0.125, a little over one tenth, was the difference between LSU and Alabama’s team scores Friday night in Tuscaloosa, AL.
On the final rotation, Jessie Jordan closed the meet for the LSU Tigers by putting up a solid 9.900 on BB. Meanwhile, the Crimson Tide posted 3 consecutive 9.900s on FX and began to close in on LSU’s lead. Alabama’s Lauren Beers held the anchor spot and needed a score of at least 9.975 to secure the upset over #2 LSU. On her 2nd tumbling pass, she left out a crucial element, which dropped her start value to 9.7 leaving her with a score of 9.475. LSU came out with the win, an impressive showing on the road and an unblemished record in the SEC at 7-0, and 10-1 overall.
Both teams came into the meet after posting impressive wins last week against two strong SEC teams, Florida and Georgia. The excitement before and during the meet was tangible. A match-up of the #2 and #5 teams in the nation, and the top two teams in the SEC, lived up to the anticipation.
After the second rotation, the Tigers gained the lead and kept it. The Tide’s exciting rally on the last event did tighten the margin between the team’s scores but was just short of the win.
Even though the Tigers did not have last week’s co-SEC gymnast of the week, Rheagan Courville, on every event, they showed their depth and held off a motivated Crimson Tide home team. Courville had been nursing flu-like symptoms during the week, and for the first time this season did not compete on all four events.
Next week, Alabama will travel to Missouri; LSU will face Minnesota at home. These top 2 SEC teams will face off again shortly in the SEC championships in Duluth, GA March 21.
The last time the Tide fell at home was in 2009, also to the LSU Tigers.
11,749 fans were in attendance at Coleman Coliseum.
Link: LSU Release
PSU defeated host Iowa 440.8 to 435.75. PSU's Alexis Torres posted a big 90.55 to win the AA. He also won the Rings with a 16.0. Teammates Thad Lawson and Craig Hernandez won FX and PH, respectively. Iowa's Cyrus Dobre-Mofid won the PB while teammate Jack Boyle took the HB. Iowa's Matt Loochtan and PSU's Quest Hayden tied for the VT title.
Link: Iowa Release
OU broke their own NCAA record for team high score, hitting for 457.3. They set the prior record of 456.4 on Valentine's Day. Here's the event winners by event:
Samantha Wiecamp won VT and the AA while teammate Ali Berry won BB and FX to lead UW La Crosse to the win. Teammate Casey Kiesow won the UB to complete the sweep.
Link: Recap
Florida posted the nation's third best score to defeat a season-high from visiting Kentucky. A pair of Gators posted near-perfect 9.975s to win their events: Bridget Sloan won UB and Bridgette Caquatto won FX. Kennedy Baker tied for the VT title with classmate Alex McMurtry and tied for the BB title with teammate Kytra Hunter.
Link: Florida Release
Auburn easily handled the visiting Gym Dogs, setting a new school record. Auburn's Caitlin Atkinson led the way, winning the FX with a near-perfect 9.975 and posting a 39.675 in the AA. Teammate MJ Rott added her own 9.975 to win VT. Frosh Abby Milliet hit for a win on UB. UGA's Mary Beth Box prevented the sweep by taking BB.
Link: UGA Release
MSU posted a big 196+ road score to capture the win at Towson. They were led by Elena Lagoski's 9.95 FX win and Lisa Burt's 39.325 in the AA.
Link: MSU Release
Ball State celebrated Senior Night with some Denasiha Christian led the way for Ball State, winning the vault and tying for the FX title with teammates Erin Patchen and Kayla Beckler. Teammate Baylee Bell won the BB. NIU's Jamyra Carter won the UB.
Link: Ball State Release
Arkansas overcame problems on the BB to defeat Missouri. Paige Zaziski led the Gym Backs, winning the UB and taking the AA with a 39.2. Teammate Amanda Wellick won VT and FX. For Missouri, Briana Conkle won the BB.
Link: Missouri Release
Host West Chester took the tri-meet, led by Majesta Valentine's school record tying 38.775 AA.
Link: WCU Recap
Hannah McCrary, L10 at CGA in Ohio, has committed to Missouri. She finished 17th AA at JOs last season. So far this season she has earned the vault and AA titles at The Galaxy Meet, the bars and AA titles at the CGA Coaches Spectacular and the floor title at the WOGA meet (2nd AA).
According to the JPAC Gymnastics website, Brenna Houser has committed to Utah. Brenna is new to Level 10. So far this season she has only competed various individual events at her meets.
Kelsey Sorrenson, L10 at the Gymnastics Academy of Charleston, has committed to West Virginia. She qualified to regionals last season. This season she has posted a 6th place finish at the Myrtle Beach Cup and a 5th place finish at the Sand Dollar. She also won vault at the Daytona Beach Open.
Mikayla Magee, L10 at Reflex Gymnastics in Texas, has committed to Utah. In 2014, Mikayla finished 6th AA at JOs. So far this season she has competed at the Texas Prime (4thAA), Chow's Challenge (1st AA and 1st on v/ub/bb) and the Presidential Classic (1st AA and a sweep of all events).
OU tops the Men's Coaches' Poll for the week of February 23rd. Illinois is 2nd and Stanford is third.
This week's ranking switch to the Regional Qualifying Score, as compiled by Troester.com GymInfo. As usual, there is a big reshuffling of the Top 25, as teams drop low scores in their average. However, at the top, things remain the same. OU takes the top spot in this week's rankings, followed by LSU and then Florida.