NCAA Gymnastics 2017 - Week 1 Preview

The 2017 NCAA gymnastics season is starting tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 6th. 

Oh it's the best time of the year. Tons of great gymnastics every week.

Here is a preview of what is to come this weekend. The meets are all listed on this page and when applicable, links for live scoring and broadcast/streaming are provided. 

Friday Jan. 6th - 

#10 Georgia @ # 2 LSU - 7 ET/ 6 CT/ 5 MT/ 4 PT

This is an SEC powerhouse match-up. Georgia has a legacy behind them, with 10 NCAA titles under their belt. LSU came in 2nd last year behind Oklahoma, their best finish ever. No doubt they're looking to finally get that coveted NCAA title that has eluded them. Georgia should put up a good fight, but LSU is at home and they haven't lost at home since before Facebook existed. But who can remember a time before Facebook, am I right?

Ruby Harrold, British Olympian and bars ninja will debut in her first freshman meet. Expect her to breakout her bad ass Zuchold on bars. In the all-around, Myia Hambrick was a stand out last season and competed consistently every meet.

Live Stats / Broadcast SEC Network

# 3 Alabama @ # 1 Oklahoma 7:45 ET/6:45 CT/5:45 MT/4:45 PT

Another tough competition.  Oklahoma is starting their season off at home and they, like LSU nearly always win at home. But, Alabama is up for the challenge and head coach Dana Duckworth wants to leave no doubt in anyone's minds that her team is just as good as Oklahoma. This will be the official NCAA debut of one Miss Maggie Nichols, aka "Swaggie Maggie." Maggie showed some mad skills at Oklahoma's December intrasquad, a pike full in on floor. Pak to shap 1/2 on bars. Plus, it's the long awaited return of Brenna Dowell to NCAA following her year off to compete for a spot on the Rio Olympic team. 

Alabama's roster is no shrinking violet. They're roster includes names like Katie Bailey, Amanda Jetter, Aja Sims, Keely McNeer, those are just the seniors. Junior Mackenzie "Mack" Brannan was a staple in the all-around last year and she'll likely be a big contributor of top scores again this year. Their freshman class includes 2015 JO all-around champ, Wynter Childers and Maddie Desch, 2014 World Alternate and 2015 Pan Ams silver medalist.

Live Stats/ Broadcast Fox Sports Oklahoma

#13 Oregon State @ #8 Auburn

Auburn is looking to prove themselves among the big dogs in the SEC like LSU, Alabama and Florida. They made Super Six for the first time in 20 years in 2015, but failed to do so last year, finishing at # 11.There is no question, they want that coveted Super Six spot again. 

Oregon State has the glorious Maddie Gardiner, who has been the star of Oregon State in her four years there. She's best known for her glorious wolf turn to split combination on beam. In a world oversaturated with wolf turns, Maddie makes them look almost cool.  Also, in their senior class, Silvia Colussi Pelaez, who has Danusia Francis's signature transverse aerial on beam named for her in the elite code of points.

Broadcast SEC Network

7 ET/6 CT/5 MT/4 PT

• Texas Woman's, Utah State @ Arizona
• Kentucky @ Eastern Michigan Live Stats/ESPN 3 Broadcast
• UIC @ Michigan State Broadcast - B1G Ten Plus

7:30 ET/6:30 CT/5:30 MT/4:30 PT

• Arizona State @ Iowa State (Beauty & the Beast) Live Stats

Saturday, Jan. 7th

# 17 Arkansas @ # 4 UCLA 7 ET/6 CT/5 MT/4 PT

UCLA is debuting a Freshmen class that is huge and literally Olympic caliber. Madison Kocian is joining the team after her success with the Final Five in Rio. Since she is the Olympic silver medalist on bars, head coach Valorie Kondos-Field would be nuts. Then there's Kyla Ross who is also an Olympic champion (team) like Madison, and a billion time world medalist. Kyla and Madison are the most headline grabbing names, but their roster is not limited to those two athletes. Also joining the Freshmen class, standout JO twin team, Anna and Grace Glenn (who has a gorgeous beam routine), but neither of them will compete since it looks like they're both redshirting the season with a shoulder injury. Katelyn Ohashi, 2013 American Cup winner.

Arkansas is another team trying to break into the top echelons of the SEC. They're a relatively youngish team, really only being in existence since the early 2000's. Senior Amanda Wellick is going to be a pinch hitter for the team. 

Live Stats/ Broadcast - Pac-12

#7 Michigan @ #6 Utah 7 ET/6 CT/5 MT/4 PT

This is another top match up. Utah missed the Super Six last year after coming in 2nd the year before.  Michigan was in prime position to get to NCAAs last year, but due to a complete beam catastrophe. It always comes down to the beam. Dammit. This year, they will not accept anything less than a ticket to NCAAs and they're starting their year with a challenge. Talia Chiarelli, a senior, is a key part of the line ups on vault, beam and floor and Nicole Artz is a staple in the all-around along with sophomore, Oliva Karas. For the freshmen, look for Polina Shchennikova, who was a junior elite reminiscent of a young Nastia Liukin, with beautiful, long lines and glorious toe point.

Utah just gained three talented freshmen in MyKayla Skinner, Kim Tessen and Missy Reinstadtler. MyKayla, World Champion and world medalist, is already bringing her difficulty to the NCAA. She showed up at Decemeber's Red Rocks Preview with a DTY on vault (super difficult for NCAA, but downgraded for her), her full in and tucked double double on floor (again, see previous note).  MyKayla, as the gymternet has predicted, showed that she actually has good form. Funny how that works when she doesn't have to include everything but the kitchen sink in her routines. MyKayla is already slated to compete in the all-around during this meet. Also look forward to seeing fellow Freshman Kim Tessen on bars. There's also the return of Kari Lee, who dominated as a freshman, but snapped her achillies last January, sidelining her for the rest of the season. Look for the lone senior, Baely Rowe's moonwalk on beam.  

Meet Notes/Live Stats/Broadcast -Pac-12

#14 Denver @ #16 Minnesota 7:30 ET/6:30 CT/5:30 MT/4:30 PT

This meet should be interesting. Minnesota lost two huge stars from their roster, Lindsay Mable, who was a staple in the all-around and helped Minnesota qualify to NCAAs and qualified as an individual in 2015. Hanna Nordquist was a stellar beam worker and she provided huge scores every week for Minnesota. Denver also lost a star performer in Nina McGee, who qualified as an individual to NCAAs twice. She was a star and while Denver definitely had talent on their team, a gymnast like Nina doesn't come around very often. Denver does have huge potential in Maddie Karr, 2016 JO All-Around Champion. At Denver's December intrasquad, Maddie earned a 9.95 for her gorgeous beam routine and another 9.9 on floor. 

Live Stats/Broadcast - B1G Ten Plus

1 ET/12 CT/11 MT/10 PT – 

• Bridgeport, New Hampshire, William & Mary @ Rutgers Live Stats
• Southern Conn. @ Towson Live Stats/Broadcast

3 ET/2 CT/1 MT/12 PT – 

• Gustavus Adolphus @ UW-Oshkosh

4ET/3 CT/2 MT/1 PT – 

• Bowling Green, BYU, Temple @ Penn State Live Stats/ GO PSU Sports- Broadcast

6:30 ET/5:30 CT/4:30 MT

• Ohio State @ Pittsburgh ESPN 3/ACCN

7:30 ET/6:30 CT/5:30 MT/4:30 PT

• George Washington, Yale @ Little Boston Invitational

Sunday, Jan. 8th - 

#5 Florida @ North Carolina State

Let's be honest. This meet is all about Florida.This is Florida's debut for the season. This is a meet where they'll be able to get a high score off the bat to add to their belt. Florida is debuting their Freshmen class that includes Amelia Hundley, 2014 Pan-American Champion (team), 2015 Pan Am Games team silver medalist, bronze medal bars, Rachel Gowey, 2015 Pan Am Games bars gold medalist, Maegan Chant, 2014 World Canadian Team member. With the loss of Bridget Sloan, Bridgette Caquatto, and Bianca Dancose-Giambattisto, the transfer of Peyton Ernst to Alabama and Ericha Fassbender's mysterious sudden ineligibility, Florida has a lot of holes to fill on every event. Kennedy Baker is still a staple in the all-around, as well as Alicia Boren and Alex McMurtry is going to be stepping up into a more frequent all-around competitor. Florida also gained a transfer student, Rachel Slocum, from Eastern Michigan, who can fill holes on vault and floor.

Broadcast ESPN 3/ACC Network Extra

1 ET/12 CT/11 MT/10 PT – 

• UW-Eau Claire @ Central Michigan CSN Digital - Broadcast
• West Virginia @ Maryland-College Park B1G Ten Plus/Live Stats

2 ET/1 PT/12 MT/11 PT

• Iowa, Lindenwood, Western Michigan @ Northern Illinois

Monday, Jan. 9th

10 ET/9 CT/8 MT/7 PT

• Nor Cal Classic - Stanford, UC Davis, Sacramento State @ Cal Live Stats