2025 Week 4: January 20, 2025-January 26, 2025

[RichardL]

I don't think the absence of a front full is saving anyone's bodies. It's only about minimizing deductions and it's so boring. But I have learned not to ask for nice things in this sport by now.

 

[Beamer]

Thoughts on Cal

I absolutely love the team and was super excited about them last year being ranked 2nd or 3rd throughout the season and then finishing 2nd at NCAAs.

This year they are having to replace Gabby Perea on UB and BB. And Andi Li on UB, BB, and FX.

Ondine Achampong was going to be so important to filling their shoes and the team really needs her to be a title contender. Unfortunately she tore her ACL last year and is still recovering. I harbor hopes that she'll compete UB and BB in the post season. Especially because three of Cal's top gymnasts are seniors this year: Mya Lauzon, Madelyn Williams, and Ella Cesario.

So far, the gymnasts filling Perea and Li's routines haven't quite been able to match their scores.

The two AA stars of the team from last year - Mya Lauzon and eMjae Frazier haven't thus far been able to duplicate their phenomenal season from 2024 when they were hitting routine after routine cold. They still look good, but definitely not putting up the same numbers as last year.

In fact, the whole team is just a little more off on landings and little things than last year. The result has been 3 scores in the 196s and one low 197 for an 8th place ranking. Still very good, but almost a full point behind where they were last year putting up high 197s.

It's still early in the season, so I'm hoping the landings are a deliberate move on Justin and Liz's part to pace the team more this year so they really peak in April.

I'm a little worried that Frazier is a tad injured. She landed low on her double layout on FX for the first time I've ever seen at the beginning of the season and then removed it from her set. Last year, she was almost walking - instead of running - into an easy double layout. She's now opening with last year's dismount, a front tuck through to double tuck. And closing with a back layout 1.5 to front layout or front full depending on the week. I hope she fully recovers if she has a nagging injury and we see the double layout in the post season. She is such a beautiful gymnast with the rare combination of power, flexibility, and grace.

Congrats to Ella Cesario for today winning the AA and two events! Perhaps the best individual result of her career thus far. I was glad I was there in person to see it. She's also become more consistent over the years and is even the leadoff on BB this year. I would remove the new tucked full-in mount from her FX though if she doesn't improve on the landing and chest position. I trust if it's not ready for the post season, she'll go back to last year's mount. Justin and Liz have proved to be routine construction masters, so I'm not worried about deduction prone skills needlessly remaining in routines.

 

[irichluck21]

Cal is definitely pacing.


In lower tier news. Utica placed 2nd in a quad meet. They continue to rack up wins in their second year.
Wilberforce finally put up 5 bar routines to get a complete team score. Seems like they just were not ready for this season, wondering if starting a year earlier is hurting their inaugural season.

Illinois State is off to a great start and are ranked in the top 36 (for now woth average score) in 26th. They would LOVE to make regionals. They haven't been to a regionals as a full team since 2001/2000 IIRC.

UK Oshkosh is also doing well and are ranked higher than some division 1 teams.

So far Georgia recovery is in effect, currently in 12th by averages.

Pitt is also off to a great start, though disappointed in their home meet against Stanford. Their goal is to make regionals as a full team, currently in 31st.

Rutgers is doing well even with the head coaching drama.

Eastern Michigan is off to a great start after having some weird years and finishing low in the MAC and not making regionals.

Washington is hurting with injuries and losing SKW to Kentucky. Currently 42nd.

LIU is having a rough start with coaching changes, currently in 71st and behind both division 2 and 3 teams.

Nice to see Michigan State in 5th at the moment, hoping they can hold onto this position as the season continues. They are absolutely a top 8 teams and could even make it into Final Four IMO.

 

[RedBirdie]

George Washington continues to struggle on bars and will once again likely be the reason they miss regionals. In happier news, Kendall Whitman scored a 9.95 for her crazy hard 3 pass routine.