NCAA Championships Prelims- Session 1 Preview

It's the most exciting part of the college gymnastics season and it's finally upon us- the 2014 NCAA National Championships! Now that Regionals is over and we know which teams have qualified, it's time to start thinking about who could realistically make the Super Six. We start with the first session which will include Oklahoma, LSU, Georgia, Michigan, Stanford and Illinois. Remember only the top three teams will advance. 

Oklahoma is in great shape to advance to the Super Six again this year. They've looked great all season long and average a 197.513!  The Sooners are pretty consistent across the board and are capable of scoring 49.500 or higher on every event. They will start on beam during prelims, which could be a big advantage. They will be able to get that event out of the way early and bring up the energy and finish strong on floor, vault, and bars. Baring any serious slip ups, Oklahoma should have no problem finishing in the top three and propelling themselves to the Super Six. They just need to be calm and cool like they usually are. 

The leaders: Taylor Spears who is capable of scoring 9.9+ on every event as well as Hayley Scaman who has scored three 10's this season (twice on floor, once on vault) 

LSU is in the same boat. They've had a phenominal season- averaging a 197.496 and have huge scoring potential thanks to the depth in their lineups. LSU's strongest events are vault and floor where they've scored nothing below a 49.400 all season. The Tigers will begin their prelim competition on a bye before heading to floor and vault. They will then go on another bye before ending the competition on bars and beam, where they are also capable of high scores.

The leader: Rheagan Courville placed 2nd AA at last years NCAA's and also took home the vault title. She has been ranked in the top 3 AA all season long.

Georgia is a strong candidate for the Super six, but not a lock. They have been good this season- they average a 197.029, but they have to be solid in order to fend off their other competitors...mainly Michigan who recently beat them for the Regional title. Georgia starts prelims on vault and will compete in the traditional "Olympic order" (vault, bars, beam and floor) which could be an advantage for them. At Regionals, Georgia had to make some lineup changes due to a minor injury from Brittany Rogers who only competed on bars. If Brittany is back strong for Nationals the Gym Dawgs can look to potentially post a high team total and make the Super Six!

The leader: Lindsay Cheek competes on vault, bars, and beam where she typically brings in scores of 9.9+ every week.

Stanford had a really impressive showing at Regionals last weekend where they posted a 197.275 which was their highest score all season and proved to be contenders this year. Stanford will start their quest on the floor and will end on a bye after beam. If Stanford wants to sneak into one of those three spots- they have to be better then they have been for most of this season. They only average a 196.400, which is significantly lower than the rest of their competitors. 

Michigan is coming into this meet looking for redemption. They haven't made the Super Six since 2011 and missed qualifying last year by just over 3 tenths. Michigan averages a 196.791 and is capable of scoring in the mid 197's if they hit. Michigan will have the same rotation order as last year, starting on bars and ending on a bye after vault. Similar to Regionals, the Wolverines will be looking to pick up some extra tenths wherever they can to make up for the lose of Austin Sheppard, who typically scores in the 9.95-9.975 range on vault and the 9.850-9.9 range on bars. They will also face the same challenge they've had all season long in the second roatation- the balance beam. When they hit, they have no problem scoring 49.300+, however they really have to minimize all those small bobbles and bring in some big scores. After the second roatation, we should have a good idea if Michigan is in it to win it!

The leader: Joanna Sampson is the reigning National Champion on floor! She will be looking to contribute scores over 9.9 on every event and hopefully snag that all around title as well. (She was 3rd last year!) 

Illinois has returned to Nationals for the second consecutive year which is a big accomplishment for them. Although they are a good team, I don't think qualifying to the Super Six is a very realistic goal for them at this point in time. They only average a 196.204, and don't have very much depth in their lineups. The Illini will start prelims on a bye before heading to bars, which is a good event for them to start on! 

The leader: Amber See, who is capable of scoring 9.9 or higher on vault, beam, and floor! 

Nicole Artz- The Astonishing Freshman

It's been a stellar season for eighteen year old Nicole Artz, who graduated high school a year early to join the Michigan Wolverines this season. Despite her age, Nicole (Nico for short) has become some what of a superstar for the University of Michigan with her dependability and maturity leading the way- something that's rare for someone with so little experience. Nicole, who is the 2012 JO National Floor Champion, made her collegiate debut by taking home the balance beam title and 2nd on floor (behind the reigning national floor champion Joanna Sampson) in the first meet of the season. She went on to take home several more titles throughout the season, including two uneven bar titles; an event she wasn't even expected to be competing on this season! Nicole's strongest event is floor, where she opens with a sky-high piked full in and almost always scores over 9.9, but she's also rock solid on beam, which is a place where Michigan could use some high scores.

Halfway through the season Nicole began competing as an all around gymnast. She has scored 9.9 or higher on three of the four events this season, with floor being the highest (9.950). Most recently she won the all around title at the Regional Championships with a score of 39.325. Nicole was also named Big 10 Freshman of the Year, after winning the Big 10 Freshman of the Week title four times this season. Nicole's consistency week in and week out has played a big part in gaining the role of "all around gymnast" this year. It's impressive to note that she's hit 42 out of 43 routines this season- not to shabby for someone who is only a freshman!

Catching up with Olympic Champion Catalina Ponor

Catalina Ponor is gymnastics royalty. With five Olympic medals and a plethora of World and European titles, Catalina is easily one of the greatest Romanian gymnasts of all time. She first emerged onto the scene in 2003, winning three silver medals at the World Championships. The following year she upgraded those silvers for gold by winning the team, beam, and floor titles at the European Championships and the Olympic Games! Throughout the next two years she claimed many more World titles before retiring at the end of 2007. Ponor surprised many when she decided to make a comeback in 2011. She went on to win two more Olympic medals at the London games (bronze with the Romanian team and silver on floor) and two more European titles (team and beam). We caught up with Catalina to reflect back on her gymnastics career and find out what she has been up to today.

How did you get started in gymnastics?
I remember I was with my grandma, holding her hand on the street, and we passed the gym. I didn't know what was inside there, but I was pushing my grandma to go inside! I was calling that building "school" because at four years old I didn't know what gymnastics was. So I convinced my grandma,we went inside the gym, and I fell in love when I saw all those events. It was like a fantastic world for me.

Who were your gymnastics idols growing up?
In the beginning I had many idols. My first idol was Nadia Comaneci because everybody knew about her. My mom was showing me Nadia's competitions and I wanted to be like her. After that I started to like [Lavinia] Milosovici's style; very focused, concentrated and powerful. And the elegance of Khorkina! With all these girls being my idols, I tried to mix it and make a new gymnast named Ponor. I don't know if that worked, but at least I tried!

You trained with the legendary Octavian Bellu and his wife Mariana Bitang, what were they like? 
They were exactly like they should be- strict in the gym and good people outside of the gym.

As a young gymnast, did you ever anticipate that you'd have the success you had?
When I started gymnastics I didn't know what kind of career I would have, but I was always dreaming to be a champion. I worked hard in the gym to archive that- to see myself in a big competition in first place.

You won a gold medal on every event you competed in Athens, how did your country react to your success? 
What happened in Athens was fantastic! It was more than a dream, something that you can not describe in words. Romania was reacting exactly how I was expecting- they were happy for me and cheering! The most impressive thing to see was the Romanian people in the arena crying and jumping along with us! So thanks Romania for your support!

You retired in 2007 and made a comeback in 2011, can you talk about that decision? 
When I retired in 2007 it was because I had problems with my back. I had two hernias which I still have to this day. Unfortunately I couldn't go to Beijing, but I really wanted to make a second Olympics and I was so sad because of that. I said to myself that I will never come back in the gym again! So I went two years only stepping in the gym to see my coaches. Eventually I decided to start coaching in the USA and one day I received an email from Mariana Bitang saying that they came back to coaching in gymnastics, so I was happy for them, but at the same time I wanted to come back and I also didn't! So I went back home and one day I woke up and told my mom I will start practicing again- and of course my mom started laughing!

How was 2004 different from 2012 in terms of preparation and expectations? 
Well in 2004 I was well prepared. I knew that I had been training for thirteen years for that moment and I was sure that I would do a good job there. I wasn't afraid of anything! People didn't know me too much and  I didn't have any pressure on me. In 2012, I was mature and I knew that if I came back, people would expect me to have the same results or at least to be as good as I was. So it was very hard for me to fight with my body, to fight with myself, to fight with 99% of the people around the world that couldn't trust in my thoughts that I could make a comeback after four years at home doing nothing, and to fight with the new generation and the new code of points.

So did you have high expectations for yourself in London? 
In London I didn't regret anything and said that I leave this sport with my chin up and proud of myself. Maybe I had more expectations on beam, but competitions are competitions and you never know what can happen and if it will be a bad day. I had many health problems in that time too, so I just wanted to finish the competition healthy.

During the beam finals in London, were you aware of the inquiry happening for Aly Raisman's score? 
On the results it said my name in 3rd and everyone was coming up to me saying congratulations. Soon after they made the appeal, that's when I knew it was gonna change. I did make a big mistake that you normally don't see. So I'm not gonna blame the judges, the coach, or the gymnast. That day I didn't eat anything and I was very light on the event and sometimes you cannot control your moves because of that. To be honest I was very mad at myself, because again, without that mistake, I could have got a medal very easy.

What has been the highlight of your career? 
Athens! It is and always will be the most beautiful moment from my career. Its something that not only I won't forget, but I don't think the gymnastics fans will either.



What is one thing that not many people know about you?
If they don't know, that means I don't want to say it! I'm kidding [laughs] I don't know, maybe the fact that I'm a different person outside the gym; a happy and kind person.

So are you officially retired or can we expect another comeback soon?
[Laughs] I've been asked this question many times and I can finally understand it because you never know when my craziness can come back and go in the gym! For now, I'm happy will all my projects and soon a new project will arrive, but I can't say more then that. For a comeback in gymnastics, I don't know! Maybe yes, maybe no. Never say never! The most important thing is to be healthy, even if I miss it a lot.

What have you been up to today?
I'm a co-designer for leotards for a french company called Decathon. I can say that we already see results! Of course we are just starting out, but soon we will start growing!

And lastly, what's one piece of advice you would give an aspiring young gymnast?
Never give up if you want to achieve your goals!

Thank you Catalina, we wish you all the best in your future endeavors. 

Q&A with Ireland's India McPeak

India McPeak is an up-and-coming elite gymnast who competes for both Ireland and Northern Ireland. While artistic gymnastics may not be a very popular sport in her country, India is certainly helping to put them on the radar. In 2013 she represented Ireland in several major international competitions such as the European Championships, the World Championships, and the Cottbus Cup. We caught up with India to discuss her college plans, future upgrades, and more! 

You committed to Western Michigan a few years ago and now it seems you are changing your commitment?
When the new coach took over at WMU, she decided not to honor the scholarship commit.  At the time, I was devastated but this definitely motivated me to work hard and not give up on my dream of competing in college gymnastics.

I know you are in the process of finding another school. Have you gone on any other visits besides for the University of Michigan?
No, nothing's scheduled yet - my initial decision was to defer for a year, so I am in contact with some schools for 2015 entry also.

Speaking of Michigan, how was your official visit? 

I had a great time in Michigan! The team, coaches, and support staff were all so welcoming and friendly. They have a fantastic gymnastics program and amazing facilities. It was awesome to seem them win their meet against UCLA and Utah!

What makes you want to do college gymnastics?
In the UK, college gymnastics doesn't exist and I'm definitely not ready to give up the sport I love! Competing in FIG is mostly individual, so to be apart of an NCAA team would be amazing! I love the team atmosphere and energy. Being at the meet last week (Michigan vs. UCLA/Utah) made me want this even more.

When can fans expect your commitment announcement? 

I have fans?! haha. As soon as I have something to tell, the Twitter World will know immediately!

Will you still do elite once you begin college?
Yes, I hope to but obviously college commitments will always come first.

Can you explain how you compete for both Ireland and Northern Ireland?
Being Northern Irish I am entitled to dual nationality i.e. I can have British and Irish passports. This enables me to compete for both countries - for Commonwealth Games I will be competing for Northern Ireland and for World Championships I will be competing for Ireland.

What have been some of your proudest accomplishments so far?
In 2010, I fractured a vertebrae (yes, in gymnastics!) and I had to take over 2 months completely out of training. Returning to competition within 6 months and being stronger than ever was something I thought I would never achieve! Any time I compete for my countries is always a proud moment. The most memorable being when Northern Ireland placed 3rd as a team at the Northern European Championships and competing for Ireland at my first World Championships last year.

Do you have any cool memories from Worlds that you can share?
Hmm... in the training halls one day, Brandon Wynn saw my teammate Emma Lunn and I, and he shouted across the gym to us and literally everyone turned around to see who he was talking to! (We've been friends since Cottbus World Cup last year) I felt so cool! Then on the first day of training I saw Martha Karolyi watching me on beam...talk about pressure! And then just before marching out to compete, I (quite literally) bumped into Kyla Ross in the toilets. She's so lovely though!

Did you say anything to Kyla?
Well I apologized for bumping into her, then it was just hair talk and the troubles of getting your bun to stay in! #gymnastprobs

What is gymnastics like in your country? Is it a popular sport?
Gymnastics would not be the most popular of sports here as most kids do school sports, and gymnastics is not one of them. It is however growing throughout the country with the standard of clubs and coaching getting better and better. Hopefully we will see Ireland moving up the world rankings in years to come.

Are you working on any upgrades for this season?
Vault: Adding a full twist on my laid-out tsuk
Bars: Aiming to have a jaeger in for Commonwealths
Beam: Ready to compete 2.5 twist dismount
Floor: Triple twist (no pun intended lol) and front 2/1 twist

And some random questions just for fun. If you weren't a gymnast, what sport would you do?
Diving would be cool!

If you were stranded on an island and could only take one thing with you what would it be?
My iPhone.. but then I'd need a charger, and electricity, and a 3G network, and unlimited data. So that wouldn't work... hmm... probably The Hunger Games trilogy!

If you could have the career of any gymnast who would it be and why?
Shawn Johnson - I've always admired her power and skill, and I love how even after retiring from gymnastics she is still promoting health and fitness

What is your dream skill?
Double double on floor and laid-out full twist on beam!

What are some of your future goals?
I would love to make all around or apparatus finals at the Commonwealth Games in July. But my long term goal - Rio 2016!

Check out some of India's impressive upgrades on beam! 

 

Be sure to follow India on Twitter! (Here)

10 Things You Don''t Know About...Ragan Smith

1. I have a dog (a markie) named Rio! 

2. My mom was a gymnast and an all-american at Auburn University. 

3. I was a model when I was five, six, and seven! 

4. I have two younger brothers, Jackson and Hudson, who are on travel baseball teams in Coppell, Texas. 

5. Pink is my favorite color.

6. Spaghetti is my favorite food! 

7. My dad works for AT&T. 

8. I have a cousin named Sophie who is a level 7 gymnast, and her mother (my aunt) was a gymnast too! 

9. I love IVIVVA clothes!

10. My name (Ragan) is my mothers maiden name without the "s" on the end.  (Ragans) 

10 Thing's You Don't Know About:
Victoria Moors
Sarah Finnegan
Laurie Hernandez
Ari Agrapides
Ellie Downie
Vanasia Bradley
Jazmyn Foberg
Deanne Soza

Emily Wong - A Leader and Champion

Photo belongs to Wyn Wiley

Best known in the gymnastics world for her flawless triple twist and infectious smile, senior Emily Wong has been nothing less than a superstar for the University of Nebraska. Not many gymnasts can say they've accomplished as much as Emily has in the last few years and by the time her career is complete, she will proudly be able to say she was one of the greatest Nebraska gymnasts of all time! Currently, she's an eight-time All-American, a two-time Big 10 All Around Champion, an honor roll student (with a 3.9 GPA!), and has collected four Big 10 event titles in her career so far- just to name a few of her many accomplishments. "I've gotten so much better as a gymnast since I have been at Nebraska." Wong told us. "The coaching staff has been amazing and has helped me with my confidence and believing in myself." Wong attributes much of her individual success to her teammates. "In club, it was usually about yourself and I never liked that. Now that I have a team, I am doing it for them and it motivates me so much more. I want to improve for them!" she said. Emily has been a part of a conference championship winning team since her freshman year when Nebraska won the Big 12 Championships during their last year in that conference. Since joining the Big 10, Emily and her teammates have won the last two championship titles- something that she is very proud of. Emily is also happy that everyone on the team had a chance to compete at least once this year. "All twelve of our girls on the team were in a leotard and got to compete at one meet. Since I have been here that has never happened and it was amazing and so exciting to see everyone out on the floor doing what we all love!"

Photo belongs to David Drufke

Aside from her gymnastics, Emily's personality has also made her a fan favorite. Inside the gym, she describes herself as hard-working, very competitive, and a perfectionist; which is evident when you watch her compete. Outside the gym she says she's easygoing, outgoing, and friendly. "I'm a very happy person and usually always have a smile on my face," she said. That smile even shows during the hardest of times.

Photo belongs to Travis Shafer

Just a few months ago Emily's father suffered from a stroke and passed away. While many would let emotions get the best of them, Emily has used her father's death as her incentive going into her final season. "This season is for him. I want to make him proud and it really motivates me to work hard in the gym and in meets," Wong said. Though she has been competing with a heavy heart, Emily can always be seen with a smile on her face. "He was my biggest fan and it's definitely a big change not having him at meets or seeing his face every weekend. It has been hard this whole season, but I try not to ever let it show." Emily notes that her teammates play a big part in lifting her spirits when she's feeling down. "My team has definitely been here for me through it all and I can always count on them to brighten my day when it's a tough day." Emily keeps a picture of her dad in her gym bag to remind herself that he is still with her. "He is probably still my loudest fan!" she added. With her father looking down on her, Emily has gone undefeated in the all around and on floor in all eight meets so far this season. Additionally she has collected twenty seven event titles, three Big 10 Gymnast of the Week titles, and has been ranked #4 in the all around nationally for most of the season.

Photo belongs to Emily Wong

Coming into her final season, Emily's personal goal was to improve from last year and become a better leader for the team. So far, she feels like she has done that. "I believe that I have become a better gymnast. Working hard over the summer and preseason- mainly on my form and my skills has helped. I have also become more vocal as a leader and try to show by example. I want to be the best leader I can be for my team to help achieve all our goals." she said. The team's goal this year is to defend their Big 10 title for the third consecutive year, which is very plausible. Depending on how things play out for the Cornhuskers in the post season, Emily would love for her team to win their first National Championship. If she could end her career in any way, that is how she wants to do it. As the end of the regular season is quickly approaching, it's safe to assume Emily will be a threat for the all around title at Championships this year as well as a few event titles.

Photo belongs to huskers.com

After gymnastics, Emily plans to apply for physical therapy school and hopefully become a pediatric physical therapist someday. Since she doesn't graduate until December, Emily would also like to stick around and help out with the gymnastics team next season.

Fun fact: Emily kept the second part of her floor routine the same as last year because she thinks the music and dance is catchy and she loves that she can smile the whole way through!

Thank you Emily! We wish you all the best! 

Before the NCAA: Lesser Known Elites

Many collegiate gymnasts are actually former (or even current) elite gymnasts. Former National Team members often compete in the NCAA after ending their elite career, such as Olympians Bridget Sloan and Samantha Peszek. Though many well-known elites are currently in the NCAA, there are even more lesser-known former and current elites competing at the collegiate level.

Here’s a list of some top NCAA gymnasts that fans may not have known at the elite level.

Randi Lau

School: Penn State (LSU for two years)
Year: Junior
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii

Club Gym: Kokokahi Gymnastics

Elite Experience: Lau competed as a junior elite from 2006-2008 and has competed at several gyms in her career including WOGA. At the Visa Championships she he placed fifth on beam and eighth in the all-around, securing her place on the U.S. Junior National Team.

Jaclyn McCartin

School: Washington

Year: Junior

Hometown: West Covina, Cal.

Club Gym: Gliders/West Coast Elite

Elite Experience: In 2010, McCartin competed as a senior at the Visa Championships and finished 12th all-around and seventh on beam. Jaclyn is best known for her beautiful lines! 

Liz McNabb

School: Illinois

Year: Senior

Hometown: Fishers, Ind.

Club Gym: DeVeau’s School of Gymnastics

Elite Experience: Growing up, McNabb became best friends with 2008 Olympian Samantha Peszek as they trained at the same gym. In 2005, McNabb joined Peszek in the junior elite ranks at the Classic and Visa Championships. McNabb finished 14th all-around at Classics and 14th at Championships.

Shelby Salmon

School: Arkansas

Year: Senior

Hometown: Noblesville, Ind.

Club Gym: Sharp’s

Elite Experience: This Indiana native has trained at both DeVeau’s School of Gymnastics and Sharp’s, connecting her to 2008 Olympians Samantha Peszek and Bridget Sloan. In 2006, Salmon qualified as a junior elite and placed 9th all around at the US Classic where she competed under DeVeau's. Shelby ended her elite career at the Visas Championships after deciding to drop back down to level 10. Fun fact: Her cousins, Stephanie and Tim Gentry were also elite gymnasts and both competed for Stanford.

Michelle Shealy

School: Iowa State

Year: Senior

Hometown: Snellville, Ga.

Club Gym: Gwinnett Gymnastics Center

Elite Experience: Shealy qualified to the elite ranks in 2006 as a junior and competed at the US Classic and Visa Championships. Her best result was placing 17th on beam!

Austin Sheppard

School: Michigan

Year: Sophomore

Hometown: Murphy, Texas

Club Gym: WOGA
Elite Experience: Unlike most of the girls mentioned in this post, Sheppard was an elite who trained in the United States, but represented Hungary in international competitions. In 2011, she competed at the European Championships and the World Championships where she placed 11th on vault- her signature event! Unfortunately an injury in 2012 kept her from making it to the Olympics.

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Emma Sibson

School: Penn State

Year: Freshman

Hometown: Allen, Texas

Club Gym: Zenith Elite

Elite Experience: Sibson is following the trend of Canadian elites competing in the NCAA. Her situation is similar to Michigan’s Talia Chiarelli as she trained in the U.S. but competed internationally for Canada. In 2010-2012, Sibson competed at Elite Canada and various other elite competitions. She also competed at the Covergirl Classic and Visa Championships in 2010 under the American elite program. After these competitions she ultimately decided to compete for Canada at the elite level and as a level 10 in the United States. 

Erica Smith

School: WVU

Year: Senior

Hometown: Blue Springs, Mo.

Club Gym: Eagles Gymnastics

Elite Experience: In June of 2006, Smith qualified to the elite level as a junior. She competed at the US Classic and Visa Championships (where she placed 12th on floor) before changing gyms from GAGE to Eagles Gymnastics. 

Nicole Szabo

School: UIC (Illinois-Chicago)

Year: Freshman

Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa

Club Gym: Johannesburg Gymnastics Center

Elite Experience: This Johannesburg native has competed for South Africa internationally since 2009. Some of the major competitions she has been to include the 2010, 2011, and 2013 World Championships and the 2011 and 2012 Doha Challenge Cup.

Rachel Updike

School: Mizzou

Year: Junior

Hometown: Olathe, Kan.

Club Gym: Kansas Gymnastics Dance and Cheer

Elite Experience: While training at GAGE, Updike qualified to junior elite in 2006. She competed at Championships and was named to the U.S. Junior National Team after finishing 12th in the all-around and 10th on beam. Like most GAGE gymnasts, Rachel beautiful to watch particularly on beam and floor. 

Kellie Wanamaker

School: ASU

Year: Freshman

Hometown: Washington, N.J.

Club Gym: Parkettes

Elite Experience: Wanamaker qualified to junior elite in 2009 and competed in both the Classic and Visa Championships in 2010. Like most of the girls in this post, she returned to level 10 soon after.

By: Amanda and Ashlee