10 Routines Not To Miss At The 2015 NCAA Metroplex Challenge

Jan 28, 2015 by Becca Reed

This weekend's Metroplex Challenge is sure to deliver an exciting meet and high scoring routines. Number one ranked Oklahoma will be leading the pack followed closely by number two ranked LSU who is looking for an upset. Also competing are number eight ranked Arkansas and number 28 Iowa State. Below are ten of the routines that you definitely do not want to miss this weekend.

10. Caitlin Brown (Iowa State) - Beam

Iowa State senior Brown is an all-around gymnast but especially shines on beam. She has a 9.95 high this season and last weekend she scored a 9.9. She is currently ranked tied for eighth this week. She performs a back handspring, one-arm handspring, layout series as well as a unique dismount of a front aerial to a front gainer full.

9. McKenzie Wofford (OU)- Bars

Former international elite Wofford was one of the most highly recruited bar workers in the country. Her form is impeccable and her toe point is gorgeous. She floats through her bar routine with ease and finishes with a huge full in dismount - that is often stuck. Wofford is tied for fifth in bar rankings this week.

8. Amanda Wellick (Arkansas) - Floor

Wellick only has a year under her belt at Arkansas but is already a team leader. Last year she was the SEC freshman of the year and is a solid all-around gymnast. This week she is ranked 23rd in all-around and tied for seventh on floor. Wellick’s floor routine this year uses intense music that is complemented by her powerful tumbling.

7. Chayse Capps (OU) - Beam

Capps is often recognized for her incredible artistry but her acrobatic skills are not to be overlooked. Capps is also a powerful vaulter and tumbler and has been a staple in Oklahoma’s line-up. It’s hard to pick one event that stands out over her others but beam is definitely a top choice. This week she is tied for first in beam rankings with LSU’s Jessie Jordan. Watch Capps’ beam routine from the OU intrasquad below.

6. Ali Jackson (OU) - Floor

Like most OU gymnasts, freshman Jackson knows how to work her floor routine and draw in the crowd. Her fun, hip-hop style dance immediately catches your attention and then once you see her gigantic tumbling it’s impossible to look away. While Jackson suffered a fall on floor last week, you can be sure she will bring her A-game this weekend and attack the floor. Also watch out for her Yurchenko 1 1/2 on vault! Watch Jackson’s 2015 floor routine here.

5. Rheagan Courville (LSU) - Bars

Courville is one of LSU’s strongest all-around gymnasts and you can always count on her for a great routine. While she is exceptional on all four events, she is currently ranked second on bars and for good reason. She swings through her routine gracefully with elegant and near perfect lines. She has a little more height and a little better form than a typical NCAA gymnast and that is what makes her routine standout. As the reigning NCAA vault champion, make sure to keep an eye out for her on that event as well. Watch a 9.95 bar routine from Courville here.

4. Jessie Jordan (LSU) - Beam

Jordan is another solid all-around gymnast from LSU and in the first official NCAA rankings this season she was first in all-around. In her first three meets of the year, she’s scored 39.55, 39.525, and 39.5. Incredibly consistent and beautiful to watch, Jordan stands out on beam. Watch her beam routine from last year’s NCAAs here (Gold).

3. Brenna Dowell (OU) - Bars

Former elite stand out Dowell has brought her high-flying big tricks to NCAA. She has the potential to be a strong all-around gymnast for the Sooners but has currently only competed vault, bars, and floor. Dowell especially shines on bars and last weekend she scored the season’s first 10 on bars. Her bar routine includes a Church (toe-on piked tkatchev) and a lay out full in dismount. She is currently ranked fourth on bars.

2. Haley Scaman (OU) - Floor

Scaman is a star on floor and all eyes turn to her when she performs her compelling routine. Her music this year is very different from her previous songs but, like usual, her dance accompanies the music perfectly. She opens with a huge double layout that actually rises in the second flip and she finishes with a double pike. In this week’s rankings, Scaman is in a five way tie for seventh and the other gymnasts ranked seventh include Jordan and Wellick.

1. Lloimincia Hall (LSU) - Floor

Whether you are a fan of her dance or not, everyone can agree that Hall’s dynamic routine captivates the crowd and her one-of-a-kind personality shines through. Hall knows how to draw in the crowd and have fun, and she has the powerful tumbling to complement her dance. This is definitely a routine you can’t miss this weekend! And to add more excitement, she's scored a perfect 10.0 multiple times in her career, one of which was at the Metroplex Challenge last year. No doubt she will be looking to repeat that performance again this year. Watch her 10.0 routine from last year below.