CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Flippin' Birds will hit the road to take on #20 Iowa. The Thunderbirds will square off with the Hawkeyes on Friday, January 26, at Xtream Arena. The meet will begin at 5:30 p.m. MT and will be broadcast on BIG+.
The Flippin' Birds are looking to get back in stride after a pair of low-scoring meets, including the third-place finish in the home opener against Arizona State and Utah State. Meanwhile, the Hawkeyes are coming off a loss in a tightly contested meet with the University of Minnesota.
Meet Information
Southern Utah at University of #20 Iowa
Date: Friday, January 26, 2024
March In: 5:30 PM MT
Venue: Xtream Arena
Broadcast: BIG+
Coach Scotty Bauman Said
"We are excited for the opportunity to compete with a tough opponent like Iowa. We have a couple gymnasts from the Midwest who are going to get the chance to compete close to home for the first time in a long time."
The Competition
The Iowa Gymnastics team has made an impressive start to the season, currently holding the No. 20 spot in the rankings among NCAA gymnastics teams. In their season opener on January 12, the Hawkeyes showcased their strength by defeating Washington and securing a team score of 196.400. This score stands as the second-highest in a season opener in the program's history.
In their victory over Washington, the GymHawks demonstrated their depth and ability across various events. Senior Adeline Kenlin emerged as a standout performer, winning on beam, floor, and the all-around. Kenlin's stellar performance, finishing in the top two in every event, highlighted her leadership and skill on the gymnastics floor. The team also set a program record with a score of 49.100 on bars. Additionally, the debut of freshmen Eva Volpe, Ilka Juke, and Alyse Karenbauer showed off the promising young talent of the GymHawks. Volpe is an all-around competitor who will have a lasting impact on the future of Iowa Gymnastics.
Southern Utah Notes
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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.
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Southern Utah is ranked #32 on the vault, #28 on bars, #52 on beam, and #55 on Floor.
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Freshman Niya Randolph secured 2nd place in the All-Around in week one with a 39.300.
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The Flippin' Birds had 13 athletes from last year's team move on but have recruited a stellar freshman class.
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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.
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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).
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Currently, the Thunderbirds have four gymnasts ranked in the top 100 nationally across various events.
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The Thunderbirds are coached by Scott Bauman, who was named the MRGC Coach of the Year in 2023. Associate Head Coach Jamie Wysong was also named the Assistant Coach of the Year for the conference.
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