to the beam where she’s been perfect this year and on a roll in recent weeks. She has a reasonable shot at challenging the likes of Lexy Ramler and Natalie Wojcik for that title.

What’s the bigger picture to keep an eye on?

If the Nittany Lions are going to have a shot at regionals, they need to put up an excellent number here. They’ll be chasing their season best. Nebraska’s Emma Spence could also join the all-around qualification group if she has a strong day. 

By the Numbers

Past Champions

• Nebraska: 2 titles, last won in 2013
• Illinois: 1 title, last won in 1990

Records Watch

• Team: 197.850 (Michigan, 2000) | Vault: 49.725 (Nebraska, 2012) | Bars: 49.625 (Michigan, 2004) | Beam: 49.550 (Penn State, 2000) | Floor: 49.700 (Michigan, 2014)
• All Around: 39.800 (Ray) | Vault: 10.000 (Wymer, Kabnick, K. Rowland, Mable, Wojcik) | Bars: 10.000 (Peters, Ray) | Beam: 10.000 (N. Smith) | Floor: 10.000 (Sampson, Wong)

Last Time Out

Minnesota dramatically topped Michigan for the Big Ten title in 2021. Illinois and Iowa joined them in the evening session, where they finished third and fourth overall, respectively. Lauren Guerin and JerQuavia Henderson nabbed shares of the floor title with 9.950s. Adeline Kenlin also walked away with newcomer of the year honors, and Iowa’s Larissa Libby took the coach of the year nod.