CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Flippin' Birds conquered Utah State to stay unbeaten in the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference with an impressive 197.125. The Thunderbirds matched the highest road score ever which they set last week at BYU. For the first time since the 2010 season, the T-Birds have swept all of their away duel meets in conference play.

Graduate Student Karley McClain once again laid claim to the All-Around title with a 39.475. This is the third time that McClain has tied her season high. Freshman Kayla Pardue took home the top score in the vault and graduate student Mayson Bentley tied for the high mark on the bars. McClain and Junior Hailey Vultaggio scored a 9.925 on the beam to earn the top spot. 

The Thunderbirds set a new program record on the beam with a 49.450. This topped the program's previous best beam score, a 49.425 set last season against William and Mary at home. The Thunderbirds vault score of 49.200 is also a top-10 all-time score. 

BARS (49.275)

The Flippin' Birds opened the meet on the bars and gave an outstanding performance. Bentley led Southern Utah scoring an impressive 9.900. McClain and Graduate Student Shylen Murakami took the team to another level with matching 9.875 scores. Next was graduate student Caitlin Kho who put in a 9.850 and finally junior Aubri Schwartze scored a 9.775 to round out the event for the T-Birds.

VAULT (49.200)

The Thunderbirds moved into the second rotation on the vault. Southern Utah's vault team continued to show improvement scoring 49.200. It was freshman Kayla Pardue who stole the event with a powerful vault scoring a 9.875. Sophomore Ellie Cacciola and Kho each added a 9.850. Graduate student Rachel Smith contributed a 9.825 and McClain wrapped up the vault scores with a 9.800.  

FLOOR (49.200)

In the third rotation, the T-Birds moved on to their top 20-ranked floor team. McClain and sophomore Taylor Gull grabbed the top spot for the Thunderbirds with a 9.875 on the board. Not far behind them was the dynamic duo of Vultaggio and Schwartze, scoring a 9.850. Rachel Smith rounded out the team's score with a 9.750.

BEAM (49.450)

Going to the fourth and final rotation the T-Birds had a significant lead and the beam team secured the win with a 49.450. Vultaggio and McClain both scored new personal records with matching scores of 9.925. Next, it was Smith who would provide a 9.900 to boost the team. The final three T-Bird scores were all 9.850 from Cacciola, Schwartze, and Murakami.

COACH SCOTT BAUMAN SAYS…

"I was really impressed with our team tonight. They showed what we are capable of when we put our best stuff out there."  

"They went out there tonight very comfortably and as a result, they were able to nail their routines."

"Shylen (Murakami) had an outstanding meet tonight and keeps getting better each week."

"Our floor team always comes out to play and they will continue to show how good they are as we go into the final stretch of the season."

"We don't normally travel with everyone but we felt like it brought us a spark last week at BYU so we decided to bring everyone again this week and it created a different energy tonight as well."

TOP MOMENTS

Vultaggio is having a good time! How about you?

👀 9.925 👀#RaiseTheHammer x #TBirdNation pic.twitter.com/6Fn5RMz8Jn
— SUU Gymnastics (@SUUGym) February 18, 2023
 

Need a stuck landing? Karley McClain has got you covered!

9.925#RaiseTheHammer x #TBirdNation pic.twitter.com/EgGjWkRdCb
— SUU Gymnastics (@SUUGym) February 18, 2023
 

Rachel Smith Making a 9.900 look EASY!#RaiseTheHammer x #TBirdNation pic.twitter.com/cgDVI0x4yu
— SUU Gymnastics (@SUUGym) February 18, 2023
 

Big time numbers for Freshman Kayla Pardue

9.875!!!#TBirdNation pic.twitter.com/VoGrS5ElkF
— SUU Gymnastics (@SUUGym) February 18, 2023
 

Mayson Bentley with the BIG 9.900!!!#RaiseTheHammer x #TBirdNation pic.twitter.com/kdp1CoDdUU
— SUU Gymnastics (@SUUGym) February 18, 2023
 

NEXT UP

The Flippin' Birds will continue conference play next Wednesday when they host Boise State for the final conference meet of the season.  The meet will start at 7:00 p.m. MT at the Spectrum.

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