LAS VEGAS, Nevada - The Flippin' Birds competed in the Mean Girls Super 16 in Las Vegas, Nevada, to open the 2024 campaign. Despite graduating many key contributors from last year's team, the Thunderbirds opened the season with an impressive 196.025. The total was good enough to secure third place against some powerhouse opponents in the meet.
The Flippin' Birds started the meet on the beam before progressing to the floor, vault, and finishing up with the bars. Southern Utah Freshman Niya Randolph placed second in the all-around and set a high bar for herself with a 39.300.
Head Coach Scotty Bauman Said
"You never know what you are going to get going into that first meet. You know what you have done to prepare, but anything can happen. The team competed so well today, and we, as a staff, are very proud of them. I see this team getting better and better, and this was a great place to start our season."
Meet Recap
Beam (48.950)
The Flippin' Birds started the meet on the beam opening with an intense routine from Sophomore Kennedi McClain, who earned a 9.775. Freshman Niya Randolph stepped up next for the T-Birds, earning a 9.775 of her own before fellow Freshman Alyssa Fernandez equaled that mark with a 9.775. The experienced senior Aubri Schwartze then mounted the beam and impressed the judges to earn a 9.850. Junior Ellie Cacciola would follow that up with a 9.775, and rounding out the rotation was senior Aly Coutu, who grabbed a 9.750.
Floor (48.725)
The Flippin' Birds would open the second rotation with junior Taylor Gull. Gull would lead off with a routine that would score a 9.700. Next up, Fernandez earned a 9.725 with her first collegiate routine. Cacciola would go next for Southern Utah, posting a score of 9.700. Schwartze was next and improved the team score with an impressive 9.775. Randolph then set the floor on fire with an outstanding 9.825 routine, bringing the team total to a solid 48.725.
Vault (49.050)
In the third rotation, the T-Birds moved to the vault. Looking for a big score, McClain led off the rotation for the Birds with a 9.750. Cacciola would follow that up with a solid 9.850 vault. Sophomore Trista Goodman was next competing in the vault for the first time in her career, earning a 9.775. Randolph made a splash for the T-Birds in her collegiate debut with a 9.825. Pardue, a returning vaulter for the Flippin' Birds, posted a 9.800. Gull finished the rotation with a 9.800, bringing the team total for the event to an impressive 49.050.
Bars (49.300)
As the final rotation began, the Thunderbirds found themselves looking for some big scores to get back in the running. Christensen started things with a 9.800 before Schwartze set a career-high with an outstanding 9.900. Freshman Alex Routsis was next and started her Thunderbird career with an impressive 9.850. Randolph completed her first collegiate all-around with an excellent bars routine that scored a 9.875. Junior Isabella Neff wrapped up the rotation for the Flippin' Birds with a 9.875, bringing the team total for the event to 49.300, which tied for the 5th best score in program history.
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