PROVO, Utah - The Southern Utah gymnastics team competed at the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference Championship Friday night in Provo and secured a second place finish, scoring a 195.900.
The No. 13 Boise State Broncos won the meet with a score of 196.950 to earn their fifth-straight MRGC crown.
At the conclusion of Friday's meet, Southern Utah freshman Karley McClain was named the 2019 MRGC Freshman of the Year for her performance during the regular season. The South Jordan native was named All-MRGC Second Team on floor and in the all-around earlier this week after finishing the regular season with a RQS of 9.870 on floor and 39.140 in the all-around. She also currently holds a RQS of 9.835 on beam, 9.785 on vault, and 9.775 on bars.
Two Thunderbirds earned event champion titles Friday night as Morgan Alfaro was named Vault Event Champion with a score of 9.900 on the event and Hannah Nipp was named Co-Beam Event Champion, also scoring a 9.900 on that event.
Nipp's 9.900 led the Flippin' Birds to their highest team score of the night, as they scored a 49.150 on beam. McClain scored a 9.850 and Shylen Murakami scored a 9.825 on the event. Alyssa LaDieu earned a 9.800 and Autumn Jorgensen rounded out the scoring with a 9.775.
Their next highest team score of the night came in the form of a 49.100 on vault. The total score was the highest of any team on the event. Alfaro and McClain both tied their career-highs on the event with Alfaro scoring a 9.900 and McClain scoring a 9.875. Rachel Smith earned a 9.800, Caitlin Kho scored a 9.775, and Stephanie Tervort rounded out the scoring with a 9.750.
As a team, the Thunderbirds scored a 49.000 on floor, led by McClain's high score of 9.850. Nipp scored a 9.825 on the event and Kho was awarded a 9.800. Madison McBride and Karen Gonzalez rounded out the scoring with McBride earning a 9.775 and Gonzalez getting a 9.750.
The Flippin' Birds scored a 48.650 on bars with Murakami and Tervort leading the way, both earning a 9.850. Nipp and Kho both were awarded 9.775's for their routines and Jorgensen rounded out the scoring with a 9.400.
The Thunderbirds will now play the waiting game as they wait to find out where they will be traveling to and competing against at the NCAA Regional Championship meet. The NCAA Gymnastics Regional Selection Show will take place on Monday March 25 at 3:00 p.m. Mountain time.
The team will be holding a selection show watch party on Monday inside the Sterling R. Church Auditorium in the Sharwan Smith Student Center. Fans are encouraged to attend.
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