This year’s NCAA senior class is stacked. Today, Katie Norris takes a look back at some of their routines from freshman year, and, disclaimer: not much has changed.

Katelyn Ohashi, UCLA

Watching Katelyn Ohashi perform is just a treat. It’s something that looks as natural for her as breathing. She exudes charisma with every step, leap, and moonwalk. Really any and every routine she’s performed over the last four years deserves to go viral.

It’s not just her choreography that’s vivacious; it’s her tumbling as well. Her second pass is a seemingly never-ending string of saltos into a dance finish that’s over before you can even process what happened. I like how Katelyn and Miss Val have swapped out her final pass from 2016 for a dismount that’s more her style. Connections seem to work better for her than double saltos, and the switch-split drop…is just legendary.

It’s floor routines like Katelyn’s (who’s currently ranked first in the nation on this event, btw) that make me fall in love with the sport of gymnastics all over again.

Sarah Finnegan, LSU

One of the commentators hit the mark when she said “you can’t even talk about Sarah Finnegan without talking about her elegance.” It almost feels cliché to call her elegant because it’s a term used so often to describe her, but it so perfectly encapsulates her delivery and performance that viewers almost have no choice but to keep using it.

In the side-by-side comparison of these two routines, I would note that her opening pass was more controlled in her 2019 routine and her double tuck had better height and rotation, but other than that she’s delivering the same top-notch gymnastics she’s produced since season one of her NCAA career. She’s currently ranked third in the nation and will be vying for an all-around title this season.

Lexie Priessman, LSU

While Lexie has competed all four events for LSU in her career, she’s most well-known for her bar sets. She’s been a frequent anchor for the Tigers on bars and is currently ranked 15th on the event. This 2016 routine isn’t the best one she competed her freshman year, but I selected it because Lexie wasn’t super consistent back then and I think this one strikes a fair middle ground between her best and weakest performances that year.

As a senior, she’s much more consistent with her handstands and rhythm. The amplitude on her releases sets her apart from other gymnasts performing similar routines. If she keeps getting after her handstands and sticks, she will be a formidable opponent on this event as the season progresses.

Brenna Dowell, Oklahoma

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LK3BKGqbHlM

While Brenna’s choreography and music have changed over the last four years, her style has remained the same. She plays to her strengths, which I like about her. Brenna may not be a “Katelyn Ohashi” with her dance, but she knows what kind of routine works best for her, and she owns it. Her choreography is dynamic, edgy, and satisfying to watch.

And that tumbling, though…I love when Brenna opens with her eponymous piked double front, which she does in this 2019 routine. Her second pass looks a lot cleaner now with the added cat leap, which shows a greater level of control. Keep an eye out for Brenna, who’s currently ranked fifth nationally in the all-around, as she rounds out her senior season with the Oklahoma Sooners.

Nicole Lehrmann, Oklahoma

Nicole may have the prettiest dismount in all of NCAA gymnastics. Her full-in is everything you could ever ask of a dismount: floaty, tight, controlled, stuck. It’s a well-placed exclamation point to round out an otherwise flawless routine.

In 2016, her bar routine laid a strong foundation, but lacked a little bit of the finesse that she’s showing us today. In 2019, she’s hitting all of her handstands and throwing a jaeger that’s rotating above the high bar, all with pointed toes and beautiful extension.

Don’t sleep on Lehrmann, who’s currently ranked sixth nationally on the event. She’ll put up a strong fight for the bar title this season.

Alicia Boren, Florida

When it comes to performance, Alicia’s routines from 2016 to 2019 are like night and day. It took a little bit for her to grow into the college gymnast she is today, particularly on floor. Her routine from freshman year was by no means problematic—it just lacked the luster her routine has today.

Looking back at her freshman routine, it feels like she’s performing it for herself. Her dance was dynamic and sharp, but it wasn’t inclusive in the way it feels now. Alicia’s floor routine, today, pulls you in. As a viewer, you’re a part of the performance. And that’s something only the most successful college gymnasts can truly achieve on this event.

Coaching a gymnast like Alicia, with the amount of D/E level tumbling passes she’s capable of, mostly entails mixing and matching parts until you find the right fit. In 2019, Rowland and Alicia have figured it out. I like the double lay a lot better than the full-in for her opening pass because it shows off her power while optimizing the amount of control she needs to master the landing.

Sydney Snead, Georgia

Sydney’s tumbling and acro really break through the noise. In an arena where most gymnasts are competing your classic double pikes and front full-front lays, Sydney stands out with her multiple whips and back handsprings. It’s subtle, and may not be a noticeable choice to the average viewer, but connecting just a few extra saltos into a double tuck is a refreshing choice that judges really appreciate.

Her bubbly dance and energetic choreography have remained remarkably similar from 2016 to 2019. She’s just as clean and consistent, and I love the addition of the Shushunova out of her Rudi, which was a split jump (and a huge one at that) her freshman year.

Article by Katie Norris