The 2024 NCAA gymnastics season formally acquired underway over the weekend with the marquee “Imply Ladies Tremendous 16” occasion in Las Vegas, in addition to a number of different twin meets across the nation. And even with out each workforce competing, the week was one for the (burn) books.
Oklahoma, the reigning two-time NCAA workforce champion, appeared each bit prepared for its bid for a three-peat with the best rating of the weekend (197.850) and the best totals on bars and beam (49.625 and 49.475, respectively). Led by Religion Torrez, Ragan Smith and Jordan Bowers, the Sooners have been stellar of their Las Vegas victory over Kentucky, Michigan State and Michigan.
LSU’s Haleigh Bryant had the best particular person all-around rating (39.675) of the weekend with a near-flawless efficiency within the Tigers’ win over Ohio State.
And that is not all. Week 1 actually had one thing for everybody. There have been excellent scores, shocking upsets and memorable debuts. Here is the whole lot that you must know from faculty gymnastics’ opening week:
Incomes an ideal 10.0 rating in NCAA gymnastics at all times warrants celebration and recognition. However doing it throughout the very first week of the common season? That’s one thing else fully.
Two gymnasts completed the feat over the weekend: Michigan State’s Sage Kellerman on vault and Utah’s Maile O’Keefe on beam. And each performances must be seen — instantly — if you have not had the prospect.
Kellerman, a sophomore who was Large Ten co-champion on the occasion final yr, earned her first ever 10.0 rating. However you would not comprehend it by her calm demeanor after a completely ice-cold caught touchdown throughout the Spartans’ meet on the Imply Ladies Tremendous 16 occasion.
O’Keefe, nonetheless, isn’t any stranger to receiving excellent scores — this was the twelfth certainly one of her profession, and eleventh on beam. However she advised The Salt Lake Tribune this one — coming in a win at residence over Boise State — felt significantly particular after the upheaval inside the program over the previous a number of months. “Actually, it was most likely certainly one of my extra emotional 10s,” O’Keefe stated. “Beginning off the season like that’s sort of loopy and surreal.”
Debuts to recollect
The transition to NCAA gymnastics might be troublesome. Being a part of a workforce, usually for the primary time, mixed with the usually rowdy crowds and unparalleled power, is usually a tradition shock that takes time to regulate to. However that wasn’t the case for LSU’s Amari Drayton and Georgia’s Lily Smith.
The 2 freshmen appeared fully relaxed and like they have been each able to be main contributors this season.
Drayton, a former elite gymnast who skilled alongside Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles on the World Champions Centre, made a direct impression for the Tigers throughout their meet in opposition to Ohio State, incomes a 9.925 on vault to begin the meet – after which following it up as a late substitute on ground with one other 9.925. Drayton drew cheers from the house crowd for her opening-pass double structure and solely appeared to enamor the followers – and Biles, who instantly confirmed her help on social media — extra as she went on:
that is our woman 🥹💜🐯 so pleased with you amari https://t.co/95x2HxB4uU
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) January 6, 2024
Smith, one of many top-ranked recruits within the present freshmen class, confirmed what all of the hype was about with a staggering 9.975 rating within the anchor spot for the workforce on bars. The meet commentators gushed about her technical prowess, toe factors and contours and you may see why in the event you’ve but to see this routine:
9️⃣.9️⃣7️⃣5️⃣
Lily Smith with a close to excellent debut on bars!#GloryGlory | #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/TBNoMQHhvK
— Georgia Gymnastics (@UGAGymnastics) January 6, 2024
On a associated word, Smith’s fellow freshmen teammate Ady Wahl gained the all-around title throughout Georgia’s victory over North Carolina State.
It is not the way you begin …
UCLA and Michigan have been the No. 5- and No. 6-ranked groups, respectively, within the Ladies’s Collegiate Gymnastics Affiliation preseason ballot, and there have been (and are) excessive expectations for each groups. However each squads — competing in separate meets on the Tremendous 16 occasion — completed in fourth place of their periods. UCLA completed behind Alabama, California and Auburn, with a 196.550 last rating, and Michigan (195.875) misplaced to Oklahoma, Kentucky and Michigan State.
UCLA led its meet after the primary two occasions earlier than a disastrous beam rotation, which noticed two gymnasts fall. Michigan was in third place after its first rotation and by no means discovered a method to make up the deficit.
Nonetheless, there have been vivid spots for each groups. Selena Harris had a powerful meet for the Bruins, successful a share of the title on bars with a 9.95-scoring routine and completed second within the all-around competitors. Chae Campbell had a 9.95 for her Yurchenko full (an ideal rating for that vault, which is valued at 9.95), and the workforce rallied on ground after beam with 4 gymnasts scoring a 9.9 or higher. Brooklyn Moors earned a career-high 9.95 on the occasion.
Gabby Wilson had an enormous exhibiting for the Wolverines, with three scores of 9.90 on the day, and a second-place end on ground and third on beam.
Gabby Wilson had a strong outing with three 9.900s!#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/Q2M165vvFm
— Michigan Ladies’s Gymnastics (@UMichWGym) January 6, 2024
TL;DR: Do not panic, UCLA and Michigan followers. It is simply Week 1 and there is loads to be ok with. In accordance with the Day by day Bruin, UCLA coach Janelle McDonald cited “first-meet jitters” however did not appear too involved.
“We’ll get again into the gymnasium, and we’ll dial issues in,” McDonald stated. “I count on them to come back out with confidence subsequent week.”
Preserve calm and Carey on
Whereas a number of Olympic hopefuls — together with 2020 medalists Sunisa Lee and Jordan Chiles — are taking the yr away from faculty gymnastics to deal with Paris, Jade Carey stays at Oregon State together with her eyes set on each NCAA and elite {hardware}.
Not like throughout her first two seasons on the collegiate degree, Carey won’t be commonly competing in all 4 occasions this yr, and can as a substitute primarily be doing bars and beam for the Beavers. Recognized for her vault and ground success on the elite degree, Carey appeared equally snug on her two “weaker” occasions over the weekend in Las Vegas.
She earned a 9.90 on beam and scored a 9.975 on bars — with Chiles (and Lee’s coach Jess Graba) offering commentary on the published.
A @jadeacarey 9.975 Uneven Bars routine with @ChilesJordan commentary is the whole lot we would have liked.@BeaverGym | @TeamUSA | @super16gym pic.twitter.com/DWOjbDTd4X
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) January 6, 2024
And though Chiles isn’t competing for UCLA this yr, she nonetheless managed to have one of many extra enjoyable moments of the weekend in Las Vegas. After Graba and former LSU coach D-D Breaux drew criticism on the published for saying Chiles would not eat popcorn as a result of she was coaching for the Olympics, Chiles posted an image of herself doing simply that on her Instagram story. Iconic.
If you happen to ain’t a ten (you are a 9.9)
With because of Luke Bryan for the class headline right here, these are just some extra routines that that you must see from the weekend:
Sierra Ballard, LSU: Performing within the leadoff spot for the Tigers after a tough third rotation, the senior set the tone on the occasion with poise, polished choreography and SO MUCH ENERGY to attain a 9.90.
The primary ground routine of 2024 and @sierralballard2 didn’t disappoint 🔥
The senior begins us off with a 9.90
📺 SEC Community | @sierralballard2 pic.twitter.com/1ACFwjvbKg
— LSU Gymnastics (@LSUgym) January 6, 2024
Raena Worley, Kentucky: The fifth-year tremendous senior earned a brand new career-high on bars with a 9.975 — and her response after sticking the dismount says all of it.
🙀🙀🙀 @RaenaWorley#WeAreUK | #Team50 pic.twitter.com/aQK5uKlnaE
— Kentucky Gymnastics (@UKGymnastics) January 6, 2024
She tied Torrez for the best all-around rating of the Tremendous 16, and the second-highest, behind Bryant, of the weekend.
Mya Lauzon, California: The junior took residence the all-around title throughout the Bears’ session in Las Vegas and ended her evening with this 9.95-scoring Yurchenko 1.5.
MYA LAUZON! 👏
An enormous 9.95 on vault!#GoBears | #OneDayBetter pic.twitter.com/eXP6CkpXyo
— Cal Ladies’s Gymnastics (@CalWGym) January 7, 2024
Aleah Finnegan, LSU: We have been on the fence about sharing yet one more LSU routine right here, however Finngean’s beam set — which included a wonderfully executed triple sequence — completely warrants inclusion. After a shaky beam rotation, the junior closed out the occasion for the Tigers with a much-needed 9.95.
The beam queen everyone knows & love@aleahfinn anchors with a 9.95
📺 SEC Community pic.twitter.com/NBUC14R7Sy
— LSU Gymnastics (@LSUgym) January 6, 2024
Key meets in week 2:
Jan. 12, Missouri vs. Alabama; 7 p.m. ET on SEC Community
Jan. 12: Florida, Fisk, George Washington and Talladega; 7 p.m. ET on SECN+
Jan. 12: Michigan vs. Stanford, 7 p.m. ET
Jan. 12: Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad Session #1 (Arizona, Boise State, Nebraska, North Carolina); 9 p.m. ET on ACC Community
Jan. 13: Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad Session #2 (LSU, Oklahoma, UCLA, Utah); 4 p.m. ET on ABC
Jan. 13: Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad Session #3 (BYU, California, Michigan State, North Carolina State); 9 p.m. ET on ACC Community
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