PodcastGymCastic

Sticks Aren’t Contagious, But Upsets Are: Minnesota In, Utah Out

Daniel Rothwell
Posted by Daniel Rothwell
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Minnesota shocks the field, Utah misses nationals, and Oklahoma reveals its final boss mode. We break down every NCAA Regional—upsets, judging drama, coaching shakeups, and the real reason sticks aren’t contagious.

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HEADLINES

  • Jeff Graba is out after 16 seasons as Auburn’s head coach
    • Could Kentucky and Utah be next?
  • What is up with all the equipment setting problems at Regionals?
    • Confirmed that the floor boundaries were incorrect and had to be fixed
    • The Cal vault situation that gave us Sydney 2000 flashbacks
  • NCAA Nationals qualifiers
    • Who qualified?
      • The top 8 teams by NQS are qualified, except for Alabama and Missouri
      • Stanford, Arkansas, and Missouri’s sneak in
    • Who didn’t qualify?
      • Utah broke its 49-year streak of qualifying a team to Nationals
  • Gymnasts are the canary in the coal mine
    • Iowa State’s women’s basketball team is also leaving
  • The Romanian press reports the Federation head was missing when he was supposed to be investigating abuse

REGIONALS

  • The biggest surprises
    • MINNE-FREAKING-SOTA QUALIFIES WITH UCLA OVER UTAH AND ALABAMA
    • Minnesota was the only team that kept its cool
    • GymCastic bump: Emma Slevin competes her first competitive beam routine of the season and hit to clinch a spot for Minnesota
    • Where did the wheels start falling off for Alabama?
  • What were the biggest lessons learned?
    • Who excitement-screamed and cellyed themselves into a bigger deduction?
  • Clemson nearly beat Stanford for the second spot with LSU
  • Kentucky was the only top-16 team not to advance to the regional final after getting upset by Ohio State
  • Someone give Rutgers its flowers for almost advancing!!!
  • Our award for the most valiant semifinal performance that didn’t advance
  • Who do we think the favorites are for Nationals?
  • Who got their 10s this weekend?
    • Aurelie Tran! Niki Smith, Skye Blakely, Kaliya Lincoln, Faith Torrez, Jordan Chiles

Oregon State Regional

UCLA and Minnesota Advance

Individual Qualification List

  • All-Around Avery Neff – Utah
  • Vault Shyla Bhatia – Denver
  • Bars Aurelie Tran – Iowa
  • Beam Ana Padurariu – Utah
  • Floor Ella Zirbes – Utah

Arizona State Regional

Florida and Georgia Advance

Individual Qualification List

  • All-Around Nikki Smith – Michigan State
  • Vault Sage Kellerman – Michigan State
  • Bars Sage Kellerman – Michigan State
  • Beam Abigayle Martin – Arizona
  • Floor Gabi Ortiz – Michigan State

LSU Regional

Stanford and LSU Advance

Individual Qualification List

  • All-Around Maggie Slife – Air Force
  • Vault Gwen Fink – North Carolina
  • Bars Sophia Diaz – Michigan
  • Beam Carly Bauman – Michigan
  • Floor Brie Clark – Clemson

Kentucky Regional

Oklahoma and Arkansas Advance

Individual Qualification List

  • All-Around Tory Vetter – Ohio State
  • Vault Cameron Smith – Ohio State
  • Bars Hannah Horton – Missouri
  • Beam Delaynee Rodriguez – Kentucky
  • Floor Creslyn Brose – Kentucky

GYMTERNET NEWS

  • FRG president Ioan Suciu has announced an independent commission to investigate abuse allegations against Camelia Voinea, but more than three months later, no disciplinary action has taken place
  • Heather Ross-McManus is the new program director of Gymnastics Canada’s Women’s Artistic Gymnastics program, effective April 13, 2026
  • Cornell Gymnastics receives a $1M gift from Ashley (Stewart) and Michael Bolling
  • Cairo World Cup winners

FEEDBACK

  • Are sticks contagious? We have some data
  • What did we like about the broadcasts

⏱ Jump to your favorite topics below 👇

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Cold Open: Are Sticks Contagious? The Data Says No
00:19 – NCAA Championship Teams Set + Fort Worth Preview
00:50 – Show Intro + Spencer Survives Regionals Weekend
01:10 – GymCastic Live Show Details + Past Guests
02:35 – BREAKING: Auburn Head Coach Out After 16 Seasons
03:38 – Who’s Next? Coaching Carousel Speculation (Utah, Kentucky)
05:05 – Equipment Fail: Floor Out-of-Bounds Set Wrong
06:24 – Regionals Results: Who Advanced & Biggest Upsets
07:17 – Minnesota Stuns: Eliminates Alabama & Utah
08:21 – Stanford Survives + Arkansas Over Missouri
09:09 – Judging Controversy Returns + Oversight Debate
11:18 – Iowa State Fallout: Athletes Transfer En Masse
12:16 – Romania Abuse Investigation Stalls
12:41 – Club Gym Nerd + NCAA Bonus Content Preview

13:12 – Deep Dive Begins: Minnesota’s Breakthrough Strategy
15:53 – Alabama’s Vault Lineup Cost Them Nationals
18:29 – Rotation Strategy + Why Vault Hurt Utah
20:51 – Sticks vs Steps: How Landings Decided Regionals
22:53 – Celebration Chaos + Teams Party Together
24:13 – Sticker Strategy Theory (Yes, Really)
24:49 – Biggest Lesson: Stick Celebrations Causing Deductions
27:06 – Rules Myth Busted: It’s NOT a 3-Second Hold

29:36 – Biggest “Almost” Upset: Clemson Nearly Advances
31:48 – Clemson’s Rise + Coaching Impact
32:22 – Arkansas vs Missouri: Margins & Landings
34:10 – Most Exciting Semifinal: Ohio State Upsets Kentucky
35:07 – Beam Pressure & Clutch Performances
37:25 – Rutgers Turnaround Story
40:11 – Iowa’s “Valiant Loss” + Orally Tran’s 10

42:00 – What We Learned: Oklahoma Still Holding Back
44:25 – Routine Construction: Why Leaps Matter More Than Ever

46:08 – Listener Research: Sticks Are NOT Contagious
50:01 – Broadcast Review: What Worked & What Didn’t
53:20 – Judging Confusion Exposed On-Air
55:08 – Production Issues: Camera Angles & Coverage Problems
56:42 – Why Regionals NEED to Be on TV
58:01 – Missing Individual Standings Coverage

01:00:21 – Regional 10.0s Breakdown + Controversies
01:02:19 – Standout Skills & Moments (Van Frayen, Beam Work)
01:03:45 – Injury Moment: Chesney Bennett Finishes Routine
01:06:21 – NCAA Rule Advantage: Injury Evaluation Period

01:10:58 – Oregon Regional: Individual Qualifiers Breakdown
01:12:39 – Arizona State Regional: Michigan State Dominates Individuals
01:15:47 – LSU Regional: Clemson, Stanford & Key Storylines
01:19:57 – Kentucky Regional: Ohio State Upset + Qualifiers

01:22:20 – NCAA Championship Predictions
01:24:45 – Final Four Debate: Florida vs Oklahoma vs Field

01:28:13 – Gymternet News: Romania, Canada, Cornell Donation

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