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Kensley Behel

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MAG Junior Worlds Preview

In the inaugural year of the Junior World Championships, 62 nations will be represented. With 42 medals up for grabs and young talent on the floor, this promises to be an exciting competition.

Format

Like the Senior World Championships, men and women compete on alternating days for qualifications, however, there will be no separate team and all-around finals. The Junior World Championships is a four-day long marathon with MAG qualifications on June 27th and two days of event finals (29th and 30th). For those who make both days of finals, it will be a test not only of skill, but also of stamina.

For those countries who sent a complete team, the format is three-up, two count. The qualification round will also serve as the team final and the all-around final. Similar to the World Championships or Olympic Games, each country is only allowed two gymnasts per event final.

The US. Men will begin their competition on Pommel Horse in Subdivision 1.

Who to Watch

With participation restricted to gymnasts born in 2002 and 2003, many of the gymnasts with medal success at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games have been left off the World Championships teams. However, the star and reigning Youth Olympic all-around, floor, rings, parallel bars, and horizontal bar champion, Takeru Kitazono, will undoubtedly be the heavy favorite to take the all-around title and many other event titles again. He leads a strong Japanese contention that will rotate in Olympic order in subdivision 2.

The U.S. men are bringing a relatively young and internationally inexperienced team to Hungary this week. Only Isaiah Drake has competed outside the U.S where he placed 3rd at the International Junior Team Cup in the Parallel Bar Final. Garrett Braunton comes from a long lineage of Cypress greats including Olympians Jon Horton and Chris Brooks. His standout floor has won him multiple first place finishes at J.O. Nationals and P&G Championships. Rounding out the three-man team is Matthew Cormier, another exceptional floor worker who won the title at the world selection camp. This U.S. team does have one glaring weakness and that’s on pommel horse. With Cormier’s low start value, the team will need hits from Braunton and Drake to stay in the medal mix. Overall, look for the team to excel on floor, still rings, and vault!

Hometown favorite and leader of the Hungarian team, Krisztian Balazs was a multi-medal winner at the Youth Olympic Games. Though he suffered from injuries earlier this year, look for him to challenge for a spot on the medal podium. His teammate, Adam Dobrovitz, has been dubbed the “Lord of the Rings” by the Hungarian federation. The final spot on the Hungarian team was awarded to Szabolcs Batori, whose favorite event is vault.

The Russian Federation comes to Junior Worlds as the reigning junior European Champions; however, none of the 2018 team will be competing in Hungary this weekend. Ivan Kuliak leads the Russian contingent this weekend after winning the all-around gold at the Russian Junior National Championships. Joining Kuliak is Kirill Gashkov who won the silver medal on high bar at the International Junior Team Cup earlier this year… and is also fantastic on parallel bars.

One of the most anticipated performance this championships is from Brazil’s Diogo Soares. Soares won the all-around bronze at the Youth Olympic Games, as well as the silver on high bar. Having been successful at nearly every competition he has entered since, he is an especially poignant competitor on parallel bars and high bar. With clean lines and a propensity to stick the landing, look for him to challenge for the high bar title.

Named as one to watch by the International Federation of Gymnastics, Yang Haonan leads the Chinese in this Junior World Championships. He is particularly strong on still rings and parallel bars–look for him to make the finals on both of those events. Yang Yanzhi and  Li Hongyan complete the Chinese team.

Other notable gymnasts to watch are:

FX: Felix Dolci (CAN), Nazar Chepurnyi (UKR)

PH: Mammadi Sammad (Azerbaijan), Lorenzo Bonicelli (ITA)

SR: Docli Felix (CAN)

VT: Jasper Smith-Gordon (GBR), Nazar Chepurnyi (UKR)

PB: Robert Burtanete (ROM), Lucas Desanges (FRA)

HB: Ivan Brunello (ITA)

 

You can find an updated list of competitors here.

 

How to Follow:

For more information visit the official website of the 2019 Junior World Championships.

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Article by: Kensley Behel

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Former NCAA National Champion Seeks to be Jamaica’s First World Medalist

Born in Germany, Michael Reid looks to return there later this year to earn Jamaica’s first World Championship medal. The NCAA standout and former team and pommel horse national champion got his start in gymnastics near Ft. Hood, Texas where he was coached by Kathi-Sue Rupp; he later trained at Crenshaw’s Gymnastics in Austin, TX. As he progressed through the ranks, he wanted to compete at the collegiate level. He looked at Ohio State University before ultimately settling on the University of Oklahoma.

An unusual start to his collegiate career left his ability to compete for the Sooners in question. Showing up with no paperwork ready meant Reid would have to spend his first semester on the club gymnastics team. The following semester, he tried-out on pommel horse, parallel bars, and vault, and ultimately, it was Reid’s stellar pommel horse set that earned him a spot

in the Oklahoma Varsity line-up. After placing 2nd at the 2014 NCAA national championships, he won the pommel horse title in 2015. His former coach, Mark Williams, said of Reid’s accomplishments, “It’s one of the greatest walk-on success stories.”

Many gymnasts choose to retire after their collegiate career, but Reid felt he had more to give to the sport. Reid began pursuing a change of FIG license to being competing for Jamaica, his mother’s home country. In 2019, he was granted his Jamaican license after successful showings at the Houston National Invitational and the WOGA Classic. He will be representing Jamaica at the Paris World Cup in September and at the Jamaican Classic in November. His ultimate goal for this year is to represent Jamaica at the 2019 Stuttgart World Championships in October. No Jamaican gymnast has ever medaled in an event final and Reid has a shot.

With an eye-catching, upgraded 6.7 difficulty, his routine has a higher degree of difficulty than anyone in last year’s World pommel horse final, except reigning Olympic Champion, Max Whitlock. Jamaica will send three gymnasts to the World Championships this year and Reid is hoping to be one of them. Aside from medaling at the World Championships, Reid’s other goal is to qualify to the next Olympic Games. To qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo as an individual, Reid needs to be named to this year’s World Championship team, make the pommel horse final, and be among the top three competitors not already belonging to a qualified team. He believes he can do it.

Many Olympic hopefuls plan their careers in quadrenniums around the Olympic cycle. Reid, however, hasn’t given a timeline for his retirement stating, “I’ll keep going until I’ve hit my ceiling.” His goals are not solely medal related, rather, he also hopes to bring more awareness to the sport by entertaining fans and utilizing social media to his benefit. His original idea for Instagram live challenges will showcase skill for skill challenges among the best gymnasts in the world in an attempt to bring more awareness to men’s gymnastics.

In tandem with is training schedule, Reid works 40 hours a week at Texas Dream Gymnastics in Coppell, Texas to train the next generation of athletes. Some weekends, he plays both coach and athlete at the same meet. Though his schedule is busy, his love of the sport and his goals are clear, to become Jamaica’s first world medalist. You can follow along with his journey on Instagram at mjrview.

Good luck with the rest of your season!

Article by: Kensley Behel

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Team USA Men’s Gymnastics Update

Men's Update

The 2019 Junior World Championships are set to take place June 27 – 30 in Gyor, Hungary. The U.S. men began their second of two qualifying events yesterday at the Olympic Training Center. Garrett Braunton, Matt Cormler, Isaiah Drake, Ian Lasic-Ellis, Brandon Nguyen, and Khoi Young have been confirmed the six gymnasts invited to compete for a spot on the Junior World’s Team. Per USA Gymnastics, three team members and a traveling alternate will be named to the team at the conclusion of the camp.

The first qualifying event was the Men’s JO Nationals and took place in Reno, Nevada from April 30th to May 30th where Asher Hong (15), Brandon Nguyen (16) Colt Walker (17),  and Lazarus Barnhill (18) won each of their respective divisions. Barnhill, who also won the Mas Wantanabe award, is age-ineligible for the Junior World Championship and will head to college later this year to compete for the University of Oklahoma. Asher Hong, who first came on the elite scene by winning the 2018 Winter Cup challenge, is ineligible due to his age.

In addition to the Junior World Championships, this camp serves as the qualifying meet for the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. For the senior division, the MPC invited former national team members Cameron Bock, Grant Breckenridge, Adrian de los Angeles, and Brody Malone to the national team camp to vie for a spot on the Senior PanAm team. Malone was accepted by petition on April 9, 2019 to this camp and later that month won the NCAA individual all-around title and helped his Stanford team unseat reigning champions, Oklahoma, at the NCAA Championships. It is unclear how the other three gymnasts were selected. Joining them in their quest for the Pan American Games are current National Team Members Robert Neff of Stanford University, Genki Suzuki of the University of Oklahoma and Riley Loos who will head to Stanford this fall.

The remaining Senior National Team members will use the camp to train for 2019 National Championships in Kansas City, MO and the 2019 World Championships in Stuttgart Germany.

 

Article by: Kensley Behel

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Preview: Winter Cup 2019

Winter Cup 2019 - Preview

The gymnasts spoke and the coaches listened. According to a recent interview by Blythe Lawrence, the gymnasts asked for a revision of the mandatory two-days of competition at Winter Cup, which they were granted. This year, the top six all-arounders, (and Sam Mikulak) will have the opportunity to save their body if they don’t wish to compete the second day of competition. As long as Sam competes on day one and qualifies to finals in any capacity, he will be named to the national team because he won a medal at the 2018 World Championships. If history is any indicator, should the five-time national champion compete in the all-around he should place well within the top six, and he will probably lead the all-around standings–meaning a total of seven gymnasts will be named to the national team after night one. Consequently, there will be only five spots to be determined by the second night of competition or medical petitions.

The 2018 all-around silver medalist and 2017 National Champion, Yul Moldauer, has yet to compete in the all-around this year; making Winter Cup his all-around debut. This will be a lead-up meet to his competition at the American Cup in March. The 2017 world bronze-medalist on floor has upped his difficulty by .3 tenths from last year’s world championships. Expect him to contend for the the floor title here should he perform with his normal form and ability to stick the landings.

Allan Bower, who placed third at nationals last year, is coming off his win at the Houston National Invitational where he took home the all-around, floor (tie), and vault titles. His teammate and current national team member, Colin Van Wicklen, placed second in the all-around at the same competition and took home the floor (tie) and high bar titles as well. Van Wicklen has changed vaults from a Dragulescu (handspring double front half) to a Blanik (handspring double pike). Both vaults are worth the same, however the Blanik has a forward landing which is easier on his ankles. In a recent interview with Gymnasticsville, he stated that he hopes to upgrade the Blanik to a double front pike half known as a Ri Se Gwang 2 and holds a start value of 6.0.

Trevor Howard, who was named to the national team after being named a non-traveling alternate for the 2018 World Championship squad, placed third in the all-around at the Houston National Invitational. He has two vaults and a superb ring set to anticipate.

The final member of the 2018 World Championships team competing this weekend is Akash Modi. He is best known for his work on parallel bars.

The Comebacks

Unfortunately, injuries have plagued a large number of our current and former senior men’s national team members.  Last season Donnell Whittenburg, Eddie Penev, Marvin Kimble, and Donothan Bailey, all suffered from significant injuries that prevented them from competitively competing for a spot on the World’s team.

In an interview with GymCastic, Donnell described his journey through gymnastics the last few years as he has continued to work to come back from a partially-torn rotator cuff. It is undecided if he will compete the all-around or choose to compete less events this weekend. For him, health is his priority because the end-goal is the Olympics.

Donnell has down-graded his routines to allow for him to stay as healthy as possible and wants to communicate that he is back and that his return will only get better from here. When asked about his choice to compete at nationals last year instead of petitioning for medical reasons, he said, ” I wanted to compete. I wanted to do something.” Though his choice to compete didn’t earn him a spot on national team, he had an extremely positive outlook because he was finally able to fully cheer his teammates on.

The most anticipated comeback for this meet is none other than former NCAA star and current national team member, Eddie Penev. Known for his explosive power on vault and dynamic tumbling on floor, the 2017 World Challenge Cup floor champion couldn’t be happier to be doing gymnastics again.

He said he will be doing five events and is thrilled to be back given he had surgery just 6 months ago. He has  upgraded pommels, p-bars and high bar. He will be performing a slightly watered down floor, but thinks it should be the highest start value. On vault he’s doing a “Simone-esque man-amar.”

Marvin Kimble is also a superb vaulter and pommel horse worker. Showing consistency here will go a long way in his quest towards a second world championship team.

Still missing from the senior field at Winter Cup is Donothan Bailey as he recovers from surgeries last year. He will, however, have the opportunity to petition to the national team.

NCAA in Elite

There are only three–out of the 56 gymnasts competing–that do not have ties to the NCAA. That means 94% of senior gymnasts this weekend are competing or have competed in collegiate programs around the country. This number shows the significance and continued relevance of the NCAA men’s gymnastics programs to our elite national program.

Current NCAA stars and national team members competing in this meet include Cameron Bock of the University of Michigan, Genki Suzuki of the University of Oklahoma, Shane Wiskus of the University of Minnesota, and Alec Yoder of Ohio State University. Bock owns the highest AA score this year in the NCAA and Yoder is known for his internationally-competitive pommel horse work.

Under the Radar

Names like Sam Mikulak and Yul Moldauer are familiar to most gymnastics fans, but who are the ones with an outside chance a national team?

Levi Anderson (Oklahoma) is my pick for a surprise spot on the national team. He’s ranked first on HB in the NCAA and can put together a solid all-around score that may well earn him the chance to wear red, white, and blue. High Bar is the weakest event for Team USA right now and his score could be invaluable in the future.

Stephen Nedoroscik has a phenomenal pommel horse routine. Though it would be hard to win a spot on the team by only competing one event, he could easily snag the title this weekend.

Sean Melton, though a familiar name to most, hasn’t competed since last year’s national championships. He has often been a regular on the national team, but was dealing with some nagging injuries at last year’s championships. Look for the reigning Winter Cup still rings champion to compete to retain his title.

In fact, all 2018 Winter Cup champions are returning to reclaim their titles. The 2018 event winners were:

Sam Mikulak: AA, FX, PB, HB

Alec Yoder: PH

Sean Melton: SR

Marvin Kimble: VT

Junior Gymnasts

The 2018 Winter Cup junior champion, Asher Hong, will not be competing in this event. He is healthy and is choosing to focus on other meets coming up.

Though the MPC has yet to finalize the qualification process for choosing a team for the 2019 Junior World Championships, we know consistency plays a role in who is chosen based on Brett McClure’s statistics database. Additionally, only all-around athletes will be considered for the team due to the format of the world championships, and the gymnasts must be born between 2002 and 2003. Unlike the senior men, junior gymnasts do not have the option of a second chance each year for a spot on national team. However, the good news is that a gymnast does not have to currently be on national team to be selected for the world team in Hungary. Gymnasts competing this weekend who are age-eligible include: Fuzzy Benas (NT), Garrett Braunton, Michael Jaroh, Rithik Puri, Luke McFarland, Isaiah Drake, Raydel Gamboa, Nicolas Kuebler, Ian Lasic-Ellis, and Khoi Young.

How to Follow

The meet will be live-streamed by USA Gymnastics.

Kensley and Jessica will be live blogging and giving behind-the-scenes coverage of event finals on Sunday night.

Start lists and live results can be found here.

Article by: Kensley Behel

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U.S. Men’s Team Conference Call

The overarching theme of last week’s conference call with the 2018 men’s worlds competitors was team and the NCAA’s role in helping create a bond that will benefit the five gymnasts in Doha. If there’s one message the team is sending it’s that they are ready and that they believe they will be on the podium. Yul Moldauer was emphatic, “I know we will do it.”

Moldauer described the mental game as the team’s biggest challenge, not Russia, China, or Japan, but simply themselves. They plan to take each event one by one and to trust in each other and in their training. In his training, he praised his coach, Mark Williams, saying “I feel like I could do my routines with my eyes closed because I feel so prepared.”

Moldauer’s back is now healed and he feels no pain. Even though there is no discomfort, he plans on competing his lower difficulty floor routine which holds the same start value as Sam Mikulak’s (5.7); and if he make event finals, the plan is to compete the 6.0 routine.

Akash Modi spoke of that same team unity that Yul focused on. Though former rivals in the NCAA, they are teammates and one for TEAM USA. The perfect picture of that was demonstrated in 2017 at the American Cup when Yul and Akash competed as TEAM USA then as soon as the competition was over, they watched the Oklahoma/Stanford meet on TV as their NCAA teammates competed against each other. This competitive spirit and camaraderie means they have each other’s back. Akash views this as their main advantage. He knows that landings are a weakness for him and has been focusing hard during his 7 am trainings to stick. To give himself and his teammates and even better shot at success, he has taken a leave of absence from Stanford’s program and will continue pursuing his M.S. in engineering after the 2018 World Championships in Doha, Qatar.

Alec Yoder is looking to make his return to Doha this fall after having won a bronze medal on pommel horse earlier this year. He, like Yul, has two different routines to choose from, but his choice comes on pommel horse. He talked about his consistency, having hit 12/12 at nationals and at the selection camp. He has looked up to Sam for a long time and said what an incredible honor it was to be named to the team with him and the other three members. When asked about how he’s been preparing for the new Taishan equipment, he said that he had not had the opportunity to compete or train on it before, but knew the high bar would be tighter as well as some other small differences, but that the team would have a week to adjust in Doha.

Sam has changed an element on rings. He changed his honma cross to a back uprise cross to focus on better execution. He talked at length about how stressed he used to be before competition, but incorporating normal parts of life—like coming home to his puppy and his girlfriend, as well as being ok with eating a slice of pizza once in a while—have helped take the pressure off.

Sam feels he will contribute to the team most on high bar and feels he should be good enough not to fall. He has been working specifically on checkpoints in his routine, when to pace and when to be aggressive. He says he is ready. Both he and fellow world teammate, Colin Van Wicklen, who is currently residing at the Olympic Training Center (OTC), have been waking up early for their main practice in preparation for the qualifications in Doha.

Colin talked about his move from the University of Oklahoma to Cypress and the reasoning behind it. He left so that he could chase his dreams in his hometown where other Olympians like Jon Horton and Chris Brooks also trained. While no decision to make another move the OTC has been made, he has been training there in preparation for Doha and will make his decision after Worlds as to where he will continue training.

At the OTC, they have worked on playing stick games to bring more of a light atmosphere with a serious goal in mind, particularly on floor. Colin is on a redemption tour for both himself and for the team as they search for that first team medal since 2014.

Best of luck to Team USA.

Article by: Kensley Behel

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World Championships Selection Live Blog

The men will start on vault today as that is their draw for Doha this year.

AA from today:

Sam, Yul, Alec, Akash, Collin, Allan, Trevor, Marvin (Note: Allan, Trevor, and Marvin did not compete the AA)

  1. 1.Sam: 87.75
  2. Yul: 86.1
  3. Alec: 83.5
  4. Akash: 82.05
  5. Colin: 80.75
  6. Allan: 68.65 (No HB)
  7. Trevor: 67.25 ( No PH)
  8. Marvin: 40.05 (No FX, VT, or PB)

 

Akash: azarian to l cross to maltese, kip to yami to joh to iron cross. Up to L sit straddle to handstand, giant (super solid) double double with a small hop to finish. 13.3

Allan: maltese, rotation through to iron, yami to joh to straddle planche, front giant to handstand (well held) pikey in the layout full, but he sticks it. 13.0

Marvin: azarian cross up to maltese, up to planche/maltese – not really sure, yami to joh to iron, super arched planche, backrise up to handstand. Layed out 1/1 with a step to finish. 5.9 13.6

Trevor: beautiful maltese, back uprise to maltese, bounce cross, yami to joh, to iron, up to handstand. Almost stuck double double to finish. 14.55

Alec: He is having to wait a looonnnggg time. up to planche, lower to malese (super high) up to maltese, also high, joh to yami to straddle sit, to to straddle planche (not held long enough). Double double to finish. Low chest and a step on the landing. 13.5

Colin: azarian cross, pike front to iron, up to straddle planche (not sure he held that long enough) front giant to handstand, john to yam to straddle sit, push to handstand (small bend) double tuck with 1.5 twists to finish. Super long wait for Colin’s score. 13.65

Sam: up to maltese, bouch iron cross (he is shaking) kip to planche (well held) kip to yami to jon to iron, joh, double double with a small hop. 14.15

Yul: kip to maltese (high) kip to maltese, azarian iron cross, yami to joh, to iron cross, up to straddle planche, giant (little swing) double double with a small hop. 14.25

Rotation 6: Still Rings

Colin: Flop, russian on one pommel, sivado, big push into the dismount.

Sam: Mikulak, up to handstand travel, spindle flair, roth, tripple russian, magyar, sivado, up to handstand. 6.1/8.8 14.9

Yul: flop, flop, flair spindle, flair magyar, flair sivado, 1 russian on pommel, nice into the dismount. 5.6/9 14.6

Akash: Scissor to handstand, spindle (c) spindle (d), wu, roth fell off on handstand. Will do it again. D handstand. 6.1/6.7 12.8

Rotation 5: Pommel Horse

Trevor: Rudi, double tuck with 1/5 twists, missed third pass, nice handstand, front 2/1 to front 1/1, back 2/1 stuck, double arabian to finish with a hop forward. 5.4/8.25 13.65

Alec: Double double with a hop back, back 3/2 to front 2/1, back 5/2 to 1/2, back 3/2 to front tucked 1/1, back 2/1, triple full to finish with a small hop back. 5.5/8.25 13.75

Colin: Double front piked half out, back 5/2 front 1/2 gainered back 5/2 to front full, back double twist with hop. Really landings are all over the place, Can’t see fifth pass, Double arabian to finish – small hop.  5.3/8.1 (-.3) = 13.1

Sam: Back 5/2 to front double front (almost sat it down but stuck it) , back 3/2 to front 1/1, flairs, Again people standing in front of me, back double twist stuck, Triple full to finish. Feet almost on top of each other to finish. Stuck. 5.7/8.8 14.5

Yul: Randi, double arabian 1/2 stuck, back 3/2 to front 1/1, nice flair sequence (D to C ), back 5/2 to 1/2, back double full stuck, Triple full to finish. Really low chest. 5.8/8.8 14.6

Akash: Front double pike, back 1.5 to front 1/1, sorry I’m at a terrible angle for floor! Going to try and move, D press up to handstand, Randi small hop, back 2/1, Triple full to finish with a small hop. 6.0/8.4 14.4

Allan Bower: Double pick front double double stuck, twisting that I missed, back 2/1, russians, wide arm press with good control, back 3/2 to front 1/1, back 5/2 stuck. 5.6/8.65 14.25

Rotation 4 – Floor

Trevor Howard: lay tkatchev 1/2, 1/2, lay tkatchev caught 1 arm pushed out like Epke save, straddle tkatchev 1/2, weiler, weiler 1/2, stuck full twisting double lay finish. 12.3

Alec Yoder: Yami, Kolman, Kovacs, stalder, rybalko, endo 1/1, endo, tak 1/2, 1 arm, double twisting double lay stuck. 13.3

Colin Van Wicklen: Yami, 1/2, lay tkatchev, straddle 1/2, 1 arm, tak 1/2, lay tkatchev 1/2, bent elbows and has to press up significantly, straddle tkatchev, stalder, very strange wind up for the dismount. 5.1/7.8 12.9

Sam Mikulak: 1/2, Kassina (by fingertips) off on Kolman. Stays down on the mat a bit.  Does the skill again catches! lay to straddle tkatchev, staddle 1/2, tkatchev, 1 arm, tak 1/2, (right on top, hop 1/2, stalder, stuck double twisting double lay. 6.1/8.15 14.25

Yul Moldauer: Missed the first skill 1 arm tak 1/2, Kovacs 1  arm, hop full, rybalko, 1/2, giant 1/2, flaired out full twisting double lay! 5.0/8.4

Akash Modi: tak 1/1 (way over), Straddle to lay to straddle 1/2 tkatchev (big push out of this skill), lay tkatchev 1/2, tak, endo, endo 1/2, stuck the double twisting double layout.

Marvin Kimble: 1/2, Liukin, lay tkatchev to lay 1/2, (big push,) tak 1/2, (super late), tak 1/2, straddle tkatchev, straddle tkatchev 1/2, endo, stuck full twisting layout.

Rotation 3: High Bar

Alec Yoder: Beautiful peach (great form) Diam, Diam 1/2, has to muscle up a bit, HUGE back toss, Stutz, GORGEOUS double pike! Huge height and opens up to stick the landing. Took forever to get his score. 5.0/9.2

Colin VanWicklen: Peach 1/2, big struggle, back toss, giant to suarez, peach basket, really tired going into the double front. Big step forward. 5.4/7.75 13.15

Sam Mikulak: Healy, Peach 1/2, Peach, Harada to Back toss, Bhavsar, 1/2, Tippelt, Stutz, WOW! double front 1/2 STUCK! His transitions are so smooth on this event. 6.4/8.95 15.35

Yul Moldaur: Back toss, Peach, Peach 1/2, Diam, Giant Diam , Suarez, Suarez from support (slammed his arms). Double front 1/2 out stuck to finish. 14.55 5.9/8.65

Akash Modi: Peach ( a little short), peach 1/2, uprise 1/2, Bhavsar, giant 1/2, Tippelt, Healy,  to 1/2, Diam, Stutz, Stuck full-in! 14.4

Allan Bower:  Really nice rhythm, Peach, Giant to suarez, Healy, 1/2, Diam, Back toss, Stutz, Suarez from upper support, Stuck double pike! 13.35 5.6/7.75

Trevor Howard: Healy, Peach, nice movement, Suarez, Diam (little wobble, giant, Giant swing to Suarez. Double front to finish. Stumbles out to his bottom. 5.4/7.3

Rotation 2: Parallel Bars

Colin Van Wicklen: Dragulescu! Really nice height. Twists late and creates a low landing. 15.0

Van Wicklen – Vault 2: Kas 1.5. He got the most height of anyone! Small hop on the landing.

Sam Mikulak! Great vault! Small leg separation! Beautiful in the air! Small hop on the landing. 14.6

Yul Moldauer: Beautiful form on the Kas 1.5. Legs glued together and toes pointed. Small hop on the landing. 14.7

Akash Modi: Kas 1.5 – was a little worried because his steps looked slightly off. Good distance, but hopped out of bounds. 14.4

Allan Bower: Kas 1.5. Little bent knees in the air and a hop out of bounds. 14.35

Trevor Howard: Kas 1.5. Nice form in the air, but had a large step out of bound to the right.14.05

Trevor Howard – Vault 2: Beautiful Handspring double front. Great height and a small hop on the landing.

Alec Yoder: Tsuk Double stuck cold! Really amazing! 14.15

Rotation 1: Vault

Article by: Kensley Behel

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MAG World Team Selection Camp Preview

The highly-anticipated world team trials is upon us. Unbeknownst to most of the gym community, the camps at the OTC have long been open to the public. In an age where so many transparency issues have gone wrong, the men have been leaders in allowing the public to watch their meets. It’s simply their national governing body that has, at times, not placed value in also sharing their talent with the world.

Here are the facts. From the eight men team that the selection committee will be choosing from, with only five available slots, Team USA is going to have holes. There are really no ifs, ands, or buts around that. Keeping that in mind, be pragmatic during the selection process. Realize, that there is going to be at least one weak spot on the team as is the case with most of the rest of the world. 

The committee members for this selections process are as follows:

Jake Dalton – Athlete’s Representative

Russ Fystrom – Coach Representative

Brett McClure – High Performance Director

Mike Serra – Coach Representative

J.D. Reive – Athlete, Coach, Administrative Representative

Dennis McIntyre – Vice President for Men, ex officio, voice – no vote

The 8 athletes in the selection process are:

Sam Mikulak

Yul Moldauer

Allan Bower

Alec Yoder

Akash Modi

Marvin Kimble

Colin Van Wicklen

Trevor Howard (replacing Donothan Bailey)

Team Scoring

If the committee chooses to take the top 5 from the AA at Nationals in a 5-3-3 format with the top scorers from that group competing as they ranked, the team would ironically only  be comprised of four gymnasts: Sam, Yul, Allan, and Alec. Donathan never outscored any of them to be in the top three team members of each event.  If each of the four gymnasts matched their best score, the team total would be 259.3. For the four gymnasts listed, the averages of this proposed team from nationals would still score well into the 250s with a 255.05, which will be competitive in Doha.

For a myriad of reasons, this max score likely won’t happen exactly as is. Scoring is always a little different across competitions and we’ve yet to see how Marvin can factor into this team scenario. This scenario also puts Sam doing AA in qualifications, team finals, all-around finals, and additional routines on whichever other final he might make. Depending on the head coach for the team, Sam, or Yul, could be taken out of the AA in team final to rest and prepare for the rest of the competition. For example, if Mark Williams were to be named head coach of this team, there is a probability that he would take Sam out of the line-up on rings in team final for stamina reasons as he did in 2014 and 2016. Other coaches might have other solutions to give certain gymnasts a break to optimize medal potential. 

The Team

The mostly known facts:

Sam is going – likely even if his hand touches the mat an equal number of times to his feet touching the mat, he’s going. There is no one in the country, nor has there been in the last five years that can touch him if he is healthy. He also owns the second highest AA score in the world this year behind Kohei Uchimura’s 87.75.

Yul is likely also going, unless there have been significant changes in his injury. He’s clean, beautiful to watch, and also highly consistent. The 2017 world championship bronze medalist will hopefully have the opportunity to equal or better is results from Montreal.  

The giant question marks:

Marvin: Is he still injured? Has he recovered enough to compete well? If he’s still injured, will the selection committee consider naming him to the team still a month out from the competition? Will him showing up with a strong enough PH, SR, VT, HB combination make it impossible for the committee to not choose him?

Trevor: The replacement for Donothan Bailey – why was he chosen over someone from the Pan AM championships who would likely be in better shape having just competed? His highest score was on rings and it was only about two-tenths higher than Yul. Where does the committee see him fitting into this team?

Akash: Akash could be immensely valuable to TEAM USA, but is he consistent enough to do so? After having one stellar day of competition in Boston followed by one that might leave the committee wanting, he will need two great days of competition to earn one of the five spots to Doha.

Filling in the 5-3-3 format puzzle.

Allan: Will the committee see the value in taking someone who will hit over someone with a higher scoring potential?

Alec: Alec provides a world-class pommel set and a consistent parallel bar set. Does his pommel horse set alone warrant a return trip to Doha this year?

Van Wicklen: Colin has a lot of power on vault and a much needed score on high bar, however, the approximate .8 given on high bar is equally as lost on other events he may need to fill in on to relieve either Sam or Yul from doing the all-around three in three consecutive competitions.

With four members of the team well-established, in my opinion, the committee will need to look at who they could substitute in for the maximum additional points. The most easily targeted event in need for substitution is high bar followed by rings and then vault. The most logical piece to this puzzle would be a healthy Marvin. Should he not be healthy, Van Wicklen would be the next most logical choice for his high bar alone.

In terms of the alternate, I believe Akash is going to end up in this role again. He is a stable gymnasts with a phenomenal Pbar set, but for this puzzle, this seems to be the most practical role.

If there are no injuries, and if everyone hits to their capabilities, I believe the team would be Sam, Yul, Allan, Alec, and Marvin.

You can watch the competition live on USA Gymnastics’ Youtube channel. The competitions will be Thursday, September 20th at 11am MST and Saturday, September 21st at 3:30pm MST.

 

Article by: Kensley Behel

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Senior Men Live Blog

Kensley is here live blogging the Senior men. Most recent updates will appear at the top.

Day 1:

  1. Mikulak – 85.15
  2.  Modi – 84.1
  3. Bower – 83.85
  4. Bailey – 83.5
  5. Yoder – 83.4
  6. Molauer – 82.7
  7. Neff – 82.05
  8. Bock – 82

Sam said he has a back injury and that is the reason he fell…

Bower said he wanted to hit 6/6. He says that he wants to go for consistency.

Moldauer (HB) Yami, stalder, tak 1/1 almost off, tak 1/2, kovaks, 1 arm, rybalko, triple double dismount with a big step. He looks either really tired or in a lot of pain.

Bower (HB) 1 arm giant, tak 1/1, 1/2, kovacs (super close) has to kip out of it which is a deduction, endo, STICKS full in. I don’t know how he saved that routine. 12.95

Mikulak (PH) Almost slipped off the horse in the most comical way, flairs, comes off nooooo, tong fei, tripple russian, Great dismount. 13.65

Modi (SR) L Sit, Iron cross, big step back on the dismount. Ahahahha – He’s talking about taco bell to the camera,

After 5:

  1. Mikulak – 71.5
  2. Bower – 70.9
  3. Modi – 70.6
  4. Moldauer – 70.05
  5. Bailey – 69.7
  6. Yoder – 69.4

Moldauer (PB) back toss, peach, peach 1/2, Diam, Full spin to suarez, Dalton, double front to land. He is grabbing his back.

Modi (PH) Works quickly – oops, leg separation, but stays on, dismount was rushed and he was tilted on the dismount. 14.1

Bower (PB) peach with bent knees, nice healy, 1/2, Diam, back toss, Stutz, suarez, STUCK double pike! 13.9

Melton (VT) Handspring double front with a deep landing. He looks hurt.

Mikulak (FX) back 5/2 to double front – don’t know how he stuck that, stuck the next pass! flairs, back 3/2 to front full, stuck double full, triple twist with a small hop on the landing! He’s waving at the crowd because they weren’t applauding. 14.75

Wiskus (HB) Yami, 1/1, kolman, … small hop on the landing

Bailey (FX) double front, my screen keeps freezing on the twisting so I can’t count them. Finishes with arabian double front with a small hop. 14.1

After 4

  1. Bower – 57.
  2. Mikulak – 56.75
  3. Modi-56.5
  4. Moldauer 56.25
  5. Bailey – 55.6
  6. Yoder – 55.5

Van Wicklen (HB) yami, stalder rybalko, lay to straddle 1/2 tkatchev, 1 arm giant, tak 1/2, lay 1/2 tkatchev, tkatchev, endo, STICKS full twisting layout dismount. 13.95

Mikulak (HB) Off on his cassina, Did the cassina again and caught it, Kolman, layout to straddle Tkatchev, tkatchev 1/2, STICKS the dismount. WHY SAM? 13.7

Moldauer (VT) BEAUTIFUL Kas 1.5 with a small hop. 14.7

Melton (SR) really struggles on the dismount. Deep squat. 14.2

Modi (FX) front double pike, twisting nicely, front 1.5 to 1.5, front handspring to Rudi, back 5/2, small hop on the triple.14.35

Bower (VT) Stuck Kas 1.5 – He is having a STELLAR meet. 14.35

Justus (VT) Great Kas 1.5

Bock (PB) Healy, peach, giant, suarez, Stutz, back toss, bhavsar, Tippelt, STUCK double pike.

After 3:

  1. Mikulak – 43.05
  2. Bower – 42.65
  3. Modi – 42.15
  4. Yoder – 41.85
  5. Bailey – 41.8
  6. Moldauer – 41.55

Mikulak (PB) Healy, peach 1/2, (not to handstand ) peach, suarez to back toss, bhavsar, Tippelt, stutz (almost over and walks on hands), STUCK the double front half out. 14.3

Whittenburg(PB) has to power through, healy, peach, peach 1/2, Belle to back toss with messy legs, Suarez, giant to suarez, walking all over pbars, double front half out. He is holding his shoulder. He looks like he is in MAJOR pain.

Bower (SR) kip to maltese (high and short), iron cross (low), He is high on the maltese again, joh, to yami, to straddle planche, good handstand, small hop on the full in but he is a bit piked in the hips. 13.7

Neff (HB) Really nice set – a little short on handstands. Small hop on the dismount. 13.7

Oyama (PB) Missed everything but the dismount which he flung out. 13.7

Yoder (PH) scissors, kerr, also kerr this time backwards, russian on one pommel, really lovely up into the dismount. 15.15

Moldauer (SR) Really beautiful positions, azarian cross, yami to john, up to straddle planche, almost sticks double double. 14.4

Rotation 3

After 2:

  1. Allan Bower
  2. Sam Mikulak
  3. Akash Modi
  4. Anton Stephenson
  5. Kanji Oyama

Bower (PH) Mikulak, flip scissor, russian on one pommel, tong fei, wu, nice into the handstand! YAY Allan! 14.8

Neff (PB) peach, Healy, Diam, Stutz, peach toss to l sit, double pike with a small hop.

Howard (FX) Huge skills but hops all over the place

Moldauer (PH) Looks a little tired. Came off on the horse with a nice dismount. 12.9

Van Wicklen with the upgrade on vault – Dragelescu with a small hop and low chest. 14.2

Mikulak (VT) Kas 1.5 – bends leg off the top of the table. Lands well with a small hop 14.4

Rotation 2

After 1:

  1. Anton Stephenson
  2. Sam Mikulak and Ellis Mann
  3. No one 🙂
  4. Akash Modi
  5. Yul Moldauer

Stephenson (VT) Yurchenko 2.5 STUCK cold! This kid can stick every vault he does! 9.6 execution 14.8.

Wiscus (PH) Really struggling through and now he’s off,

Bailey (SR) maltese (high), maltese again (high) wobbly on planche, good cross, struggling in the handstand, stuck double double with low chest.

Bock (PH) Mikulak, Traveling, Kerr, Really nice shape, magyar, sivado, struggles through the dismount,

Moldauer (FX) A little hoppy to start. front full to front 2.5, back 2.5 to front double, double arabian half out, flairs, Rudi, double full stuck, triple twist to finish with a hop. Usually he sticks everything. He upgraded two passes so maybe he is having some problems sticking. 14.25

Yoder (HB) small hop on the dismount

Mikulak (SR) Nice maltese, bounce to cross, kip up to good planche, yami to honma, to cross (little low) , He looks very solid, joh, Double Double tucked with a small hop back. 14.35

Melton (HB) swings his dismount out a bit and has to take a big hop forward. 13.0

Tim is saying that Modi has looked very good all week.

Modi (VT) Kas 1.5 with a small hop forward. 14.3

Moore (PH) Stretches pretty well and falls out of his handstand a little bit.

Whittenburg said himself he’s not prepared to make the worlds team.

7:34 pm: Whittenburg (SR) kip to maltese, azarian L maltese (high) planche, kip to handstand, joh to maltese, struggling on handstands. Double Double layout with a small hop. 14.15

Whittenburg is only doing Rings and Parallel Bars. According to Tim, he only did hi first full routine last week.Oklahoma is Starting on Floor, USOTC is starting on Rings

Article by: Kensley Behel

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Junior Men Live Blog

Kensley is here live blogging the Junior men. Most recent updates will appear at the top.

Day 1 Results:

15-16:

  1. Isaiah Drake 77.35
  2. Taylor Burkhart 77.2
  3. Nicolas Kuebler 77.0

17-18

  1. Riley Loos 78.95
  2. Vitaliy Guimaraes – 78.55
  3. Spencer Goodell 78.5
  4. Brandon Briones 78.35

Chou (HB) straddle tkatchev by fingertips, hop 1/1, endo 1/2, stalder 1/1, stalder, 1/2, STUCK!!!

Christopulos(HB) Endo, straddle tkatchev, endo 1/2, stalder 1/1, stalder 1/2, STUCK dismount.

Goodell (PH) scissors, magyar, sivado, circles on pommels, 1/2 turn on one pommel, nice into the dismount!

Gamboa – Stuck dismount on PBars!

Juda (PB) Healy, Diam, huge push on the peach, Tippelt, Bhavsar, came off on the upswing, Sat down his dismount. Rough day for him. At least four falls that I can count today.

Fletcher (HB) Off on the Layout Tkatchev, … got back on, low landing on the

Rotation 6: 3:52pm

After 5:

15-16

  1. Fuzzy Benas
  2. Isaiah Drake
  3. Colt Walker

17-18

  1. Spencer Goodell
  2. Vitaliy Guimaraes
  3. Riley Loos

Ah Chow (SR) yami to joh, l sit, nice dismount!

Penev (PH) scissor flip, circles on one pommel, russian on one pommel, tonge fei, magyar, sivado, has to completely muscle up the dismount.

Drake (PH) scissor to handstand, double russian, magyar, sivado, good dismount!

Benas (FX) Double Double, back 5/2 to front 1/1, Stuck triple to finish!!

Bold – stuck vault.

Wooten (HB) low Yami, Stalder 1/1, really late on the turns, endo, endo 1/2, stuck double double tuck to finish.

Bischoff (VT) clean landing on vault.

Juda (VT) Tsuk double – low landing, runs forwards and hits his head on the table. Hope he is ok!!!

Chou (PB) peach, giant, Tippelt, long pause, Healy, 1/2, toss from support, Diam, Stutz, Runs backwards out of dismount.

Goodell (FX) double double stuck ish, missed the second pass, back 3/2 to front 1/1, back 1/1, back 2/1, stuck to finish.

Rotation 5: 3:22pm

After 4:

15-16:

  1. Isaiah Drake
  2. Khoi Young
  3. Fuzzy Benas

17-18:

  1. Brandon Briones
  2. Spencer Goodell
  3. Riley Loos

Guimaraes (HB) yami, stalder up, 1/1, rybalko (late) endo, triple double tucked and STUCK!

Leon (PB) 12.75

Benas (HB) Liukin!!! straddle tkatchev, Rybalko, stalder, stalder 1/1 (late) STUCK The dismount! HUGE routine!

Briones (VT) Kas 1.5 with a big hop forward

Loos (HB) Yami – nice height straddle Tkatchev, stalder, STUCK dismount!

Juda (SR) Up to strong straddle planche, kip to front giant to joh, to yami, almost stuck dismount! Nice set for him!!!

Fletcher (VT) Kas 1.5. Lands wayyy to the side almost off the mats.

Hauke (PH) Scissor cuts, Magyar, Sivado, has to fight for the dismount. Not sure it’s going to be high enough.

Goodell (HB) lay Tkatchev, straddle Tkatchev, hop 1/1, Stuck the double double!

Chou (VT) Really deep squat on the Tsuk 2.5

Cormler (HB) Stuck his dismount

Rotation 4: 2:57pm

After 3

15-16

  1. Michael Jaroh – 40.1 (He’s ahead of the older juniors at this point)
  2. Fuzzy Benas – 39.6
  3. Khoi Young 39.5

17-18

  1. Spencer Goodell – 40.0
  2. Vitaliy Guimaraes – 39.6
  3. Brandon Briones – 39.3

Penev (HB) Lookls like maybe he didn’t have his grip over the bar at first. It took him a moment to get started. Off on the straddled Tkatchev, 1/1, Rybalko (late), stalder 1/1, 1/2, STUCK double double layout!

Drake (HB) I didn’t get to see a lot of the routine, but he has a really nice rhythm and look to him on high bar.

Guimaraes (PB) peach, giant, down to supports and back up, 1/2, peach basket to l sit, double tuck off the side with a small hop.

Simmons (SR) Oooh front double pike to dismount

Wilson (HB) Sticks dismount.

Williams (SR) kip to L sit, joh to yami, to l sit, straddle up to handstand, … sticks full in tucked.

Loos (PB) Doesn’t ever quite hit handstand, really slow on this event, piked through the healy, peach to L sit, double tuck to finish.

Bischoff (PH) Scissors to open, falls out of his travles, but manages to stay on, lots of bent knees, I do not know how he has stayed on. 11.95

Doherty Herwitz (HB) Took two falls on high bar, but finished with a stuck dismount.

Goodell (PB) Tippelt to open, You can hear Chris Brooks in the back ground, peach basket to L sit, Tosses the double pike over with a big step back.

Christopulos (SR) straddle planche a bit piked in the hips, L sti, yami, to joh, to straddle sit, straddle planche but doesn’t hold it long enough, small hop on the dismount. 11.95

2:35pm Ah Chow (FX) Huge double double stuck to open, triple with large step forward, full-in, Rudi, Ooohh!!! He did the handstand Leyva did! It’s a D. Full, Stuck 2/1 to finish. 12.9

After 2:

15-16

  1. Fuzzy Benas 27.55
  2. Colt Walker 27.15
  3. Isaiah Drake 26.85

17-18

  1. Spencer Goodell 27.7
  2. 2. Vitaliy Guimaraes 24.4
  3. Riley Loos 26.95

Bischoff (FX) missed the first pass, half in half out, back 5/2 to front full, Rudi, beautiful split, opens up nicely to end with a double twist

Benas (VT) Yurchenko 2.5! Great vault!

Juda (FX) After long wait, tucked double double to open, back 5/2 to rudi, Randi, little pause on his handstand, Rudi, back 2/1, A bit short on his triple to finish.

Goodell (VT) Handspring double vault with a small hop! Big time vault!!!

Ah Chow (HB) I didn’t even have to look to know it was him because Yin was clapping. 1/2, off on the lay kovacks. He caught the regular Kovaks, little late on the stalder 1/1, Almost sticks his dismount. None of it matters because he points his toes and has the pretties line of just about any gymnast competing.

Leon (SR) kip to straddle sit then out to planche, controlled into the L-sit, straddles up into the handstand – nice control, yami, sticks the 1.5 tucked!

Guimaraes (VT) HUGE Yurchenko double STUCK! Gorgeous.

Penev (PB) struggles on his peach, Diam nice! Tippelt, Stutz (short) STICKS the doulbe picke cold.

Rotaton 2:

Jordan Williams (FX) double double to open with a small step back, beautiful 5/2 in the air suck, almost stuck Rudi, holds the handstand well, back 3/2 to front full, Stuck 2/1 to finish.

Loos (SR) beautiful maltese, up to straddle planche, straddle sit, really nice control on the first handstand, second is a little wobbly, sticks the double double off. Great routine!

Bischoff (HB) Yami, straddle tkatchev, 1/1, giant 1/2, stalder 1/1, stalder, endo, threw his layout full quite far from the bar, but only a small hop on the landing. 12.35

2:00 PM Zachary Tiderman (PB) looks a bit tight in the shoulders quite a short routine, but sticks the dismount.

Juda (HB) took a bad spill and stayed down for a little bit, but he got up and finished his routine with  stuck dismount. 11.35

Young (PH) got a 9.0 E Score!!!

Goodell (SR) kip to straddle planche, giant, yami, to joh, straddle sit press to handstand, front giant, full in tucked stuck!

Briones (FX) Stuck his triple twist dismount

Burkhart (PB) Bhavsar to open, 1/2, back toss to L sit, straddle to handstand – good control, 1/2, Tippelt, Stutz, high double pike to finish with a small hop back.

Angel Leon (PH) Cirlces well, Magyar nice then off on the Sivado. Remounts up into one handstnad on the end, down easy into the dismount.

Vitaliy Guimaraes (SR) stuck his dismount

1:50PM Crew Bold (HB) Yami (little bent out of it) lay to straddle Tkatchev, Tkatchev 1/2, stalder, Endo 1/1, full twisting lay to finish! small step back.

Kevin Penev (VT) Kas 1.5 a little bent in the air and a big step to the side

Zachary Marin (PH) took a pretty nasty fall on the horse! Hope he is ok. 10.95

1:46pm Daniel Simmons (FX) Front double pike stuck, front double tuck, front lay front full, nice transitions, russians, triple, double tuck small hop back to finish. 12.8

Article by: Kensley Behel

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Winter Cup Live Blog Finals

by: Kensley Behel

 

The Winter Cup Challenge is a three part competition. This live-blog is for the combined junior and senior finals. Start lists and live coverage can be found here. Most recent routines will be seen at the top of the page. All times are EST.

 

Event Champions:

FX: Mikulak, Modi/Wiskus

PH: Yoder, Mikulak, Ngai

SR: Melton, Diab, Naddour

VT: Kimble, Oyama, De Los Angeles

PB: Mikulak, Modi/Yoder

HB: Mikulak, Breckenridge, Neff

 

AA Final Standings:

  1. Mikulak 172.5
  2. Kimble 166.550
  3. Modi 165.9
  4. Bower 165.6
  5. Melton
  6. Yoder

12:24 Yoder (PH) WOW! Fantastic routine! 15.1

12:23 Bower (SR) Strong cross into a beautiful swing series. It’s interesting because in his handstands, his legs don’t touch, but he keeps his feet glued together.

12:18 Naddour (PH) Fell off but finishes strong, This means Yoder will win the Pommel horse title for this Winter Cup.

12:15 Huang (VT) Stick the vault! Good for him!

Mikulak (FX) front 2/1 to stuck double front, front lay double front 1/2 out, nice flairs, back 3/2 to stuck 1/1, stuck 2/1, STUCK 5/2 to finish! Wow great set!

12:12 Melton (PH) Starts out very extended in the hips, rhythm slows in the middle, he circles well oops, slight leg separation, bent knees but is fighting through. Almost makes it. Big push and falls off. Will need to redo dismount.

12:11 Jacobson (HB) Kolman (close) Lay Tkatchev, Tkatchev, 1 arm, Endo, struggles trhough the middle, Stuck full-in.

Bischoff (VT) Very powerful run, but comes up a little short on the landing.

12:10 Jackson with a nice DTY on Vault

After 11

  1. Mikulak 158.2
  2. Melton 153.2
  3. Kimble 152.95
  4. Bower 152.2
  5. Modi 151.7
  6. Bailey 150.5

12:02 Bailey (HB) stlader 1/1 (late) Tak 1/1, Tak 1/2, Off on Tkatchev, Sticks the dismount.

11:56 Mikulak (HB) Kassina, Kolma, Lay tkatchev, straddle to straddle 1/2 tkatchev, 1 arm, Tak 1/2, hop 1/1, endo, STUCK double double. 14.85

11:54 Hong (VT) He has to run so long to get to the vault! Full twisting Tsuk! What a great job he has done tonight! 12.55

11:52. Finally they are showing Yul tonight. Mikulak, flairs, traveling flairs, beautiful position although, if we are being picky, he could be even more stretched. He has to really push up into the dismount. It was a great routine until then. 14.05

Juda (SR) Up to straddle planche, yami to jon, cut to melton on floor. 13.25

Melton (FX) front Double pike wiht a small hop, front 2/1 to tucked 1/1, really strong v hold to press to second handstand! Bak 5/2 to barani, stuck double twist, Triple twist with a step back to finish. 13.95

11:47 Bower (PH) Mikulak, Really nice form to start, cirucles nicely, spindle, Magyar, Sivado, ealiley into the dismount! Good routine. 14.25

11:46 Willet (VT) Tsuk 1.5

Rotation 5

After 10:

  1. 1. Mikulak 143.35
  2. 2. 139.25
  3. 3. Kimble 138.9
  4. 4. Modi 138.3
  5. 5. Bailey 138.2
  6. 6. Bower 137.95

 

11:40 Modi (PB) Peach, Diam wiht bent knees, Bhavsar, Tippelt, Healy 1/2, Diam, Stutz, Almost stuck full-in to dismount. 14.0

11:37 Powarzynsi double pike forwards, pretty hoppy throughout so far. Nice handstand series. Has some form issues on twisting. A little short on his triple twist to finish. 13.5

11:36 Oyama (PB) Healy, Peach 1/2 way off balance, Ooh double tuck from giant, back toss, Stutz, Double pike with a big hope back!

11:29 Melton (HB) gorgeous Kolman and finishes with a lovely and stuck full-in of high bar. 13.7

Davis (SR) Strong handstand before the dismount! 13.05

Bower (FX) Really fighting for every tenth on those landings! Strong wide-arm handstand. back 3/2 to front 1/2. Ends with Back 5/2. 14.1

Kimble (VT) Beautiful Tsuk double pike! Small hop on the landing. 5.6

Yoder (HB) Yami, Close on the Kolman, Endo, Rybalko endo 1/1, stalder, tak 1/2, hop 1/1, Stuck dismount! 13.05

Hong (SR) Beautiful handstands – better than a lot of hte seniors honestly! Kid is incredible! Stuck his full-in! 13

Rotation 4:

11:18 Kehler (PB) Peach – please point your toes, piked healy, Tanaka, Diam, Stutz, Double pike to finish with a small hop.

11:17 Jackson (FX) Wow! He is competing after that fall! Glad he is alright! Really high tumbling. When he can clean up his form a little bit, he will be really exciting to watch.

After 9

  1. Mikulak 127.9
  2. Melton 125.55
  3. Bailey 124.65
  4. Modi 124.3
  5. Kimble 124.2
  6. Bower 123.85

Mikulak (VT) Yurchenko 1.5 – big hop on landing. 13.65 – mmm that score seems maybe a little high compared to his vault and day one score.

11:16 Melton (PB) Healy, Diam, Stutz, Stuck double pike! 14.2

11:14 Bower (HB) An ok routine, but he still has very very bent legs on the Tak skills. 13.1

11:11 Hong (PH) Doulb erussian! Oooh! Traveling flairs! The next Max Whitlock! 13.2

Yoder (PB) Peach, Giant, Diam, Diam 1/2, Back toss! Beautiful double pike dismount. Really opens up nicely and has time to spot the landing! Stick! 13.9

11:10 Bailey (VT) NICE Kas 1.5. Just a small hop to the side. 14.35

11:08 Modi (VT) Kas 1.5 Nice in the air with a hop on the landing. 14.1

After 8

  1. Mikulak 114.250
  2. Melton 111.350
  3. Bower 110.750
  4. Kimble 110.450
  5. Bailey 110.3
  6. Modi 110.2

11:00 Kimble has an incredibly difficult routine utilizing lots of one handed skills. He has a good bit of form errors, but when he is able to clean it up expect a big score. 13.6

10:56 Injury to Jackson on high bar on missed Kolman

10:56 Bower (PB) peach (has to travel to hold the skill) suarez, healy, 1/2, Diam (beautiful) back toss but has to bend knees a bit, Stutz, Tanaka, good double pike with a small hop to finish. 13.9

King (PH) Scissor cuts, Legs are glued together, but he is quite piked at the hips with flexed feet throughout. Dismount may or may not meet the D requirement as he was not able to travel properly. 13.0

10:52 Melton (VT) Double front with a little too much power and takes a big step forward. 14.35

Bailey (SR) 1.5 tucked to end with a small step. 13.25

Huang (HB) Sticks the dismount. 12.550

10:51 Hong (FX) FlairsDouble twist to end with some form issues.

10:49 Yoder (VT) Carbon copy of night one! Beautiful Tsuk double stuck right down the middle. 13.95

Mod (SR) Lcross to maltese, yami to jon to iron cross, up to l sit and push to Great handstand! giant handstand, Nice dismount with a small hop back.

10:47 Neighbarger (VT) Nice vault with a big step to the side. 14.2

10:46 Mikulak (SR) kip to maltese – looks a little high, up to good planche, lowers to strong iron cross, yami to iron cross, jon to handstand – big arch, Almost exact copy of his fall on the triple back dismount as night one. 13.1

Rotation 2

Standings after 7:

  1. Mikulak 101.15
  2. Modi 97.1
  3. Bailey 97.05
  4. Melton 97
  5. Kimble 96.95

 

10:39 Neff (PH) Cleanly through the russians although a bit piked, little leg separations here and there, has to push big time on the dismount. Not quite sure how he saved that. His shoulders were way over. 13.5

Yoder (SR) Beautiful swing series, little low on straddle planche, handstand, front giant handstand, nice double double tucked to finish! 13.5

10:35 Hong (HB) OH my gosh – stalder 1/2, tkatchev – good swing out endo 1/2, stadler 1/1 – late, stalder, endo, suck 1/1 dismount. 12.3

10:34 Naddour (SR) nice Maltese, bounce cross. Looks much better than on Thursday, Easily up into the planche. Well- held handstand, slight bobble on second handstand, layed out full in with a big step back . 14.4

C. Stephenson (FX) 14.0

Bailey (PH) Nice clean routine . 14.0

10:33 Modi (PH) Nice Spindles and easily through the travelling sequence, some leg separation, but easily into the dismount. 13.75

10:32 Powarzynski (VT) – Kas 1.5 – Good vault with a small hop 14.45

Ellsworth (FX) 12.85

10:30 Mikulak(PH) Mikulak, scissor cuts, nice extension, handstand flairs, Triple Russian on the end, Magyar/Sivado sequence, nice dismount. 14.85

Kimble (FX) 13.45

Rotation 1 Day 2

Final Standing after Day 1.

1. Mikulak 86.300 2. Kimble 83.500 3. Modi 83.350 4. Bailey 83.050 5. Melton 82.850 6. Neff 82.700