Live Blog on Sunday – March 12, 2023

First point first, Florida fell to 4th behind UCLA yesterday and therefore needs to score at least 197,825 points to move back up to 3rd today.

Knowing that Oklahoma is seeded at No. 1, Arizona State at No. 14 and Cal at No. 7 this week, it depends less on the results of their encounters, but both Arizona State and Cal would like to increase their NQS in order to compete for better set up conference championships.

And Washington is currently 26th and Arizona 27th, both of which remain dangerous if they get bumped into the UCLA Regional play-in, so they’re looking to sort of climb on top of each other with their results today.

Towson comes in with an important 196.575, which I think will help propel her into the Regionals. George Washington’s score at the same meeting is 195,450, which is a non-counter and will eliminate her from regional competition.

I’ve got the TWU quad feed, at least when it’s working and not dark as a bat cave, so I’ll be keeping an eye on what Florida is doing while the rest of these meetings go on. First, Arizona State and Oklahoma.

Western Michigan wins against Ball State 196,950 to 196,900, both points more than enough to keep those teams safe for Regionals. Western Michigan moved ahead of Washington and Arizona with that result, making it all the more important for Washington and Arizona to score today in an attempt to get out of the play-ins.

Central Michigan beat Kent State 196.175 to 195.975, but no result will do for those teams either. VERY few teams will remain in regional competition to the final day this year, which is unusual.

OMG, so the exposure during the rotation of the bars in Florida was so low you could barely see it. Now, during Florida’s beam spin, the gymnast is standing directly in front of the camera with the iPad, so we can’t see that either. Taking all the Florida fans’ money and then not seeing any of the Florida routines is this awards season’s dark comedy. I hope that now with every spin something is wrong.

However, Florida has two 9.925s from the first two beam routines. How were they? Who can tell?

OK, I’ll start with Oklahoma and Arizona State.

rotation 1

Sievers – VT – OU – Small step forward on her y1.5, solid, won’t have the distance of some of the others, a bit of a knee

Theodorou – UB – ASU – High Jaeger, a little elbow on catch – toe on hanger, hits vertically – some elbows in huge swings – DLO, legs apart, hop back. 9,775

Meanwhile, Trinity Thomas has taken a step back in her streak on the beam, going 9,900.

Star – VT – OU – y1.5, small jump forward. 9,875

Samiley – UB – ASU – a bit shy on first Hs – Stalder to blind to high Jaeger to overshoot combo – Solid end throw Hs vertical – DLO, good position in the air, holds stick tight.

Levasseur – VT – OU – nice stick on her y1.5 today, shows solid layout position in the air and increases distance over first two, won’t come as big as Trautmans.

And it’s 10,000 for Levasseur. So they’re very willing to go there today, which we knew they were going to do.

Mangahas – UB – ASU – Piked Jager to overshoot is nice – FTDT, some bent feet, good stick.

Trautman – VT – OU – good height on her y1.5, small jump forward. 9,925

Sharp – UB – ASU – good Hs on low – Maloney with some legs in Pak – 1/2 turn on low bar, solid – a bit shy on final throw Hs – FTDT, solid feet, good landing, little rebound.

Bowers – VT – OU – y1.5, not their best, under today with a step back and more knee shape than usual.

How’s that 9,850 with an underrotation, a step back and a knee form?

White UB – ASU – good Van Leeuwen, giant 1/2 on 1/2, just a little shy but OK, in bail, good toe point and vertical position – DLO, hop back.

Davis – VT – OU – hits y1.5, lunges forward and sideways a bit, legs apart in block

McCusker goes 9,950 on bars for Florida to lead this rotation at the anchor point. We saw parts of it? Good control on her anchor series landing today. Wiggle with a handshake from Hurd in the exhibition square.

49,600 for Florida on beam.

Clark – UB – ASU – good high jaeger and pak, small broken leg in pak – good Hs up high – DLO, clean, small lean to hold stick.

It’s a vault of 49.525 for Oklahoma, 49.225 bars for Arizona State, led by 9.875 for Clark.