Missouri posted a big 196.225 to score an easy win over Illinois and Ball State. The Tigers sent a strong message, shattering the school record for opening meet performance despite the one-meet absence of their top AAer from last season. Frosh Aspen Tucker had a solid debut, posting a 39.175 to win the AA. Teammate Britney Ward won the VT, while teammates Becca Schugel and Kennedi Harris tied for the FX title. Tiger Madeleine had the top score on the night, a 9.925 to win the UB. Illinois rebounded from a 47.575 on UB to post a 49.25 on BB, with three Illini tying for the title: Brielle Nguyen, Mary Jane Horth and Lizzy Leduc.
Link: Release
Oregon State upset host Auburn 195.575 to 195.275, making a strong statement for the season. Veterans lead the way for the Beavers, with Kaytianna McMillan posting a 39.125 to win the AA. Teammate Erika Aufiero, who missed 2016 with an injury, won the UB with a 9.85. Oregon State's Madeline Gardiner won the BB. McMillan tied for the FX title with AU's MJ Rott and frosh teammate Isis Lowery. Auburn frosh Gracie Day posted a win on VT with a 9.85. Neither team counted falls but the Beavers won three of four events, and tied the Tigers on the fourth.
Link: Release
Maggie Nichols met all loft expectations as she posted a huge 39.725 to lead the Sooner to a 197.75 to 196.7 victory over the visiting Crimson Tide. She was near-perfect on UB, posting a 9.975 to take the title. She also won the FX at 9.95. Teammate Brenna Dowell won VT with a 9.95 on a stuck Yurchenko 1 1/2. The Sooners lowest mark on UB was a 9.9, equalling Bama's highest. Their lowest on VT, a 9.825, was also equal to Bama's highest.
Bama excelled on BB, however, defeating the SOoners as a team on the event. Kiana Winston led the squad with a 9.95 win.
Link: Release and Highlights
LSU set a school-record opening meet score with a huge 197.825. It's the higest mark of the young season. UGA struggled to a just a 193.6 with BB troubles. LSU's Myia Hambrick continued her winning ways, posting a 39.575 to win the AA. Teammate Sarah Finnegan won the UB and BB. Tiger Ashleigh Gnat was just being in the AA with a 39.525 while super frosh Kennedi Edney won the VT with a 9.95.
Link: LSU Release
Michigan State defeated the visitors from UIC, 194.175 to 191.475. Frosh Ella Douglas had a strong debut, winning BB and the FX. Teammates Nicola Deans and Hailee Westney won VT and UB, respectively. For UIC, Mikailla Northern won the AA with a 38.675.
Link: MSU Release
Kentucky defeated host EMU, led by frosh Mollie Korth's 39.175 and trio of wins from sophomore Alex Hyland. Korth joined the UK program at mid-year. She and Hyland tied for the UB title with EMU's Kendall Valentin. Hyland then won the BB and FX. Sophomore Sidney Dukes won the VT.
Mike Powell will move up from Assistant Coach to Interim Head Coach at Wiliam and Mary.
Avery Stoll, L10 at Gym X-Treme, has committed to ISU. She placed 5th AA at her 2016 state meet and 7th AA at regionals. She fnished the season at 22nd place at JOs. She recently placed 1st on vault and floor at The Cup.
Maya Green, L10 from Airborne Gymnastics, has committed to Cal. Last season her 7th place finish at regionals qualified her to JOs where she finished 23rd AA.
Ashley Veglucci, L10 from Gold Medal NY, has committed to CMU. She placed 1st on vault and bars and 3rd AA at her 2016 state meet. A 3rd place finish at regionals qualified her to JOs where she placed 4th on vault.
Kelsey Boychuk, L10 at 5280 Gymnastics, has committed to ISU. Last season she finished 5th AA at her state meet and 8th AA at regionals, which qualified her to JOs.
Jessica Harris from Gymstars in Tennessee has committed to Centenary. Last season she competed at Level 9. She placed 3rd AA at her state meet and 1st on beam and in the AA at regionals. She finished the season in 19th place at the Eastern Championships.
ASU has announced via Twitter that Alex Wilson will join the team this season. She has competed for Tigar Gymnastics in Colorado. Last season she finished 9th AA at her state meet and 15th AA at regionals.
Brooke Weins, L10 at 5280 Gymnastics, has committed to Mizzou. Last season she was 6thAA at her state meet and 12thAA at regionals.
We're about to start the 2017 season, and it's time for us to release our annual Ranking of Recruiting Classes. We wait until January to release this ranking because the recruiting calendar now extends year round, and we're seeing an increasing number of teams get mid-year additions. And once again, we're seeing some of the negative unfortunate consequences of early recruiting: gymnasts are not signing to their original classes, some choose not to matriculate or other life changes intrude (including, unfortunately, injury). This year's ranking has seen all of that and more, as places shifted with each new late signing or in one case, a deferral caused in part due to injury.