The end of week three saw improvements from many teams. Others suffered unexpected losses and some were trapped for nearly a full day due to a snowstorm of epic proportions.
The Temple University women’s team found themselves stuck in their bus for twenty-four hours while a blizzard of epic proportions hammered the United States east coast. The team was headed to a quad meet at Pittsburgh. (Number 15 ranked New Hampshire squashed the competition). In West Virginia University closed their Saturday meet against William & Mary to the public. Western Michigan was also due to compete, but were detained by Snow-pocalypse 2016.
While this was happening, West Virgina took the opportunity to beat William & Mary with a 195.800. Sophomore Zaakira Muhammed scored a career best on floor with a 9.95 and took the all-around title with a39.325. While the East coast was being buried in snow, Utah, LSU and Florida were busy notching another win into the leather of their metaphorical championship belts.
Florida is on a three-week winning streak, winning against Auburn with a 197.075 to Auburn’s 195.900. They also cemented their second week at number one. At this point, Florida is the team that everyone wants to beat. The Gators took the top score on every event, 9.9 on vault and beam from Alex McMurtry, 9.925 on bars from Bridget Sloan and a 9.95 on floor from Kennedy Baker and her super human piked double Arabian. They are the defending champions after all. However, the trick will be for them to maintain consistency to be able to fully peak at championships.
Hanging out just behind Florida, Oklahoma had another win after last weekend’s double feature, scoring a season high of 197.475 in a tri-meet against Arizona State and Iowa state. The Sooners put up solid scores on all four events, only having to drop a 9.1 from Nicole Lehrmann on beam. Oklahoma is looking towards the post season and have been steadily increasing their scores every week. This week, the Sooners had a 49.37 average event score, giving them an average individual score of 9.87.
Utah beat Oregon State by a full point in a home meet at the Pac-12 conference opener, 196.125 to Oregon State’s 195.125. Utah this season has scored better away then at home. The Utes had strong scores on vault, bars and beam, but struggled on floor, only scoring a 48.425, counting Maddie Stover’s fall, after Tiffani Lewis posted only an 8.925.
In the west, Boise State broke into the top ten in the rankings after winning in a tri-meet against BYU and UC Davis.
Despite an epic equipment malfunction on freshman Katelyn Ohashi’s beam routine, UCLA scored a win against the University of Arizona. UCLA won at Arizona by .375, 196.8 to 196.475. UCLA proved their biggest strength this season is consistency and dominating floor. The Bruins posted a 49.15 on vault, bars and beam and a 49.350 on floor. However, the Arizona Gym-Cats beat the Bruins on floor with a 49.175, with 9.9s from Kennady Schneider and Jessica Sisler, who opens her routine with a Rudi to layout step-out and ending with a double full to punch front. During UCLA’s beam rotation, Katelyn Ohashi clipped the beam with her foot on her round off –double pike, causing her to land on her head. It was later determined that her fall was due to an equipment malfunction as the beam end cap came off, causing Ohashi to clip her foot on it. After being medically cleared, Ohashi was allowed to repeat her routine, and her second routine went smoothly, earning Ohashi a 9.825.
Denver won against Washington at home despite problems on beam. Denver proved to be a solid vault team, having all 6 scores 9.8 or better. Nina McGee put up a 9.9 on vault with a rarely seen full twisting Tsukahara. She stole the show on floor once again, putting up a 9.975 to Denver’s already solid floor line up, with Nikole Addison, whose double layout rivals McGee’s. For Washington, senior Allison Northey once again showed some much needed consistency for the Huskies.
Stanford made a huge climb up in the rankings after their winning home opener Sunday night against California and San Jose State. The Cardinals pulled off a season high of 196.675, raising them to 12th place nationally with a 195.783 average. Sophomore Elizabeth “Ebee” Price continues to be a steady, consistent performer for Stanford, scoring 9.925 on vault and bars. Toni-Ann Williams of California had the highest floor score of 9.925.
Alabama dropped behind UCLA to 5th in the rankings after their home meet against Arkansas. Losing by 3 tenths. 196.7 to 196.4. Alabama’s downfall came on the beam. The Crimson tide wound up having to count 9.35 from Lauren Beers and a 9.275 from Kiana Winston when freshman Avery Rickett posted only a 6.
LSU won their second home meet versus Kentucky with a 196.575 to Kentucky’s 195.100. Ashleigh Gnat earned the second 10.00 of the season on vault for her double twisting Yurchenko. LSU struggled on bars, having to count a fall from Sarah Finnegan after Ashleigh Gnat posted a 9.3. Finnegan came back on beam, triple wolf turning her way to a 9.9, tying with Kentucky’s Sidney Dukes for the beam title.
As we head into week four, we should expect to see some more improvement from all teams, having cleaner landings and routines. It’s only four weeks in, so scores will continue to be averaged for the rankings until the week ending February 7th. .The following week, February 14th, Regional qualifying scores will be used to calculate rankings. Coming up this week, LSU, Oklahoma, Washington, Missouri and Stanford will meet in Fort Worth, Texas for the Metroplex Challenge. Hopefully, this is the end of Snow-maggedon 2016 and everyone will make their respective meets in the coming week.
<td width="157">
Team Name
</td>
<td width="87">
Conference
</td>
<td width="87">
Ave.
</td>
<td width="87">
High
</td>
<td width="157">
Florida
</td>
<td width="87">
SEC
</td>
<td width="87">
197.192
</td>
<td width="87">
197.675
</td>
<td width="157">
Oklahoma
</td>
<td width="87">
Big 12
</td>
<td width="87">
197.094
</td>
<td width="87">
197.475
</td>
<td width="157">
Michigan
</td>
<td width="87">
Big Ten
</td>
<td width="87">
196.938
</td>
<td width="87">
196.975
</td>
<td width="157">
UCLA
</td>
<td width="87">
PAC-12
</td>
<td width="87">
196.758
</td>
<td width="87">
196.925
</td>
<td width="157">
Alabama
</td>
<td width="87">
SEC
</td>
<td width="87">
196.688
</td>
<td width="87">
197.175
</td>
<td width="157">
LSU
</td>
<td width="87">
SEC
</td>
<td width="87">
196.45
</td>
<td width="87">
196.95
</td>
<td width="157">
Utah
</td>
<td width="87">
PAC-12
</td>
<td width="87">
196.342
</td>
<td width="87">
196.725
</td>
<td width="157">
Arkansas
</td>
<td width="87">
SEC
</td>
<td width="87">
196.113
</td>
<td width="87">
196.7
</td>
<td width="157">
Auburn
</td>
<td width="87">
SEC
</td>
<td width="87">
196.106
</td>
<td width="87">
196.275
</td>
<td width="157">
Boise State
</td>
<td width="87">
MRGC
</td>
<td width="87">
196.063
</td>
<td width="87">
196.425
</td>
<td width="157">
George Washington
</td>
<td width="87">
EAGL
</td>
<td width="87">
195.8
</td>
<td width="87">
196.175
</td>
<td width="157">
Stanford
</td>
<td width="87">
PAC-12
</td>
<td width="87">
195.783
</td>
<td width="87">
196.675
</td>
<td width="157">
Georgia
</td>
<td width="87">
SEC
</td>
<td width="87">
195.769
</td>
<td width="87">
196.775
</td>
<td width="157">
Denver
</td>
<td width="87">
Big 12
</td>
<td width="87">
195.642
</td>
<td width="87">
195.9
</td>
<td width="157">
Oregon State
</td>
<td width="87">
PAC-12
</td>
<td width="87">
195.633
</td>
<td width="87">
196.35
</td>
<td width="157">
Missouri
</td>
<td width="87">
SEC
</td>
<td width="87">
195.6
</td>
<td width="87">
196.05
</td>
<td width="157">
Nebraska
</td>
<td width="87">
Big Ten
</td>
<td width="87">
195.342
</td>
<td width="87">
196.15
</td>
<td width="157">
Minnesota
</td>
<td width="87">
Big Ten
</td>
<td width="87">
195.267
</td>
<td width="87">
195.675
</td>
<td width="157">
Illinois-Champaign
</td>
<td width="87">
Big Ten
</td>
<td width="87">
195.242
</td>
<td width="87">
195.5
</td>
<td width="157">
Arizona
</td>
<td width="87">
PAC-12
</td>
<td width="87">
195.217
</td>
<td width="87">
196.475
</td>
<td width="157">
California
</td>
<td width="87">
PAC-12
</td>
<td width="87">
195.15
</td>
<td width="87">
195.65
</td>
<td width="157">
West Virginia
</td>
<td width="87">
Big 12
</td>
<td width="87">
195.083
</td>
<td width="87">
195.8
</td>
<td width="157">
Kentucky
</td>
<td width="87">
SEC
</td>
<td width="87">
195.033
</td>
<td width="87">
195.175
</td>
<td width="157">
Eastern Michigan
</td>
<td width="87">
MAC
</td>
<td width="87">
194.992
</td>
<td width="87">
195.05
</td>
<td width="157">
Southern Utah
</td>
<td width="87">
MRGC
</td>
<td width="87">
194.992
</td>
<td width="87">
195.6
</td>
<td width="157">
New Hampshire
</td>
<td width="87">
EAGL
</td>
<td width="87">
194.919
</td>
<td width="87">
196.075
</td>
<td width="157">
Ohio State
</td>
<td width="87">
Big Ten
</td>
<td width="87">
194.858
</td>
<td width="87">
195.275
</td>
<td width="157">
Western Michigan
</td>
<td width="87">
MAC
</td>
<td width="87">
194.65
</td>
<td width="87">
195.275
</td>
<td width="157">
Iowa
</td>
<td width="87">
Big Ten
</td>
<td width="87">
194.595
</td>
<td width="87">
196.375
</td>
<td width="157">
Sacramento State
</td>
<td width="87">
MPSF
</td>
<td width="87">
194.55
</td>
<td width="87">
194.9
</td>
<td width="157">
Utah State
</td>
<td width="87">
MRGC
</td>
<td width="87">
194.458
</td>
<td width="87">
194.9
</td>
<td width="157">
Penn State
</td>
<td width="87">
Big Ten
</td>
<td width="87">
194.35
</td>
<td width="87">
194.575
</td>
<td width="157">
Kent State
</td>
<td width="87">
MAC
</td>
<td width="87">
194.325
</td>
<td width="87">
195.15
</td>
<td width="157">
BYU
</td>
<td width="87">
MRGC
</td>
<td width="87">
194.3
</td>
<td width="87">
195.475
</td>
<td width="157">
Central Michigan
</td>
<td width="87">
MAC
</td>
<td width="87">
194.269
</td>
<td width="87">
195.275
</td>
<td width="157">
Washington
</td>
<td width="87">
PAC-12
</td>
<td width="87">
194.225
</td>
<td width="87">
194.65
</td>
Friday, January 29 5:00 ET/2:00 PT – Georgia @ Kentucky 6:00 ET/3:00 PT – Centenary College, Temple, Ursinus College @ West Chester 6:45 ET/3:45 PT – Alabama @ Florida 7:00 ET/4:00 PT – Gustavus Adolphus @ UW-Stout 7:00 ET/4:00 PT – Hamline @ UW-Eau Claire 7:00 ET/4:00 PT – Illinois-Champaign @ Penn State 7:00 ET/4:00 PT – Michigan @ Nebraska 7:30 ET/4:30 PT – Lindenwood, North Carolina State @ Iowa State 7:30 ET/4:30 PT – UW-Whitewater @ S.E. Missouri 7:30 ET/4:30 PT – Winona State @ UW-La Crosse 8:30 ET/5:30 PT – Auburn @ Arkansas 9:00 ET/6:00 PT – Southern Utah @ Utah State 9:30 ET/6:30 PT – Boise State, BYU @ (Gem State Invitational) 10:00 ET/7:00 PT – UC Davis @ Sacramento State 10:00 ET/7:00 PT – Seattle Pacific, Texas Woman’s, William & Mary @ San Jose State Saturday, January 30 7:45 ET/4:45 PT – LSU, Missouri, Oklahoma, Stanford, Washington @ (Metroplex Challenge) 1:00 ET/10:00 PT – Bridgeport, New Hampshire, Southern Conn. @ Yale (Don Tonry Invitational) 1:00 ET/10:00 PT – Ithaca College @ Brockport State 1:00 ET/10:00 PT – George Washington @ North Carolina 2:00 ET/11:00 PT – Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Towson @ Michigan State 3:00 ET/12:00 PT – UIC @ Illinois State 4:00 ET/1:00 PT – Denver @ Bowling Green 4:00 ET/1:00 PT – Northern Illinois @ Eastern Michigan 4:00 ET/1:00 PT – Minnesota @ Ohio State 7:00 ET/4:00 PT – Arizona State @ Oregon State 8:00 ET/5:00 PT – UW-Oshkosh @ Air Force Sunday, January 31 TBA ET/TBA PT – Cornell @ Bridgeport 12:00 ET/9:00 PT – Centenary College, West Chester @ Pennsylvania 1:00 ET/10:00 PT – Ball State @ Central Michigan 1:00 ET/10:00 PT – Brown, Cortland State, Southern Conn. @ Springfield College 1:00 ET/10:00 PT – Kent State @ Western Michigan 2:00 ET/11:00 PT – Iowa @ Maryland-College Park
Results via roadtonationals.com
Article by: Maria Layton
Photo cover: Katelyn Ohashi via UCLA Gymnastics