Here are the scores and surprises from Friday night's round of women's NCAA meets:
UCLA vs. Washington: Washington 195.35, UCLA 194.6. Sure, UCLA chose not to compete their top team here, but this win will be a big shot in the arm for Washington, which last defeated the Bruins' A-team back in 2004. Washington, in a crowded Pac-12 conference that includes the likes of UCLA, Stanford and now Utah, doesn't get a lot of credit. But they're a good team and getting better every season. (And yeah, I'm biased, being a proud alum.) UCLA had problems on beam and had to count a 9.075 as well as a 9.625, which opened the door for Washington and probably made the difference.
Washington's Ruby Engreitz won the all-around title (39.325) and tied Samantha Peszek for first on bars (9.85) and Alyssa Pritchett and Olivia Courtney for the win on floor (9.875). Peszek, in her first meet this season not competing all-around, also won beam (9.85), while Vanessa Zamarripa had the top score on vault (9.925). (Washington Huskies)
Florida vs. Arkansas, Maryland and Bridgeport: Florida 197.775, Arkansas 196.7, Maryland 193.075, Bridgeport 192.975. This was the most anticipated matchup of the week, with perennial no. 1 Florida besting actual no. 1 Arkansas. The Razorbacks almost matched up with the Gators on vault, but fell slightly behind in team totals on the other three events to give Florida the win.
And what a win -- 197.775 is not only the highest score in the NCAA so far this year (besting UCLA's 197.575 from last Sunday), it's the highest score in the NCAA in a couple of years, and Florida did it without any 9.9s on vault. Junior Ashanee Dickerson won the all-around (39.6) and tied freshie Kytra Hunter on floor, while Mackenzie Caquatto won bars and Marissa King beam (9.95s all around). Arkansas' Katherine Grable won vault (9.9). (Florida Gators)
Alabama vs. Auburn: Alabama 196.325, Auburn 196.25. In some ways, this was the meet of the year for Bama, which has never lost to Auburn in the teams' 104 meetings. But every year, Auburn gets a bit closer to the win. Even so, this year was all senior Ashley Priess, who is being credited for leading the Crimson Tide to victory with her meet-high scores on bars (9.925, tied with Auburn's Allyson Sandusky) and beam (9.925). Junior Ashley Sledge won vault (9.925), while Auburn freshman Bri Guy took floor (9.925, career high). Auburn senior Kylie Shields won the all-around, posting 39.225. (Alabama Crimson Tide)
Arizona vs. Arizona State: Arizona State 195.875, Arizona 194.35. For the first time in six years, ASU is the top women's team in Arizona, scoring a commanding win over the usually solid U of A team. ASU's Beate Jones led the team in the all-around, winning with 39.2 and tying UA's Jordan Williams on vault (9.85). Arizona's Katie Matusik and Rebecca Cardenas tied for the bars victory (9.825) with Matusik winning beam as well (9.875). Arizona's Aubree Cristello won floor with a meet-high score of 9.925. (Arizona State Sun Devils)
Boise State vs. Utah State and Southern Utah: Southern Utah 194.525, Utah State 194.05, Boise State 193.525. Well, that'll be a wakeup call to Boise State, but in spite of coming up short to both Utah schools, BSU gymnasts won at least a share of every event title except the all-around, which was taken by Utah State's Sarah Landes (39.225). Boise State's Amy Glass, the best comeback story in gymnastics outside of Kieran Behan, tied Landes for the title on beam (9.875) and SUU's Michaela Chernoch on floor (9.9). Meanwhile, Boise State's Ciera Perkins won bars (9.875) and Brittany Potvin-Green vault (9.9). Where did Boise State go wrong after all that? Sub-48 scores on bars and beam from the team's depth. (Boise State Broncos)
Utah vs. BYU: Utah 197.55, BYU 194.45. 15,310 people turned out to see the annual Utah/BYU matchup at the Huntsman Center, and Utah didn't disappoint. Some think this Utah team has the potential to win the NCAA title -- certainly it is the strongest they've had since Ashley Postell graduated. Sophomore Corrie Lothrop won the all-around (39.575), floor (9.925) and tied for first on bars with half her team (Lothrop, Courtni Beers, Georgia Dabritz and Stephanie McAllister all reiceved 9.9s). Beers, a senior known for her elegance on the Junior National circuit around 2005, won beam (9.9) and Kailah Delaney took the title on vault (9.95) to complete the Ute sweep. (Utah Utes)
Michigan vs. Illinois: Michigan 194.225, Illinois 193.7. Michigan pulled out its third consecutive team victory, but this was one of those meets with a lot of ties. Illinois's Alina Weinstein, who won the all-around with 39.4, also won bars (9.875) and tied for first on beam with teammate Kelsey Joannides and Michigan's Brittnee Martinez (9.825). Vault was all Michigan, with Katie Zurales and Sachi Sugiyama sharing the top honors (9.85). Michigan's Reema Zakharia and Amber See of Illinois shared the win on floor (9.9). (Michigan Wolverines)
Oklahoma vs. North Carolina State: Oklahoma 196.475, NC State 194.075. OU scores an easy takedown during the school's annual Beauty and the Beast meet, which also features men's wrestling. Taylor Spears won the all-around title (39.1), while Sara Stone won vault (9.9) and tied teammate Megan Ferguson on floor (9.875). Ferguson also captured the title on bars (9.85) and it was a big team win on beam, with Ferguson, Stone, Rebecca Clark and Kayla Nowak all putting up the winning score of 9.825. (Oklahoma Sooners)
Oregon State vs. Stanford: Oregon State 196.8, Stanford 194.525. Stanford's surprisingly slow start is raising questions about the team, which is packed with talent but somehow just not really getting the scores. This meet was literally all OSU -- Makayla Stambaugh won the all-around (39.45) and floor (9.925), while Kelsi Blalock took bars (9.95) and former Aussie competitor Olivia Vivian bars (9.925). Stanford's Alyssa Brown and OSU's Leslie Mak tied for the beam title (9.925). (Oregon State Beavers)
Ohio State vs. Pittsburgh: Ohio State 195.625, Pittsburgh 193.5. Pitt's Haley Bodenheimer was the only one to put a crimp in OSU's winning streak, tying for first all-around with Ohio State's Colleen Dean (38.825) and winning floor all by herself (9.85). Otherwise, it was all OSU -- sophomore Sarah Miller won beam (9.875) and tied her teammate Nicole Krauter on vault (9.875), while Casey Williamson was the gymnast to beat on bars (9.825). (Ohio State Buckeyes)
Iowa vs. Iowa State: Iowa State 194.9, Iowa 194.55. Well, it was close, but the Cyclones bested the Hawkeyes on this one. Iowa State's Michelle Browning led the team, posting a meet-high 39.35 in the all-around and winning a share of the individual titles on floor (with Iowa's Emma Stevenson, 9.825) and bars (with Iowa's Jessa Hansen, 9.875). Iowa's Jessica Morreale was the best on beam (9.85), and teammate Maya Wickus won vault (9.85). (Iowa State Cyclones)
San Jose State vs. Sacramento State: Sacramento State 194.75, San Jose State 193.0. San Jose State continues to be driven by senior Thomasina Wallace, who won the all-around (39.375) and uneven bars (9.875). Otherwise, San Jose was in control: Emiko Ono was first on vault (9.825), Kailiah McCartney beam (9.875) and Kailey Hansen floor (9.9). (San Jose State Spartans)
Ball State vs. Kent State: Kent State 193.65, Ball State 192.775. Kent State sophomore Marie Case won the all-around (38.9), floor (9.825) and tied for first on balance beam with teammate Lauren Wozniak (9.75). Rachel Goldenberg won vault (9.875) and Ball State's Julie Cotter, an Alabama transfer, took the title on bars (9.8). (Ball State Cardinals)
Cal vs. UC-Davis and Seattle Pacific: Cal 191.75, Davis 191.6, Seattle Pacific 189.275. Davis's Katie Yamamura won the all-around (39.125), beam (9.7) and vault (9.85), while Cal's Dallas Crawford took the title on bars (9.8) and Mariesah Pierce was the champ on floor (9.825). (Cal Bears)
Central Michigan vs. Eastern Michigan and Texas Woman's: Central Michigan 193.325, Eastern Michigan 192.725, Texas Woman's 190.55. CMU came out on top in an interesting battle between the two Michigan schools. CMU's Brittany Petzold was the only double event champion, with wins coming on vault (9.75) and bars (9.85). Kylie Fagan was the best on beam (9.75) and Eastern Michigan's Jamie Radermacher and Miranda Jarvis shared the title on floor (9.775). Becca Durien of CMU won the all-around title (38.775). (Central Michigan Chippewas)
Gustavus Adolphus vs. Hamline, Wisconsin-Stout and Wisconsin-La Crosse: UW-La Crosse 182.8, UW-Stout 179.075, Hamline 174.55, Gustavus Adolphus 172.575. Five events, five different event champions in this matchup: Hamline's Courtney Benson won the all-around (37.25), Stout's Katherina Prouty vault (9.45), La Crosse's Christa Booman bars (9.4), Gustavus Adolphus's Samantha Opsahl beam (9.55) and La Crosse's Jenna Swails floor (9.65). (Gustavus Adolphus Athletics)
Winona State vs. Wisconsin-Whitewater: UW-Whitewater 182.175, Winona State 177.05. Whitewater's Katie Thompson and Cici Talcott split every title up for grabs here, with Thompson winning vault (9.475), beam (9.475) and the all-around (37.15). Talcott cleaned up on bars (9.25, the only score above 9.0) and floor (9.425). (Winona State Warriors)
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