Women's Gymnastics 1/20/2013 4:40:00 AM SUU Strategic Communication

Kennedy Ties Career High as T-Birds Finish Fourth

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - Southern Utah University was led by senior Caitlin Kennedy with a career-best 38.725 in the all-around, but fellow seniors were not at full strength as the Thunderbirds finished with a 191.050 at the University of Utah on Saturday night.

"We were a completely different team on Thursday," head coach Scott Bauman said after the meet, referencing the injuries to seniors Alyssa Click and Michaela Chernoch. Click, a team leader on beam for the T-Birds, will be out for the season after injuring her knee in practice on Thursday. Chernoch injured an ankle during the same practice and suffered falls in each of her routines on beam and bars during the night.

SUU opened with a 46.675 on the balance beam, suffering a pair of falls and a few wobbles. Caitlin Kennedy and Rochelle Bernier were tops on the team with a 9.750 and 9.600, respectively. Natalie Trejo followed with a 9.500 and Jamie Armijo with a 9.175, having not suffered a fall, but encountering a few wobbles during her opening turns. Chernoch fell during her routine, scoring an 8.650 to finish out the team score.

The Thunderbirds looked like they would bounce back in the second rotation as Trejo led off the floor with a 9.700. Brittney Jensen followed two gymnast later, scoring a 9.750 with the duo leading the team during the rotation. However, mishaps continued to hound the T-Birds with Carly Sigler and Armijo stepping out during their routines. Armijo's 9.575 was joined with Jaworski's 9.650 and Kennedy's 9.600, rounding out the team score of 48.275.

Southern Utah had its best rotation of the night, recording a 48.425 on the vault with three scores over a 9.700. Armijo led the way with a 9.775, followed by Bernier and Kennedy with a 9.750 and 9.700, respectively. A 9.625 from Divino and 9.575 from Jensen rounded out the team total of 48.425.

The Thunderbirds wrapped up the competition on bars, scoring a 47.675 with Kennedy and Armijo leading the way with matching 9.675's. Kennedy's mark added to her career-best tying 38.725 in the all-around.

"It wasn't like we came here without any weapons," Bauman said. "We expect to be better and will be better as the season goes along. It was just a tough meet tonight."

Southern Utah will be back in action next weekend at Utah State.

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Players Mentioned

Jamie Armijo: 5' 2"; Sophomore

Rochelle Bernier: 5' 4"; Sophomore

Michaela Chernoch: 5' 3"; Senior

Alyssa Click: 5' 4"; Senior

Brittney Jensen: 5' 5"; Sophomore

Caitlin Kennedy: 5' 5"; Senior

Carly Sigler: 5' 4"; Sophomore

Natalie Trejo: 4' 11"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Jamie Armijo
: 5' 2"; Sophomore

Rochelle Bernier
: 5' 4"; Sophomore

Michaela Chernoch
: 5' 3"; Senior

Alyssa Click
: 5' 4"; Senior

Brittney Jensen
: 5' 5"; Sophomore

Caitlin Kennedy
: 5' 5"; Senior

Carly Sigler
: 5' 4"; Sophomore

Natalie Trejo
: 4' 11"; Freshman