What We’re Talking About
Thirty-six teams entered the tournament, only eight are moving on. They are: Oklahoma, Auburn, Michigan, Missouri, Florida, Minnesota, Utah and Alabama. The individual all-rounders advancing to NCAA championships are: Jade Carey, Raena Worley, Norah Flatley and Kennedy Hambrick. The event qualifiers are: (Vault) Gayla Griswold, Kiya johnson, Elexis Edwards and Mia Townes; (Uneven Bars) Jordan Chiles, Cally Nixon, Sarah Shaffer and Mia Takekawa; (Balance Beam) Adeline Kenlin, Sirena Linton, Skyla Schulte and Abbie Thompson; and (Floor Exercise) Kyla Bryant, Jordan Chiles, Hailey Davis and Jaye Mack.
There was some exceptional gymnastics this weekend. There were nine perfect 10s during the Regional Championships and Trinity Thomas had nearly half of them. Oklahoma looked ready to take their spot back on top, Michigan looks capable as ever and Utah showed up when they needed. It looks like everyone will be chasing Florida. On the opposite end, LSU was upset in the semi-final round. Cal is the only team in the top 20 that will not have an athlete on the floor at championships. UCLA missed the championships as a team in back-to-back years for the first time in program history. And Georgia finished the season ranked 30th–the lowest ranked finish in program history.
Feelings
- We talk about Raena Worley, but probably not enough.
- Everyone should watch Kendall Whitman’s three E-pass floor routine.
- Maile O’Keefe is so ice cold she makes James Bond look jittery.
- Making it to Regionals was a win for Alabama.
- Andi Li should be at Nationals.
- Don’t sleep on Michigan State. They might be out, but they’re on the rise.
- Stanford is heading in the right direction too with their second best Regional in school history.
- Even without looking at the scoreboard Florida and Oklahoma look like the favorites.
- Georgia has to make a change.
- LSU and UCLA have too much talent to watch championships on TV.
- Missouri wasn’t lucky, they earned their spot.
- Amari Celestine’s foot was in-bounds.
Facts
- Amari Celestine’s foot was in-bounds.
- Maile is now the single-season record holder for most 10s on beam for Utah’s storied program.
- 198.200: The highest postseason score in Utah program history.
- Trinity Thomas posted four perfect 10s at Regionals. She now ranks 8th all-time for most career 10s.
- Florida put up the third highest score in NCAA history, and the highest post season score ever.
- Sunisa Lee got another 10. So did Leanne Wong, Gabby Wilson and Kara Eaker (another icy performance!).
- See you in Paris! Artistic gymnastics will begin on Saturday, July 27th and conclude Monday, August 5th.
- Jordan Chiles hopes to be there… and Simone Biles has left the door open.
Award(s)
- Best Control of Feelings in a Pressure Situation: Maile “Clutch AF” O’Keefe
- Largest Lungs in Gymnastics: Kendall “My Feet Are in the Air 90% of the Routine” Whitman
- This Level 3 Full Turn Beam Requirement is My Bitch Award: Adeline Kenlin
What’s On the Socials?
https://twitter.com/amari_celestine/status/1510454891759738883?s=20&t=lWKJQV4o3diCxbt5203MZA
Good – 10.000
Obvious deductions – 9.950
Major error – 9.900
Died mid-routine – 9.850— BalanceBeamSituation (@TheBBSituation) April 3, 2022
https://twitter.com/AuburnGym/status/1511163817631358976?s=20&t=UIMm0XVa8Pd_TVeGjRqTEA
https://twitter.com/IowaGymnastics/status/1511086295606513670?s=20&t=UIMm0XVa8Pd_TVeGjRqTEA
https://twitter.com/ESPNPlus/status/1510436494401765377?s=20&t=UIMm0XVa8Pd_TVeGjRqTEA
Quotes
“I am sad that the seven seniors are finished, but I don’t feel sad. I feel complete. I feel we did everything we could and put it all out there.” ~ Larissa Libby, Iowa Head Coach
Sharing her feelings after the team posted the second best score in team history while being eliminated from the tournament, along with Adeline Kenlin advancing to nationals to compete for the balance beam title.
♦
“They were on fire on beam. We’ve been waiting on the beam record for a while and I was just so proud… That’s what sports are about, when there are ups and downs they choose to step up and rise; and even though the first event didn’t go the way they wanted they were going to rise through the rest of the night.” ~ Liz Crandal-Howell, Cal Co-Head Coach
Liz expressing pride in the team after they set a school record on balance beam at Regionals, but missing out on advancing to nationals.
♦
“‘Somebody asked me if that [team score] is a record and I said ‘I don’t know if it’s a record but we’re going to Fort Worth!’” ~ Jenny Rowland, Florida Head Coach
Not only was it a big score, but it was the highest score in postseason history and third highest in NCAA history. If that do that in Fort Worth Jenny will be carrying home some new hardware.
♦♦♦
What? You want even more? Be sure to check out our new College & Cocktails episodes for Club Gym Nerd members on Friday nights right after the competition. (This week we’ll return to our normal noon Pacific Behind the Scenes episode for club members.) Then we give the sober analysis on Monday (or Tuesday) after we’ve allowed the data to penetrate our feelings.
This column was composed and compiled by Steve Cooper, Editor, GymCastic; as performed by hosts Jessica O’Beirne and Spencer Barnes.
