Week 9 in NCAA closed with some more rankings shuffling; the teams are rising to the occasion, as the post season is imminent.
After basically going to the same meet twice, a tri-meet with Air Force and Minnesota, first at home, then on the road, Denver had two stellar meets and scored a road high at the Air Force Academy of 197.050. Friday, Denver took the top ranking with a 196.825, outscoring Minnesota by 0.65. Nina McGee scored her third perfect ten on floor and tied her career high on bars of 9.925. Julia Ross scored a season high on bars with a 9.9 and got her second best beam score of the season with a 9.9. Sunday, she scored a near perfect 9.9 on vault for her Yurchenko full.
Ross and McGee weren’t the only two Pioneers to reach season highs. As a team, Denver reached a season high on floor with 49.575. Nikole Addison scored a floor season high of 9.925, opening with a huge double layout on floor. Addison has been a reliable performer on vault, bars and floor all season for Denver. Senior Maggie Laughlin earned a 9.9 on floor and Claire Hammen earned a 9.925. With these huge scores, Denver dropped a 9.825 from Emily Barrett. After these outstanding performances, Denver got a big boost in rankings to the tenth spot, just behind Georgia with an RQS (regional qualifying score) of 196.605, bumping Arkansas from ninth to eleventh in the rankings.
Minnesota used the weekend to rise to the occasion as well, scoring a season high at the Air Force Academy of 197.225, beating Denver by 0.175 after their Friday night loss of 0.65. They notched a season on high on bars of 49.425. Lindsay Mable scored a 9.925, with a near flawless routine after she fell on her dismount Friday night. Despite a fall on beam, Mable scored a solid 39.150 in the all-around with a perfect 9.95 on vault for her Yurchenko full and a 9.925 for a near flawless floor routine, putting her in a three way tie for second with Nikole Addison and Claire Hammen. Bailie Holst also notched a solid 9.95. Hanna Nordquist matched her season high on beam with a 9.95.
At home on Sunday, the Air Force Academy put in a season high of 193.825. Kara Witgen was solid in the all-around, posting a 39.050, scoring nothing below a 9.7 on every event. She scored the highest individual score for Air Force, a 9.825 on floor. Witgen also had the highest individual bars score with a solid 9.8. Air Force put up season event highs on beam and floor with 48.75o on each event. Shannen Kelly and Mariana Murphy scored 9.8 on beam, allowing Air Force to drop a 9.625 from Sarah Neuman.
Washington was able to erase some less than stellar home scores from their RQS after scoring a solid 196.325 at their home meet against Western Michigan on Saturday, beating them by 0.75. Western Michigan also scored a season high of 195.575. For Washington, Kaitlyn Duranczyk proved herself to be a key player for Washington. She landed a solid 9.925 on bars with a beautiful straddled Jaeger and stuck double layout dismount. Duranczyk’s score allowed Washington to drop a 9.45 from Allison Northey on bars after catching her piked Jaeger too close and wound up taking an extra swing. Duranczyk also put up another big 9.9 on beam with her two standing layout step-outs and a stuck one and a half twist dismount. Malory Rose lead off Washington with a solid 9.875 on beam, with her beautiful jump to split sit mount.
Jessie Peszek, sister of 2015 NCAA all-around champion and former Olympic medalist, Samantha Peszek, was a standout for Western Michigan on bars and floor. On bars, she showed huge amplitude on her Jaeger and nailed her giant full to double back dismount with ease. However, she had issues on beam after a fall on her back handspring, back handspring to layout step out series and then fell on beat jump to three quarter turning split jump, only scoring an 8.325. Western Michigan showed some unique bar work from Anna Corbett who threw a rarely seen Delchev, earning her a 9.75. On vault, Kelsey Hood provided variety with a powerful Tsukahara full.
Georgia had two solid meets this weekend: their last home meet against Auburn and a tri-meet at UCLA with Stanford. Despite loosing at home to Auburn, they scored their second best floor score of the season with a 49.55. Georgia also managed to have two solid beam sets at home and at UCLA, a plus since they have struggled a lot on beam this season. However, they struggled on bars at home and had to count a 9.575 from Brittany Rogers after Lauren Johnson posted only a 9.25.
The meet was a swimming success for Auburn, won by 0.050 with a season high of 197.325 to Georgia’s 197.275. Auburn showed stellar consistency, scoring a 49.300 and above on every event. They won bars with a 49.350, Abby Millet contributed a 9.95 and Kait Kluz scored a 9.9, allowing them to drop a 9.45 from Kelsey Kopec. Despite their challenges, Georgia did have strong performances from Brandie Jay, who won the all-around with a 39.6. They also had three scores of 9.9 or better on floor from Mary Beth Box, Brandie Jay and GiGi Marino. Auburn’s solid performance boosted them to the 7th spot in the rankings, bumping UCLA down to the 8th spot.
At UCLA, Georgia posted a huge vault score of 49.525, with Brittany Rogers receiving her first perfect 10 on the season for her Yurchenko one and a half. Rogers also redeemed herself from her poor bars performance on Friday by scoring a 9.95. Overall, Georgia came in second behind Stanford with a 197.025, outscoring the home team, UCLA by 0.20. UCLA struggled on beam, scoring only a 48.95, despite Danusia Francis scoring a perfect 10.00. They suffered a fall from Stella Savvidou and then Nicki Shapiro fell on her back handspring layout step-out series for the second time in two weeks. She earned a 9.100, forcing UCLA to count Savvidou’s 9.275. Despite the beam-tastrophe, Mikaela Gerber in the lead off position scored a 9.925 and Katelyn Ohashi scored a 9.9, matching her season high from the previous week after her return from injury, with a new dismount to replace the double pike she crashed at Arizona. Ohashi also made her return to floor exercise and scored a 9.9.
While UCLA and Georgia struggled, Stanford came to Los Angeles to have their best performance of the entire season and won the meet with a huge 197.400. Elizabeth “Ebee” Price contributed a 39.675, her highest all-around score of the season to Stanford’s overall score. Price busted out a perfect Yurchenko double full on vault and received a 9.975, she also matched her bars season high of 9.975, with a Maloney, a Church to Pak Salto, a toe shoot to high bar, ending with a stuck double layout. Ivana Hong tied for second on bars with Brittany Rogers, earning a 9.925, with a beautiful Ray in place of her Tkatchev. Taylor Rice, who has struggled all season long, posted personal season highs on bars with a 9.875 and on floor with a 9.85.
Additionally, Stanford scored event highs on all four events. They came out strong and were able to drop falls from Danielle McNair on vault and beam and did not count a score lower than 9.75, which came from Rachel Daum on floor exercise. While Stanford didn’t score any tens, they were by far the most consistent team on the floor that night. After Sunday, Stanford has now been boosted to # 13 in the line-up after being ranked at # 16 the previous week.
At Michigan, Utah upset the Wolverines at home in their last of three consecutive road meets. Utah also scored a season high of 197.575, boosting them to a comfortable position at the # 5 spot in the rankings. Michigan put up a good fight, but they were no match for Utah, who beat them by 0.425, with Michigan scoring a 197.050. Utah matched their vault season high of 49.475, with Breanna Hughes scoring a 9.9 on her Yurchenko one and a half.
At the halfway point, with Michigan concluding on bars and Utah concluding vault, Utah had already slid ahead of Michigan, ahead by .075. On floor, Utah was solid, scoring a 49.375, while Michigan struggled on beam. They had to count a fall from the normally super reliable, Talia Chiarelli, when she fell on an aerial cartwheel. They dropped an 8.9 from Lauren Marinez, after she fell also on an aerial cartwheel. She also missed her series of front aerial to back handspring, but repeated the series with a big wobble and landed low on her double full dismount. Luckily, Nicole Artz put up a 9.925.
Michigan was able to redeem themselves on floor with a 49.475. Artz put up a near perfect 9.975, opening with a difficult pike full in. Chiarelli redeemed her beam performance with a 9.9, opening with a tucked full in, then performed a pass with three skills connected, a one and a half to front layout to front tuck and ending with a clean, stuck double pike. While the Wolverines were ending on floor, Utah sealed their win with their last three beam performers scoring a 9.9 and above, starting with Kassandra Lopez and going to Baely Rowe, who did a tripe beam series of two back handsprings to layout step out and moonwalking her way to a clean 9.9. Maddie Stover put the final piece of the puzzle together, anchoring beam for Utah with a 9.925.
This coming week will be the final week before the regular season ends with the conference championships. Western Michigan will host a rare Tuesday meet against University of Illinois, Chicago. Friday, Kentucky, Florida, Western Michigan, Arizona, Auburn and Arkansas will all host their final home meet. Kentucky hosts Iowa State, Florida hosts North Carolina, Western Michigan hosts Missouri, Arizona hosts Brigham Young (BYU), Auburn hosts Arizona State and Arkansas hosts Utah State.
Saturday, the teams of the Big Ten Conference compete for seeding at the Big Ten championships the following weekend. In the afternoon, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Rutgers will compete at Penn State, and in the evening, Illinois-Champaign, Maryland College Park, Michigan State and Nebraska will be competing at Ohio State. After three straight weeks on the road, Utah ends their season at home, hosting Georgia. LSU and Oregon State will compete at a quad meet with New Hampshire at Texas Women’s University. Washington will host their last home meet before they host the PAC 12 Championships next week, a tri-meet with Denver and Seattle Pacific. Sunday, Oklahoma closes the regular season out at UCLA.
Rankings and full schedule are provided below, via RoadtoNationals.com:
Week 10
Tuesday, March 8 7:00 ET/4:00 PT – UIC @ Western Michigan Thursday, March 10 TBA ET/TBA PT – Yale @ Bridgeport 6:30 ET/3:30 PT – Central Michigan, S.E. Missouri @ Eastern Michigan 8:00 ET/5:00 PT – Bowling Green @ Illinois State Friday, March 11 5:00 ET/2:00 PT – Iowa State @ Kentucky 6:45 ET/3:45 PT – North Carolina @ Florida 7:00 ET/4:00 PT – Centenary College @ Lindenwood 7:00 ET/4:00 PT – Missouri @ Western Michigan 7:00 ET/4:00 PT – Pittsburgh @ West Virginia 8:00 ET/5:00 PT – BYU @ Arizona 8:00 ET/5:00 PT – Arizona State @ Auburn 8:00 ET/5:00 PT – Utah State @ Arkansas 9:00 ET/6:00 PT – San Jose State, Southern Utah @ Boise State 10:00 ET/7:00 PT – California, Sacramento State @ UC Davis 12:00 ET/9:00 PT – Air Force @ Alaska Saturday, March 12 12:00 ET/9:00 PT – Cornell @ West Chester 1:00 ET/10:00 PT – Bridgeport @ Pennsylvania 1:00 ET/10:00 PT – Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Rutgers @ Penn State (B1G FIVE Qualifier) 4:00 ET/1:00 PT – Northern Illinois @ Bowling Green 4:00 ET/1:00 PT – Illinois-Champaign, Maryland-College Park, Michigan State, Nebraska @ Ohio State 6:00 ET/3:00 PT – Southern Conn., Temple @ Brown 7:00 ET/4:00 PT – Ball State @ North Carolina State 7:00 ET/4:00 PT – Georgia @ Utah 7:00 ET/4:00 PT – LSU, New Hampshire, Oregon State @ Texas Woman’s 9:00 ET/6:00 PT – Denver, Seattle Pacific @ Washington Sunday, March 13 1:00 ET/10:00 PT – Kent State, Yale @ George Washington 2:00 ET/11:00 PT – West Virginia @ Pittsburgh 3:00 ET/12:00 PT – Utah State @ UIC 4:00 ET/1:00 PT – William & Mary @ Towson 5:00 ET/2:00 PT – Oklahoma @ UCLA 7:00 ET/4:00 PT – Air Force @ Alaska
| Rank | Team Name | Team RQS | Conference | Division | High |
| 1 | Oklahoma | 197.765 | Big 12 | Div I | 198.075 |
| 2 | Florida | 197.58 | SEC | Div I | 198.175 |
| 3 | LSU | 197.34 | SEC | Div I | 197.925 |
| 4 | Alabama | 197.325 | SEC | Div I | 197.55 |
| 5 | Utah | 197.105 | PAC-12 | Div I | 197.525 |
| 6 | Michigan | 197.085 | Big Ten | Div I | 197.425 |
| 7 | Auburn | 196.94 | SEC | Div I | 197.325 |
| 8 | UCLA | 196.865 | PAC-12 | Div I | 197.475 |
| 9 | Georgia | 196.82 | SEC | Div I | 197.525 |
| 10 | Denver | 196.605 | Big 12 | Div I | 197.525 |
| 11 | Arkansas | 196.47 | SEC | Div I | 197.225 |
| 12 | Boise State | 196.365 | MRGC | Div I | 196.575 |
| 13 | Stanford | 196.305 | PAC-12 | Div I | 197.4 |
| 14 | California | 196.29 | PAC-12 | Div I | 196.9 |
| 15 | Missouri | 196.235 | SEC | Div I | 196.65 |
| 16(t) | Oregon State | 196.205 | PAC-12 | Div I | 196.85 |
| 16(t) | Nebraska | 196.205 | Big Ten | Div I | 197.35 |
| 18 | Iowa | 196.2 | Big Ten | Div I | 196.65 |
| 19 | Minnesota | 196.105 | Big Ten | Div I | 197.225 |
| 20 | Arizona | 196.08 | PAC-12 | Div I | 196.475 |
| 21 | Kentucky | 195.965 | SEC | Div I | 196.7 |
| 22 | George Washington | 195.905 | EAGL | Div I | 196.6 |
| 23 | Illinois-Champaign | 195.765 | Big Ten | Div I | 196.525 |
| 24 | Washington | 195.75 | PAC-12 | Div I | 196.45 |
| 25 | West Virginia | 195.665 | Big 12 | Div I | 196.8 |
| 26 | Eastern Michigan | 195.635 | MAC | Div I | 196.6 |
| 27 | Southern Utah | 195.595 | MRGC | Div I | 196.3 |
| 28(t) | Penn State | 195.55 | Big Ten | Div I | 196.35 |
| 28(t) | Ohio State | 195.55 | Big Ten | Div I | 196.35 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | 195.4 | EAGL | Div I | 196.075 |
| 31 | BYU | 195.37 | MRGC | Div I | 195.75 |
| 32 | Utah State | 195.35 | MRGC | Div I | 196.025 |
| 33 | Central Michigan | 195.345 | MAC | Div I | 196.125 |
| 34 | Michigan State | 195.17 | Big Ten | Div I | 195.575 |
| 35 | Kent State | 195.145 | MAC | Div I | 196.125 |
| 36 | Iowa State | 195.1 | Big 12 | Div I | 196.025 |
| 37 | North Carolina State | 195.09 | EAGL | Div I | 196.175 |
| 38 | Bowling Green | 195.05 | MAC | Div I | 195.725 |
| 39 | Maryland-College Park | 195.015 | Big Ten | Div I | 196.025 |
| 40 | Rutgers | 194.685 | Big Ten | Div I | 195.475 |
| 41 | Sacramento State | 194.565 | MPSF | Div I | 196.475 |
| 42 | UC Davis | 194.54 | MPSF | Div I | 195.575 |
| 43 | Ball State | 194.5 | MAC | Div I | 195.25 |
| 44 | Northern Illinois | 194.47 | MAC | Div I | 195 |
| 45 | Western Michigan | 194.41 | MAC | Div I | 195.575 |
| 46 | San Jose State | 194.33 | MPSF | Div I | 195.3 |
| 47 | Bridgeport | 194.24 | ECAC-2 | Div II | 194.825 |
| 48 | Arizona State | 193.865 | PAC-12 | Div I | 194.725 |
| 49 | Towson | 193.825 | EAGL | Div I | 195.275 |
| 50 | Pittsburgh | 193.64 | EAGL | Div I | 195.25 |
| 51 | Lindenwood | 193.605 | MIC | Div II | 195.325 |
| 52 | Brown | 193.03 | ECAC | Div I | 194.075 |
| 53 | S.E. Missouri | 192.965 | MIC | Div I | 193.9 |
| 54 | UIC | 192.46 | MIC | Div I | 193.225 |
| 55 | Cornell | 192.445 | ECAC | Div I | 194.025 |
| 56 | Illinois State | 192.38 | MIC | Div I | 194.175 |
| 57 | North Carolina | 192.26 | EAGL | Div I | 194.275 |
| 58 | Seattle Pacific | 192.205 | MPSF | Div II | 193.9 |
| 59 | Texas Woman’s | 192.155 | MIC | Div II | 193.575 |
| 60 | William & Mary | 191.86 | ECAC | Div I | 193.175 |
| 61 | Air Force | 191.545 | MPSF | Div I | 193.825 |
| 62 | Alaska | 191.5 | MPSF | Div I | 193.325 |
| 63 | Yale | 191.4 | ECAC | Div I | 192.275 |
| 64 | Temple | 191.39 | ECAC | Div I | 192.325 |
| 65 | West Chester | 191.25 | ECAC-2 | Div II | 193.475 |
| 66 | Pennsylvania | 191.23 | ECAC | Div I | 192.4 |
| 67 | UW-Whitewater | 189.93 | WIAC | Div III | 191.4 |
| 68 | Brockport State | 189.73 | NCGA East | Div III | 191.875 |
| 69 | Centenary College | 189.285 | MIC | Div III | 190.525 |
| 70 | UW-La Crosse | 189.265 | WIAC | Div III | 192.9 |
| 71 | Southern Conn. | 189.215 | ECAC-2 | Div II | 190.725 |
| 72 | Ursinus College | 187.795 | NCGA East | Div III | 189.75 |
| 73 | Cortland State | 187.34 | NCGA East | Div III | 189.3 |
| 74 | Winona State | 185.765 | WIAC | Div III | 188.525 |
| 75 | Springfield College | 185.75 | NCGA East | Div III | 187.525 |
| 76 | UW-Oshkosh | 185.035 | WIAC | Div III | 187.4 |
| 77 | UW-Eau Claire | 184.945 | WIAC | Div III | 188.925 |
| 78 | Ithaca College | 184.665 | NCGA East | Div III | 186.475 |
| 79 | Hamline | 183.095 | WIAC | Div III | 185.775 |
| 80 | UW-Stout | 182.62 | WIAC | Div III | 186.075 |
| 81 | Gustavus Adolphus | 182.01 | WIAC | Div III | 184.475 |
| 82 | Rhode Island College | 177.69 | NCGA East | Div III | 181.075 |
Article by: Maria Layton
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