What We’re Talking About
Oklahoma has officially set the new all-time NQS record with a 198.420, which is better than the record they set last year of 198.355. And they still have three meets left to improve their score. Their NQS is so insanely good that their 198.30 this past weekend is too low and will be dropped. Oklahoma has four all-arounders ranked in the top 15 in the country: Jordan Bowers (2), Faith Torrez (8), Katherine LeVasseur (9), and Audrey Davis (12). Then you have non-all-arounders like Ragan Smith who’s is ranked in the top 20 on all three events she competes, including her No. 1 rank on balance beam. How good is she on that event? She’s now posted four perfect 10s in a row and over halfway to tying the all-time perfect consecutive 10 streak of seven set by Jeanette Antolin on vault.
Speaking of No. 1 ranked athletes: Raena Worley. She’s currently ranked first on floor and since week 4 she’s gone: 10.0, 10.0, 9.975, 9.975, 9.975, 10.0. That means in her last six floor routines, in three of them at least one judge thought it was perfect and in the other three both judges agreed it was perfect. Don’t sleep on Kentucky.
Feelings
- Feeling a bit pessimistic about seeing Jennifer Gadirova in Paris after she confirmed her recovery is taking longer than hoped
- End of an era: Kathy Johnson Clarke announced her upcoming retirement.
- Shouldn’t this be a standing position for her? Aly Raisman has been named a USA Today Woman of the Year nominee
- Congratulations Kensley Behel!
- Welcome home: LIU is getting a permanent on-campus facility
- What can’t Faith Torrez do?
- We want more gymnastics BTS, like this anatomy of an Oklahoma leotard
- We’re super excited that USAG has selected apparatus specialists for the apparatus World Cup (breaking seven years of precedent)
- Regardless of what happens in Paris, Rebeca Andrade’s Amanar belongs in The Louvre
- It’s looking more likely that we might see Amelie Morgan in Paris
Facts
- Gabby Douglas left WOGA, but also maybe not?
- When looking at data from WAG 2022 and 2023 World Championships, there is no relationship between qualification subdivision and team rank at the end of qualifications
- Leanne Wong has added author to her distinguished resume
- Simone Biles, Shilese Jones, Melanie de Jesus dos Santos and Fred Richard have already struck GOLD
- Ragan Smith has now wracked up four perfect 10s in a row
- Cal beat Utah and moved back to No. 2 in the nation
- LSU has posted back-to-back 49.775s on floor (and third time this season)
- Only two other schools and had consecutive meets of 49.775+ on floor: UCLA (2019) and University of North Carolina in 2004
- Lucy Stanhope is coming back for another year
- 11 schools have posted a 198 this season, which ties the record set last season
- 7th ranked Michigan is not one of the 11 teams so a new record could be set soon
- In her five seasons at Kentucky Raena Worley had never scored a perfect 10. Since January she has three.
Award(s)
- Beam Queen: Ragan Smith
- Bars Queen: Audrey Davis
What’s On the Socials?
A routine five years in the making 🥹
Sienna Schreiber FINALLY has her perfect 🔟 on beam!!!#MIZ🐯 pic.twitter.com/HEyT63Tq5s
— Mizzou Gymnastics (@MizzouGym) March 4, 2024
First 🔟 for🐊 𝗔𝗻𝘆𝗮 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗺 sticks the landing on @SportsCenter Top 🔟!#GoGators | 🐊🤸🏾♀️ | @anyapilgrim pic.twitter.com/9YClpvXU0q
— Gators Gymnastics (@GatorsGym) March 4, 2024
Makenzie Wilson's reaction to her perfect 10 is priceless 💙@UKgymnastics | @espnW pic.twitter.com/VYH2uOogEb
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) March 3, 2024
NIKKI SMITH.
PERFECT AGAIN! 🤩🤩#NDY | #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/3lvoswHFdh
— Michigan State Gymnastics (@MSU_Gymnastics) March 2, 2024
We're running out of words for @haleighbryant3
It's her 14th perfect score in her career 👑
📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/6ohXcm04lu
— LSU Gymnastics (@LSUgym) March 2, 2024
Quotes
“It’s the Battle Line Rivalry, and I think, especially in recent years, it’s become a big thing in gymnastics.” ~ Jackie Terpak, Tiger Assistant
The Mizzou assistant coach and choreographer is getting hyped for the upcoming rivalry against Arkansas.
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“She left on Sunday.”
~ Anna Liukin, Former? Coach of Gabby Douglas
In an interview with Olympics.com Anna confirmed Gabby has left WOGA, but it might not be a permanent departure.
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“That was kind of like the last puzzle piece.”
~ Ellie Black, Canadian Treasure
After reaching the final in every apparatus except for bars, Ellie reflects on finally reaching the uneven bars final during her eighth World Championships last year and what it means for Paris.
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College & Cocktails
Listen to this past week’s bonus episode: College & Cocktails: Michigan at Oklahoma
Cocktail of the Week:
Must Hit Situation
Finish out on a solid note with this classy beverage
Boozy
2 oz. Whiskey or Spirit of the Code “Whiskey”
.75 oz. Lemon Juice
.75 oz. Honey Syrup
1 oz. Hibiscus Tea, chilled
Make Your Drink:
Stir all ingredients together with ice to chill. Serve “up” in a coupe glass.
Stick the Landing:
Garnish with as ridiculous a lemon twist as you can manage
Full Recipes & Entire Season Cocktail Menu Available Here (Thank You Linzerz!).
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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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