US WAG world team trials

[GLeigh]

That’s her main account. Apparently she has a second one that has more personal things that the algorithms have led people to.

 

[rlayt]

Maybe she has more than 2 because this one doesn’t seem so negative. What gymnast hasn’t said they are looking forward to being done with elite…

 

[navyblue]

I love this quote coming from the handle “idkwhokonnoris” … oh man, ya gotta love the wistful and existential pondering of a teenager! Honestly.

I think this is an almost uncomfortably intimate peek into the psyche of these athletes which is why I have no interest in following their social media accounts, but in any case I wouldn’t try to read this like tea leaves to decipher their plans.

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

USAG have announced the attendees.



As discussed previously, no Kayla. Leanne is attending though.

 

[navyblue]

Rooting for Leanne to make the team, even if only for Bars… but especially if Bars and Beam are in the mix! But – just dreaming here – maybe even All-Around ready!

 

[RedBirdie]

Interesting that Elle Mueller and Levi Jung-Ruviviar aren’t attending.

Disidore is an unexpected invite.

 

[GymBeauty]

Can’t wait to see Leanne Wong, Shilese Jones, Jade Carey, and Jordan Chiles all doing the AA in qualifications at Worlds! Hopefully the National team coordinators will show the 5th member of the team how to fill water bottles and warm seats properly.

 

[RAFIKI]

IG2 are reporting that the top AAder after day one will automatically make the team.

 

[RedBirdie]

Yes, the published selection procedures say Day 1 is all-around, and the winner will be named to the team. Day 2 is 2 events, determined by the selection committee. 5 more will be named after day 2.

 

[irichluck21]

Disidore is an unexpected invite.

She’s the 5th member.

 

[Doug1233]

It really should be Shilese Jordan Jade Leanne and Skye, barring injury or disaster.

I saw a video of Leanne doing a Silivas onto a resi pit. Not sure if it’s recent. If it is, then she should at least be able to do bars and beam which is all she would need to do to make the team.

 

[irichluck21]

It really should be Shilese Jordan Jade Leanne and Skye, barring injury or disaster.

If Wong is hitting bars and beam, Blakely doesn’t make sense. Beam is covered and Blakely has had multiple opportunities on beam this year and hasn’t delivered I think she barely got into the 13s for her best. Her average all year is in the 12s. She’s traveling alternate IMO.

I am going with Nola Matthews if she can hit bars 2 days in a row.
She went 13.750/14.050 at Nationals, 13.900 at US Classic, 13.950 at Winter Cup. Internationally she went 14.033/13.700 at DTB Pokal. Which averages 13.897. That is a much needed score.

VT (Wong) Chiles, Jones, Carey
UB (Chiles) Wong, Matthews, Jones
BB (Jones) Chiles, Wong, Carey
FX (Wong) Jones, Chiles, Carey

I will say right now this is the highest scoring team on paper.
No one does AA in team finals. Carey, Chiles, Jones do 3 events, Wong 2, Matthews 1.
AA qualifications is Wong, Chiles, Jones.

Matthews needs to hit two bar routines and she is going to Worlds.

 

[RedBirdie]

If Wong is limited to UB and BB, Matthews doesn’t make sense. Blakely is a decent if unspectacular choice to do VT and FX.

 

[GymBeauty]

I loved Nola’s Bars at the Pokal event and thought they were very underscored, but she’s been regressing like crazy since then, it seems her form keeps getting worse at every competition. She did not impress me at Nationals. Hopefully the form returns at Trials.

If Wong is limited to UB and BB, Matthews doesn’t make sense.

Assuming they would be the #2 and #3 Bars workers, it would make sense. Shilese/Jade/Jordan are already the best on Vault/Floor of all the remaining options and it’s not like the #4 slot in qualifying really matters. Matthews can just do throwaway Vault/Floor routines there. The tricky part is if Jade and Jordan are looking like clearly the 2 best AA’s, then Nola would sit out Bars in qualifying but still do it in the Team event. Which could be a risk with such a young competitor, but if she does well in podium training and her other events in qualifying (for her expected level on those events), then it should be okay. It’s ridiculous these qualifying round puzzles happen in the first place, everyone should get to do every event in qualifying. That was the one nice thing about the recent Olympics.

 

[Yarotska]

Blakely scored pretty closely to Matthews on bars at championships and did much better on everything else.

If you look at the rankings, Blakely is clearly the better choice, going by the most recent competition.

Blakely is 7, 5, 9, 6
Matthews 18, 4, 19, 16

Considering Matthews wasn’t top 3 among the best in the country, I don’t see how you fast track her to the team over someone who is better overall.

 

[dweiss324]

Considering a relatively untested one eventer that might not even make the lineup in TF is crazy talk. Just take the safe solid AA score.

 

[esta]

Maybe they’ll use a strategy of the 5th gymnast being someone who will benefit from the experience and be a future potential 3/3 TF and/or EF contender and just do prelims for this time around? Or, just a built in AA alternate who subs in for the top 4 in case of (further injury).

 

[navyblue]

No way… Matthews’ combined bars scores at nationals only beat Blakely’s by 1 tenth. We are not talking about a true value-adding specialist like Stephen Nedoroscik here – that marginal advantage she had is one flexed foot away from nothing. Meanwhile, Blakely scored 3+ points higher than Matthews in AA each day, the result of Blakely having usable routines on all four events, while Matthews averages in the high 12s…

 

[GymBeauty]

Skye also scored better across 2 days on Bars at Pan Ams than Nola did at Pokal. Granted, I think that is incorrect judging, but if you know how the judging is going to be, then selection should be based on that.

I’d like to think Nola was underscored because of being unknown and would be treated better at Worlds as a USA team member if she delivers, but let’s see how they look at trials.

 

[irichluck21]

Wong has shown both vault and floor tumbling training videos, so I don’t see her being limited to UB/BB.
It could be Matthews vs Blakely for UB only, Matthews has a higher scoring potential, but Blakely does have AA prowess as an advantage, though it is isn’t really needed. At the end of the day Matthews or Blakely on vault and floor will end up being dropped should they be used in qualifications.
Blakely should be considered for beam as it is within her skill set and potential to get into the 14s, but she has been inconsistent on beam all year. At this point the others have proven to have beam covered.
The only event where the US can get some tenths back is on bars as Chiles didn’t get the highest of scores in Paris (13.400/13.750).
If Blakely cannot surpass Chiles, Wong, Jones, Carey on beam that just leaves bars.
Matthews is better there if she is at her absolute best.
IF Matthews and Blakely are comparable on bars over two days then of course Blakely makes more sense given her international experience and her other 3 events trumps Matthews.
But if Matthews can get .2-.3 more than Blakely then I do think she is worth taking over Blakely.
The other factor is beam, should Blakely go 14 both days, she should go.