CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Flippin' Birds took to the mat again Friday night at the Maverik Center in West Valley for the Best of Utah meet. Southern Utah continued the season's strong start, putting up some impressive numbers and finishing in second place behind the University of Utah. Utah State University finished in third place and BYU rounded out the team competition in fourth place.

The Thunderbirds started the evening off on the Beam and finished the competition with one of their strongest events, the bars. Graduate student Karley McClain continues to shine in the All-around competition scoring an impressive 39.325 and finishing second behind the University of Utah's olympian, Grace McCallum. Southern Utah's second-place finish is the highest for the T-Birds in the short history of the now annual Best of Utah meet. 

BEAM (48.850)

The Flippin' Birds opening rotation on the bars was led by McClain who scored a 9.800. Graduate student Shylen Murakami and sophomore Ellie Cacciola were not far behind, each tallying a 9.775. Graduate student Rachel Smith and junior Aubri Schwartze rounded out the T-Bird's scoring in the event with matching 9.750 scores. 

FLOOR (49.350)

The floor team for the Thunderbirds had its best showing of the season to this point. McClain tied for first in the event with a 9.925. Schwartze scored a new season high and junior Hailey Vultaggio matched her with identical scores of 9.875. Cacciola set a new career high with her floor routine adding a 9.850. Capping off the T-Birds' impressive team scores was Smith who put up a 9.825.

VAULT (48.825)

Southern Utah made its way to the vault for the third rotation and it was Cacciola who would lead the team to a 48.825. Cacciola scored a 9.825 and McClain followed that up with a 9.800 of her own. Vultaggio added a 9.750. Freshman Kayla Pardue joined Rachel Smith in rounding off the team score with a 9.725 each. 

BARS (49.150)

The Flippin' Birds entered the final event trailing Utah State by a tenth of a point and went on to close the gap quickly. All five of the scoring gymnasts for Southern Utah would score above 9.800 leading SUU to its best bars score so far this year. Graduate student Shylen Murakami put up the highest score for the T-Birds with a 9.875 while Caitlin Kho, who struggled early in the meet on the beam, scored a 9.850 her best mark of the year so far. Schwartze added a 9.825 while McClain and sophomore Isabella Neff each scored a 9.800.

COACH SCOTT BAUMAN SAYS…

"We started the meet off by adding Kaylee Kho who scored very well last year at this meet. We were shocked when she fell but the way that the girls rallied after that was spectacular. We are still working to figure out our sixth beam worker but the way the team came together tonight was amazing."

"Kaylee (Kho) did her first floor routine since she has been here and scored a 9.775 in an exhibition. The way she has battled back to compete has been great."

"Everyone on this team knows that they have to be on their game in order to compete and they continue to do that and it is making us better." 

NEXT UP

The Flippin' Birds have another big meet coming up next Friday when Utah State makes its way to Cedar City for a dual meet. It will start at 7:00 p.m. MT and will be the first conference matchup for the Thunderbirds.

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