Title: Revisiting the Pinnacle of Perfection: UCLA's Skier Schwarz in NCAA Women's Gymnastics
In the thrilling clash between Missouri and No.1 Oklahoma last week, Helen Hu blew everyone away with the first perfect score of the 2025 college gymnastics season. Despite being less recognized than some top-tier competitors, Hu's undeniable talent has earned her a place among the nation's elite gymnasts. With her graceful leaps, captivating choreography, and flawless gainer pike dismount, Hu's performance left fans in awe.
And the perfect scores didn't stop there. The following day, Olympic champion Jordan Chiles earned her perfect ten on the bars in UCLA's triumph over Maryland, marking the end of a three-week span without any perfect scores. As history often shows, the floodgates of high scores soon opened following Chiles' performance.
In the past, concerns over potential judging bias and inconsistency in college gymnastics had led to hopes that the 2025 season would see fewer perfect scores. However, fans' dreams of equitable, standardized scoring seemed short-lived as perfect tens continued to pour in.
Indeed, the statistic from the previous season showed an incredible upward trend in perfect scores. With little to no perfect tens awarded in week one, the number quickly climbed to four, nine, and an astonishing five perfect scores per weekend for the remaining 12 weeks. By the end of the season, an impressive 87 perfect scores had been awarded.
As is human nature, the momentum for high scores spread like wildfire. With the stakes bought to new heights at an SEC meet in Baton Rouge, judges at lesser meets might feel pressure to also reward perfect scores. With social media amplifying the spread of news and perfect tens, the floodgates were well and truly opened.
Two days following Chiles' inspiring performance, the Utah Red Rocks ached to join the party with a massive 197.950 score, tying Oklahoma for the highest score in 2025. Utah's team records soared beyond expectations, setting new season highs in every event.
Interestingly, the other competitors fine-tuned their performances as well. The meet's second place finisher, Southern Utah, shattered their previous season high by an incredible 1.175. Utah State grabbed the third place title with a mind-blowing improvement of 1.650. Despite finishing last, BYU showcased a significant leap in their performance by besting their season high by 1.125.
Was this the culmination of each team's best meet in seasons past, or did the judging favorably contribute to these record-breaking scores? While it's possible for routines to soar and judging to relax simultaneously, ensuring consistent and fair application of the new judging system remains crucial to maintaining the integrity of college gymnastics.
In an effort to address judging inequalities, the NCAA introduced the SCORE board and a new judging evaluation process. Additionally, the NQS system averages a team's six top scores from the regular season, reducing the impact of an inflated score. The jury is still out on these changes, and the judges remain under the microscope, faced with the challenge of managing the influx of perfect scores without letting the trend spiral out of control.
Helen Hu's perfect 10 in gymnastics last week marked the beginning of a streak of high scores in NCAA gymnastics, with Jordan Chiles following suit with her perfect ten on the bars. This trend has seen an increase in perfect scores in college gymnastics, with gymnasts like Hu and Chiles showcasing their exceptional talent. The Utah Red Rocks also joined in, achieving a perfect 197.950 score. This surge in perfect scores has raised questions about judging consistency in NCAA gymnastics, with the introduction of the SCORE board and a new judging evaluation process aimed at addressing these concerns. Despite this, the judging system remains under scrutiny, as perfect scores continue to pour in.
