March 11, 2012

Senior Sunday – Oklahoma @ UCLA Live Blog

2:30 ET / 11:30 PT – NC State @ Georgia
5:00 ET / 2:00 PT – Oklahoma @ UCLA

It's Senior Day for the gymnasts from Georgia and UCLA, so a little nostalgic look at highlights for these seniors before we get to the day's action. Along with Alabama, these teams are going to have the biggest shoes to fill next year.

Probably not even the best beam she's done at UCLA, but she'll always have that 10. Through all the UCLA beam troubles, she's been the unifying force. EHH fixes things.

Our dynamic duo on bars for Georgia. That's how you land. Never a moment's doubt. They're the last Suzanne gymnasts on this Georgia team, and to me, they are this Georgia team.

The most graceful gymnast UCLA has had in a number of years, carrying on her Tousek legacy. Imagine how many big scores she would have had if she hadn't been leading off the last two seasons. 

Tauny Frattone. Coming alive. 
The best vault and floor she's ever done have come in her senior season. No easy feat.

The walk-on with the bad legs who gets a 9.925 on floor.


Written off by everyone (ahem . . . me) and having an important season for the Bruins.

Comments on scores and routines after the jump when the action begins.


Georgia has its true lineups back today, with Ding and Nuccio back in on their events and Worley on bars and beam. This is very close to what we should expect in the postseason, if not the exact lineup.

We'll start the actual meet a bit later than usual because of the senior presentations.

Since Georgia is at home (and they already have 3 high home scores), the Gymdogs don't have much room to move up in RQS save for about a tenth if they were to record a season-high. They won't be able to catch UCLA or probably Alabama, but they'll want to try to stay ahead of Nebraska for now.

We're underway now. 9.800 for Davis on vault. Fine score, but she can go higher with a stick. Shouldn't matter as much with Ding in the lineup, though. Less pressure on the early vaulters than there was on Friday. Exact same can be said for Couch's 9.800.

Persinger goes 9.825, followed by Kaylan Earls with a 9.750 (step forward). Jay will be disappointed by the landings from most of these early vaulters. At this point in the season, anything less than a stick starts to be a disappointment. The top vault teams have 4 people who can go 9.9 even when not producing their best work.

Kat Ding shows the rest of her team how to do it with a 9.925. It's nice to see her start well. You never know how people are going to react on Senior Day/Night. Sometimes it can just be a river of tears the whole meet with no chance for a good performance. After 1 Rotation: Georgia 49.175, NC State 48.750. NC State had a bunch of 9.7s, but was led by Fincham's 9.850


Tanella is able to stick her landing on bars pretty consistently now, which is making her a valuable contributor even though she's having an off season in terms of making other lineups. 9.850.

We're a little slow with the scores here for a moment at the Georgia meet. Sounds like Davis went career high (9.950) which is excellent for her. She'll be the featured routine next year. So far I've seen Tanella at 9.850, Couch at 9.775, Davis at 9.950, Nuccio at 9.825, and Ding at 9.925.

Kat Ding goes 9.925. Everyone was hoping for a 10, but not quite there this time. Overall, Georgia went 49.325 on bars, and Georgia leads 98.500 to 97.550 after 2. Never got a score for the missing routine (Shayla?) but it didn't count toward the team score. No surprise there. Sigh. It was a 9.775 from Shayla, so fine. . . no disaster there.

On beam, Couch recovers from Friday with a 9.825. Kat Ding had a major wobble on a full turn and goes 9.725, so they'll need to drop it if they have an eye on something over 197. They'll have to average 49.375 on the remaining events if they want to move up at all in RQS.

Earls steps up with a 9.900 on beam. Is that her first of the season? She's been entrenched in the 9.8 range for a number of weeks now. Other than that they'll be counting 9.825s with Shayla still to go.   Shayla goes 9.950 with an iffy landing. You feel they really wanted to give her a 10 today.

Georgia leads 147.825-146.475 after three events, so the Gymdogs need just a 49.175 to hit 197 today.

We're beginning the final rotation of this meet now, with Earls scoring 9.850 to lead off floor. No Worley in this lineup (which is three weeks in a row now and will probably continue, I would think). get ready for some big scores in this rotation. Persinger at 9.900, so they should go well over 197 if these first two scores are any indication.

If not for the issue on beam, this would have been a career performance for Kat Ding. Really excellent 9.925 on floor. Thrilled for all these seniors ending the right way on floor. This is a major rotation, especially on an event that's been such a problem for them this year - 49.550 for the rotation.

Final Score: Georgia 197.375, NC State 195.525
Georgia should be happy with this performance. I still don't see them taking SECs (I can't imagine they will be able to outscore both UF and Bama), but this is the kind of meet where you say "that's the way I want them." They shouldn't change a thing. This is the lineup, this is the team.
A short break, and then we'll have UCLA and Oklahoma

Oklahoma @ UCLA
Olivia Courtney has a concussion and will not compete. This team really can't catch a break this year. There's always an injury. UCLA is also reporting that EHH is warming up her 2010 floor routine. That was by far my favorite of hers.

Have I mentioned lately that I don't care for mascots?

Olivia Courtney is there for the introductions, good sign. Honestly, I forgot Kozai and Ti Liu were on this team.

Rotation 1: UCLA on vault, Oklahoma on bars
Darren just told us that Sawa is doing an exhibition on floor today. Wasn't the whole thing that she wouldn't be able to do that because of red shirt issues?

Baer on vault - better than it has been, small step (9.825)

Ward - OU - just a little overbalancing on a handstand, but otherwise strong, stuck landing. (9.775)

MDLT - UCLA - very similar to Baer. A bit more dynamic, but not as much control on the landing. (9.800)

Brewer - OU - She does the one foot at a time toe on thing, which is distracting, but very clean. (9.850)

Larson - UCLA - Best distance so far, but the hop back as well. Not good landings from the last two for this part of the season. (9.900 - a touch too high)

Spears - OU - misses two handstands and a hop on the dismount, not her best, but fine.

Peszek - UCLA - pretends it's a stick, but she's actually low and takes a big step forward. (9.875)

Nowak - OU - totally flung out her double tuck dismount, but held onto it well.

Frattone - UCLA - perfect stick. Senior Day. Watch for the 10. She gets it. It's the exact same vault as a 9.950 she got recently, but we're fine with it. I'm really happy for her.

Olson - OU - very low on the DLO full with a lunge forward, but otherwise extremely strong. (9.800 - so nearly everything was on the dismount)

Zam - UCLA - hops back - she needs to be sticking this now, so that's a weak performance. (9.900)

Ferguson - OU - looked strong but we didn't see much of that.

Cindell does a fine exhibition on bars, but it probably shouldn't go into the lineup.

After 1 Rotation: UCLA 49.500 Oklahoma 49.175
Frattone was really the only one who brought it in that rotation. Peszek made a bit of a rookie mistake in trying to hold onto a stick that wasn't there and ended up incurring more deductions because of it. Everyone except for Frattone has work to do. Oklahoma had a few mistakes, an overbalanced handstand, a low landing, and enough to keep the score down.

OK, it looks like Val is crying and we don't even get to hear it. Is Tauny giving an acceptance speech about her 10? Love it. Oh, she's just telling people to buy season tickets. HA.

Rotation 2: Oklahoma on vault, UCLA on bars


Brewer - OU - a little lack of height and a hop back - (9.750)

MDLT - UCLA - fine routine but not her best - hop back on dismount and a missed handstand - (9.775)

Spears - OU - didn't show it (9.800)

Larson - UCLA - one of the better routines she's done. A leg separation on the bail and a shuffle on the landing. (9.850)

Ward - OU - off on direction and a big hop back - not the strongest. (9.800)

EHH - UCLA - not quite as clean as she usully is on the bars themselves, but just a little step on the landing. (9.825)

Olson - OU - didn't show it either - pick it up cameras! (9.850)

Peszek - UCLA - one handstand I wasn't happy with, and a big step on the landing, otherwise strong. (9.825)

Mooring - OU - Yhalf with a small step. Clean. (9.850)

Zamarripa - UCLA - Absolutely beautiful on the bars, but another step on the dismount (pretty big too). They haven't stuck a dismount yet. Not acceptable. (9.875)

Stone - OU - Solid yfull with a step back. Should be their highest score yet. (9.900)

Gerber - UCLA - beautiful stick on her dbl arabian dismount - the best she's done that skill - but a few form breaks on the bars. (9.950 - high)

Exhibition from Frattone - one of the better ones she's done. Pretty clean from Craddock as well except for a late giant full.

After two rotations: UCLA 98.825, OU 98.375.
Oklahoma is certainly not having their best meet. The landings haven't been there for nearly all the routines so far. UCLA stuck only one dismount of six during the bar rotation, which will not cut it. The handstands are getting a bit better, though.

Rotation 3: UCLA on beam, Oklahoma on floor


Gerber - UCLA - very clean as always, but a hop on the dismount which is uncharacteristic. (9.825)

Spears - OU - little hop back out of the mount, some of these dances elements aren't quite there either, falls on the front double full. Not strong. (9.150)

Baer - UCLA - extremely clean on the beam, but a poor landing that should incur a significant deduction. (9.675)

Olson - OU - oh, K.J.'s choreography (love that she does something different, but I often have issues with it) - was she supposed to tuck her front full? Doubt it. That could be an issue - fine rudi dismount, but that second pass will cost her. (9.750)

Larson - UCLA - absolutely great routine with a stuck dismount - I'm pleasantly surprised with her consistency on this event in the second half of this season. (9.875)

Brewer - OU - apparently an OOB on the mount, we didn't see it - but picked up the quality after that. Still, not a great day for Oklahoma so far. (9.700)

Zamarripa - UCLA - perfect on all the acro - takes an uncharacteristic fall while doing a 2.5 dismount - it was going to be a great score. Why are they having her do the 2.5? Seems like there's no need. (9.400 with a fall - it was going to be that great.)

Nowak - OU - big lunge back out of double pike mount but no OOB, and very low on the front layout. This will be another lower score.

EHH - UCLA - a little wobble on the illusion turn, but otherwise strong routine. Hop on dismount. They'll need another hit from Peszek now. Will be interesting to see if they let her do the standing full. (9.900)

Stone - OU - best floor routine of the rotation by far - should get them into the 9.8s for the first time. (9.850)

Peszek - UCLA - no standing full because they needed the hit - a bit of a hop on the dismount - necessary hit and will be a solid score, and they should still go over 49. (9.925)

Ferguson - OU - a little bit of legs on the middle pass - really strong dismount. They needed that routine - only minor deductions. (9.875)

After 3 Rotations: UCLA 148.025, Oklahoma 147.250
Oklahoma had a weak floor rotation from the first four gymnasts, and they couldn't recover. Not UCLA's best on beam either, but enough to retain a sizable lead. I'm still not happy with anyone's landings.

Rotation 4: Oklahoma on beam, UCLA on floor
This is Oklahoma's best event, so they can make up some ground here, but I do expect UCLA to get some big scores on floor. UCLA needs a 48.975 to go 197 at this meet. Oklahoma needs a 49.250 to reach 196.500.

Nowak - OU - didn't know where the judges were for a second - very clean on series - a little wobble on the side aerial - gainer full dismount - best leadoff for OU today by far. (9.800)

Frattone - UCLA - clean - good leadoff - well done - good that they've dropped the shushunova. (9.850)

Mooring - OU - very nice hit routine - I agree with Allison about the sheep jump - (9.825)

MDLT - UCLA - I assume she is filling in for Courtney - or maybe Val is just in love with this choreography and wants people to see it as many times as possible - solid routine from her - better than it has been - I'd like just a little more control on the front landing elements. (9.850)

Brewer - OU - had a good routine going, but no chance on the double tuck dismount and falls - just a weird day for Oklahoma. (9.350)

Zamarripa - UCLA - love her layout stepout out of her second pass - she's a bit more in control of this routine than she has been, but still dismounting with the rudi. (9.900)

Stone - OU - the only thing I don't like about this routine is the two swingdowns - dismounts a little low with a step to the side. (9.850)

Pritchett - UCLA - fine half in half out mount, but not quite her best - low double pike to finish. (9.825)

Spears - OU - looked a little uncertain at the beginning but got more confident through the routine - big hop on dismount. (9.850)

Peszek - UCLA - this routine has grown on me a little - not sure why - good double pike to finish - I saw a few deductions, but this should be a high score. (9.950)

Ferguson - OU - tremendous dismount after a great routine - where would they be without her?

EHH - UCLA - LOVE that she's doing the 2010 routine. It was excellent. Really great routine - for my money it was her best of the season - maybe that's just the choreo. Now it's with all the crying. She gets a 10 from one judge, but I don't think you can give it to her with the double tuck mount.

Exhibition from Sawa on floor - ouch - botched her second pass and landed on her neck, but she's fine. High fives Olivia Courtney mid-routine. Nice, but just a layout as her dismount. Hopefully they figured out a way for this not to be an issue with red-shirting.

Final Score - UCLA 197.525, Oklahoma 196.475


Nice to see the senior presentations.


7 comments:

  1. Strange judging at UGA. Persinger and Moffat looked great and went 9.825, while Shayla had a check on the flight series and a very piked down gainer full and went 9.95. Very odd.

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  2. OU will not be taking over #1 from the Gators this week

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  3. Did those two athletes really just low five one another during that exhibition routine? Another example of a coach allowing her athletes to make a mockery of the sport. Very disappointed in Val

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  4. Sam Peszek is a great athlete and usually deserves a high score, but she is consistently overscored! I always feel that her routines should be .05 or .1 lower than they are. She gets the benefit of the doubt a lot!

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  5. SEC Athlete of the Year is getting interesting. Jamie Pisani, GSE, Alaina Johnson, Ashley Priess (outside shot), and Kat Ding are all looking to be favorite, but with the way Kat has come on in the AA and with her impact on her team, I think Kat may actually be the favorite! Pisani is great, but she's stumbled a few times this year and I think that may allow Ding to sneak in.

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  6. Wow, was UCLA overscored..they must have had about 10 'career' highs for the Bruins according to the announcer..even this blogger commented about the bruin's mistakes..but then their score would be listed..9.9 9.95..ish..are you kidding me? OU didnt' have one of their best meets..but I don't think it would matter..they were doomed before they set foot on California soil...As a fan, this ruins it for me. I want to see a fair fight..not gimmes by judges on Senior nights for the bruins. And Val's choreography is way 'overrated', at least for this year. The gyrating on floor which isn't really attractive for the powerful, thicker set bruins was no comparison to the creativity of KJ Kindler. I did think that was classy of Val to recognize the OU Seniors, but if I was another college coach, I would avoid a match with the Bruins on future senior nights at all costs. Congrats to Fattrone on her 10 on vault, nice vault!

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  7. UCLA has received as much home cooking as any team this season, and there were several overscores in this meet, most notably, Peszek everywhere other than bars. To put it in perspective, UCLA went 197.5 and only really stuck 3 landings through the first 3 rotations. To be fair, Larson was underscored on beam. If anyone received a 9.925, it should have been her. That routine was gorgeous.

    Scores aside, OU just did not look good on anything other than beam. I see OU as a team that can win a title, but they're going to need other teams to stumble in order to do it. I thought this after the Alabama meet, and this meet confirmed it for me.

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