CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Southern Utah gymnastics team opened the 2019 season Monday night with a 193.700-193.525 victory over the New Hampshire Wildcats.
The Flippin' Birds opened the night on vault, as they always do when they are inside of the America First Event Center. Karley McClain got things started for the T-Birds with a 9.775 on her first collegiate vault. Morgan Alfaro had the high score for the team, putting up a 9.800 in what was her first vault since coming back from an injury last season.
"That was awesome. She has worked so hard to come back and I was really proud of her," head coach Scott Bauman said. "She had one job to do and she went out there and did amazing."
Molly Jozwiakowski followed with a 9.725 and Rachel Smith hit a 9.750 in her first vault as a NCAA gymnast. Jiang Braley rounded out the scoring with a 9.675. SUU earned a 48.625 on their first event while New Hampshire scored a 48.300 over on bars.
When the Thunderbirds switched to bars Karen Gonzalez and Autumn Jorgensen had the high scores with Gonzalez earning a 9.725 and Jorgensen scoring a 9.700. McClain followed with a 9.675 and Hannah Nipp swung her way to a 9.600. Shylen Murakami rounded out the scoring with a 9.200.
Southern Utah's third rotation found them on the balance beam where they put up their highest team event score of the night. Nipp led the Flippin' Birds to a 48.700 with her 9.900, good enough to earn her beam event champion status at the end of the night.
"I watched that whole routine and I never watch beam and that thing was beautiful," Bauman said of Nipp's routine. "Everything Hannah does on beam is just so pretty. She had a great night."
Also on beam, McClain put up a 9.750, Alyssa LaDieu and Kamryn Bayer both earned 9.700's and Murakami scored a 9.650 in her first collegiate beam action. The Thunderbirds led 145.225-144.700 going into the final rotation.
The Flippin' Birds were able to take the title of event champion over on floor as well as Gonzalez and Jozwiakowski both earned 9.775's for their routines. McClain was right behind them with a 9.700 and Nipp scored a 9.625. Caitlin Kho, also in her first competition as a Thunderbird, scored a 9.600 to round out the scoring.
McClain was the only all-arounder for Southern Utah, putting together a combined score of 38.900 for all four events.
UNH's Danielle Mulligan took the all-around title with a 38.975.
The Flippin' Birds will return to action on January 18 as they host MRGC opponent Boise State at 7:00 p.m.
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Tickets
Tickets for the Flippin' Birds' next home meet on January 18 against Boise State are available at tbirdtickets.com or the America First Event Center Ticket Office. Fans can also purchase a Women's Sports Pass for access to all 2019 regular season home meets.
