NCAA Championships stuff
April 25, 2008 by northernriver
The University of Georgia won the Super Six. Yawn. Can’t they lose at least once to make things interesting? The only time they lost this season was a competition right after they lost Kupets (I think). I only tolerate UGA because I’m a Kupets fan and because Grace Taylor is cute. Otherwise I would hate them for being so dominant. 
I’m going to miss Tabby. 
I was OMG SHOCKED! when UCLA didn’t make it into the Super Six…but congratulations to Tasha Schwikert anyway for taking the all-around crown.
And poor Ashley Postell for coming in second all the dang time. I was pretty confident that with Courtney Kupets out, Postell would be able to make her move. Dang.
Actually, UGA lost to Utah in the first meet of the season (in Utah). It’s too bad that Ashley finished second in the AA again, only to do what she always does and turn in an astronomical score the second night (39.75). Hopefully she’ll do well in the individual events tonight!
They lost the opening meet to Utah, 196.2 to 196.3
and yeah, they lost to Michigan 196. something to 197.6
Georgia can win all they want, I don’t mind!
Ashley Postell is the best NCAA gymnast of all time regardless of whether she actually won the all around. She won the AA in the super six the last 3 years (or was it all 4?), and to me NCAA gymnastics is first a team sport and second an individual sport, so to win the AA during the team finals is when it counts the most. She is stunning and solid, and has somehow managed to stay healthy and turn in stellar performances at all 4 NCAA championships during her career. I also thought that Utah was underscored on both beam and vault and Georgia was overscored on beam. The team results may have been different if the event was hosted outside of Athens, but in any case Georgia has a very talented team, and they are well coached. Kudos to the gym dawgs.
I agree that Ashley Postell is an amazing gymnast. I am so tired, however, of hearing about the OVERSCORING of Georgia- give it up already! Ashely herself was overscored Friday night on floor when she had a big bounce back after a triple full (it was gorgeous, by the way) and ended up with 9.95, which should have been a 9.85 or a 9.9, since she had a slightly awkward step out of one of her dance moves as well.
I love and appreciate all beautiful gymnastics- and thought Utah had great bars. But balance checks and steps on beam and vault led to Utah’s scores, not the venue. I’d like to understand how you think the fact that the meet was in Athens had anything to do with the scoring-since the judges were staying seperately, outside of town, and were from all over the country! Help me out here!
The routine that you’re referencing was from prelims, and she scored a 9.9 on that routine, which was fair. She received the 9.95 for her floor routine during super six finals, which was also very fair. She nailed her triple during that routine without even taking a step back — boom — 2 feet down and didn’t move.
I think that the judges are influenced by the crowd, and the event was completely dominated by the Georgia fans, and that led to inflated scores. I don’t think we’re talking about a huge discrepancy but a few tenths here and there which can make the difference in a meet. The bottom line is that the home team at the meets has an advantage, and you can look at Georgia’s home meet scores vs. their road meet scores and see that this is definitely true, and it’s true for any team for that matter. I don’t think that even the coaches would argue that.
The seating for the championships favored Georgia as well. Here’s an excerpt from the Georgia Gym Dawgs web site from Suzanne Yoculan that explains the seating policy(http://www.georgiadogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=46763&SPID=4004&DB_OEM_ID=8800&ATCLID=1433379):
“Dear Tiffany: Some of the tickets were mailed out on Friday and the remainder will be mailed on Monday. Just as a reminder, the tickets were filled in the following order:
First, everyone who is a GEF contributor….based on their total contribution number
Second, anyone who is a season ticket holder
And last ….everyone else based on the date the order was received which stretches all the way back to last April when orders were taken in Salt Lake City.
I am mentioning this now as I know there are a number of fans from other schools who ordered tickets over 8 months ago who think their seat will be close because of the timing of their order. Unfortunately for non Gymdog fans, the Georgia contributors and folks who order season tickets have priority. This is our ticket office policy. We had over 7000 season tickets sold this year; which was a record high, so don’t get your hopes up for a great location if you are not in this group.”
If the home advantage was why Georgia won in 2008, then why didn’t Utah win at home in 2007?
…..
Because Georgia was a better team both years.