What We’re Talking About
Welcome to the 2024 season UCLA. Last week 196.325, this week 198.550. How big of a turnaround was this? This week’s score to send off the seniors against Clemson was the third highest score in school history. Think about that… with seven national titles in program history, only two squads have ever posted a better score. Of course, it takes individual excellence to wrack up this type of score and Selena Harris delivered. Her 39.900 is the second highest score in school history, tying Olympians Jordan Chiles and Jamie Dantzscher. (The all-time UCLA record-holder is Mohini Bhardwaj with a 39.975.) Selena scored her first perfect 10 on bars and her fourth on vault. Chae Campbell then added another perfect 10 on floor (the third of her career on that event). And yes, we recognize we need to have an adult conversation about the scoring–nearly half of all 198s in college history have been scored in the last three years–and we will. In the meantime… Oklahoma said, “Hold my chalk: 198.775” (the third highest score in NCAA history, tying Florida from… wait for it… two years ago).
Feelings
- Arkansas is one of the hottest teams in NCAA and just broke 198 for the first time in school history (198.1)… the previous program record of 197.650 was set earlier this month
- We love a good dance challenge
- Classy move Stanford
- Sometimes we forget that these gymnasts also have class and finals (among other obligations)
- We have our post-season broadcast pairings and for some inexplicable reason ESPN doesn’t want to honor those who got them there
- This is a sport, stop hiding the scores! A team shouldn’t be surprised to see their score after the competition is over
- Shane Wiskus…yet again… how?!
- Lindenwood is going out on a high note
- End of an era: Kathy Johnson Clarke has announced her retirement on social media
- LOL: “Russian rhythmic gymnasts boycott Paris Olympics over admission terms”
Facts
- We have our five AAI finalists: Audrey Davis (Oklahoma) Luisa Blanco (Alabama), Haleigh Bryant (LSU), Maile O’Keefe (Utah), Gabby Wilson (Michigan) and Raena Worley (Kentucky)
- 200 wins for Jenny Rowland
- 500 wins for KJ Kindler
- A 198.5 for Cal, their 2nd highest score in program history
- Over 43,000 fans witnessed the Sooners record setting season at home
- There have been 251 scores of 198+ in NCAA, 106 of them have been scored in the last 36 months.
- Julianne McNamara & Carly Patterson are the latest to enter the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame
- Jordans Bowers is the first Sooner to earn back-to-back 10.0s on floor
- DTB Pokal Mixed Cup gold medal winners: Dulcy Caylor, Addison Fatta, Nola Matthews, Kai Uemura, Fuzzy Benas & Riley Loos
- 35 of the 36 teams are locked
Award(s)
- Back-to-Back 10s: Selena Harris
- Broken Scoreboard: the 2024 Season
What’s On the Socials?
All the feels after senior Chae Campbell earned a 🔟 on floor on #SeniorDay! 🥹 It was @chae_jada’s first 🔟 of the year and third of her career. 👑 pic.twitter.com/nT3CDNszPU
— UCLA Gymnastics (@uclagymnastics) March 17, 2024
MYA HOOTEN. SENIOR DAY. PERFECT 10.
Are you not entertained?#Team50 x #TogetherWeRise pic.twitter.com/Y9cTLRJgiu
— Minnesota Women’s Gym (@GopherWGym) March 17, 2024
THE WAIT IS FINALLY OVER!!
JOCI MOORE IS PERFECT ON FLOOR 🔟#MIZ🐯 pic.twitter.com/B6rqaMrqtR
— Mizzou Gymnastics (@MizzouGym) March 17, 2024
🔟 FOR @AbbyPaulson ON SENIOR NIGHT‼️❤️#RedRocks | #WeOverMe pic.twitter.com/WAcNSQq6yr
— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) March 16, 2024
Her THIRD perfect score on the floor this season!!#GoBlue 〽️ pic.twitter.com/j3I1I6VNBY
— Michigan Women’s Gymnastics (@UMichWGym) March 16, 2024
Quotes
“To be clear, I’m not quitting broadcasting because of judging or nonsensical scores that don’t align with or reflect the Code of Points, making it obsolete. I am retiring because I am being retired as irrelevant, a relic from the past.” ~ Kathy Johnson Clarke, Broadcasting Pioneer
The gymternet has noticed Kathy hasn’t been given the prime broadcasting spots she has earned. In a social media thread Kathy shares why.
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“Our rhythmic gymnastics team, coaches, and athletes have been clear from the start: they refuse to perform under a neutral flag or comply with extensive requirements that dilute their national identity.”
~ Irina Viner, Neutral Team’s Head Coach
In an interview with Russian outlet Match TV, Irina says her gymnasts won’t compete.
♦
“This is not about politics. It’s about the protection of our community, the progression of our culture, and most of all, it’s about your education and your future.”
~ NAACP
In a letter from the NAACP, the board urges athletes to reconsider Florida colleges after the state eliminates DEI programs.
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College & Cocktails
Listen to this past week’s bonus episode: College & Cocktails: Season High
Cocktail of the Week:
Season High
Something worth celebrating with a fun dessert/drink!
Boozy
Honeydew Sorbet
Fresh Mint
5oz Lemon Juice
Sparkling Sake or Seltzer Water
Make Your Drink:
Place 3-5 mint leaves in the bottom of your glass. Press gently with the back of a spoon to bruise. Add in honeydew Sorbet and lemon juice, then top with sparkling sake or Seltzer. Continue to top off with bubbles of choice as you drink, until Sorbet is gone.
Stick the Landing:
Garnish with Fresh Mint
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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