What We’re Talking About
We’ve reached the midterms of the college season and we’re finding out that the Pac-12 is getting tipped upside down. This past weekend Stanford defeated UCLA for the first time in six years and Cal beat Utah for only the third time in school history! This was Utah’s first loss on the season while Cal remains undefeated.
We’ve really got to figure out this achilles tendon thing. Now added to the list of season-ending achilles injuries is Jillian Hoffman from Utah and Sophia LeBlanc from Maryland. Add that to the list of at least six other athletes who have torn their achilles this season. Dr. Dave Tilley of Shift Movement Science mentioned a 2020 research paper that showed female gymnasts are at greater risk than any other athlete on campus to tear their achilles. How much? They are 13x greater risk than men’s basketball and a mind-blowing 60x greater risk than women’s soccer players! The good news is that after Makarri Doggette of Alabama was carried off the floor this week, head coach, Dana Duckworth, provided an update that it’s not an achilles tear and just a sprain. Doggette should be back in action shortly.
In other positive news, Fisk University will become the first HBCU women’s college gymnastics team in the nation, and will begin competing in the 2023 season.
Feelings
- Kathy Johnson’s still go it.
- Mizzou performs on floor.
- Simone is living her best life.
- Jade Carey has found her look with that Beaver leotard this week.
- She also put down another perfect 10 routine and has taken over the all-around lead on the season.
- Meilin Sullivan who missed all of her freshman year because of myocarditis after contracting Covid-19 is killing it in her sophomore year at Oklahoma.
- SoonerVision costs twice as much as AppleTV+ and Jordan Bowers routine was cutoff–this is not acceptable.
Facts
- Last week Ragan Smith scored her first perfect 10. This week she did it again.
- Jordan Chiles has done it two weeks in a row too.
- Ana Padurariu doesn’t need both legs to dismount beam.
- Jade hasn’t scored lower than a 9.875 all season on any apparatus 🤯.
- Nya Reed is perfect again on floor. She’s now ranked second on the apparatus behind her teammate Trinity Thomas.
- Don’t sleep on Andi Li.
- Stanford put up season best scores on vault, bars and floor.
- Three Auburn gymnasts posted career highs on beam: Piper Smith, Cassie Stevens, and Gabby McLaughlin.
Awards
- Most college salute of all college salutes ever award: Nebraska (scroll to the bottom, after you view all the other gifs, of course.)
What’s On the Socials?
https://twitter.com/SHIFT_MvmtSci/status/1492887423147204612?s=20&t=eMCNQVW6RJvbCAfV_D-8DA
https://twitter.com/LIUSharksGym/status/1492544308490219521?s=20&t=eMCNQVW6RJvbCAfV_D-8DA
https://twitter.com/GopherWGym/status/1492245529291595777?s=20&t=eMCNQVW6RJvbCAfV_D-8DA
https://twitter.com/SECNetwork/status/1492277942499647495?s=20&t=eMCNQVW6RJvbCAfV_D-8DA
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Quotes
“You wanna shut ‘em up.” ~ Ashley Miles, Badass Commentator
While commentating on the Auburn v. Missouri meet, the former Alabama star and 4-time national champion explained how she would approach a hostile or unruly crowd as an athlete.
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“The most exciting part is that we didn’t have our entire roster healthy and ready to compete, it gave some opportunities for people to step in and they showed everyone what they’re capable of.” ~ Justin Howell, Co-Head Coach Cal
The Berkeley Bears are now 5-0 on the season and 4-0 within conference. Without their full lineup Liz Crandall-Howell’s husband highlights how the team stepped up to defeat the No. 3 ranked team in the nation.
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“This week in practice, they were lights out, and I was really excited to see that work transition onto the competition floor.”
~ Tabitha Yim, Head Coach Stanford
Tabitha Yim reacting to the first Stanford win over UCLA in six years.
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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. Then we give the sober analysis on Monday 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.