The Friday Meets

All-access subscribers will be able to watch LSU @ Kentucky here. Otherwise, today will be all about following scores from the likes of Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Florida. If Florida doesn't go into the 197 stratosphere, Oklahoma has a solid shot at taking over the #1 ranking for the moment. LSU will be looking to show that the 197 from last week wasn't just a Metroplex thing.

Today's schedule:
7:00 ET/4:00 PT – [2] Oklahoma, Western Michigan, William & Mary @ West Virginia Scores
7:00 ET/4:00 PT – [6] LSU @ [16] Kentucky Scores
7:00 ET/4:00 PT – [19] Illinois @ [7] Nebraska Scores
7:00 ET/4:00 PT – [10] Minnesota @ Michigan State Scores
7:30 ET/4:30 PT – [17] Auburn @ Missouri Scores
8:00 ET/5:00 PT – [1] Florida @ [22] Arkansas Scores
9:00 ET/6:00 PT – Arizona State @ [9] Utah Scores
9:00 ET/6:00 PT – BYU @ [21] Boise State
10:00 ET/7:00 PT – [12] Arizona @ Washington

Kentucky and LSU are getting started now. Jessie Jordan on the bars.The handstands weren't all there but the toe point was strong, one step on the DLO. Harrison vaults a handspring front pike with a step. Having a non-10 vault in the lineup will keep Kentucky from contending.

Hall had some sloppiness on bars and nearly went over on a handstand but saved it. Big flying leap out of the dismount. This is not her event. As we've seen before from Kentucky, once they get passed the first two vaulters they have some quality. A leg separation and a hop back there, but not bad.

Wyrick was precise in her bars routine, really hitting the handstands that have caused her trouble in previous meets. Strong vault in the air from Kentucky 4th up but a little crunched in the legs and a step back.

Courville has a lovely high jaeger and sticks her dismount. The only major deduction will be the closeness on the shoot to high bar. Cunningham near-sticks her Yfull with solid form. Good finish.

 Dickson misses a handstand, but I actually thought the routine was stronger than the 9.900 from last week, though it won't score as well. Good stuck yfull from Hilton of Kentucky in the final position. Those last two vaults should help this rotation in the higher 48s, which is a perfectly fine score. Morrison finishes bars for LSU with the cleanest, most dynamic routine of the group, only problem is a fairly sizable step on the dismount. They needed that stick to bring the score up.

Ranzy is doing exo on bars for LSU. Ranzy on bars... hmm... barely hangs onto her shaposh and hops forward on her DLO, but a fine performance for this being not her event at all. Good job. I'd consider putting it in the lineup over one of the first two routines with a few more weeks of work.
After 1 Rotation: LSU 48.875, Kentucky 48.825 

Someone at West Virginia needs to go easy on the caps lock. We're not shouting the scores. This isn't football. Nebraska has started with 9.800s and 9.850s on vault, on pace for a strong score. They've changed up the lineup with DeZiel and Wong going earlier because Schleppenbach is back. She can be the best vaulter on the team when in form, so it's an important step to get her back. 9.925. Skinner vaulted quite well last week (good stick just a little direction for 9.925 then), and anchors this week for a strong 9.875. 49.300 on vault for Nebraska, and with maybe one change this should be the postseason group for them. Olson and Spears saved Oklahoma on bars for a 49.150 in the first rotation.

Dickson starts on vault for LSU, which was about 85 feet away with the camera angle, but it looked like a stick. Sienkowski misses her final hs by rather a lot but is otherwise proficient in leadoff for Kentucky. She may have brushed her legs on the mat while on the low bar, but it was hard with the angle. That would account for the score.

Wyrick sticks her vault as well, much stronger start on vault which should be no surprise. Shipley is a bit short on her bail hs, and the handstands will be the only major deductions in this routine after a stuck double tuck dismount. Hilton performs a solid routine with a crazy legs stuck DLO. Apparently it has become too difficult to show the LSU vaults. Thanks. Really, a little precision in handstands is the only thing keeping these bars routines from being perfectly fine 9.800s. Biggest flight and dynamics from Harrison so far on bars. In time, this team can go 48.9s here.

If we had seen the routines, we would have seen a 9.900 on vault from Randi Lau. Gross finishes up bars for Kentucky and falls on what looked like a tight jaeger that was just too far from the bars. LSU records a 49.175 on vault, which is low by their standards, but they did get some new people into the lineup, so I wouldn't have expected some 49.500 again. Still, two routines in the 9.7s for Courville so far is below her capabilities.

After 2: LSU 98.050, Kentucky 97.325

Minnesota isn't off to nearly the start we saw last week (and it's hard to be that surprised), counting some quite low scores on bars and starting vault with 9.675s. They have some very strong vaulters in the last couple spots, and they will need to stick again to keep this rotation over 49. Nebraska is currently fighting against a leadoff fall on bars. Brittany Skinner comes in on bars this week and takes a fall, which means Nebraska will now be counting a fall and probably fighting for 196 now.

Dickson starts floor for LSU. LSU is just about on 196 pace right now, so if they're going to record the kind of road score they'll want to use for RQS, they'll need to go way positive on floor. Dickson starts them on the right track.

Harrison hits beam well for Kentucky. She reminds me a bit of Diandra Milliner where her face says that she's terrified the whole time and reads like a wobbly book, but then you realize she just hit a solid routine with very few mistakes. Oh, I'm so glad the feed cut away from LSU on floor to give us a beam score. I've almost had it with this. Is that any way to treat us?

Nebraska got big hits for 9.9+ from Wong, DeZiel, and Giblin to save the rotation and stay near 196 pace, though now ust three tenths ahead of Illinois, which has been consistently 9.750 today.

Savona Smooth Criminal-ed her way through a strong, powerful routine (at least the last two thirds that we saw), which should help keep up the positive pace. Just before, Buecler was a bit more wobbly on beam than the previous two, but she got through it. This team is looking 195 today and can go higher, but I'm not sure I see those 196s in the future.

Mathis is a bit short on her DLO opening, but it's fine, then stumble-bounces out of her double pike dismount. Not the best routine she can do, but it shouldn't score too poorly. Gross is quite low on her punch front but stays on and hits an OK routine not without deductions.

I haven't decided how I feel about Courville's floor routine, but she hits for what I expect to be the kind of score they need. I think she bounced forward a bit on the dbl Arabian, but it was the strongest routine so far in the rotation aside from Savona's. There were things to take, certainly, but I didn't expect it to score lower than Jordan's routine, or even Dickson's. Perhaps I missed something. Kentucky is very well drilled on beam and this rotation could go around 49.

Hall on floor, and we don't get to see the beginning. Don't they know this is what we're waiting for. I actually much prefer Hall's floor routine on the road because she keeps it more contained and doesn't go crazy in the expressions as much like she's too excited by herself. Even though it's less crazy and probably less fun for those who enjoy fun, her routine is better this year.

After 3: LSU 147.125, Kentucky 146.300  196 will be dependent on a solid beam rotation from LSU.

Over in Nebraska, Skinner began on beam with a 9.800, which is big for her especially in leadoff because she has struggled in the past. They'll hope to drop Nathe's 9.625. Oklahoma is hitting beam the way they can, and I expect to see 197 pace after the first two rotations. Vault will be the one to watch for them, as it's time to start showing the improvement and national competitiveness.

We have the lineups for Florida/Arkansas. BDG is back in on bars after her big score last week. I wouldn't trust these lineups too much, though. Kaitlin Moorhead is going fifth on vault for Florida in spite of the fact that she goes to Denver.

Oklahoma goes 49.475 on beam and is at 98.600 after two. Auburn is on solid mid-196 pace, led by two 9.900s from Atkinson in the first two rotations.

Garcia started beam for LSU with a number of wobbles but a hit routine. 9.700, which they'll hope to drop if 49 is to be in the future. Dickson follows and looks like she wobbled oddly on her close to the beam choreography. Strange. Otherwise it's a hit. Phipps from Kentucky looks to have gone OOB on her mount.

Savona takes a minor wobble on her side somi and falls off on her series, no chance to save it. This won't be a 196 for LSU. Speaking of beam falls, Wong falls unexpectedly for Nebraska. It won't count, but they will be scoring just a 48.800 on beam, so 196 is going to be a struggle. Rough day for a couple top teams so far. Oklahoma and Florida will need to save it.

Hall in a must-hit position on beam, hits loso series, wobbles on dance series, sticks double tuck. Should be the best score of the rotation to my eyes, but I've said that before. 9.725, which is the top score but this scoring is tight. These aren't great routines by any means, but I would hav expected to see 9.800 for that. I think the judges are getting them on their dance elements and appropriately deducting for leg form (which is uncommon enough that it makes the scores seem especially low), so we'll see how Courville goes because she's a few steps above in that department and hits a very strong routine. 9.950. There we go, and it's clear why she scored so much higher. You absolutely can't take anything on her split positions and leg form, and she's the only one so far for whom that's true. This is the definition of creating separation between fine and great.

Kentucky is performing a lot of fine 9.775-9.800 gymnastics on floor. Jordan anchors beam and hits her loso well, but takes a big swimming wobble on her side somi, which will hurt an otherwise strong score. Hartley finishes floor for Kentucky with a Pirates routine and has a few errors on tumbling like lunges and low landings. Fine routine - fine meet. It looks like Kentucky will go just over 195 and LSU will fail to reach 196.

LSU 195.875, Kentucky 195.250 

Over in Arkansas, Florida begins with a 49.450 on bars, which almost feels low for this team. Sloan goes 9.900 and Caquatto goes 9.950 to lead the team. They are still without Alaina Johnson because of her back injury (and likely will be for another few weeks). This is not a problem now because the team is so deep, but they will need her for the postseason, expecially if we're not seeing routines on the leg events from the Caquattuses.

Arkansas scores a 49.150 on vault, which is strong for them, led by Grable's 9.900. They had to put in Hardin on vault because they don't have a sixth vaulter. Last I knew, Hardin vaulted only a Yurchenko layout, but they may be teaching her something new.

Oklahoma has overcome a relatively slow start on bars with another 49.450, this time on floor. That's a much bigger deal for them than getting a 49.450 on beam, which we've come to expect. The 9.950 from Scaman is what she was recruited to do and is crucial for this team's success. A 9.925 from Olson doesn't hurt anything either. This meet could have been on pace to match Florida's 197.600 from last week if bars had been stronger.

Minnesota has imploded a bit this week and is looking like a 194. Top 10 was nice while it lasted. Keep and eye on Auburn. That mid-196 score is looking realistic. I'm going to check in on that Missouri feed to watch Auburn's beam rotation.

Yokay begins with a very nice series, bhs + loso + bhs, but has a major wobble on her side somi. Manages to stay on but it won't be a great start. Meanwhile, Nebraska got 9.850s from Schleppenbach and DeZiel on floor, trying to salvage a second good rotation and get over 196.

Kadous, the 2nd for Auburn, hits a confident and well-executed routine. The mat snuck up on her on the dismount causing a stumble, but they'll take that. 9.825

Is there a wrestling meet going on at the same time right next to the floor exercise? What is this, a county fair? Are we not special?

Habicht third up for Auburn on beam, right on for the loso series that could use a bit more amplitude but whatever. Wobble on dance, bounce on double full dismount. Another fine job. Still certainly on that strong 196 pace. Keeping half an eye on Missouri on floor, and they are incurring far too many landing with stumbles in these routines.

Oklahoma goes 197.375 for the meet after a 49.300 on vault, led by 9.900s from both Scaman and Kmieciak. This is quite encouraging for Oklahoma because those freshmen are doing exactly what we expected them to do and are leading the scoring on vault and floor to begin erasing a traditional weakness.

I'm a bit concerned because we haven't seen a floor score for Emily Wong. Just five scores for Nebraska. I hope nothing happened to her on that beam fall. That would be devastating for the team.

Guy goes 9.750 on beam for Auburn, which means they'll still need a couple solid 9.8s in the last two spots to go 196.500. Walker up 5th, minorly off on punch front but it's fine, good loso series, good split position and fine sheep jump. Hop on gainer full salute that seemed unnecessary. Good routine.

Atkinson finishes beam for Auburn. She's had a good meet so far. Good walkover, very minor correction on loso series, another minor wobble after wolf jump, step out of double pike dismount. Very slightly off on a couple of skills, but it should be a good score. Great meet for Auburn. We've stopped updating the scoring for some reason, but it should be around that mid-196 mark.

Florida goes 49.400 on vault, which is important because this is probably only half of their postseason group. Do we expect Shisler, Stageberg, and Wang to be there all year? I suppose I expect Wang to be there if she continues to 9.900. They're going to have a lot of options here as well. 9.950 for Dickerson won the event. Arkansas should also be extremely pleased with the performance so far. On pace for high 196s after a 49.250 on bars, led by Salmon and Freier. Important score for Freier. She has great lines and could be a strong contributor on bars and beam.

I just opened the Utah stream to check if things had started and some woman had a box on her head. I don't understand. I really never do. I wasn't expecting to be able to do Utah's meet, but I'll do the first rotation.

Damianova starts vault for Utah with a pretty solid yfull. She doesn't have the flight of some of her teammates and hopped back pretty significantly, but the body shape was straighter than it has been at times in the past.

This is the first I've seen from Taylor Allex, came off the vault a little flat and missed some distance. Low chest and a step forward. Two fine vaults to start, though. Damianova was stronger to me.

Del Priore - fine yfull but a pretty significant hop back for a .100, minor leg bend in the air as well upon replay. OK, but she can do better. So far for ASU on bars we've seen some fine hits with clear form break.

Dabritz shows up her teammates so far with a very nice stuck yfull. Good power, good landing position, a little piking in the air but that much else to take. Palafox fingertips a jaeger, but otherwise this is the best form we've seen from ASU. Good stuck DLO.

Lothrop take a pretty big hop forward out of her Omelianchik. She can do that much better as well. Gades is really late on a giant full and takes a step back on the double front. A little ragged that one but fine.

Wilson gives us her usual stick. It wasn't quite as strong as some of her others as she had to hold onto the stick with her toes, but it was nice again. The power is there, the body form is there, and she sticks every time, so we can't be surprised by 9.950s. They've been beating the 10 drum for her for a while, so this 10 from one judge is not super surprising, though she has vaulted better than this and could have been solider on the landing. 9.975. They certainly reacted to that like it was a 10. Don't mess with us, dramatic hugging.

49.325 for Utah to begin, and that score was saved by Wilson because a couple people performed weaker vaults than they have been.

A 49.275 on floor for Florida keeps the mid-197 alive going into beam. 9.900s for King and Dickerson. Shisler anchored for 9.750, and they'll want to get Hunter (or Johnson) in there soon. Is there a reason why Hunter is off everything but bars or is she ust being rested. The plot thickens. Also, if they go mid-197s without Johnson and Hunter (mostly) . . . this team kind of scares me.