Pak Salto

Gymnastics, gymnastics, gymnastics! I'm from New York so I LOVE Team USA, but I'm also a huge fan of many international teams and athletes so my posts won't be super biased. I'm also a huge NCAA fan with big Gator and Bruin love. I write lots of commentary and analysis for www.thecouchgymnast.com. I'm a history major at Columbia University and I'm obsessed with travel. Check out my personal tumblr, Inner Monoblog!

Oregon State beats Stanford 196.8 to 194.525

Oh Stanford…what’s going on with you? Do you need to talk to someone? A parent or guardian or trusted adult? I don’t know if they’re trying to “take it slow” in order to peak at nationals because I don’t think “falling repeatedly” is part of that plan. Something’s going on with this team and it’s not pretty. I don’t know if injuries are still plaguing Ivana Hong or Sami Shapiro, but I’m not understanding why they’re not being used more. Unless they’re being rested for more “important” meets but Stanford is going to be SO low in the rankings, they’re not going to be AT those important meets! Regionals usually stack the odds in the favor of the top twelve teams in the rankings and due to a horrendous performance at Regionals last year, Stanford - who was in one of those prime spots - lost to Kent State, who received the berth instead. So if they don’t perform well throughout the majority of the season, Stanford won’t even receive those top spot privileges, and could wind up at a meet against teams that could annihilate them. So hopefully they’ll get their act together sooner rather than later, otherwise it means no Nationals once again! So see…with UCLA I’m not worried about their 194.6. But I am VERY worried about Stanford’s 194.525 because it’s the latest in a string of bad performances. They haven’t even broken 196! Yikes.

ROTATION 1. Oregon State had an okay vault but nothing outstanding…Kelsi Blalock’s 9.95 being the anomaly! Up third, it was probably not expected…but it was awesome! They did have to count a 9.625 and a 9.675, however, leading to their relatively low 48.975 here. Stanford began on bars, and it started out well, actually, with the first four routines the highest of the night! Ashley Morgan and Shona Morgan each earned a 9.85. Then Nicole Pechanec, usually excellent on this event, fell, followed by a weak routine from Jenny Peter. They finished with a 48.875, making things just about even between the two teams.

ROTATION 2. Stanford performed with equal vigor on vault. No falls, no big issues, but form breaks, steps, and hops led to the need to counta  9.625 and a 9.75, leading to the 48.95 total. Nicole Dayton was the standout with a 9.9. On bars, Oregon State stepped it up a bit. Still not at their best, considering this is the event they’re known for, but some high 9.8s combined with Olivia Vivian’s 9.925 helped them to a 49.25 and giving them a slight lead.

ROTATION 3. Oregon State matched their bars score on beam, earning a 49.25 in an incredibly steady and consistent rotation. Leslie Mak’s 9.925 was the highlight, and a 9.8 was the lowest to count. Stanford actually performed worse on floor than on either of their first two events, practically setting themselves up for failure on beam. No falls were counted, but there were lots of stumbles and missed passes with a few 9.6-9.7 scores counted and Ashley Morgan’s 9.85 the highest. They received a 48.75 total and Oregon State continued their lead.

ROTATION 4. Stanford finished up in the unlucky beam spot where Becky Wing went first and promptly fell. She was followed by a weak routine from Pechanec, another fall from Ashley Morgan, a weak routine from Shona Morgan, a third fall from Pauline Hanset, and then, out of nowhere, a hit routine from anchor Alyssa Brown, who earned a 9.925. They finished with a 47.95 after counting two falls. Sigh! At the same time, Oregon State had their best rotation of the night on floor, where Vivian sadly fell, but Mak and Melanie Jones each posted a 9.9, and Makayla Stambaugh - who had a wonderful night! - posted a 9.925. Brittany Harris also had an excellent night for the Beavers, not posting any super high scores, but earning a 39.325 AA after a generally strong and consistent night. Their total was a 49.325, giving them a 196.8 finish to Stanford’s 194.525.

Vault
1. Kelsi Blalock (Oregon State) - 9.95
2. Nicole Dayton (Stanford) - 9.9
3. Brittany Harris (Oregon State) - 9.875

Bars
1. Olivia Vivian (Oregon State) - 9.925
2t. Makayla Stambaugh (Oregon State) - 9.875
2t. Leslie Mak (Oregon State) - 9.875

Beam
1t. Leslie Mak (Oregon State) - 9.925
1t. Alyssa Brown (Stanford) - 9.925
3. Brittany Harris (Oregon State) - 9.875

Floor
1. Makayla Stambaugh (Oregon State) - 9.925
2t. Melanie Jones (Oregon State) - 9.9
2t. Leslie Mak (Oregon State) - 9.9

All Around
1. Makayla Stambaugh (Oregon State) - 39.45
2. Leslie Mak (Oregon State) - 39.375
3. Brittany Harris (Oregon State) - 39.325

  1. dancingdingledodies said: Even if they want to rest their athletes, they should still be putting them out there once in a while to get a feel for comp, like Miss Val does. :/ I don’t understand what changed so drastically from last season to now.
  2. paksalto posted this