NCAA gymnastics consultants weigh in

Can Florida’s stacked lineup win the 2022 NCAA gymnastics title? Or will defending champion Michigan pull off the repeat? After which what about perennial powerhouse Oklahoma — or Utah, who has certified for extra NCAA championships than anybody else?

Beginning Thursday, eight groups will face off on the NCAA championships — and it might be probably the most thrilling yr but.

Who will win? What routines ought to we make sure you see? We requested our consultants to weigh in.

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Who do you assume will win the workforce title?

Kathy Johnson Clarke: I consider any of the groups who make finals have an equal shot at profitable as a result of there may be that a lot parity in scoring proper now and extra groups than ever are poised to upset top-ranked groups which pushes each workforce to larger performances.

Groups who scored 198-mid already this season have an edge, however groups competing with the “nothing to lose, the whole lot to realize” mindset might create an “all bets are off” dynamic, which is thrilling for everybody. I can not predict who the winner is, however Florida’s consistency plus their excessive rating potential from each place in all 4 occasion lineups shall be onerous to beat in the event that they’re on.

Bart Conner: Annually there are increasingly more groups who’ve a legit likelihood to win — which is nice for the game. Florida has at all times been a high contender, however they’ve by no means had as a lot expertise, depth and expertise as they’ve this yr. I believe will probably be extraordinarily shut, but when Florida is on, they’re robust to beat.

Ashley Miles Greig: Florida, as a result of every occasion has a lineup that may rating 9.9 or higher on each routine. Florida additionally has confirmed this season that they’re assured within the huge moments. Stress doesn’t appear to be an element for this workforce. Additionally, they’ve Trinity Thomas!

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Sam Peszek: My cash is on Florida proper now. They have been heating up and appear to be they’ve the swagger and confidence to get the job carried out this yr. Nevertheless, the profitable workforce will be unable to make any errors. It may come right down to which workforce has the magic to get the job carried out that day.

Alicia Sacramone Quinn: I believe the nationwide championship trophy goes again to Gainesville! Florida is peaking precisely on the proper time. The Gators’ efficiency at regionals exhibits that even on the street they will put up an amazing rating.

Bridget Sloan: I believe this yr’s NCAA championship goes to be wonderful. You could have groups who’re again and able to win one other championship and you’ve got groups who’re hungry to win their first. There are undoubtedly some key groups that come to thoughts first: Florida, Michigan, OU as a result of they’ve been dominant the final couple years. However you may’t not take into account Auburn, Alabama, Missouri, and Minnesota to be within the operating. All groups have excelled this season in ways in which we as viewers knew was potential. They’re breaking information, and persevering with to enhance.

D’Arcy Maine: Florida’s unbelievable depth ought to be the difference-maker and provides the Gators their first NCAA workforce title since 2015, however that is school gymnastics we’re speaking about so we must always in all probability anticipate the surprising. For that cause, it feels as if Utah might sneak away with the trophy due to their beam work. The Purple Rocks completed the common season ranked No. 1 on beam and have been all however unflappable on what typically is the deciding occasion for the championship.

I might completely see Utah quietly hitting routine after routine and in the end claiming the weekend’s greatest prize.

Alyssa Roenigk: Florida. They’re assured, constant and prepared — and due to their scoring potential in each spot in each lineup, in the event that they hit, they win. That mentioned, a lot expertise is unfold throughout the eight groups that certified for nationals, upsets really feel inevitable (in the event you may even name them upsets this yr). On Friday, if we’re speaking about Missouri, Alabama, Auburn and Minnesota as an alternative of Florida, Oklahoma, Utah and Michigan, I shall be shocked, not shocked.

Amy Van Deusen: I will be the outlier and decide Oklahoma right here. Florida has been the strongest workforce this yr, however I believe the immense pressure of redemption from last year could make it tougher on the athletes to be spot-on Saturday. Oklahoma has gained three of the 5 most up-to-date championships, and has proven a practice of perfection in these enormous moments. The squad may lead a workshop in easy methods to hit each handstand on bars and stick each dismount, and that’s probably what is required to win Saturday.

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Whom are you secretly rooting for to win?

Johnson Clarke: I haven’t got a secret rooting curiosity in a single workforce. I do, nonetheless, need to make it the worst saved secret that I am inwardly rooting for everybody to satisfy the second and hit some extremely memorable routines!

Sacramone Quinn: I might like to see Minnesota win a nationwide title and grow to be members of the unique nationwide championship membership.

Van Deusen: Surprisingly, Michigan feels a bit under-the-radar for a workforce coming in as defending champs, and I’ve to confess I am rooting for the repeat. This workforce pushes the envelope on every of its occasions, and that makes it a lot enjoyable to observe. Double-back dismounts off track? No drawback. Main off flooring with a full-in? Positive factor. And Natalie Wojcik on any occasion is, merely put, gymnastics at its finest.

Roenigk: My rooting curiosity must be loyalty to my alma mater, Florida. However my less-obvious crush is on 10-time nationwide champion, Utah, probably the most persistently glorious workforce in NCAA gymnastics historical past and a squad filled with stars poised to spoil Florida’s weekend.

Maine: There is a legitimate argument for why it could be wonderful for any of those eight packages to win, however I’m a sucker for underdog story so I might love to observe Missouri shock the sphere. The Tigers are making simply their second NCAA championship look, and have been the final word spoiler to this point within the postseason — serving to get rid of higher-ranked LSU within the regional semifinals after which narrowly edging out UCLA within the regional closing.

Missouri additionally occurs to have Helen Hu, one of the crucial artistic and underrated gymnasts within the school ranks. Her artistry and suppleness completely should be on show on community tv on Saturday.

Miles Greig: No secret right here in that I am at all times rooting for Alabama! I am an Alabama alum and know firsthand the championship custom of excellence and need to win that comes with being a part of this program.

Sloan: I’ll at all times love my Gators … it’s in my blood. However I in the end need every workforce and the people to have the ability to look again at this second and say, “I left all of it on the ground.”

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Which routine ought to we completely not miss?

Johnson Clarke: Oh, gosh, I can not decide only one. There are such a lot of actually particular “can’t-miss” routines, however I’m actually wanting ahead to seeing Minnesota’s Mya Hooten’s flooring routine in particular person. Her intention to ship a robust message relating to racial inequity and social injustice via her music, choreography and efficiency whereas additionally showcasing nice gymnastics makes it a “must-see” efficiency.

Roenigk: Any Trinity Thomas routine! The primary Gator to win SEC gymnast of the yr twice and the proprietor of 10 “good 10” scores this season — and at the least one on each occasion — Thomas is a human spotlight reel. She revels in huge moments and is a pleasure to observe on flooring. However don’t miss her on vault, an occasion which she’s known as her least favourite for years and one which showcases a stellar athlete who persistently pushes herself to larger ranges.

Peszek: On vault, Ona Loper (Minnesota), Trinity Thomas (Florida), Shallon Olsen (Alabama) and all of Michigan’s vaults!

On bars, Audrey Davis (Oklahoma), Leanne Wong (Florida), Suni Lee (Auburn), Helen Hu (Missouri), Grace McCallum (Utah) and Shania Adama (Alabama).

On beam, Maile O’Keefe (Utah), Alisa Sheremeta (Missouri), Natalie Wojcik (Michigan), Sophia Groth (Auburn), Megan Skaggs (Florida), Ragan Smith (Oklahoma) and Lexy Ramler (Minnesota).

On flooring, Jordan Bowers (Oklahoma), Mya Hooten (Minnesota), Sydney Soloski (Utah), Lexi Graber (Alabama), Derrian Gobourne (Auburn).

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Maine: Only one? I believe that could be really unimaginable. In the event you’re studying this, you’ve likely already seen Nya Reed’s perfect-score-earning floor routine crammed with highly effective tumbling together with a double structure in her opening go, TikTok-worthy choreography and all of the music from my throwback playlist (DMX! Lil Kim! Missy Elliot!) on Spotify, however you are going to need to ensure you catch it dwell as a result of it is all however assured to carry the home down. And when you’re watching Florida on flooring, you clearly are going to need to stick round for Trinity Thomas as effectively.

You are additionally not going to need to miss Michigan on vault, the place 5 (!) of the Wolverines have scored a 10.zero this season. And, after all, Auburn’s Suni Lee on bars ought to at all times be appointment viewing.

Sacramone Quinn: Kiya Johnson (LSU) on vault, Cally Nixon (Kentucky) on bars, Adeline Kenlin (Iowa) on beam and Jordan Chiles (UCLA) on flooring.

Van Deusen: Oklahoma’s Audrey Davis does certainly one of my favourite bar routines within the NCAA — with unbelievable peak on her Jaeger (from inverts!) and an equally jaw-dropping dismount. I additionally love to observe UCLA’s Norah Flatley on flooring. She does a stunning triple full, then comes again with a entrance double full — two extremely tough passes in a row — and has entertaining and superbly executed dance all through.