CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Flippin' Birds are heading to Boise for a Tri-meet against Boise State and Sacramento State this week. The teams will square off on Friday, February 16, at ExtraMile Arena. The meet will begin at 7:00 p.m. MT and will be broadcast on Mountain West Network.  

The Thunderbirds and Broncos squared off last week, with the Flippin' Birds coming out on top of a very close meet 196.275-196.150. The Thunderbirds joined Sacramento State in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation during the past offseason. The Hornets are coming off a narrow third-place finish at the Air Force Tri-Meet, falling to Air Force and Southeast Missouri State. Sacramento State scored 194.475 in the meet and had two athletes score personal bests in the all-around. 

Meet Information

Southern Utah at Boise State

Date: Friday, February 16, 2024

March In: 7:00 PM MT

Venue: ExtraMile Arena

Live Stats: broadcast

Broadcast: Mountain West Network

Coach Scotty Bauman Said

"We are excited to take on Boise State again, especially after such a competitive meet last week. We are also excited to get some head-to-head competition with our Conference and see how we match up with Sacramento State."

The Competition

Sacramento State

The Sacramento State Hornets have struggled this season to a 1-6 record, with their only victory coming against MPSF conference rival UC Davis. The Hornets are yet to score a 195 on the season but have some gymnasts capable of putting up some very high scores. Sacramento State currently sits at 56th in the team ranking nationally, with their best event being the bars, where they rank 50th in the nation. 

Kara Houghton is one of the top gymnasts for the Hornets, with top scores on both the bars and the floor. Rose Wilson and Emma Morganthaler have the best mark of the year for Sacramento State on the vault with 9.825, while Athena Jones owns the best score of the year on the beam with 9.850. Sarah Lutrel and Marganthaler have been the top all-around gymnasts for the Hornets, averaging 38.713 and 38.679, respectively. 

Boise State 

The Boise State Gymnastics team continues to be a force in collegiate gymnastics, currently holding a national ranking of 33rd. Their strongest event lies in their dynamic floor routines, where they have jumped to the 25th spot in the country. Additionally, they showcase their finesse on the balance beam, securing the 26th position nationally, while their performances on vault and bars, though not as highly ranked, still exhibit their commitment to excellence, standing at 41st and 44th place, respectively. 

Throughout the season, Boise State has showcased its remarkable talent and consistency, as evidenced by its commendable scores. In their recent meets, they've displayed resilience and determination, achieving notable scores such as 196.525 against Iowa State at home and 196.150 on the road at Southern Utah. Individually, gymnasts like Courtney Blackson, Emily Lopez, and Emma Loyim shine brightly, consistently delivering stellar performances and contributing significantly to the team's success. Each of those returning stars for the Broncos has delivered a 9.950 routine this season and has the potential to swing the team scores with their performances. Look for this weekend's meet to be a battle as both teams strive to improve their position in the national rankings. 

Southern Utah Notes

• The Thunderbirds had a historic performance at Utah State in early February, scoring 196.800. (9th best in program history and 2nd best in conference history) 

• Southern Utah is ranked #31 on the vault, #26 on bars, #39 on beam, and #50 on Floor. 

• Freshman Niya Randolph scored a 9.900 on the floor last week, setting a new career high as well as tying a team-high for the season.

• Southern Utah scored an outstanding 49.225 on the beam and floor last week. The Thunderbirds are finding consistency and hitting their stride in the two events. 

• Freshman Niya Randolph was named the Gymnast of the Week for the MPSF conference for her outstanding performance against Boise State last week at home.

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

• 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 four 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 also named the Assistant Coach of the Year for the conference.   

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