What We’re Talking About
New seasons with new programs. Three new programs have now made their debut. The highest profile team of the bunch is Clemson. Boy did they deliver. In their first ever meet (with an absolutely incredible, statement-making leotard) the Tigers roared to a 196.325 putting them in the top 25 (19th actually) in their very first meet! Perhaps more impressive, they packed their first home meet with over 8,000 fans–something well-established programs work years to achieve. With such a great start we’re excited to see what they do in their next meet.
Clemson isn’t the only program new on the block. Talladega and Utica also debuted. Talladega showed up with a 187.750, which is comparable with Fisk’s start last year, and well ahead of recent new DIII teams and where they started. What’s particularly encouraging about Talladega’s strong start is that it shows there’s depth and interest to support multiple HBCU programs. Utica started their season with a 176.725. This isn’t a monster score, but their vault numbers are much better than many more established DIII teams. We can’t wait to watch all three programs grow.
Feelings
- Simone Biles‘ feature in Vanity Fair is worth a read.
- We Fear the Angry Tree (and also absolutely love it!)
- More teams need to embrace the camp
- We’re happy to see no Russians on the new FIG list of qualified competitors
- Oklahoma is so good. And this is just the January version.
- Cal might be the second best team in the nation right now.
- We wish the standing and rankings actually mattered more.
- This is the best Morgan Hurd has looked at the start of a college season.
- We loved watching Sandra Jessen’s legacy routine of her mother, the great Hana Ricna of Czechoslovakia
- We love that MaKayla Tucker, who’s 5’10”, continues to prove that you’re not too tall to do gymnastics
Facts
- Konnor McClain is pretty good at the gymnastics. We hope to see her back on the beam soon.
- JaQuavia Henderson is stepping away (she was one of the top people rostered in Fantasy week1)
- There was obviously something wrong with the beam on Saturday.
- Maile O’Keefe fell on Saturday, and scored a perfect 10 on Monday.
- In case you’re keeping track, that’s two 10s in three routines.
- Mya Hooten is a floor assassin. She’s now wracked up 6 perfect 10s.
- Sierra Brooks is the leader on the floor Michigan needs her to be.
- Aside from her perfect 10, she also set the all-time Michigan record at 39.850 in the all-around
- eMjae Frazier set the all-time record at Cal with a 39.775.
- Cal is surging.
- Kentucky (6) is currently ranked ahead of LSU (8)
- Wanna guess who competes against each other this week?
- Arkansas scored a 197.1 this weekend. Alabama scored a 197.1 too.
- Wanna guess who competes against each other this week?
Award(s)
- Freshman of the Week: Konnor McClain
- Freshman of the Week: Courtney McCann
What’s On the Socials?
𝓟𝓮𝓻𝓯𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷
Last night, @EmjaeFrazier was perfect. #GoBears 🐻 | #OneDayBetter pic.twitter.com/7ZbguxZhbA
— Cal Women’s Gymnastics (@CalWGym) January 14, 2024
Perfection. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/nz6nzXkg1X
— Michigan Women’s Gymnastics (@UMichWGym) January 14, 2024
MYA HOOTEN 🤩🤩
The three-time All-American posts a perfect 🔟 in her home debut in 2024!
📊: https://t.co/LgGrWNEleN
💻: https://t.co/CVzqennfWh#Team50 x #TogetherWeRise pic.twitter.com/ZDnpYI40mx
— Minnesota Women’s Gym (@GopherWGym) January 13, 2024
🔟 for the BEAM QUEEN!!! 👑
The 12th of @maile_okeefe's career on beam 🤯
📺: https://t.co/XhRefB52fY#WeOverMe | #RedRocks pic.twitter.com/rpCZUkH1F1
— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) January 16, 2024
Quotes
“Even though I was empowering so many people and speaking out about mental health, every time I talked about my experience in Tokyo—because it obviously didn’t go the way that I had planned—it stung a little bit.” ~ Simone Biles, GOAT
Simone discusses her comeback journey and self care in her Vanity Fair feature.
♦
“This will be the first event of this kind in the history of our sport.”
~ Corrinne Tarver, Fisk Head Coach
Coach Tarver was speaking about the historic gymnastics meet bringing the nation’s African American women head gymnastics coaches together for competition. Unfortunately, due to inclement weather the event was cancelled. The coaches were still able to host a roundtable.
♦
“At Iowa, I have learned a lot about mental health and been empowered to use my voice. I am grateful that I was given the space to acknowledge my struggle and do what was necessary to take care of myself.” ~ JerQuavia “Q” Henderson, Retired Hawkeye
In an open letter JerQuavia Henderson announced she is stepping away from gymnastics and school to take care of herself.
♦
“Auntie Ági is well for her age, although her hearing has become a little worse recently. By the way, there was a sports program on television in the background while we were there.” ~ Sándor Altorjai, Secretary General of the Hungarian Gymnastics Federation (MATSZ)
Sándor; Zsolt Gyulay, President of the Hungarian Olympic Committee; and Krisztián Berki, Director of Sports of MATSZ visited Ágnes Keleti, the oldest living Olympic champion, who just celebrated her 103rd birthday.
♦♦♦
College & Cocktails
Listen to this week’s bonus episode recorded immediately after the quad showdown between Oklahoma, Utah, LSU and UCLA: College & Cocktails: Big Girl ABC Meet
Cocktail of the Week:
Team Bubble Tea
As long as we stay in our Team Bubble, we can’t lose!
Boozy
.25 C Lychee Popping Boba
6 oz Chilled Butterfly Pea Flower Tea
1-2 oz Simple Syrup
1.5 oz Vodka (optional)
Whipped Lemon Coconut Cream
Make Your Drink:
Layer the Lychee Popping Boba and ice in chosen glass. In a cocktail shaker with more ice, shake together Butterfly Pea Flower Tea, simple syrup and vodka (if using). Strain into prepared glass.
Stick the Landing:
Top with whipped lemon coconut cream.
Full Recipes & Entire Season Cocktail Menu Available Here (Thank You Linzerz!).
♦♦♦
What? You want even more? Join Club Gym Nerd and you get a bonus episode, College & Cocktails, every Friday after our meet of the week. Once the NCAA season is over you continue to get a weekly bonus episode every Friday afternoon. Plus you get access to all of our archives, exclusive content and more. 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.
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