RECAP | Flippin' Birds' Shatter Team Score Record at Home
CEDAR CITY, Utah -- All 3,100 Thunderbird fans erupted inside the American First Event Center, chanting "SUU, SUU, SUU" after witnessing program history as the Southern Utah gymnastics team earned a new team score record - 197.225. Their program-high put them well over the visiting Central Michigan Chippewas, who scored a 194.850, giving SUU their fourth victory of the season.
"We switched some of the lineups and I was so impressed by the way the girls came out," said head coach Scotty Bauman. "Vault set the tone but that wasn't unusual as we've been doing great at vault. The rest of the events followed and I couldn't be happier. All of these girls work for each other every day. They are such great leaders and incredible people. I'm so proud. The most exciting thing is that they still have room to get better. It's going to be a great season."
The Flippin' Birds topped the previous high score set by the 2017 team on March 3 when they squared off against NC State at home and hit a 197.025.
Aside from breaking the school record, the Thunderbirds also claimed all event champion titles, with the exception of all-around, set seven new individual career records, tied the team vault score record and tied for third on both the floor team score record and the bars team score record.
SUU's best event score of the evening was awarded after the crowd favorite floor routines where they were posted a 49.500, tying their number three all-time record. Karley McClain and Molly Jozwiakowski were named co-event champions after their impressive 9.925's followed by the just as notable 9.900's from Caitlin Kho and Madison McBride. Both Kho and Jozwiakoski's performances were new individual career highs. The last set of tied scores on floor went to Autumn Jorgensen and Hannah Nipp as they were both awarded a 9.850.
The Thunderbirds next best event was vault, which is notoriously their best event as they are currently ranked 11th in the nation. Madison McBride led the charge for SUU as her new career record of a 9.900 named her the vault event champion. Morgan Alfaro followed a stellar 9.875 while Rachel Smith, McClain and Kho all hit a 9.850. After totaling vault scores, the Thunderbirds tied all-time vault team record of 49.325.
Shylen Murakami was crowned the bars champion after tying her career record of 9.950. Becky Rozsa-Thompson and Nipp kept the T-Birds average up with their 9.875's. Then McClain stuck a 9.825 followed by Caitlin Kho who anchored the lineup, scoring a 9.750. SUU tied their third place bars record as they posted a 49.275.
Nipp's second career high of the night came on beam where she stuck a 9.950, securing herself the event champion crown. McClain was second in scores for the T-Birds with her 9.875. Ruby Hernandez also set a career high with her 9.750 which was also what Jorgensen was awarded on the beam. Rachel Smith hit a 9.725. SUU totaled for a team score of 49.125, their best beam score of the season.
Upon completion of the meet McClain set a new individual career-high in the all-around with her 39.475
Next Meet
The Southern Utah Gymnastics team is set to travel to Logan, Utah to take on the Utah State Aggies next Friday, February 14, at 7:00 p.m.
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Stay up to date during the 2020 Southern Utah Gymnastics season by following @SUUGym on Twitter and Instagram and liking the Southern Utah Gymnastics page on Facebook.
Tickets
Tickets for the Flippin' Birds' next home meet on February, 21 against Iowa 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 2020 regular season home meets.
