CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Southern Utah Gymnastics team is set to kick off its home slate this Friday, January 19, at 7:00 p.m. MT. The #25 Flippin' Birds will host a Tri-meet, including #24 Arizona State and familiar foe Utah State in the America First Events Center.

Southern Utah will use the home opener as a chance to unveil the 2023 MRGC Championship banner prior to the meet. The Flippin' Birds will look to bounce back from a disappointing showing at the Best of Utah. Friday's tri-meet will be broadcast on overnight.com

Meet Information

Southern Utah vs. Utah State and Arizona State

Date: Friday, January 19, 2024

March In: 7:00 PM MT

Venue: America First Events Center

Tickets: tbirdtickets.com

Live Stats: Stat Broadcast

Coach Scotty Bauman Said

"We are looking forward to competing against two great programs that are well coached.  We had to make some adjustments from our last meet and the team is excited to compete at home in front of the best fans in the world."

The Competition

Arizona State comes into the meet as the #24 team in the country with an average score of 196.050. Last weekend, Arizona State placed second behind No. 6 Denver, 196.375 to 196.900. The Sun Devils scored their first team score above 196.000 of the season. The beam event total of 49.325 was the best event total in any event so far this season. Additionally, the team set a program record for streaks of 49-plus on vault, extending it to 12 in a row dating back to last season.

There were two event winners over the weekend, with senior Anaya Smith winning her second in a row on vault (9.925) and sophomore Kimmy Smith winning her first event title of her career on beam (9.925). Both scores are the highest on those events for the Sun Devils this season.

Utah State comes into the meet having placed fourth in the Best of Utah with a 193.600. The Aggies Utah State's score was a season-high. USU began the meet with a 48.250 on the beam, followed by a 47.675 on the floor, a season-high 48.600 on the vault, and a season-high 49.075 on bars.  

Best of Utah was the second meet of the season for the Aggies, who placed fourth in a quad-meet at North Carolina during the opening weekend. Utah State scored 193.175 in that meet and will look to improve once again this Friday.

Southern Utah Notes

• The Thunderbirds finished third at the Mean Girls Super 16 to open the season, scoring the highest road opening score in program history at 196.025 but had a disappointing 194.000 finish at the Best of Utah Meet. 

• Southern Utah is ranked #22 on the vault, #9 on bars, #27 on beam, and #47 on Floor. 

• The Flippin' Birds had 13 athletes from last year's team move on but have recruited a stellar freshman class.

• Freshman Niya Randolph secured 2nd place in the All-Around in week one with a 39.300, which ranks her #33 in the country. 

• The Flippin' Birds swept week one of the MPSF awards, with Niya Randolph being named Gymnast of the Week, Aubri Schwartze Specialist of the Week, and Alex Routsis Freshman of the Week. 

• Southern Utah has three returning gymnasts who finished the season ranked in the top 100 nationally, including Kayla Pardue (#83 Vault), Aubri Schwartze (#96 Floor), and Ellie Cacciola (#51 Beam).

• Currently, the Thunderbirds have five gymnasts ranked in the top 100 nationally across various events.

• The Thunderbirds are coached by Scott Bauman, who was named the MRGC Coach of the Year in 2023. Associate Head Coach Jamie Wysong was named the Assistant Coach of the Year for the conference as well.   

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