The longest month of the year is winding down, but college gymnastics is just heating up. With the 10 floodgates open and the men vying for the last qualifying spots to Winter Cup, there are plenty of storylines to follow this weekend.
From breathtaking routines to pivotal matchups, gymnastic fans have a lot to look forward to.
Here’s a comprehensive preview of the upcoming college gymnastics week, highlighting key meets, athletes to watch, and the final Winter Cup qualifier.
Top Women’s Gymnastics Meets to Watch
This Friday promises a slew of exciting women’s gymnastics competitions. Here are the top meets to follow:
- #13 Georgia vs. #3 Florida at 6:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network
- #4 Michigan State vs. #14 Ohio State at 6:30 p.m. ET on Big Ten Plus
- #22 NC State vs. #23 North Carolina at 7:00 p.m. ET on ACC Network
- #2 LSU vs. #17 Arkansas at 8:00 p.m. ET on SEC Network+
- #9 Oregon State vs. #12 Auburn at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN 2
- #1 Oklahoma vs. #10 Alabama at 8:00 p.m. ET on SEC Network
These matches will be must-see TV for gymnastics enthusiasts. Each meet features top-ranked teams and individual gymnasts who are sure to deliver stellar performances.
For a full schedule of events and viewing options, check out the full preview.
Saturday’s Highlight: Illinois vs. UCLA
On Saturday evening, No. 26 Illinois travels to face new Big Ten opponent No. 8 UCLA. This meet marks the Bruins’ home opener, and they are offering 1,000 tickets to those impacted by the California wildfires.
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UCLA’s Jordan Chiles, who recently scored a perfect 10 on bars against Maryland, will be a key athlete to watch. Chiles is expected to shine on floor in front of the home crowd at Pauley Pavilion.
Weekend Closer: Kentucky vs. Missouri
No. 6 Kentucky will face No. 11 Missouri on Saturday, January 25, to close the weekend slate.
Missouri is still searching for their first score of 197 or higher this season but is coming off a strong performance against Oklahoma, where they posted a 196.750. Helen Hu earned the first perfect 10 in the country this season with her flawless beam routine.
Keep an eye on Jocelyn Moore, who holds the highest vault score this season with a 9.975.
Kentucky, on the other hand, earned its first 197 of the season in an impressive 197.300-196.100 win over Alabama last weekend. The team’s depth was on display, with four gymnasts taking home individual titles.
Washington transfer Skylar Killough-Wilhelm has had an immediate impact and tied for the bars title against Alabama with a score of 9.925.
Men’s Gymnastics: Final Winter Cup Qualifier
The Stanford Open, scheduled for Sunday, January 26, is the final Winter Cup qualifier ahead of the February elite meet set for February 21-23.
This event will feature California, Ohio State, and Stanford, competing for the last qualifying spots. The top two non-qualified all-around athletes from each of the four designated qualifier events will earn spots at the USA Gymnastics meet.
Recent Qualifiers
Last week, the Windy City and Rocky Mountain Open saw four men book their tickets to Louisville.
Illinois’ Sam Phillips and club gymnast Sasha Bogonosiuk earned the all-around spots at Windy City, while Air Force’s Erich Upton and Nebraska’s Alex Nitache secured their berths from the Rocky Mountain Open.
Upcoming Battle: Illinois vs. Oklahoma
Illinois will also travel to Oklahoma for a clash between two NCAA powerhouses.
The Illini are coming off an impressive 321.700-316.600 win over Michigan. Meanwhile, Oklahoma scored a 327.200 in a narrow loss to Stanford (328.850) at the Rocky Mountain Open.
This meet is expected to be highly competitive. It will be crucial for both teams as they prepare for the postseason.
For more in-depth coverage and updates on college gymnastics, visit the full preview on Gymnastics Now.
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