Predicting the Super 6

With the NCAA gymnastics season about half way through, it's time to start thinking about who will make the Super Six this year. Last month, we asked some bloggers in the gymternet to share who they think will make the cut!

Photo Credit: Gator Zone

Ashlee and Brittany (Triple Twist)
"If UCLA and Florida hit, they will be in the Super Six without a doubt. Their teams are so strong and have such a large list of former elites, national team members and world competitors. The amount of depth of those teams have is incredible! Michigan has been super impressive this season and if they continue doing what they have been, they will easily qualify. Alabama is the reigning national champs and looking strong so far, I can't imagine the Super Six without them. I think the last two spots are up for grabs by anybody, I would love to see LSU make it in....but I think Utah and Oklahoma have what it takes."


Blythe Lawerence (Gymnastics Examiner)
"It's hard to tell who will make the Super Six this early in the season, but the six teams that have most impressed me so far are Florida, Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma, Michigan and UCLA. The mix is different than it was last year -- some of the perennial Super Six favorites, like Utah, Georgia and Oregon State are off to a sluggish start. But the beauty of NCAA gymnastics is its unpredictability."


Lauren Hopkins (US editor for the Couch Gymnast)
"I think it's too early to tell because there are often surprises (ie Stanford last year) but probably Bama, Florida and UCLA for sure just based on their end of the year scoring potential. I'm gonna go with Oklahoma, Michigan-if they continue their current streak, and I'm gonna say Utah for number six, but I think of the last three I mentioned, one might surprisingly not make it and a team who has a shockingly good day in prelims will get in. Just because that always seems to happen and totally throws me off!"


Rick McCharles (Gymnastics Coaching)

"Florida and Alabama for sure because of  their depth, and results last year. Michigan, because they are on a roll. UCLA because they are at home. Oklahoma because they are the best coached, and LSU- they have Jay from Georgia joining the coaching staff, Savona as a great new recruit. They have momentum and a superb FX line-up."



Allie (Double Double Gym Blog)
"Florida because they have the strongest team on paper, with consistency to match. Alabama because they want the 3 peat and have the determination to go after it. UCLA because they have consistency and difficulty. Michigan because they are rocking early in the season and aren't done upgrading yet. Utah because they have a lot of potential this year and as a team, they are strong and have strong dynamics. Stanford because they also have a lot of potential and generally are very good at pacing."

Patrice (Contributor for Triple Twist)
"UCLA, because they consistently finish over 196 at both home and away meets. Florida, because they have an amazing incoming Freshman class and many former elites and National Team members. Alabama, because they are the reigning national champions. LSU because their scores have been going up consistently over the past year, and they have been getting a lot of recognition recently. Stanford because they have Kristina Vaculik who just returned from the Olympics and will likely take on a leadership role this season.
Georgia because the new team looks as though they're fighting to make it this year, and have been doing new/innovative skills (ex: Brittany Rogers on beam) and lastly, Oklahoma because when they hit, they are capable of bringing in huge scores."

Amanda (Contributor for Triple Twist)
"The Wolverines have started their season with a bang. They began as the tenth seed and worked their way up to the first and second rank. They are nationally ranked in the top ten for all four events. Two of their all-arounders, Joanna Sampson and Katie Zurales, are also in the top ten in the national all-around ranks. It is both probable and possible for the Wolverines to make it to the Super Six. The Gators are the reigning SEC Champions have suffered a lost to LSU, but have competed well every week regardless of the outcome. This year, five All-Americans returned and have added strong additions, particularly former elite, Olympian, and World Champion Bridget Sloan.This Gator team has proven to be deep and has not let a loss negatively affect them as it was a close meet. If the rest of the season mirrors (or is better than) the first few weeks, Florida should have no problem making it to the Super Six as they did last year. For the Sooners, veterans Brie Olson and Taylor Spears have been carrying the team with steady all-around performances as senior Kayla Nowak experienced a severe back injury. Oklahoma has already won eight out of nine Big 12 weekly awards this season, showing their dominance not only from veterans, but from others such as Haley Scaman and Keeley Kmieciak. K.J. Kindler has led the Sooners to six consecutive NCAA Championships appearances, and with the already-excellent performances the Sooners have had both on the road and at home this season, another Super Six appearance is not doubtful. The Bruins may have lost Samantha Peszek to an Achilles injury, but they have not lost their spark. Senior all-arounder Vanessa Zamarippa has been spectacular on all four apparatuses this season. UCLA has managed to compete well throughout the season in recent years, and with many returning from last season’s third place team, it should not be difficult for the Bruins to be a Super Six team once again. The two-time reigning national champs are currently ranked fifth nationally. The Tide have competed both away and home, showing they can win anywhere. They have remained relative stable on all four events and posted a 49.450, the highest team score (this season), on vault against LSU. The 2012 and 2011 champs came into the season as the first rank and could end that way. The Tigers may have been ranked eighth in the preseason poll, but they had a close victory against SEC rival Florida. The Tigers can continue the remainder of the season knowing they beat the third-ranked Florida, which can give them a spark after suffering a loss to Alabama. They are capable of posting good scores on all four events as shown in the meet against Florida and have three nationally ranked gymnasts to help them continue that. With continual performances like that, the Tigers can be Super Six competitors once again."

Who do you think will make the Super Six this year? Vote in our poll to the right --->