Arkansas powered to an easy win over Illinois State and SEMO. They were led by Amanda Wellick, who posted a 39.425 to win the AA. She also took the titles on VT and FX. Teammate Stephani Canizaro won the UB. Illinois State's Amanda Mohler scored another big win, taking the BB.
Link: SEMO Release
Number 1 OU traveled to nearby Oklahoma City to host the Perfect 10 Challenge. While they defeated Kentucky, they posted a 197.275, weighed down by counting scores in the 9.7 range on UB and BB. Chayse Capps led OU with a 9.95 win on VT. Teammates Ali Jackson and Haley Scaman tied for the FX title, while Sooner McKenzie Wofford won UB. For UK, Syndey Waltz scored a big win over the OU BB lineup.
Link: Release and Videos
Auburn posted an all-time school record score but it wasn't enough as the LSU Tigers escaped with a win. Ashleigh "Bugs" Gnat led the way, winning the AA with a 39.55. She also took the FX. Teammate Rheagan Courville won the UB and tied for the VT title with AU's Lexus Demers and MJ Rott. LSU's Jessie Jordan returned from injury to tie for the BB title with AU's Megan Walker.
Link: AU Release
Denver posted a solid win at WVU, overcoming what WVU coach Jason Butts said was the Mountaineers "best team performance of the year". Nina McGee led DU, winning the VT and tying for the FX title with WVU's Dayah Haley. Teamamte Julia Ross won the BB, while Pioneer Katie Menhinick won the AA (38.875). WVU's Alexa Goldberg won the UB.
Link: WVU Release
Missouri scored a season high, but it was far from enough as the host Gators blasted to a new season high 198.225. Senior Kytra Hunter led the Gators, winning the AA with a 39.75. She also tied for the event titles on vault (with teammate Alex McMurtry) and beam (with teammate Claire Boyce). Florida's Bianca Dancose-Giambattisto won the UB while frosh teammate Kennedy Baker posted a near-perfect 9.975 to win FX.
Link: UF Release
Lindenwood scored an easy win over the visitors from TWU and Centenary. LU frosh Kierstin Sokolowski led the way, winning the VT and the AA with a 39.175. She also tied for the VT title with teammate Rachel Zabawa. Teammates Courtney Heise and Valeri Ingui won the UB and BB, respectively.
Link: TWU Release
Ball State held off the visitors of WMU to hold down the win on Friday night. Densiha Christian won VT while Jessica Leko won BB to pace Ball State. Erin Patchey added a 9.875 win on FX to seal the victory. For WMU, Jessie Peszek won the UB while Anna Corbett took the AA (38.8).
Michigan powered to a win at Michigan State, paced by senior Sachi Sugiyama. She won the AA with a 39.55 and the VT with a 9.9. She also tied for the floor title with teammate Talia Chiarelli. Wolverines Brianna Brown and Nicole Artz won UB and BB, respectively.
Link: Michigan Release
We're almost halfway through the season, and we're going to see a switch to the Regional Qualifying Score (RQS) in a few weeks. Now that the jitters and novelty of the new season is wearing off, we're starting to see some clear trends emerge. "Slow Starters" are making big improvements while "Early Leaders" are finding new teams nipping at their heels. As we head into the "mid-point shakeup", here are some observations.
Parkettes' Taylor Lawson has committed to Arizona. Last season she qualified to compete as an elite at the US Secret Classic and the P&G Championships. So far this season she has competed at the Brestyan's Invitational (4th AA; 1st vault) and the PKI (9th AA).
Alexandra Ruiz, L10 from ACE Gymnastics in Forida, has committed to DU. She finished 1st AA at the 2013 JOs. Last season she finished 1st on vault at the National Elite Qualifier. This season she earned a near sweep of events at the Ozone Invitational and she placed 2nd AA and 1st on floor at the Sand Dollar meet.
OU still holds the top spot in the Men's Poll, but there has been activity in the poll this week. PSU is now in 2nd and Illinois in 3rd. Both received a first place vote in this week's poll.
UCLA broke through the 197 barrier, using big advantages on VT and FX to defeat Washington. Four different Bruins won individual honors: Jordan Williams on VT, Sophina DeJesus on UB, Danusia Francis on BB and Sadiqua Bynum on FX. Frosh Sonia Meraz won the AA in her debut (39.025).
Link: Results
Jade Brown, L10 at Gedderts in Michigan, has committed to Kent State. She competed at Level 9 last season and finished with a trip to Eastern Championships, coming away with 1st place finishes on bars and floor. This season, as a first year L10, she has competed at the Twistars Invitational and the No Limit Invitational (1st AA and floor).
OU takes the top spot in this this week's National Rankings for Women, as published by Troester.com GymInfo. LSU moves into 2nd, just behind, as both squads broke the 198 barrier this past weekend. Florida tumbles to fourth, overtaken by Utah in 3rd. .
Cortland State defeated Southern Connecticut on Sunday. Elise Konikoff led SUNY-Cortland, winning vault and beam. Teammate Meghan Cobb won the bars. For SCSU, Nicole Pruchnik won the FX.
Link: SCSU Release