2018 Elevate the Stage - Augusta (NCAA) | UGA, Stanford, Nebraska, Illinois

NCAA: Nebraska, Georgia, Stanford, & Illinois At Elevate The Stage

NCAA: Nebraska, Georgia, Stanford, & Illinois At Elevate The Stage

Nebraska, Georgia, Stanford and Illinois will battle it out at the Elevate the Stage meet in Augusta, Georgia, in week eight NCAA action.

Mar 1, 2018 by Lauren Green
NCAA: Nebraska, Georgia, Stanford, & Illinois At Elevate The Stage

Nebraska, Georgia, Stanford, and Illinois battle it out at the Elevate the Stage meet in Augusta, Georgia, in week eight NCAA action.

Nebraska

The Huskers have been a solid squad this season and are ranked second in the Big Ten with a 196.135 RQS. They have struggled on uneven bars in each of the last two weeks, though, and were forced to count a low score both times. After a rough outing on bars in week one, the Huskers had hit 49.075 or better in four straight meets.

Nebraska has been solid on vault when the Huskers hit with a season-best 49.325 coming in week one against Penn State. Sienna Crouse and Megan Schweihofer have proven to be a steady one-two punch in the final lineup spots.

Ranked: 16th

Event to Watch: Vault (Ranked 14th)

Key routines: Sienna Crouse (vault), Taylor Houchin (bars), Grace Williams (beam)





Georgia

Entering the season, the biggest question for the Gym Dogs was how they would be putting up competitive lineups after the incoming freshman class was decimated by injuries. Vault has been a weakness for Georgia all season — not only because of the injuries, but also because of the lack of 10.0 start values.

Uneven bars has been a strong event for Georgia, especially with freshmen Marissa Oakley and Emily Schild getting into the lineups. Both were strong bar works during their elite careers and, as the second half of the season wears on, both should be putting up good scores. Sydney Snead and Rachel Dickson have also been strong for Georgia throughout the season.

Ranked: 17th

Event to Watch: Uneven Bars (Ranked 13th)

Key routines: Marissa Oakley (uneven bars), Sydney Snead (floor), Sabrina Vega (beam)




Stanford

The Cardinal look much improved from the 2017 campaign, but have struggled mightily on uneven bars throughout the season. Stanford has just two meets so far with an event total of 49.0 or better coming in back-to-back meets against Oregon State and San Jose State/Seattle Pacific/UC Davis. 

Stanford competed the first six meets of the season with only five athletes on bars: senior Elizabeth Price and four freshmen — Kyla Bryant, Rachael Flam, Lauren Navarro, and Taylor Lawson. The past two meets, Tabitha Yim has added a sixth gymnast to the lineup — another freshman in Catherine Rogers.

Stanford has been good on both floor and vault, where they have been able to rely on Price’s 9.900-plus scores and a combination of those freshmen. Bryant has scored well on floor in the 9.800 range and, once Flam figured out her vault landing, she was bringing in solid 9.800 or better.

Ranked: 26th

Event to Watch: Uneven Bars (Ranked 45th)

Key routines: Elizabeth Price (floor/vault), Kyla Bryant (floor), Rachael Flam (vault)




Illinois

The Illini’s biggest struggles this season have come on floor exercise — the worst event for first-year head coach Nadalie Walsh’s squad early in the season. But Illinois has started to improve there, posting a 49.0 or better the past two meets. If the Illini are able to get more routines in the 9.800-range versus the 9.700 range, expect that improvement to continue to build. Bridget Hodan (9.875) and Haylee Roe (9.900) were both strong performers last week and each posted a new season high.

Illinois has been strong on balance beam when they are able to hit. They posted a season-high 49.300 against Michigan State in week six action, but struggled to stay on the beam last week. The consistency is going to be a big thing for Illinois as the Illini look to stay in the top 36 to grab a spot at regionals.

Ranked: 33rd

Event to Watch: Balance Beam (Ranked 26th)

Key routines: Bridget Hodan (floor), Karen Howell (uneven bars), Haylee Roe (floor)