ICYMI: NCAA Weekend Wrap Up

ICYMI: NCAA Weekend Wrap Up

ICYMI: NCAA Weekend Wrap Up

Mar 10, 2014 by Anne Phillips
ICYMI: NCAA Weekend Wrap Up
Big scores fly as NCAA women's teams prepare for the post season.

Here's our rundown of the top stories you may have overlooked from an exciting weekend of NCAA gymnastics. The post season is nearly upon us with Conference Championships just two weeks away. 

LSU Still #1

LSU posted yet another big score at home (197.50) to defeat NC State. They'll hold on to their #1 ranking for the third straight week. With this, they tie their 2005 team for the most weeks at No. 1 in a season. The 2014 SEC Championships are shaping up to be an all out battle. The latest national team rankings have Florida 3rd, Alabama 4th, and Georgia 6th. 


Florida Posts Nation's Top Score of 2014


Florida celebrated senior night on Friday hosting West Virginia. They channeled their emotions to deliver the top team score of 2014, 198.325!
Watch: Macko Caquatto's emotional senior night floor routine.
Caquatto's post-meet interview
Post-Meet interview and senior class insights from Coach Rhonda Faehn
Alaina Johnson is the Real Deal


Add Alaina Johnson to your list of 2014 NCAA Title Contenders! Johnson delivered the performance of a lifetime on her senior night and set a new school record for the highest all around score of 39.825! This total beat Florida's record previously held by teammate Kytra Hunter and is the nation's highest all around score since NCAA legend Courtney Kupets of Georgia totaled 39.85 in 2009. Johnson earned a 9.975 on uneven bars where she is the reining NCAA Champion and raked in 9.95's on the other three events. If Johnson keeps this up, she could win Florida's third straight NCAA All Around title. Hunter won in 2012, and Bridget Sloan won in 2013. Johnson has always been capable of this feat, but injuries have kept her out of the all around for much of her career. 
Watch: Alaina's 9.975 bar routine
Alaina's emotional post-meet intervew


Perfect 10's Flying


10's have been flying this season and four more were awarded this weekend. You're in luck because we have video of all four! 

Oklahoma sophomore Haley Scaman earned her second perfect 10 of the season at home on Friday night. We love her sassy floor routine and powerful tumbling. Watch the routine here.

After coming oh-so-close with three 9.975's on floor this season, Utah junior Georgia Dabritz finally earned a perfect 10. With a stuck triple twist last pass, Dabritz earned her team's first 10 of the season in their tri-meet at Michigan. Watch the video here. Or, watch her post-meet interview here.

Kytra Hunter of Florida set the lofty goal of ten perfect ten's this season, and now she's officially half way there. Hunter scored yet another perfect mark on floor Friday night! Watch the video here. 

Reigning NCAA Co-Vault Champion Diandra Milliner of Bama scored a perfect 10 on vault in front of 11,138 fans as she stuck her yurchenko 1.5. Watch the video here. 


Bama Joins the 198 Club

Alabama became the 4th team this season to surpass the epic 198 team total on Friday with a massive 198.250. This is a new program and Coleman Coliseum record score. It was also the nation's top score of the season for about one hour until Florida concluded with their 198.325. Alabama remains 4th in the rankings. 
Sooners Surpass 198 Again!


Oklahoma competed twice this weekend and reclaimed their #2 ranking from Florida. They celebrated Senior night on Friday with a 197.45 score, and capped off their weekend with a massive 198.150 Sunday at TWU.  
Watch: Top routines from Senior Night
Haley Scaman's Perfect 10
Taylor Spears 9.975 Beam


Illinios Sets New Program Record


Illinois finally breaks 197! For the first time in program history, the Fighting Illini eclipsed the 197 mark in a big senior night win over Lindenwood.
Watch: Top meet videos
Senior Amber See scores 9.925 in final home floor routine


Arkansas Upsets Nebraska


On senior night, #9 Nebraska lost in a heartbreaking fashion to #14 Arkansas, 196.700-196.350. In bittersweet fashion, Husker senior Emily Wong still delivered an incredible last performance at home. She tied with Arkansas all around star Katherine Grable. Both gymnasts earned 39.625.


Georgia Rediscovers 2009 Greatness on Vault


In the classic black and white leos shown above, Georgia started off their senior meet in stunning fashion. They recorded the team's highest vault total since their victory in the 2009 Super Six, 49.625. Sophomore Brandie Jay anchored the lineup with a 9.975 for a huge, stuck yurchenko 1.5. After that, the Gym Dogs cruised to a 197.025-195.825 win over Denver.
 

Michigan Wins Anticipated Top 10 Tri-Meet with Season High


#7 Michigan hosted #6 Utah & #8 UCLA and the meet absolutely lived up to the hype. Just two tenths of a point separated the three teams heading into the final rotation. Michigan closed the gap on floor with a huge, program-best 49.650 thanks to 9.95's from freshman Nicole Artz and seniors Natalie Beilstein and Joanna Sampson. The final standings: Michigan 197.825, UCLA 197.475, Utah 197.350.
Watch: Videos of top routines
Austin Sheppard's stuck 9.975 vault
Joanna Sampson's 9.95 floor
Danusia Francis sticks her crazy dismount on beam


Peszek Back for the Post Season!


2008 Olympic medalist Sam Peszek returned to the all around for UCLA, gave a show stopping performance on floor, and won the all around with a 38.650. Watch Peszek on floor.

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