CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Flippin' Birds will hit the road again to take on Utah State. The Thunderbirds will square off with the Aggies on Friday, February 2, at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. The meet will begin at 7:00 p.m. MT and will be broadcast on Mountain West Network.
This will be the third meeting of the season for the two former conference rivals, with each team taking one of the head-to-head battles so far. The Thunderbirds are coming off a very close battle with Iowa, where Southern Utah fell just short of securing a road win. The Aggies picked up a win last week against Air Force 194.950-193.925.
Meet Information
Southern Utah at Utah State
Date: Friday, February 2, 2024
March In: 7:00 PM MT
Venue: Dee Glen Smith Spectrum
Live Stats: Stats
Broadcast: Mountain West Network
Coach Scotty Bauman Said
"We are excited to continue our rivalry with Utah State. They are a well-coached team and continue to improve with each week. Over the years, this has always been a good battle, and we look forward to competing with the Aggies this Friday!"
The Competition
The Utah State gymnastics team, currently ranked 52nd nationally, recently celebrated a home-opening triumph against Mountain West rival Air Force with an overall score of 194.950-193.925. The meet showcased a well-rounded performance, starting with a season-high 48.950 on vault, led by standout freshman Nyla Morabito's career-high 9.850. Utah State continued to impress on bars with Juliette Boyer's 9.850, contributing to a team score of 49.000. The team's depth was displayed on beam and floor, solidifying their 15-1 all-time record against Air Force, including a flawless 4-0 record at home.
The team's performance, highlighted by Morabito's standout routines, contributed to their overall record of 2-7 (1-0 MW) and showcased their determination to excel in the new gymnastics conference. The Aggies are rated 40th nationally on the bars and 43rd on the beam.
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 #31 on the vault, #27 on bars, #50 on beam, and #53 on Floor.
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Freshman Niya Randolph set a new career-best in the All-Around last week with a 39.325.
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The Flippin' Birds received two out of three weekly awards for the MPSF. Niya Randolph was named the Gymnast of the Week, while fellow newcomer Brinlee Christensen grabbed the honor of Freshman of the Week.
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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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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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