CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Flippin' Birds will return home to take on former conference foe Boise State. The Thunderbirds will square off with the Broncos on Friday, February 9, at the America First Event Center. The meet will begin at 7:00 p.m. MT and will be broadcast on Overnght.  

This will be the first of two meetings between the two former MRGC members. The Thunderbirds are coming off an outstanding road meet at Utah State, where Southern Utah came away with the win 196.800 to 196.275. The Broncos are coming off a big win over the Iowa State Cyclones 196.525-195.550. 

Ring In The Champions

The 2023 Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference Champion Flippin' Birds will be on hand Friday evening to be presented with their Championship Rings. The recognition will take place near the end of the meet before final scores are announced. 

Meet Information

Southern Utah vs. Boise State

Date: Friday, February 9, 2024

March In: 7:00 PM MT

Venue: America First Event Center

Live Stats: session

Broadcast: overnght.com

Coach Scotty Bauman Said

"It is always great to host Boise State, they are a very good team that is well coached and competitive year in and year out. We are excited to get back to the AFEC and compete in front of our amazing home crowd." 

Ties That Bind

The Flippin' Birds and the Broncos are connected by more than just former conference affiliation. The two teams recruit in similar areas and, as such, battle for many of the same athletes. This sometimes leads to siblings choosing one school or another, as was the case for the Kho family. Boise State sophomore Sydney Kho is the younger sister of Caitlin and Kaylee Kho, who helped the Flippin' Birds to the MRGC Championship last season. Current Southern Utah Freshman Maria Ferguson is the sister of Boise State Sophomore Anna Ferguson. Both sisters could potentially perform in Friday's meet.  

The Competition

The Boise State Gymnastics team continues to make waves in the collegiate gymnastics scene, currently holding a national ranking of 32nd. Their strongest event lies in their dynamic floor routines, where they have jumped to the #23 spot in the country. Additionally, they showcase their finesse on the balance beam, securing the #24 position nationally, while their performances on vault and bars, though not as highly ranked, still exhibit their commitment to excellence, standing at 42nd 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. 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 last week, scoring 196.800. (9th best in program history and 2nd best in conference history) 

• Southern Utah is ranked #29 on the vault, #24 on bars, #44 on beam, and #52 on Floor. 

• Sophomore Kennedi McClain posted new career highs in both events last week, scoring 9.875 on the vault and an astounding 9.950 on the beam.

• Freshman Niya Randolph scored a 9.925 on the bars at Utah State, setting a new career high as well as a team-high for the season.

• Southern Utah scored an outstanding 49.375 on the beam last week, which comes in as the 4th highest score in program history and sets a new MPSF conference record.

• The Flippin' Birds swept the weekly awards for the MPSF. Freshman Niya Randolph was named the Gymnast of the Week, while fellow newcomer Alyssa Fernandez earned the title Freshman of the Week, and Sophomore Kennedi McClain grabbed the Specialist of the Week award. 

• 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.   

Tickets On Sale Now

Help us pack the America First Event Center by buying your season tickets today! Visit tbirdtickets.com to reserve your seats! 

Follow Us

For all the latest on Southern Utah gymnastics, follow @SUUGym on Twitter, @SUUGymastics on Instagram, and like the Southern Utah Gymnastics Facebook page.

Donate

To help support Thunderbird athletics, consider making a donation today! To learn more about how you can support, click here.