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That’s quite literally all that matters at this point.
The scores don’t matter, though YES, we’d love them to be higher at this point, but you know what— consider this a practice run for Sunday’s main event. They made it to the next round, so for all intents and purposes, mission accomplished. For a while it seemed like Arkansas was going to run away with it a bit, the Tigers came clawing back on a strong back half, and it actually came down to Arkansas’ beam anchor (and World Champs medalist) Joscelyn Roberson to put the Gymbacks atop in the standings. We’ll let ‘em have this one, eh? Talking with a Mizzou parent afterwards, [redacted] said, “I actually wanted Arkansas to win because I feel like the odds are in our favor now… that was their one.”
“You don’t always have to be perfect, as we just showed, to move on to Sunday,” head coach Shannon Welker said post-meet. “So really, I’m more focused on our performance and less on the scores. We know if we can take care of those, we’ll probably get certain scores, but it really is about living up to our expectations and what we’re capable of,” Shannon said.
How did the Tigers qualify for their sixth consecutive Sweet 16? Let’s review.
Rotation 1: NCSt- VLT | MIZ- UB | MARY- BB | ARK- FX
The Tigers started on bars and had perhaps a bit of a nervy start, with some unsticky feet on the dismounts, only sticking a third of the landings. Makayla and Lauren earned a 9.775 in the first two spots as Mak took a sizable, likely 2/10 step back — thanks for the clarification, Wise Nate — but had a solid half pirouette and great handstands, earning a wide range of scores from a 9.70 to 2x 9.80. LMac, while I missed her dismount, was described to me as a bit “wonky.” I thought she looked good from what I did see, with nice amplitude on her Tkatchev and good handstands (2x 9.75, 2x 9.8). Olivia had good handstands but again, a step back (smaller than Mak’s), earning a 9.80 (one 9.85). Maiya stuck it and had a great routine, earning a 9.90. It was her fifth 9.9 or higher in nine routines after making her bars debut on January 23 at Alabama.
When asked post-meet about the advice her teammates have given her going into her first NCAA regional, Maiya said, “Most people just told me to trust my training and that they trust me and just to do what we do every single day. I think that was helpful going in and being able to just trust the numbers we put in in the gym, and then you do it.”
Hannah went an incredible 9.925 in the fifth spot— her first of three 9.90+ scores on the day, earning a handful of 9.95 scores from judges, along with an absolutely absurd 9.85 from Judge 2— I’m watching you, Judge 2 (she says jokingly). In the anchor spot, Kimarra earned a 9.80 with perhaps a bit of an over-archy first handstand and a small hop back (one 9.85). The team’s 49.200 was its second lowest of the year.
When asked about the bars performance post-meet, Shannon said, “I think clearly they’re putting a precedent on landings today. We were two for six. So, you know, we can do better there, and I think we will be better there.”
“First event, we just need to be a little more aggressive there to open up and we’ll be fine,” Shannon said.
NC State started its day on vault with a 48.95, led in scoring by Syniya Thomas’ 9.875. They also counted two 9.800, a 9.775 and a 9.650. Maryland led off on balance beam, and scored a 48.925, led in scoring by Maddie Komoroski’s 9.875; she was a really cool, unique routine. They also counted a 9.825, 9.775, 9.75 and 9.70.
Arkansas started on floor, led in scoring by Joscelyn Roberson’s 9.925, which would tie the highest score of the session along with Hannah Horton. Hailey Klein led off with a 9.85 and was followed by Allison Cucci’s 9.825 which would be dropped. Leah Smith added a 9.85 before the Price sisters, Morgan and Frankie, earned a 9.90 and 9.875, respectively. Joscelyn Roberson anchored with the aforementioned 9.925, which tied for the highest score of the day alongside — spoiler alert— Mizzou’s Hannah Horton. The team’s 49.400 was the second highest of the session behind (cough, cough) Missouri.
“What I loved about what the team did tonight,” Arkansas head coach Jordyn Wieber said post-meet, “is we had a really great start, and I think that really set the tone to kind of carry us through all that.”
When I asked Morgan post-meet what it was like to have her sister in the lineup, back-to-back, she lit up. “I actually said to her today, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m going right in front of you.’ Like, that’s awesome; it’s just amazing. Being able to spend our last year together here at Arkansas has meant the world to us. We live together as well. So just being able to live with her again and just do gymnastics at the same time as her is super amazing. We both put out great floor routines for our team, so we’re both super happy about that.”
After One: ARK 49.400 | MIZ 49.200 | NCSt 48.950 | MD 48.925
Rotation 2: ARK- VLT | NCSt- UB | MIZ- BB | MARY- FX
Unfortunately, there was a whole balance beam situation as the Tigers again went their second lowest score of the season, a surprising 48.950. It was yet another nervy rotation. Had the Tigers developed the yips, I wondered aloud. Railey was solid in leadoff with a 9.85 and a stuck dismount, just with a bit of a lean, but along with Olivia, who also earned a 9.85, the duo was the only 9.8-range scores in the rotation. Welp. RJ’s scoring was all over the map, from a 9.9 to a two 9.85 and a 9.8, while Liv was awarded one 9.9.
Amy’s leaps were a bit lacking under the 180 marker, but to be expected honestly with the nature of her injury, and while she stuck the landing, it was a bit off balance with a lean. Kaia followed with a 9.775 after a decent sized wobble on her series and then a little bendy on the dismount though she had a stick. I missed Lauren’s routine completely, if I’m being honest, but she earned another 9.75. The CGN Live Blog said she dropped her shoulder on the split jump, had a balance check after the standing layout stepout, and on her dismount stepped back after waving her arms. When Addi fell in the anchor spot, I was ready to wash the beam blues away until Sunday (hopefully) and head to floor.
“Looked like she was not square out of her aerial, quite honestly,” Shannon said, when asked what may have caused Addi’s fall. A man of few words in parts of this presser (again, said jokingly).
As for everyone else, NC State earned a 48.925 on bars, led in scoring by Elle Hadrick’s 9.85. They also counted a two 9.80, a 9.75 and a 9.725. Maryland earned a 49.025 on floor, led by Taylor Rech’s 9.85. They also counted three 9.80 and a 9.775.
Arkansas, the nation’s no. 5 bars team, earned a 49.25, led in scoring by Morgan Price’s 9.95. Leah Smith earned a fantastic 9.90 in the leadoff spot to get the Razorbacks started on the right foot, but Joscelyn Roberson earned just a 9.700 on her Mustafina in the two-spot. Hailey Klein and Lauren Williams followed with a 9.80 and 9.775, respectively, before Price’s 9.95. Allison Cucci anchored with a 9.825.
When asked about competing the extremely rare (she’s the only one who has competed it in NCAA history) and difficult layout full, Joscelyn said, “I love that vault. It’s super hard, so it scratches that itch of like, doing harder gymnastics. But I think it’s also a lot easier on my ankles. It’s a front landing. And I never learned a Yurchenko 1.5; I always did (Yurchenko) fulls and double fulls, so I didn’t really know how to do a Yurchenko. So I talked to the coaches and it was a lot of practice and getting it consistent before I put it in competition, but I love doing it.”
After two: ARK 98.650 | MIZ 98.150 | MARY 97.95 | 97.875
Rotation 3: MARY- VLT | ARK- UB | NCSt- BB | MIZ- FX
With another week of going from a sub-optimal beam routine to what’s been a stronger back half of the meet, Shannon was asked what his message was to his team. “Well, we need to do better,” he said succinctly.
“We’re capable of better. There’s nothing magic there. I mean, I think we were really just doing what we’re capable of doing, and we just didn’t quite do what we were capable of on the front half of them.”
The Tigers rebounded nicely on floor with a matching 49.450 to last week’s SEC Championships score. Railey got things started with a solid 9.85 — her last pass landing was a bit uncontrolled but her first one with her double pike was so clean. Elise followed with a 9.875; her landings were CRISP, especially the second one, which needed not a lunge, earning two 9.9 from the judges. Ayla followed with a 9.825— two of three passes were phenomenal with her chest up, sticks, no steps, you name it — but the last one, her double tuck, was described as she kicked out too early, hopping forward. Then came the cascade of 9.90 or higher scores, starting with Kaia’s 9.90, in which I wrote WOW, GOOD in my notes (I’m so precise, you guys). Nate mentioned that he thought this might have been her best routine this season, so that’s saying something! Kennedy followed with a 9.90 of her own, before Hannah left me speechless with a 9.925 (her second of the day, 2x 9.95, 2x 9.9). The CGN live blogger wrote, “Massive double layout, never seen one so high and executed well.”
As for if this
Meanwhile, Maryland scored a 49.00 on vault, led by Katrina Mendez-Abolnik’s 9.85. The Terps also counted a 9.825, 9.80, 9.775 and 9.75. NC State scored a 48.700 on beam, led by Syniya Thomas’ 9.85. They also counted two 9.75, a 9.725 and 9.625.
Arkansas, with a 0.500 lead, headed to bars, an event that had failed them a bit this season. That was not the case this time around, earning a 49.375, courtesy of a team-high 9.925 from anchor Morgan Price, which led the session. Joscelyn Roberson led off with a 9.85, followed by dual 9.875 scores from Hailey Klein and Leah Smith, a 9.85 from Avalon Campbell and a 9.80 from Allison Cucci, before Price’s strong anchor.
After three: ARK 148.025 | MIZ 197.600 | MARY 146.950 | NCSt 146.575
Rotation 4: MIZ- VLT | MARY- UB | ARK- BB | NCSt- FX
Fresh off a very good floor rotation, the Tigers looked to secure their spot in the Sweet 16 with a solid vault rotation. Their 49.275 tied for their fourth highest of the season and got started with a 9.70 from Kaia which was dropped. She was a bit under-rotated and took a step forward but had good form and distance. Railey followed with a 9.85, also with great form, her third such score of the meet. She nabbed one 9.9 from the judges’ panel. Kennedy earned a 9.80 on her Yurchenko Full (9.95 SV). She had just a small hop in place. Hannah’s 9.90 had just a small lil’ hop (1x 9.95, 2x 9.9), and Kimarra followed with 9.90 of her own with what I would call a stick, but my colleagues said perhaps not a “true” stick. One judge agreed with me, awarding one perfect 9.95. In the anchor spot, Elise competed a YF, which I was honestly surprised by given how good her Y1.5 has looked recently. Alas, she went with the 9.95 SV vault, and had really good height and body position, just with a hop back (2x 9.85, 9.80).
Maryland capped off their meet with a 48.825 on bars, led by Maddie Komoroski’s 9.80. The Terps also counted two 9.775 scores, a 9.75 and 9.725. Meanwhile, NC State finished up their season on floor with a 49.125, led by Syniya Thomas and Autumn Rardin’s 9.85 scores. They also counted a 9.825 and two of three 9.80.
With Arkansas in front by 0.425, it was quite likely they’d take the first spot in the first session, though it wasn’t without its dramatics.
Wieber said, “We know what kind of beam team we are. We’re one of the best in the country. Definitely, there are some areas we can sharpen up just a little bit, just be a little more trusting of the landings, a little more trusting of the finished positions. But I looked in their eyes and they know it, too. So we’re gonna take that into day two and just be confident, be normal, and do what we do every day in the practice; nothing different.”
The Tigers and Gymbacks actually were tied with just the anchor, Joscelyn Roberson to go, but she delivered with a 9.95 to give Ark a 0.300 victory, their first of the season in three head-to-head tries… and I hope like hell it’s their last one of the season (sorry, not sorry). Otherwise in the Razorbacks lineup, Priscilla Park led off with a 9.85 and was followed by Hailey Klein’s 9.80. Cami Weaver’s 9.65 would be dropped, before Allison Cucci had a 9.75 and Morgan Price earned a 9.80. Bet they’re thanking the gym gods for Josc, amiright?
“I love beam,” Roberson said to the assembled Mizzou media on hand (there was notably NO other media on hand besides us… crazy!). “I hold a special place for the entire beam team in my heart. I grew up loving beam, and so being able to find that love again in college has been so awesome. Like, I get up there and I’m not even nervous most of the time. It’s just like, I get to do what I love, and I get to spread it through the entire crowd. And so going up there, I had no idea that that was the difference for first or second, but that’s never my goal. My goal is to go up there and do the best gymnastics I can every single time for me and my team.” (Side Note: Josc & Morgan are absolutely DELIGHTFUL, I must say.)
Notes & Quotes
Arkansas Presser
- Wieber’s opening statement: “I’m really, really proud of this team,” Arkansas head coach Jordyn Wieber said. “I felt like we had success we needed to have today. Step one was have a great meet today and get to day two, and we did that. We really focused in on consistency, just being normal. Now we’re going to win the recovery day.”
- On Roberson’s growth & transition from freshman to sophomore year & weaving between Elite & NCAA: “My freshman year, I had no idea. I was so used to the elite world,” she said. “So like, not going on podium every week was a shock to me. My freshman year, it was hard for me to adjust to that. And so now, coming into my sophomore year, I feel confident, I know what I need to do, and I feel like we’ve really figured out how I should train, and they do a great job of pacing me, because also I’d like to continue to do elite… We’ve done a great job of just learning how college fits into my gymnastics career. I’m really grateful for them [the coaching staff].”
- On upsetting Missouri: Wieber said, “It feels good. I mean, we’re just focused on us. We’re in our own world, our own bubble, regardless of the other teams out on the floor on night one and night two. We just want to be the best version of Arkansas that we can possibly be. That’s what I’m focused on. It never hurts to win. It definitely feels good.”
Mizzou Presser
- On getting those additional tenths: “Clearly we left some tenths out there on the table,” Shannon said, “and I think that in some ways, it’s going to motivate us for Sunday, right?”
- On adjustments coming off last season’s new high to this season: “I think you try to treat every season different, you know. We’re not trying to replicate last year, but I do think we’re trying to replicate the standard that we’re trying to compete and I think that was something that we did in some spots today. We’ve done that a lot this season, and I’m certain we’re gonna do a better job of that on Sunday.”
- On starting faster: “We just need to walk in the door and get into that mode right away. We don’t have time to wait, you know, one or two events and then turn it on,” Shannon said.
- Hannah on coming out of her shell: “Yeah, it’s just amazing going out there to be able to have fun and also like to perform that routine,” she said. “I feel like, this year, this routine actually brought me out of my shell. I feel like every single year I’m getting better and better at performing. So it actually very helps to have this (Tyler, the Creator) routine.”
- All aboard the 9.9 train: “It’s just so cool,” Maiya said, referencing getting her fifth 9.9 of the season without being in every bar lineup. “It’s everything I ever dreamed of coming from club. I wasn’t really sure of myself coming to college, and I think just being able to do that week after week has been such a confidence booster. And I’ve just been having so much fun.”
And finally, the best words ever spoken in postseason play..
We’ll see you… tomorrow night!
Short preview will be out later Saturday or early Sunday.
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