Top Five NCAA Beam Workers to Watch in 2017
Top Five NCAA Beam Workers to Watch in 2017
Chayse Capps closed out the season as the top-ranked gymnast on beam and will be one to watch in 2017.
Beam has long been the make-it-or-break-it event for teams aiming to reach the NCAA championships in April. While NCAA co-champions Bridget Sloan and Danusia Francis have both graduated, there are plenty of returning gymnasts with poise and consistency who are looking to fight for the title in 2017. Here are the top five beam workers to watch during this season.
Capps was a standout on the balance beam for the Sooners as a junior and finished the 2016 season ranked No. 1 on the apparatus. She scored at least a 9.85 in all 16 meets and scored a 9.9 or better 14 straight times. Capps had a perfect 10 in Oklahoma's sixth meet of the season. She was the co-beam champion at both the Big 12 championships and the NCAA Iowa City Regional. She was ranked second on balance beam as a sophomore and was tied for ninth in the country as a freshman. She has great lines and flexibility and is a consistent performer for the Sooners.
Sims competed on beam in 14 out of 15 meets as a junior. She scored at least a 9.8 in all but one meet last season. She scored a career-high 9.975 on Jan. 29 against Florida and finished the season tied for fourth on beam. Sims shows confidence and poise on the event and has come up with a huge score under pressure for the Crimson Tide. And while the senior is solid throughout her routine, the highlights are her double back dismount and her leaps. Her leaps and jumps get great amplitude and extension, and she has an uncanny ability to stick her dismount.
Stover finished the 2016 season ranked 15th on balance beam after scoring a 9.8 or better in 11 times last season. She scored a career-high 9.975 on Feb. 20 against Stanford. She hit all 14 of her routines as a freshman in 2015 when she competed on just beam. The junior is a confident beam worker and had a calming presence for the Utes last season.
Ohashi had plenty of potential as an elite before injuries derailed her career. She emerged with UCLA last year as a solid competitor on beam despite an injury that kept her off the mat for a month. She competed on beam in all 10 meets she appeared in and scored at least a 9.8 all 10 times. The sophomore generated excitement throughout the preseason as the Bruins posted several clips of Ohashi's back handspring, back handspring, full-twisting layout series. That series has looked impressive thus far and will be a "wow" moment in her routine.
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Ross stepped away from the elite scene early in 2016 to prepare for her collegiate career. She was known for her beautiful lines and her consistency throughout her elite career and will bring those qualities to UCLA. She has been in a number of pressure-packed situations--two World Championships, an Olympic Games, and the Olympic selection process--and rarely made mistakes. She was the world silver medalist on balance beam in 2014 and is a two-time national champion on beam in 2013 and 2014. Expect Ross to continue showcasing her elegance and poise as a Bruin.
Honorable mention: Erin Macadaeg (LSU), Alex McMurtry (Florida), Maggie Nichols (Oklahoma), Sarah Finnegan (LSU)
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Chayse Capps (Senior) -- Oklahoma
Capps was a standout on the balance beam for the Sooners as a junior and finished the 2016 season ranked No. 1 on the apparatus. She scored at least a 9.85 in all 16 meets and scored a 9.9 or better 14 straight times. Capps had a perfect 10 in Oklahoma's sixth meet of the season. She was the co-beam champion at both the Big 12 championships and the NCAA Iowa City Regional. She was ranked second on balance beam as a sophomore and was tied for ninth in the country as a freshman. She has great lines and flexibility and is a consistent performer for the Sooners.
Aja Sims (Senior) -- Alabama
Sims competed on beam in 14 out of 15 meets as a junior. She scored at least a 9.8 in all but one meet last season. She scored a career-high 9.975 on Jan. 29 against Florida and finished the season tied for fourth on beam. Sims shows confidence and poise on the event and has come up with a huge score under pressure for the Crimson Tide. And while the senior is solid throughout her routine, the highlights are her double back dismount and her leaps. Her leaps and jumps get great amplitude and extension, and she has an uncanny ability to stick her dismount.
Maddy Stover (Junior) -- Utah
Stover finished the 2016 season ranked 15th on balance beam after scoring a 9.8 or better in 11 times last season. She scored a career-high 9.975 on Feb. 20 against Stanford. She hit all 14 of her routines as a freshman in 2015 when she competed on just beam. The junior is a confident beam worker and had a calming presence for the Utes last season.
Katelyn Ohashi (Sophomore) -- UCLA
Ohashi had plenty of potential as an elite before injuries derailed her career. She emerged with UCLA last year as a solid competitor on beam despite an injury that kept her off the mat for a month. She competed on beam in all 10 meets she appeared in and scored at least a 9.8 all 10 times. The sophomore generated excitement throughout the preseason as the Bruins posted several clips of Ohashi's back handspring, back handspring, full-twisting layout series. That series has looked impressive thus far and will be a "wow" moment in her routine.
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BNshTLOAYS3/" hide_caption="0"]
Kyla Ross (Freshman) -- UCLA
Ross stepped away from the elite scene early in 2016 to prepare for her collegiate career. She was known for her beautiful lines and her consistency throughout her elite career and will bring those qualities to UCLA. She has been in a number of pressure-packed situations--two World Championships, an Olympic Games, and the Olympic selection process--and rarely made mistakes. She was the world silver medalist on balance beam in 2014 and is a two-time national champion on beam in 2013 and 2014. Expect Ross to continue showcasing her elegance and poise as a Bruin.
Honorable mention: Erin Macadaeg (LSU), Alex McMurtry (Florida), Maggie Nichols (Oklahoma), Sarah Finnegan (LSU)
Related:
Top Five NCAA Bar Swingers to Watch in 2017
Top Five Must-See Vaults for 2017 NCAA Season