RECAP | Flippin' Birds' Record Breaking Bar Performance Leads to New Season High Team Score Against No. 15 Cougars
CEDAR CITY, Utah -- 4,056 Thunderbird fans packed the America First Event Center to witness the Southern Utah Gymnastics team post their highest team score of the season, earning a 196.600. In the end, No. 15 BYU claimed the meet title with a 197.075.
"I am so proud of the girls," said head coach Scotty Bauman. "There are a few things that we are still missing but they are fixable and I love that. We have a nice little home stint coming up and that will be great. I can't take anything away from BYU, to perform that well on beam with us on floor at home, was incredible. Good for the Cougars."
Upon completion of the meet, four Thunderbirds set career highs, two event titles and the team broke a school record.
SUU's best performance of the night was Shylen Murakami's 9.950 bar routine, which tied the school record and earned her the event title. Murakami was followed by Becky Rozsa-Thompson's career record breaking performance of a 9.925. Karley McClain also had a standout routine as she stuck a 9.875. Hannah Nipp earned a 9.850 and Caitlin Kho recorded a 9.800. This was the T-Birds best bar routine in school history as they were awarded a 49.400.
The Thunderbirds second greatest event of the night was floor as both McClain and Madison McBride scored a 9.875 followed by Kho's 9.800. Madison Loomis and Nipp both earned a 9.775. The T-Birds posted a team score of 49.100.
On balance beam SUU was awarded a 49.050 which is their highest beam score of the season. Nipp's 9.900 lead the T-Birds and trailed by Rachel Smith's career high score of 9.850. Freshman Ruby Hernandez also set a new career high with her 9.725 routine. Murakami earned a 9.800 and Autumn Jorgensen was stuck a 9.775.
Moving to vault, SUU scored a 49.050, tying their beam score. Morgan Alfaro hit a 9.875, crowing her vault champion. McClain stuck a 9.850 followed by Smith's 9.825. Caitlin Kho was awarded a 9.775 and Stephanie Tervort 9.725.
Next Meet
The Southern Utah Gymnastics team is set to host the Utah State University Aggies next Friday, January 31, inside the America First Event Center.
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Tickets
Tickets for the Flippin' Birds' next home meet on January 31 against USU 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 2020 regular season home meets.
