MCSMaria's Artistic Gymnastics Blog

The NCAA Gymnastics Championships has concluded for 2017. Thus begins the void between the end of NCAA season and the start of elite season heading in to world championships. I have been in St. Louis last weekend catching all the action. We're still 8 months out from the start of NCAA season in 2018, so lets take some time to recap real quick and provide some closing thoughts.

Simone Biles became the first woman since Kim Zmeskal to win three consecutive all-around national titles with a lead of nearly five points with a two night total of 124.100.

Regionals happened. Eight straight hours of gymnastics from two o'clock in the afternoon till about ten at night. There were tears, screaming, punching and hitting things. So were my predictions head on? Should I go take my special skills to Vegas or should I keep my day job?

It was the weekend of the tie. Two teams tied for the NCAA national title, and as a result of ties, a small army took home titles during the event finals.

Who knew Snoop Dogg was a gym fan?

As the NCAA regionals concluded, the top two ranked teams out of each regional qualified to the NCAA National Championships in Birmingham. Coming out on top was Lousiana State University Tigers, with a 198.325, 1.275 above last year's NCAA champions, the University of Florida Gators who qualified in sixth place with a 197.050.

After a crazy weekend of conference championships, the Regional qualifiers have been announced.

On the first day of the Romanian National Championships was the all-around competition. Larisa Iordache took home the all-around national title to add to the growing collection she's been amassing all year.

MyKayla Skinner wowed everyone when she showed off her double double layout for the first time at the Fiesta Bowl in February.

On the last day of the P&G Champs, Sam Mikulak topped the podium on the final of the men's national championships. Sam won by 2.9 points over Alex Naddour. Sam stayed consistent all night with the exception of the pommel horse, which is his best event. He fell twice, but still managed to keep his lead.  He won with an all-around total of 181.4 and Jake Dalton finished third with a 177.650.

The Final Night of the P&G Championships crowned a new victor. Simone Biles managed to keep her lead over Kyla Ross and win her first national title as a senior. A close competition, Simone won with two night total of 120.450 to Kyla Ross's  120.250, both women performed with all they had, but it came down to a couple of arm swings on the beam.

 The juniors are taking over the world one back-handspring layout step out at a time and Bailie Key is their leader. Bailie won the all-around title with a total of 118.55 after a stellar performance on the balance beam. Bailie, who trains at Texas Dreams under 1991 World Champion, Kim Zmeskal, also won the junior division of the Secret Classic a couple weeks earlier.

USA Gymnastics has announced that Madison Kocian of WOGA has withdrawn from the P&G Championships after injuring her ankle on the floor exercise.

Tonight is the first night of the men's competition at the P&G National Championships.  The men's field is ripe with hopeful young men vying for the national team. The returning favorites include Danell Leyva, the 2012 All-Around Bronze medalist. Danell won the qualifier event in the Springs back in July. He didn't really need to, but it's always good to know that you rock. With Danell comes his dad/coach/personal cheerleader, Yin Alvarez.

Nationals is off with a bang.  Quite literally. A challenger to the throne. After the first night of competition at the P&G National Championships, Simone Biles has managed to overthrow Kyla for the top spot. Kyla Ross, who is favored to win it all, started off on floor exercise.

Lexie Priessman has withdrawn from the P&G National Championships. The first year senior has withdrawn from the competition due to a strained Achilles' tendon, per Gymnastike.

USA Gymnastics posted the first videos from podium training this evening. We're seeing the first of Elizabeth Price, whom I've definitely been looking forward to seeing, McKayla's bars and Kyla working on her artistry.

There's been a slight shake-up in the roster for the men's team at the P&G National Championships. 2008 High Bar Silver Medalist and 2012 Olympic team-member, Jonathan Horton, has withdrawn from the competition. Source: NBC   Gymnastike reports that new daddy, Jonathan, is recovering from shoulder surgery last year and he is not quite competition ready yet.

The P&G National Championships are less than a week away, the athletes are putting their final polishes on their routines in hopes of making that national team. Since nationals performances will weigh heavily on who will be selected to go to Belgium for the World Championships in September, let's look at that athletes and what can be expected of them for a worlds team. Keep in mind, since this is the year after the Olympics, this is an individual all-around and event finals only meet, only four girls will be selected to go. The returning Fierce Two, McKayla Maroney and Kyla Ross. They are the only two members of the gold medal winning fierce five to return to competition. Kyla has been traveling on the international scene to various competitions and is now a certified veteran instead of the baby of the team.

Today, Inside Gymnastics released a list of the athletes that are scheduled to compete at the P&G Championships in a couple of weeks. The roster of course includes favorites that were absent from the qualifier the Secret Classic, Elizabeth Price, and returning Fierce Five members, Kyla Ross who won the all around title and McKayla Maroney, who took home the gold for the vault. Of course, several gymnasts had already qualified to the national championships and the Olympic and National team members from last year get an automatic pass to go to nationals. The list includes those who qualified at the Classic.