LOGAN, Utah - March 16 - Southern Utah gymnastics made it a clean sweep
for the season with a 194.950 to 191.050 victory over Utah State on
Monday night. The win was the second over the Aggies this season after
a 194.750 to 191.925 victory in Cedar City on January 26.
SUU led after the first rotation and never let go as the T-Birds scored a 48.900 on bars with Elise Wheeler (9.900) leading the way. Wheeler finished second on the event to USU's Nichole Simoneau (9.925), but was followed closely by teammate Melissa Johnson in third place with a 9.825. Alissa Mitchell, scored a 9.775 in her first scoring collegiate meet with Kellie Dangerfield (9.775) and Erin Morgan (9.625) rounding out the team score.
Utah State began the night on vault and scored a 48.475.
Southern Utah continued to lead after the second rotation, following a team score of 48.925 on vault, headlined by Johnson's 9.850. The mark propelled the junior to first place on the event with Lindsey Schultz just behind in second place with a 9.825. Shannon Coughlin and Wheeler tied for fourth place with a 9.775 finish with Jenna Vogt counting towards the team score with a 9.700 performance.
The Aggies finished their set on bars with a 48.875.
The Thunderbirds found their biggest challenge of the night on floor, counting one fall as Lauren Jeffrey (9.075) and Coughlin (9.150) each suffered mishaps, pulling the team score down to a 48.000. Gaby Grey (9.675) and Dangerfield (9.650) did not fare any better with scores in the 9.600's, but performances by Schultz (9.800) and Johnson (9.725) evened the scales. Schultz's score placed the junior first overall.
Southern Utah saved its best for last, scoring a meet-high 49.125 and sweeping first through fifth on the balance beam during the final rotation. Grey led the way with a 9.875, with Ari Lamb (9.850), Brooke Cersosimo (9.825), Dangerfield (9.800) and Johnson (9.800) capturing the top five spots.
Johnson finished as the all-around champion, scoring a career-high 39.175 with Dangerfield in second with a 38.750.
Southern Utah will now prepare for the WAC Championships this weekend and look to be in the hunt for the team's first conference championship.
