WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah -- The Southern Utah gymnastics program opened up their 2021 campaign at the Best of Utah meet at the Maverik Center on Saturday evening, as they finished in fourth place amongst Utah's three other Division I gymnastics teams with a 194.325. 

The University of Utah won the meet with a 196.900. Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference foes BYU (195.700) and Utah State (194.350) finished in second and third respectively. 

Southern Utah started the night on vault, where they were led by a pair of 9.775's by Morgan Alfaro and Rachel Smith. Karley McClain started her all-around effort with a 9.750 in her opening routine. 

As a team, the Thunderbirds scored a 48.625 on the opening event. 

When the T-Birds moved to bars, Mayson Bentley scored the first 9.900 of the night in her first routine as a Thunderbird to lead the team on the event. Shylen Murakami hit a 9.850 for SUU, and SUU scored a 49.000 as a team on their second event of the night. 

Bentley's bars score was the best of the night, earning her the event title. 

Unfortunately for SUU, the momentum they built on bars didn't quite transition to beam. Despite some strong routines, the T-Birds ended up having to count multiple falls on the event. 

Beam was highlighted by a 9.850 by McClain, and a 9.825 by Shylen Murakami. 

As a team in their third rotation, the T-Birds scored a 47.875. 

Southern Utah wrapped up the meet on floor, where they were led by a 9.875 from McClain. Molly Jozwiakowski had a 9.825, and Smith had a 9.800 to highlight the final rotation. 

SUU's final event score of the night was a 48.825, bringing their total score to a 194.325. 

McClain finished fourth in the all-around, scoring a 39.225. Utah's Cristal Isa had the top all-around score with a 39.400. 

The Flippin' Birds will continue their season next weekend as they host the Air Force Falcons in the America First Event Center on Saturday, January 16. 

Stay up to date during the 2021 Southern Utah Gymnastics season by following @SUUGym on Twitter and Instagram and liking the Southern Utah Gymnastics page on Facebook.