Over the weekend, Florida recovered from their average road performance a week ago to record the season's highest total so far, 198.225, which means the Gators jump right back up into their cozy little trio with Oklahoma and LSU. Ah, home meets. It's a wonder what home+Baker+Hunter hitting can do for scores.
In 10-land, the pace dropped off a little bit this week with just one 10.0 instead of the usual 6,000. The one 10.0 came from Toni-Ann Williams, Her Ladyship Duchess of Berkeley, on vault. It's particularly significant because it's the first 10.0 for Cal on vault ever. We also had several more 9.975s on bars, including Ivana Hong, because obviously, as well as Mary Jane Horth once again.
If you haven't had a chance to watch the LSU/Auburn meet from Friday yet, you really should. High-quality gymnastics in a competitive meet that went down to the final routine and was not defined by judging insanity (almost entirely). It was a good reminder of what's fun about college gymnastics. I have to think that if Caitlin Atkinson had been in on floor, Auburn would have won. Scores were going in Auburn's favor through that final rotation, but Hlawek had to perform in the final spot and just doesn't have that 9.900 routine they needed.
In the comment of the live blog, a few people mentioned that it would be interesting if Auburn keeps this up and knocks Georgia out of the top-seeded session at SECs (it really would be). But, Georgia is the de facto host of SECs, and do we know if the SEC is mimicking the rules of the Pac-12, where the host school's session goes in the evening regardless of seeding? Last year, if you recall, the Pac-12 Championship was at Cal. Since Cal was not in the top four in the conference, the top four seeds went in the afternoon and then the bottom four seeds went in the evening, and it was weird.
That's among the reasons I was pleased to hear that the Pac-12 Championship has been moved from ASU to Utah this year. We know Utah is going to be one of the top four seeds. Plus, they'll put on a good event. But also, come on people. Planning! Shouldn't this have been worked out, maybe, 8 months ago?
Moving onto the rankings, we're just one week out of RQS kicking in, so I've included the current RQS picture for each team along with their season average ranking.
Refresher: RQS stands for Regional Qualifying Score. It determines which 36 teams will advance to the Regional Championships and is calculated by taking a team's top six scores, of which at least three must be road scores, removing the highest score, and averaging the remaining five.
Week 6 Rankings - (GymInfo)
1. Oklahoma – 197.536
Week 6: 197.275
Week 6 leaders: AA - None; VT - Capps 9.950; UB - Wofford 9.925; BB - Capps, Clark 9.850; FX - Scaman, Jackson 9.925
Current RQS: 197.620
Road Score 1: 198.150
Road Score 2: 197.700
Road Score 3: 197.650
Road/Home Score 1: 197.850
Road/Home Score 2: 197.625
Road/Home Score 3: 197.275
*Scores in bold are guaranteed to be part of the six RQS scores.
In spite of a, perhaps, unexpectedly meh showing over the weekend in which the Sooners were forced to look at the scoreboard and see all these weird 9.8-looking shapes that they didn't recognize, Oklahoma is already set for the postseason when it comes to scores. There aren't really any weak scores that need to be dropped, though they'll surely get rid of that lowly 197 at some point (or every point) over the next five weeks, which will put them in a solid position to eclipse their RQS total from last season of 197.775. The problem is going to be catching them. Florida and LSU basically have to go mid-197 in every remaining meet to have a chance to see the year-end #1. An almost five-tenths advantage in RQS is tough to make up.
2. Florida – 197.325
Week 6: 198.225
Week 6 leaders: AA - Hunter 39.750; VT - Hunter, McMurtry 9.950; UB - Dancose-Giambattisto 9.950; BB - Hunter, Boyce 9.950; FX - Baker 9.975
Current RQS: 197.145
Road Score 1: 197.200
Road Score 2: 196.925
Road Score 3: 196.800
Road/Home Score 1: 198.225
Road/Home Score 2: 197.600
Road/Home Score 3: 197.200
There's still some work to do on those road scores. That's where Oklahoma's advantage is the most extreme. Florida still has three road meets left, but the meet this weekend at LSU takes on slightly more significance since ideally they wouldn't be counting any of the road scores they have put up so far. Of course, it doesn't really matter if they finish the regular season #1, #2, #3, etc., but it's a bragging rights thing, and perhaps there's an argument for receiving "pre-ordained winner" scoring once Nationals comes along. The Sloan comeback talk is starting to ramp up, and if she is able to get back on a couple events relatively soon, don't expect that 198 to be lonely for long.
3. LSU – 197.321
Week 6: 197.350
Week 6 leaders: AA - Gnat 39.550; VT - Courville 9.950; UB - Courville 9.925; BB - Jordan 9.925; FX - Gnat 9.950
Current RQS: 197.170
Road Score 1: 197.425
Road Score 2: 197.350
Road Score 3: 196.600
Road/Home Score 1: 198.075
Road/Home Score 2: 197.350
Road/Home Score 3: 197.125
In spite of falling behind Florida in average, LSU retains a slight lead in the RQS race. They have the advantage on Florida when it comes to those all-important road scores, and they'll look to get rid of that straggling 196.600 when they go on the road to Alabama on the 27th, so expect the Tigers to start closing the Oklahoma gap with a hit meet. They could pick up a couple tenths with a mid-197. Over the weekend, LSU put up a good performance, even though we've come to think of lowish 197s as just average scores for top teams, lowish 197s are not all created equal, and this was a solid one. Still, they certainly let Auburn into the meet, which they probably shouldn't have done. The main culprit was mistakes on floor, with Hall, Courville, and Savona all having some unexpected landing issues to put them in pedestrian 49.250 territory.
February 16, 2015
February 13, 2015
Friday Live Blog – Michigan, Florida, LSU, Auburn, Alabama
Friday, February 13
Week 5 rankings:
Oklahoma's RQS is already 197.465, with a good chance to go much higher today since that RQS includes a 196.500. I love that they could just put up the football team on every event for the rest of the regular season and still be a #1 seed at Regionals. And by love, I mean think that's maybe a problem. It's almost that time of year where I get to start my usual ranting about how RQS should include more meets.
7:00 ET/4:00 PT – Denver @ West Virginia (Scores) (Stream)
7:00 ET/4:00 PT – Western Michigan @ Ball State (Stream)
8:00 ET/5:00 PT – Perfect 10 Challenge (Oklahoma, Kentucky)
7:00 ET/4:00 PT – Western Michigan @ Ball State (Stream)
8:00 ET/5:00 PT – Perfect 10 Challenge (Oklahoma, Kentucky)
8:00 ET/5:00 PT – SEMO, Illinois State @ Arkansas (Scores)
8:00 ET/5:00 PT – TWU, Centenary @ Lindenwood (Scores)
8:00 ET/5:00 PT – Alaska, Winona State @ UW-Whitewater
8:00 ET/5:00 PT – Alaska, Winona State @ UW-Whitewater
8:30 ET/5:30 PT – Boise State @ Alabama (Scores) (ESPN3)
8:30 ET/5:30 PT – Chicago Style (Iowa State, Northern Illinois, Yale)
9:00 ET/6:00 PT – Southern Utah @ BYU (Scores) (BYUtv)
10:00 ET/7:00 PT – Oregon State @ Cal (Scores)
8:30 ET/5:30 PT – Chicago Style (Iowa State, Northern Illinois, Yale)
9:00 ET/6:00 PT – Southern Utah @ BYU (Scores) (BYUtv)
10:00 ET/7:00 PT – Oregon State @ Cal (Scores)
10:00 ET/7:00 PT – Seattle Pacific @ UC Davis (Scores)
Week 5 rankings:
Oklahoma's RQS is already 197.465, with a good chance to go much higher today since that RQS includes a 196.500. I love that they could just put up the football team on every event for the rest of the regular season and still be a #1 seed at Regionals. And by love, I mean think that's maybe a problem. It's almost that time of year where I get to start my usual ranting about how RQS should include more meets.
February 12, 2015
The Weekend Ahead – February 13th-16th
This weekend, we'll have mostly the usual Friday hyper-saturation of meets with 7 of the top 10 teams in action, but at least they're a little more spread out this time. So that's something. This is more like how it should be.
But this time around, Saturday is also a pretty big day with Utah, UCLA, Stanford, Georgia, and Nebraska all in action. Hopefully there's as little Valentine's Day folderol as possible during those meets. Everyone already has a pink meet so that they can pat themselves on the back for raising awareness. We don't need more opportunities for everyone to douse themselves in reds and pinks. You know someone is going to show up wearing 178 red bows with candy hearts tied to them and a box of chocolates hidden under her rat's nest bun. You know it.
In the rankings, don't expect much action on top. Now that teams have several meets under their belts, but still before RQS kicks in (Feb 23), it's much harder to manage a big jump in season average. If Oklahoma keeps doing what they're doing and getting mid 197s, they're safe at #1. Even LSU would need a 7 million to catch them. The top 7 teams have separated themselves from the pack a little bit, but once again this week the teams from #8-#13 could end up in any order because there's such a small margin between them. Remember that UCLA is officially #13 but up to a provisional ranking of #8 after Monday's 197, so they lead the peloton for the moment.
On Friday, the action starts early with Michigan getting underway at a slightly Early Bird Discount time of 6:00 ET, so remember to make sure your brain is rested enough to be able to process lights and sounds earlier than it usually is on a Friday night. An hour later, Florida hosts Missouri and will be eager to erase the averageness from last week. Florida hasn't had bad meets this year, but they've had a few just OK meets, including the recent 197.200 (which is a C+ kind of score for Florida, and frankly any team that hopes to make Super Six this year). Without Kennedy Baker, we started to see the tangible effect of all the injuries. The limits of their scoring potential were exposed, and we know now where the 9.850s run out.
Once everyone is back for Florida, expect a lot of talk about what a blessing these early-season injury issues were because they forced the team to explore depth, got tons of gymnasts comfortable competing in case they're needed, and now they can face any challenge even an avalanche of hurricanes, etc. I'm just warning you now.
Auburn keeps challenging the good teams. They put up a legitimate fight against Alabama last week and will hope to do the same thing at home this week, though LSU is a step up from Alabama right now and will make it harder to keep pace. The Tigers scored a 198 last weekend and will receive the boost this week of having Jessie Jordan back on bars and beam. Plus, Britney Ranzy is slated to make her return on vault. They've been honestly fine on vault without her, but bars could really use those 9.875s she was getting last year when she's able to get back fully. Savona is an acceptable replacement, but Ranzy's potential is greater. Auburn, I'm watching your floor. There is too much big-tumbling talent there to peak at 9.800s.
But this time around, Saturday is also a pretty big day with Utah, UCLA, Stanford, Georgia, and Nebraska all in action. Hopefully there's as little Valentine's Day folderol as possible during those meets. Everyone already has a pink meet so that they can pat themselves on the back for raising awareness. We don't need more opportunities for everyone to douse themselves in reds and pinks. You know someone is going to show up wearing 178 red bows with candy hearts tied to them and a box of chocolates hidden under her rat's nest bun. You know it.
In the rankings, don't expect much action on top. Now that teams have several meets under their belts, but still before RQS kicks in (Feb 23), it's much harder to manage a big jump in season average. If Oklahoma keeps doing what they're doing and getting mid 197s, they're safe at #1. Even LSU would need a 7 million to catch them. The top 7 teams have separated themselves from the pack a little bit, but once again this week the teams from #8-#13 could end up in any order because there's such a small margin between them. Remember that UCLA is officially #13 but up to a provisional ranking of #8 after Monday's 197, so they lead the peloton for the moment.
On Friday, the action starts early with Michigan getting underway at a slightly Early Bird Discount time of 6:00 ET, so remember to make sure your brain is rested enough to be able to process lights and sounds earlier than it usually is on a Friday night. An hour later, Florida hosts Missouri and will be eager to erase the averageness from last week. Florida hasn't had bad meets this year, but they've had a few just OK meets, including the recent 197.200 (which is a C+ kind of score for Florida, and frankly any team that hopes to make Super Six this year). Without Kennedy Baker, we started to see the tangible effect of all the injuries. The limits of their scoring potential were exposed, and we know now where the 9.850s run out.
Once everyone is back for Florida, expect a lot of talk about what a blessing these early-season injury issues were because they forced the team to explore depth, got tons of gymnasts comfortable competing in case they're needed, and now they can face any challenge even an avalanche of hurricanes, etc. I'm just warning you now.
Auburn keeps challenging the good teams. They put up a legitimate fight against Alabama last week and will hope to do the same thing at home this week, though LSU is a step up from Alabama right now and will make it harder to keep pace. The Tigers scored a 198 last weekend and will receive the boost this week of having Jessie Jordan back on bars and beam. Plus, Britney Ranzy is slated to make her return on vault. They've been honestly fine on vault without her, but bars could really use those 9.875s she was getting last year when she's able to get back fully. Savona is an acceptable replacement, but Ranzy's potential is greater. Auburn, I'm watching your floor. There is too much big-tumbling talent there to peak at 9.800s.
February 9, 2015
Week 5 Rankings and Notes
The 198 barrier is a thing of the past. That's what we learned this weekend. Remember in 2012 when UCLA hit 198 and it was a thing? People fainted with outrage about it. There was an epidemic of vapors. It was a different time. Mattie Larson got a 9.900 on bars at that meet, to illustrate what a different time it was.
This weekend, Oklahoma and LSU took 198's fragile innocence, with a 198.150 from Oklahoma and a 198.075 from LSU. Not surprising that those two were the first to do it. What is more surprising is how close Utah has come the last couple weeks, and how high they have risen in the rankings.
Speaking of Utah's scores, in spite of this being a huge-scoring weekend, we saw just two 10.0s, which is sort of low based on my expectations, both from Utah on vault. Once again, we saw lots more 10s from individual judges, including for this fab 9.975 from Mary Jane Horth.
As for the 10s, we need to have an honest conversation about how Tory Wilson didn't stick that vault. Let's just all acknowledge it and move on. After that score, Georgia Dabritz better get a 10 for sticking that excellent 1.5. If Wilson got a 10 and then Dabritz didn't, just throw out the whole system.
And now to the rankings.
Week 5 Rankings – GymInfo
1. Oklahoma – 197.579
Week 5: 198.150
Week 5 leaders: AA - None; VT - Scaman, Capps 9.950; UB - Wofford 9.950; BB - Capps 9.950; FX - Dowell, Jackson 9.950
Oklahoma maintains a comfortable lead after recording the weekend's highest score yet again. In the Friday live blog I mentioned that Oklahoma had the highest average ever recorded and that point in the season, and unsurprisingly after a 198, that is still true this week. When RQS officially debuts in two weeks, the Sooners have a pretty good shot of starting with a higher RQS than they finished last year. UCLA's record RQS of 198.055 may still be a tough ask, but we'll see.
This team is certainly capable of getting big scores from every spot in the lineup, including the first. Having that 9.925 from Clark in the first spot on bars, and starting with a 9.850 on beam, were critical in allowing Oklahoma to build from there and reach up into the 49.5s on those events, to match what they have been doing regularly on vault and floor. That big score from Clark meant Dowell could take an extra swing after Church, and no one even noticed. Sign of a championship team: your star makes a mistake, and you still get a 49.525.
2. LSU – 197.315
Week 5: 198.075
Week 5 leaders: AA - Courville 39.825; VT - Courville 9.950; UB - Courville 9.950; BB - Courville, Macadaeg, Gnat 9.950; FX - Courville 9.975
Not to be overshadowed, LSU was not too shabby this weekend either. It was clear that things got a little silly with the scoring for LSU in that meet, especially toward the end on floor, but the big story was the exceptional beam rotation. With the lovely work from Hambrick and Macadaeg introduced this year, LSU is capable of being anyone on beam now, even Oklahoma (gasp!), but until this week, they had not actually shown that in competition. On Friday, we finally saw it, which is especially remarkable because Jessie Jordan wasn't available. Get back immediately. We're nothing without Jessie Jordan. When that beam lineup is Ewing, Hambrick, Gnat, Macadaeg, Courville, Jordan...whew.
Rheagan Courville scored a 39.825 in the AA, which matches Sloan's high from last year.
This weekend, Oklahoma and LSU took 198's fragile innocence, with a 198.150 from Oklahoma and a 198.075 from LSU. Not surprising that those two were the first to do it. What is more surprising is how close Utah has come the last couple weeks, and how high they have risen in the rankings.
Speaking of Utah's scores, in spite of this being a huge-scoring weekend, we saw just two 10.0s, which is sort of low based on my expectations, both from Utah on vault. Once again, we saw lots more 10s from individual judges, including for this fab 9.975 from Mary Jane Horth.
As for the 10s, we need to have an honest conversation about how Tory Wilson didn't stick that vault. Let's just all acknowledge it and move on. After that score, Georgia Dabritz better get a 10 for sticking that excellent 1.5. If Wilson got a 10 and then Dabritz didn't, just throw out the whole system.
And now to the rankings.
Week 5 Rankings – GymInfo
1. Oklahoma – 197.579
Week 5: 198.150
Week 5 leaders: AA - None; VT - Scaman, Capps 9.950; UB - Wofford 9.950; BB - Capps 9.950; FX - Dowell, Jackson 9.950
Oklahoma maintains a comfortable lead after recording the weekend's highest score yet again. In the Friday live blog I mentioned that Oklahoma had the highest average ever recorded and that point in the season, and unsurprisingly after a 198, that is still true this week. When RQS officially debuts in two weeks, the Sooners have a pretty good shot of starting with a higher RQS than they finished last year. UCLA's record RQS of 198.055 may still be a tough ask, but we'll see.
This team is certainly capable of getting big scores from every spot in the lineup, including the first. Having that 9.925 from Clark in the first spot on bars, and starting with a 9.850 on beam, were critical in allowing Oklahoma to build from there and reach up into the 49.5s on those events, to match what they have been doing regularly on vault and floor. That big score from Clark meant Dowell could take an extra swing after Church, and no one even noticed. Sign of a championship team: your star makes a mistake, and you still get a 49.525.
2. LSU – 197.315
Week 5: 198.075
Week 5 leaders: AA - Courville 39.825; VT - Courville 9.950; UB - Courville 9.950; BB - Courville, Macadaeg, Gnat 9.950; FX - Courville 9.975
Not to be overshadowed, LSU was not too shabby this weekend either. It was clear that things got a little silly with the scoring for LSU in that meet, especially toward the end on floor, but the big story was the exceptional beam rotation. With the lovely work from Hambrick and Macadaeg introduced this year, LSU is capable of being anyone on beam now, even Oklahoma (gasp!), but until this week, they had not actually shown that in competition. On Friday, we finally saw it, which is especially remarkable because Jessie Jordan wasn't available. Get back immediately. We're nothing without Jessie Jordan. When that beam lineup is Ewing, Hambrick, Gnat, Macadaeg, Courville, Jordan...whew.
Rheagan Courville scored a 39.825 in the AA, which matches Sloan's high from last year.
February 6, 2015
Friday Live Blog – LSU, Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, and more
Friday, February 6
We have a whirlwind ahead of us. In addition to the SEC meets I mentioned in the preview yesterday, Utah's 40th anniversary meet will be happening at the exact same time, which should be enthusiastic.
The scoring this season has been remarkable in a few ways. Oklahoma's average of 197.465 is the highest ever average at this point in the season, at least as far back as those records are kept and easily accessible, and the nine 10.0s so far easily eclipses last season's pace, when we had four by the same point in the year. Still, we haven't had a 198 yet. Does that change tonight?
6:00 ET/3:00 PT – Ohio State @ Bowling Green (Scores)
7:30 ET/4:30 PT – Oklahoma @ Iowa State (Scores)
8:00 ET/5:00 PT – Arizona State @ Utah (Pac-12 Network)
8:00 ET/5:00 PT – Auburn @ Alabama (Scores) (ESPN3)
9:00 ET/6:00 PT – San Jose State @ Southern Utah (Scores)
9:00 ET/6:00 PT – Seattle Pacific @ Utah State
9:00 ET/6:00 PT – San Jose State @ Southern Utah (Scores)
9:00 ET/6:00 PT – Seattle Pacific @ Utah State
We have a whirlwind ahead of us. In addition to the SEC meets I mentioned in the preview yesterday, Utah's 40th anniversary meet will be happening at the exact same time, which should be enthusiastic.
The scoring this season has been remarkable in a few ways. Oklahoma's average of 197.465 is the highest ever average at this point in the season, at least as far back as those records are kept and easily accessible, and the nine 10.0s so far easily eclipses last season's pace, when we had four by the same point in the year. Still, we haven't had a 198 yet. Does that change tonight?
February 5, 2015
The Weekend Ahead – February 6th-9th
I need to start this week's preview with another memo to college gymnastics to pull it together. Once again this weekend, everything in the world is happening at the exact same time. The #1, #2, #3, #4, #6, #8, #9, and #11 teams in the country are all competing simultaneously on Friday, including anticipated meets like Georgia/LSU and Auburn/Alabama, which is a big rivalry thing because the state of Alabama doesn't have real pro sports, so this matters to people or something. How are we supposed to pay attention to all of it at once? Disaster.
In the rankings, Oklahoma has a pretty comfortable 0.3 lead on Florida and LSU entering the weekend and should be able to hang onto that #1 spot with a relatively sane, relatively hit meet. Farther down the rankings, we should see some shakeups. All the teams from #8 to #13 are ranked within 0.100 of each other, so this is an opportunity for UCLA, Georgia, and Stanford to restore some order. Or, throw their rankings away again with a billion falls. Either way.
During the barrage of meets at 8:00 ET on Friday, we're all going to be faced with a completely appropriate use of the expression Sophie's choice as we try to decide which meets to pay attention to. Oklahoma against Iowa State requires a school-specific subscription, so that's right out, but otherwise, it's a conundrum. Georgia/LSU is the biggest clash and probably the most likely to be competitive (though LSU does come in as the clear favorite), so that's my main focus. Georgia has righted the ship with back-to-back high 196s, but it gets real now. Hitting is not enough. They have to be actually good, even on beam. To win, or at least keep it sufficiently entertaining, Georgia will have to be much closer to postseason form than they have been so far, particularly on bars.
In the rankings, Oklahoma has a pretty comfortable 0.3 lead on Florida and LSU entering the weekend and should be able to hang onto that #1 spot with a relatively sane, relatively hit meet. Farther down the rankings, we should see some shakeups. All the teams from #8 to #13 are ranked within 0.100 of each other, so this is an opportunity for UCLA, Georgia, and Stanford to restore some order. Or, throw their rankings away again with a billion falls. Either way.
During the barrage of meets at 8:00 ET on Friday, we're all going to be faced with a completely appropriate use of the expression Sophie's choice as we try to decide which meets to pay attention to. Oklahoma against Iowa State requires a school-specific subscription, so that's right out, but otherwise, it's a conundrum. Georgia/LSU is the biggest clash and probably the most likely to be competitive (though LSU does come in as the clear favorite), so that's my main focus. Georgia has righted the ship with back-to-back high 196s, but it gets real now. Hitting is not enough. They have to be actually good, even on beam. To win, or at least keep it sufficiently entertaining, Georgia will have to be much closer to postseason form than they have been so far, particularly on bars.
February 2, 2015
Week 4 Rankings and Notes
Remember a few weeks ago when we were young and innocent little ducklings and thought, "Hey, some of the meets this year are being scored with a more discerning standard than we've become used to"? Yeah. Not that. We've now entered the portion of the season where a low-mid 197 is a medium score for a top team, and it takes a high 197 to constitute a standout meet, which is pretty much the same as the last season or two. Nothing changes. The circle of life. Or something. I don't know.
Two more people joined the 10 club this weekend, Ciera Perkins on vault and Georgia Dabritz on bars, and many, many, many more people joined the 9.975 club. We're seeing a lot of individual judges giving out 10s this season while the other judge sits there going, "Y'all tripping." I'm with Other Judge. Obviously and always.
Except this, which was the tumbling pass of the weekend. I said at the moment her routine was better than Kytra's this week, and I stand by that.
Now, to the rankings.
Week 4 Rankings – (GymInfo)
1. Oklahoma – 197.465
Week 4 A: 197.650
Week 4 A leaders: AA - None; VT - Scaman 9.925; UB - Wofford, Scaman 9.900; BB - Lovan 9.925; FX - Dowell 9.950
Week 4 B: 197.700
Week 4 B leaders: AA - None; VT - Everyone 9.900; UB - Wofford 9.950; BB - Capps, Sorensen 9.900; FX - Scaman 9.950
The Sooners extended their lead this weekend with two more scores over 197.600, which has become the expectation for this team already. Basically, now if they get a 197.300 it's like, "Uh oh, who ruined everything?" Given the strengths of the roster this season, vault and floor were always going to be the talking points, and while those have been the best-scoring and most consistent events, all of the events are pretty much at the same level. It's tough to pick out an area of concern at this point.
As of this week, Oklahoma is ranked first on every apparatus except vault, where they're second to Nebraska. Part of the identity of Oklahoma is that this team is never over-reliant on a single individual, and this year, it's not over-reliant on a single event either. Right now, it's about waiting for the other top teams to catch up so that we can really pick apart this fight.
2. Florida – 197.131
Week 4: 197.600
Week 4 leaders: AA - Hunter 39.675; VT - Hunter 9.975; UB - McMurtry 9.925; BB - Baker 9.925; FX - Baker, Hunter 9.975
By virtue of a handy little home score, Florida managed to leapfrog LSU to get back into the #2 spot. It's not coincidence that the Gators had by far their best score of the season when Baker and McMurtry showed their most complete performances so far. Their ability to support Kytra's routines with equivalent scores will dictate the success of this team without Sloan. When they're both getting 9.9s on beam, the Gators are in good shape.
Two more people joined the 10 club this weekend, Ciera Perkins on vault and Georgia Dabritz on bars, and many, many, many more people joined the 9.975 club. We're seeing a lot of individual judges giving out 10s this season while the other judge sits there going, "Y'all tripping." I'm with Other Judge. Obviously and always.
Except this, which was the tumbling pass of the weekend. I said at the moment her routine was better than Kytra's this week, and I stand by that.
Now, to the rankings.
Week 4 Rankings – (GymInfo)
1. Oklahoma – 197.465
Week 4 A: 197.650
Week 4 A leaders: AA - None; VT - Scaman 9.925; UB - Wofford, Scaman 9.900; BB - Lovan 9.925; FX - Dowell 9.950
Week 4 B: 197.700
Week 4 B leaders: AA - None; VT - Everyone 9.900; UB - Wofford 9.950; BB - Capps, Sorensen 9.900; FX - Scaman 9.950
The Sooners extended their lead this weekend with two more scores over 197.600, which has become the expectation for this team already. Basically, now if they get a 197.300 it's like, "Uh oh, who ruined everything?" Given the strengths of the roster this season, vault and floor were always going to be the talking points, and while those have been the best-scoring and most consistent events, all of the events are pretty much at the same level. It's tough to pick out an area of concern at this point.
As of this week, Oklahoma is ranked first on every apparatus except vault, where they're second to Nebraska. Part of the identity of Oklahoma is that this team is never over-reliant on a single individual, and this year, it's not over-reliant on a single event either. Right now, it's about waiting for the other top teams to catch up so that we can really pick apart this fight.
2. Florida – 197.131
Week 4: 197.600
Week 4 leaders: AA - Hunter 39.675; VT - Hunter 9.975; UB - McMurtry 9.925; BB - Baker 9.925; FX - Baker, Hunter 9.975
By virtue of a handy little home score, Florida managed to leapfrog LSU to get back into the #2 spot. It's not coincidence that the Gators had by far their best score of the season when Baker and McMurtry showed their most complete performances so far. Their ability to support Kytra's routines with equivalent scores will dictate the success of this team without Sloan. When they're both getting 9.9s on beam, the Gators are in good shape.
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