CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Flippin' Birds stayed unbeaten in the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference with an impressive road win tonight against BYU 197.125-196.150. The last time that Southern Utah outscored the Cougars in Provo was in 2019 at the MRGC Championships. The T-Birds started strong with a solid performance on the bars which set the tone for a great meet.
The Thunderbirds set a new road record with 197.125. A record that they set last season at BYU. The score was also the third-best total score in program history. Graduate Student Karley McClain and Junior Aubri Schwartze tied for the top marks on the floor with a score of 9.925. McClain once again claimed the All-Around title with a 39.425.
The Southern Utah floor team tied a season-best 49.500, the #3 all-time mark in program history. SUU's vault score of 49.225 is tied for the third-highest score in school history. The last time that the T-Birds scored that high on the vault was in 2020 against Utah State. The Thunderbirds swept the scoreboard for the meet winning each event.
BARS (49.250)
The Flippin' Birds opened the meet on the bars and it was once again a show of consistency. Graduate Student Shylen Murakami took the lead with a 9.925 and the rest of the team followed. Graduate student Mayson Bentley put up a 9.850 to increase the median score. The final three counted scores for the T-Birds were all 9.825 scored by graduate student Caitlin Kho, graduate student Karley McClain, and sophomore Isabella Neff.
VAULT (49.225)
The Thunderbirds moved into the second rotation on the vault. Southern Utah came up with one of its top vault scores of the year with a 49.225. Freshman Kayla Pardue showed off an impressive vault scoring a 9.875. Sophomore Ellie Cacciola and Kho each added a 9.850. McClain and Graduate student Rachel Smith tied for the final score in the event with a 9.825.
FLOOR (49.500)
In the third rotation, the T-Birds moved on to their top 20-ranked floor team. For the second consecutive week, the Thunderbirds showed why they are the top team in the conference in the event scoring a 49.500. McClain and junior Aubri Schwartze nearly maxed out the board each picking up a score of 9.925. The team continued to impress with a season-high 9.900 from sophomore Taylor Gull. It was a three-way tie for the event's last two scores, with Cacciola, Vultaggio, and Smith each earning 9.875.
BEAM (49.150)
Going to the fourth and final rotation the T-Birds had a significant lead and the beam team brought the meet home scoring a 49.150. It was Smith who would take the top spot for the Flippin' Birds on the beam scoring a 9.900. Hailey Vultaggio finished just behind her with a 9.875. McClain was next with a 9.850 and Shylen Murakami came in with a 9.800. Cacciola rounded out the team score on the beam with a 9.725.
COACH SCOTT BAUMAN SAYS…
"I am very proud of these girls and the work that they put in. They continue to improve and each week they find ways to impress everyone."
"The excitement that this group has really sets them apart from other teams. They have an energy that makes them competitive no matter where they are."
"BYU is a well-coached team with some outstanding athletes and it is very difficult to come into Provo and leave with a win."
NEXT UP
The Flippin' Birds will continue conference play next Friday when they travel to Logan to once again take on the Aggies. The meet will start at 7:00 p.m. MT at the Spectrum.
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