The 2016 season was the first NCAA gymnastics season that saw the popular Yurchenko full devalued from a 10.0 start value to a 9.95. The change saw a number of athletes move to compete the more difficult double twisting Yurchenko or the Yurchenko one and a half. With the Yurchenko double becoming a more popular option, here are the five gymnasts to watch as the NCAA season begins.

Ashleigh Gnat (Senior) -- LSU

Gnat was one of the few gymnasts competing a double twisting Yurchenko vault last year. She nabbed back-to-back perfect 10s and scored a 9.9 or better in all but one meet during the 2016 season. She finished the season ranked No. 1 on vault with an average of 9.941. Gnat had an uncanny ability to nail her landings and grab those big scores. She was the anchor in a vault lineup that finished the season ranked No. 1 in the country.

Watch Gnat's 10.0 from the Metroplex Challenge:

Elizabeth Price (Junior) -- Stanford

Price was a top vaulter last season and finished the year ranked sixth on the event. Like Gnat, Price was in the small group of gymnasts competing a double twisting Yurchenko last season. She scored no lower than a 9.85 on vault in 2016 and has scored a 10 on the Yurchenko full in 2015 as a freshman. She was the NCAA vault champion as a freshman.

Check out her stunning vault from Regionals last season:

Alex McMurtry (Junior) -- Florida

McMurtry has been a standout for the Gators on vault the past two seasons. The junior has been competing a full twisting Yurchenko but will look to upgrade to the double twisting Yurchenko this season. McMurtry cited the Yurchenko full being downgraded to a 9.95 start value as the main reason for the upgrade. She finished last season tied for seventh in the country with a 9.895 average.

McKenna Kelley (Sophomore) -- LSU

Kelley did not compete on vault last season, but showed great power one floor exercise. She struggled at the start of the season with controlling that power but if she can remain controlled from the start, she has the potential to be dynamic for LSU. She has a more unique vault that she is performing this season--a piked front with a half twist. She landed it well during the Tigers' intrasquad this fall. It will also provide fans with a little bit of variety in between the vast number of Yurchenko-style vaults.

See her vault from the intrasquad below:

Mykayla Skinner (Freshman) -- Utah

Of the top incoming freshman, Skinner is the most intriguing on this event. She is a world bronze medalist on vault but has been heavily criticized for her form. With collegiate gymnastics focusing on both consistency and form--and judged on a 10.0 scale versus the open-ended elite scoring system--it will be interesting to watch how Skinner adjusts. She is capable of doing the big skills though she lacked the consistency to hit as an elite. She has already shown a pretty clean double twisting Yurchenko during the Utes' intrasquad. If that can translate to the competition floor, Skinner will be a force to be reckoned with.



Honorable mention: AJ Jackson (Oklahoma), Amanda Wellick (Arkansas), Olivia Karas (Michigan), Kennedy Baker (Florida), Maggie Nichols (Oklahoma)


Related:
Videos from LSU's Fall Intrasquad