LAS VEGAS, Nevada - The Southern Utah Gymnastics team opened their season in dynamic fashion at the Super 16 Presented by Ozone in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Flippin' Birds grabbed a first-place finish in their session with a score of 195.800.
Southern Utah drew bars for their opening rotation and set the tone for the meet scoring the individual and team-high right away. The team followed it up by tying for the top spot in the beam and taking second on the floor. The Thunderbirds wrapped up the event with a team victory on vault. Graduate student Karley McClain grabbed second place in the All-Around competition.
BARS (49.050)
The T-Birds started off with one of their strengths as a team, the bars. Graduate student Caitlin Kho got the meet started earning a 9.725. The best score of the rotations for SUU came from freshman Trista Goodman with a 9.900 in her first collegiate appearance. Fifth-year seniors Karley McClain and Shylen Murakami each scored 9.825 while Junior Aubri Schwartze put up a 9.775. Graduate student Mayson Bentley rounded out the bars team with a 9.675.
BEAM (48.850)
The next apparatus for the Flippin' Birds was the beam and the team's experience showed with a pair of veteran competitors Murakami and Schwartze putting up identical scores of 9.800. Sophomore Ellie Cacciola wasn't far behind with a 9.775 and McClain scored a 9.750.
FLOOR (48.950)
In the only event that the Thunderbirds didn't take a share of the top spot, junior Hailey Vultaggio would lead out scoring a 9.875. Schwartze and McClain added matching scores of 9.850 and the T-Birds would go on to get a 9.700 from senior Rachel Smith. Junior Emma Ingrassia wrapped up the team score with a 9.675.
VAULT (48.950)
Taking a lead into the final event of the meet Southern Utah looked to close it out with some solid scores. Freshman Kayla Pardue was the top scorer for the Flippin' Birds with a 9.850. Kho was right behind her with a 9.800. Cacciola and Smith also pitched in identical scores of 9.775.
NEXT UP
The Flippin' Birds now turn their attention to the home opener coming up this Monday against the University of New Hampshire. The meet will begin at 7:00 p.m. MT. Don't miss this chance to see this amazing team in action!
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