re: Remove

I'm just really impressed this thread consistently stays on the first page.

Just saw the after meet interview that featured D-D, Ruby, and Kiya. Kiya is not your average freshman. She’s so well-spoken. D-D mentioned that Kiya is also coming back from an Achilles tendon issue. I had no idea Kiya has had issues with her Achilles. D-D also noted that they may tweak Kiya’s beam routine and take out the front punch. I think that’s a smart move. I also think they should take out Kennedi’s front toss. D-D also expressed a little disappointment in Sami and Bridget. Said she expected more from them on beam. I think you can throw Desiderio in that group as well.

I get a sense that D-D knows they have to make a few changes with the routine compositions. Hopefully they will.

Thanks for the info! Can you link the interview?

Does anybody have an early thoughts about the next meet against UGA? First road meet for the freshman, but I do feel like it’s a meet that could be won, but Athens...

DD didn't put Christina in that group because she strained her hip flexor, that is why her routine was not good. She was in pain during her front aerial, you could almost tell in her face. Hopefully she can rest it.

I tried to post this over the weekend, but it never went through. In any event, despite the fairly poor showing on Friday, I am actually pretty optimistic about this team. Here's why:

Vault: I thought both Ruby and Edwards were much improved, and Kiya is obviously going to be a star. Edney I think will find the landing as we go forward. We will obviously need a replacement for Nibbs, but hopefully we'll get healthier over the year to make that happen. I would like at least one other 10.0 start, and I know Kai has that potential, so perhaps she can fill that gap.

Bars: Kiya is actually a great option for a leadoff, I think, and will allow Sami to score higher later in the lineup. As for Schennikova, I think that was nerves - in the replay she missed her toes in her cast handstand which i am sure nearly never happens to her. I think then Kai had some nerves after that. If those things don't happen I think we add about .5 at least with score building to our final score, perhaps even more because then maybe Sami could have gotten into the 9.9 range. I think reps will help out with the nerves as will experience for Schennikova and Kai. I am a little concerened about Schennikova's dismount, but that has been an issue for her entire career, so I think if they focus on it they way they truly can in NCAA vs elite, that will eventually come around.

Balance Beam: Again, I think a lot of this was upt to nerves. The balance checks killed us, and they will just need to do a bunch of pressure sets to get back into season mental shape. I actually though Dean's form on her series was improved and her wobbles were unfortunate. Also, I think Durante's fall was highly uncharacteristic. I think Edney and Campbell had as good of routines as I have seen them do and everyone's landings were on fire. Also, I think Kiya will be a star here as well - she'll stay on nearly always and will bring a 9.925 -9.95 that will shoot Cambpell to the stratosphere. If we don't have those falls on balance beam we easily add at least .8 back to the scoare.

Floor: Again with the theme - Kiya will be a star. I thought Harrold looked good, and that was one of Edwards best. She really looked very good all night. As for Campbell, to me, in person, it looked like she slipped on her first past and then was just a little short on her last. Edney, as we know, generally starts out a little slow and, if I recall correctly from last year, this year's performance was light year's better than last year's first performance. Gunter, I think has great potential, but it was her first counting routine and I think she really wanted to make her first pass so she just overpowered it a bit. I think she'll calm down and be good depth there.

So, if some of those nervy, uncharacteristic mistakes hadn't happened, I think we add somewhere in the neighborhood of least 1.2 to the score. That puts us in the high 196s, which is where I thought this team would be starting out. I think as we figure out line-ups and depth issues we should improve and I am actually really excited for this team! I especially think there will be light years of improvement between last week and this coming week at Georgia, which we should be able to win (but never discount home-floor advantage especially at Georgia, so the beam team will have to show up)

I think they'll surprise everyone come the end of the year; and, unless Ragan Smith really comes on, I think Kiya will be NCAA freshman of the year (early prediction!)

Thanks. Really injoy watching 2 or 3 meets in a row.

LINK First list of standings for Road to Nationals.

LSU now has 6 10.0 vaults

We hope to get Kai’s upgraded vault out there soon


Also how the hell did Helen Hu win freshmen of the week over Kiya Johnson? Lol

Wow! Gotta wonder what their formula was in determining Freshman of the week..

Overlooking a 9.95 on floor and a 9.9 on vault is beyond strange.