Items filtered by date: Sunday, 28 February 2010

➽ Is that a Gator Chomp in Kiersten Wang’s floor routine?   Maybe.  Wang has committed to join UF in a couple of years.  In the meantime, she’s earning a reputation as a stand out performer.  She started her season at the Winterfest in Colorado, earning first place finishes in the all around, vault, bars and floor.  She won her session at the Metroplex (1st UB/FX), placed 2nd AA (1st BB) at the All Olympia meet, and qualified to the Nastia Liukin Cup with a first place finish (1st UB/BB) at the Pike’s Peak Cup.  Wang told Gymnastike that her plans to move to the elite level last season were cut short by injury, so she is focusing on being a great Level 10 until she joins the Gators for the 2011-12 season.

Wang isn’t the only future Gator making a big statement.  Kytra Hunter turned in fabulous scores on her way to a sweep of the Maryland Classic (9.975 on vault!!), a near sweep of her session at the PKI (1st V/UB/BB), and a first place finish at the All Olympia meet (1st V/FX).  She has scored 9.75 or higher seven times so far this season - very strong scores in the world of L10 meets.  Hunter will join the Gators next season, bolstering an incredibly deep talent pool and an outstanding class that includes Brittany Noble, Mackenzie CaQuatto, and Erica Smith.

Another standout at the L10 level with eye catching scores of her own is Alabama commit Diandra Milliner.  Milliner won her first three meets, the Williams Center Invite (1st V/FX), the New Year Invitational (1st V/BB/FX) and the Cereal Classic (1st V/UB/BB).  She placed 2nd AA at the WOGA Classic (1st V/BB).  She has drawn scores of 9.75 or higher four times this season, including a perfect 10.0 on vault at the New Year Invitational.  Milliner will join the Bama team for the 2011-12 season.

➽ This is the heart of the L10 season and the scores are piling up.  In that context, here's how the recruits for Iowa State, Kentucky, LSU, Maryland,  Michigan and Michigan State look so far this season:

➽ KUDOS!  More accomplishments to acknowledge:

➽  College bound qualifiers to the Nastia Liukin Cup

Marie Case (Kent State signee)                    Kassandra Lopez (Utah commit)    
Stephani Canizaro (Arkansas commit)        Diandra Milliner (Bama commit)
Alexis Carroll (PSU commit)                         Malia Mathis (LSU signee)
Alexa Davis (Towson signee)                       Shelby Salmon (Arkansas signee)
Lia Del Priore (Utah signee)                          Megan Walker (Auburn commit)            
Lloimincia Hall (LSU commit)                       Kiersten Wang (UF commit)        
Kimberly Jacob (Alabama signee)

The competitive accomplishments are stacking up quickly, so look for updates weekly through this heavy part of the season.  Full meet results are posted as when we find them.  Click the Results tab on the front page.

This week, the rankings shift again as Bama takes over the top spot in the Troester GymInfo National Rankings for women.  OU drops to 2nd and UCLA is third.  Individually, LSU's Susan Jackson is the top AAer and the top vaulter.  UCLA's Anna Li is the top UB worker, while Arkansas' Casey Jo Magee is the leader on BB.  UGA's Courtney McCool retains the top spot on FX.

Springfield, led by sophomore Ty Evans, posted its highest score of the year to beat Army.  Evans won the AA, HB and PB to lead the Pride.  Teammate Josh Fox added a win on FX.  Army's Justin Sappington added a win on Rings and a tie on PH with Springfield's Joe Gianino.  Teammate Kip Webber won the VT with a meet high 15.9.

Link:  SC Release

The Illini captured the win, defeating cross-state rival UIC 351.3 to 337.2.  Craig Padera and Luke Stannard led Illinois.  Stannard won the FX and PH while Padera won the PB and HB.  Illini Paul Ruggeri won the VT while teammate Tyler Williamson tied with UIC's Nikolai Korepanov on Rings.

Link:  UIC Release

Stanford posted an easy win during the quad meet, posting a 196.525.  Allyse Ishino led the Cardinal, winning the AA with a 39.425, winning BB, and sharing the UB title with teammate Alyssa Brown.  Stanford swept places 1 through 6 on the UB.  Teammate Shelley Alexander won the VT, while on FX, Cardinal Ashley Morgan and Nicole Pechanec tied for top honors.

Link:  Cal Release

The host Huskers emerged on top, scoring 49.0 or better on all four events.  They posted a 196.425 to defeat Arizona (194.75), DU (194.175) and WVU (192.975).  For Nebraska, Maddie Steinhauer tied with Lora Evensted for the VT title.  Evensted also took the FX title.  Fellow Husker Kathryn Howard won the BB, while NU's Maria Scaffidi won the AA with a 39.3.  Arizona's Sarah Tomczyk tied with NU's Brittnee Habbib for the UB title.

Link:  NU Release

SEMO posted a win against Illinois State, defeating the guests 194.375 to 193.275.  Frosh Jordan Salsberg won her first AA competition with a career high 38.825.  She also tied for 1st on the VT with Illinois State's Tori Sarantakis.  Teammate Kelley Krengiel also captured a share of the UB title (with Redbirds' Erica Schick) with a career high, while another frosh teammate, Taylor Westrick, won the BB.  Shick also tied with SEMO's Brianna Gaddie on FX.

Link:  BGSU Release