By Caroline Medley, Christina Marmet and Elizabeth Grimsley
It's 2017, and the season starts Friday. It's time, people. But first, we have some business to take care of. Before things get underway, we have to predict what will happen four months from now. It's only appropriate. Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, AAI Award winner, MIC champion... You name it. We're guessing it all.
And you don't have to feel left out! You can predict the outcome of the various categories for 2017 as well. Just fill out the poll at the bottom of the post or share your thoughts in the comments or on social media.
First Team to Score a 197
Caroline: Gotta agree with LSU. It’ll beat Georgia, and it’ll be shooting to do it in truly spectacular fashion. This is more than a possibility, it’s a likelihood. Christina: LSU My first thought was “it has to be an SEC team,” so that narrowed down some options. Like Elizabeth said, LSU will be done earlier than anybody else, and it’s against Georgia at home. You KNOW the scoring will be high. Elizabeth: LSU I struggled with whether to pick LSU or Oklahoma as both are likely choices competing at home (and the Tigers have been given 197s at both reported preseason intrasquads). However, I eventually went with LSU only because the Tigers compete one hour earlier than the Sooners. Semantics...
First Team to Score a 198
Caroline: I think schools with big-name freshmen will be pushing this boundary more quickly than some of the other usual suspects — Utah and Florida for sure, but also UCLA, LSU and maybe even Oklahoma. If you were judging, wouldn’t you be likely to give good scores to former Trials competitors and Olympians?? Christina: Utah? Salt Lake City scoring can get real crazy real fast. That said, again my first thought was “an SEC team” because you know, SEC scoring. I am not sure if Florida will see as much home cooking this season as in the previous seasons simply because the “three-titles-in-a-row” score influence is gone. If not Utah, maybe LSU? Elizabeth: Florida While I don’t see the Gators being as good this year as in the past, I do think the home cooking will be alive and well. That 198 won’t be out of the realm.
First Gymnast to Score a 10.0
Caroline: Gnat or McMurtry if she can actually stick with the DTY and control her landings. If McMurtry can stick that vault before Gnat does, she could very well steal this title away. Nichols and Kocian are also definite possibilities, especially considering Nichols has already had one in OU’s final intrasquad before season. Christina: Ashleigh Gnat on vault or floor. Basically same as Elizabeth: She was a 10.0 machine last season and I don’t see how it would be different this year. My other thoughts went to Capps on beam but Big 12 scoring and OU scoring in general are a lot less forgiving than SEC scoring. Or maybe Kocian on UB because Olympics? Elizabeth: Ashleigh Gnat, floor (LSU), This is pretty much a no brainer. With many of the automatic 10 routines having graduated last year, Gnat is primed to score the first of 2017. I could see Maggie Nichols giving her a run for her money but Oklahoma tends to score less 10s than an SEC in general.
Big 10 Championship
Big 10 Coach(es) of the Year
Caroline: I have no clue. I guess I could see Libby, or Plocki if Michigan is able to come up with a massive season this year. Christina: Larissa Libby (Iowa) Yeap, I fully expect them to continue rising in the conference just like last season. Elizabeth: Larissa Libby (Iowa) I see Iowa continuing the rise it was on last season with Libby at the helm. Big 10 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year Caroline: Sullivan (Iowa), Houchin (Nebraska), or Peterman (Maryland). Peterman is going to be SUCH a huge force at Maryland, like putting the team on her back huge. That could earn her the FOTY honor for sure. Christina: I literally have no clue what’s even going on in this conference. I was thinking Sullivan for Iowa maybe, or Houchin for Nebraska. Elizabeth: Taylor Houchin (Nebraska) I think she’s going to be a star, especially at a program like Nebraska that can always use more healthy bodies. Big 10 Gymnast of the Year Caroline: Agreed, Artz, especially if Michigan wins and/or she finally clinches that 10. Christina: Nicole Artz for sure. Elizabeth: Nicole Artz (Michigan) Artz will shine in her final season. Maybe we’ll even finally see a perfect 10 from her in the process. Big 10 Specialist of the Year Caroline: Talia would be my choice too, I’m so sad she’s graduating this year! Christina: Talia Chiarelli because she deserves everything, and I’m kinda sad she’s graduating. Elizabeth: Talia Chiarelli (Michigan) Chiarelli has always been a strong specialist on vault, beam and floor. But this year in particular will be great for her.
Big 12 Championship
Big 12 Coach(es) of the Year
Caroline: KJ, unless Denver pulls off some kind of massive upset or ends up in the top 10, like Elizabeth said. Christina: Queen KJ, of course. Elizabeth: KJ Kindler (Oklahoma) Unless Denver makes a breakthrough and sits inside the top 10 during the season, Kindler will take this one. Big 12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year Caroline: This is actually really tough. Personally, I would go the co-freshmen route and pick Karr and Nichols. I think Nichols might take it, simply due to her star power. But if Karr can pull off the spectacular season we’re all expecting of her, she could overtake Nichols. It’s a total tossup for me. Christina: Maddie Karr (Denver) I think Karr is going to be a rockstar for Denver and that the team will rely heavily on her from the get-go. Denver has a super small roster this season and essentially no depth, and I would not be surprised if we see Karr in the AA every week. And she will kick ass. I think by looking at how much the team will rely on her (vs. Nichols at OU), Karr should get this one. Elizabeth: Maggie Nichols (Oklahoma) and Maddie Karr (Denver) Now it’s unlikely for there to be co-freshmen of the year, I still think it’s a possibility. Nichols winning is almost a given unless injury strikes or something else out of her control. However, I think Karr will shine at Denver and be an absolute star for the Pioneers as well. It just depends on if the voters take the big name or the one that helps the team more. Big 12 Gymnast of the Year Caroline: She’s a senior this year, primed and poised for her best season yet. Has to be Capps. Christina: Chayse Capps (OU), naturally. She proved last season that she was made for AA all this time, and I expect her to close out her gymnastics career amazingly this season. Elizabeth: Chayse Capps (Oklahoma) Capps will continue to make people faint with her beautiful gymnastics, she actually one of the only all-arounders I could think of that could even compete with Capps for the award. Big 12 Specialist of the Year Caroline: I can totally see it being Jackson, if she stays more of a specialist and not an all-arounder. If she does start doing the AA more often, which is possible but not necessarily a gimme, I’d say Dowell for sure. Christina: Lots of choices… AJ Jackson (OU), Natalie Brown (OU), Nicole Lehrmann (OU) or Kirah Koshinski (WVU) are all strong contenders as well. I do think this will probably go to a Sooner. Brenna too is in contention. Elizabeth: AJ Jackson (Oklahoma) I could see this going to one of West Virginia’s strong specialists but it’s more likely to go to a Sooner. Jackson is the best choice for me although Brenna Dowell may come back from deferral with guns a-blazing.
EAGL Championship
ECAC Championship
MAC Championship
From Caroline: Okay, so since this is my conference I kind of have to say this — it is EMU’s to lose. The Eagles have looked so solid in all of preseason, they were another big upstart team last year, but they’ve now lost their coaches and a few big scores. However, their freshmen look solid, they’re cleaning their form issues that cost them last season, and they’re focusing on small details that will really start to boost their scores. That being said, there’s still room for error. Kent State still has Stypinski and some big freshmen coming in, and Central Michigan actually won the MAC regular season title last season. BGSU should be in for another good season, retaining a lot of its big players and bringing in some surprises from the freshmen. The last three are kind of a tossup, since the depth of scoring isn’t really there for any of them, but I like what I’ve seen from BSU’s preseason training and from their freshmen more than the other two.
MIC Championship
MPSF Championship
MRGC Championship
Pac-12 Championship
Pac-12 Coach(es) of the Year
Caroline: Jay Santos (ASU) Especially if they can pull off that upset I talked about, I think Santos has a great shot at COTY if he can turn the Sun Devils around like he did EMU. Christina: Jay and Jess Santos (ASU) After two craptastic years under Lyst, I think (and hope) ASU will come back to life. While I still do predict an 8th-place finish at Pac-12s, I think the team will be much improved, happier and on the way back up thanks to the Santoses. Elizabeth: Elise Ray (Washington) I see Washington continuing to rise with Ray leading the way (no rhyme intended). Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year Caroline: So much of this depends on who at UCLA is able to stay healthy. I think Ross, Skinner, Hano, Kocian and Copiak all have a great shot at this. If Ross stays healthy and competes AA almost every week, don’t be surprised to see her bumped up to Gymnast of the Year, but if she’s more limited than that, FOTY for sure. Christina: Sooooo many great freshmen in this conference! Ross, Kocian, Grace Glenn, Hano, Skinner, Copiak, Gill… I will give it to Skinner, though, because she’s going to kick it and bring her huge skills to the NCAA. I wanted to put Ross but I am a little weary for now since she is being held-off at practice (shin splints) and has been limited in her training. I do hope for a healthy season for her, but maybe she won’t be able to contribute as much as we imagined she would? I hope I am wrong! Elizabeth: Mykayla Skinner (Utah) With my choice of Kyla Ross winning Gymnast of the Year, I think Skinner will have the second-best year as a freshman, giving her the Freshman of the Year title. Pac-12 Gymnast of the Year Caroline: It’s gonna come down to the injuries. My guess would be either Ebee or Maddie Gardiner, depending on how much bonus Gardiner might get for being a senior and how much team-carrying each of them ends up having to do. If Kyla stays healthy all season and slays like we all want her to, though, I could see her sneaking it in. Christina: I want it to be Kyla too… But like I said above, I don’t knoooooowwwwwww. If not her, Ebee por favor. Elizabeth: Kyla Ross (UCLA) She’ll basically kill is. So much so that she wins GOTY as a freshman and over all the other upperclassmen. Pac-12 Specialist of the Year Caroline: Kocian or Skinner, depending on who gets the biggest scores and who can be defined as more of a “specialist.” Christina: Yeap, Kocian. Elizabeth: Madison Kocian (UCLA) The 2016 Olympic bar silver medalist will be hard to beat in this category.
SEC Championship
SEC Coach(es) of the Year
Caroline: If LSU can pull off the win, it’ll be D-D. If not… Maybe Kentucky’s Tim Garrison for that upset. Christina: D-D! Elizabeth: D-D Breaux (LSU) With an SEC Championship comes a Coach of the Year award. SEC Freshman/Newcomer of the Year Caroline: I think Amelia or Ruby, depending on how valuable each of them becomes. Ruby has the ability to do AA, but whether or not she will depends a lot on health and stamina of her fellow Tigers. I think if Meals becomes the third AAer for Florida to replace Sloan then she’ll be a shoo-in. Christina: Meals (Florida) I don’t see anybody else claiming that title except maybe Edney but I don’t think she’s set for AA. Meals should be a star in the NCAA. Elizabeth: Amelia Hundley (Florida) If Kennedi Edney was planning on the all around, I would have had a harder time with this award. But I think at the end of the season, Hundley will bring another FOTY back to Gainesville. SEC Gymnast of the Year Caroline: GOTY usually goes to a senior, doesn’t it? For that reason in particular I’d guess Gnat, especially if she’s the one to get the first perfect 10 of the season and/or if LSU wins SECs. Christina: Hambrick or Gnat (LSU) I’d love for it to go to Hambrick because she’s always so consistent and rock-solid meet after meet, but people do tend to underrate her since she had been always going second-up in the line-ups. If Gnat doesn’t do AA, I could see it going to Hambrick and her talent finally being recognized! But can people go over the Gnat-effect and all the 10.0s she will likely score again? Elizabeth: Myia Hambrick (LSU) She’s always been a bit of a dark horse, but I think this year people will finally realize how valuable she is to the team and how awesome her gymnastics is. SEC Specialist of the Year Caroline: I’m secretly hoping for Rachel Gowey but I guess it’s more likely to go to McMurtry. Oh well. Christina: If Gnat doesn’t do AA and sticks to VT/BB/FX, then she should win this. If she’s more of an AA-er this season, I can see this going to McMurtry or Baker at Florida. Elizabeth: Ashleigh Gnat (LSU) 10s a-plenty will make it hard for other specialists like McMurtry or other specialists to win this one.
Nationals Qualifiers
Super Six
Nationals Top Six (in order)
Coach(es) of the Year
Caroline: If Cal sneaks into Super Six somehow, Howell’s a shoo-in. If they place lower than last year, I think Tina Bird and Neil Resnick of Boise State could be contenders as well. Christina: Justin Howell because he is awesome and what he has been doing with Cal is awesome and everything is awesome and he deserves this award every year basically. Elizabeth: Justin Howell (California) The Bears will continue to rise, making nationals again and competing with Toni-Ann Williams this time around. AAI Award Winner (senior) Caroline: I would def not be mad with Chayse. I usually try to say something different, but I think we’re all in the same boat here! Christina: CHAYSE. End of discussion. Elizabeth: Chayse Capps (Oklahoma) After capping off a solid and consistent 2017 season, Capps will win one more title before graduating.
Now it's you turn! Fill out the poll below with who you think will take home each title and award for the 2017 season.
1 Comment
MattNotACrashPad
1/5/2017 06:35:11 pm
Total misuse of the word "semantics".
Reply
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