CEDAR CITY, Utah — The Flippin' Birds have done it again! Southern Utah repeats as Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Champions, earning their third straight conference title. The Thunderbirds finished with a team score of 196.625 to secure the victory.
Ellie Cacciola and Mia Hampton tied for second place on the vault, scoring a 9.850. Brinlee Christensen, Isabella Neff, and Niya Randolph finished in a three-way tie for second place on the bars, scoring 9.875, while Maria Ferguson (9.875) and Rylee Miller (9.850) finished in the two and three spots on the beam. On the floor, Randolph and Christensen tied atop the podium with a 9.925. Randolph finished second in the all-around with a 39.425, while Christensen wasn't far behind, scoring 39.275.
Head Coach Scotty Bauman Said
Meet Recap
Vault (49.000)
The Flippin' Birds came out strong on the vault, delivering a powerful opening rotation. Senior Ellie Cacciola led the charge with an explosive 9.850, while sophomore Mackenzie Kelly brought good energy with a 9.750. Freshman Mia Hampton kept the momentum going with a clean 9.850, followed by Niya Randolph's controlled 9.825. Brinlee Christensen added a steady 9.725 to the lineup, and sophomore Ellie Thomson closed the event with a 9.650, setting a strong foundation for Southern Utah.
Bars (49.225)
Southern Utah carried its momentum to the bars, showcasing impressive execution. Randolph set the tone with a crisp 9.875, followed by senior Isabella Neff with a smooth and controlled 9.875. Mia Hampton was next, scoring a solid 9.800 before Maria Ferguson delivered an eye-catching performance for 9.750, sticking her landing with confidence. Christensen swung through her routine for a standout 9.875, while sophomore Kendall McGuire capped the rotation with a polished 9.800, giving the Thunderbirds a 98.225 at the halfway point.
Beam (49.075)
On the beam, the Thunderbirds worked to maintain their edge. Randolph opened with a poised and composed 9.800. Christensen followed with a steady 9.750 before sophomore Elliot Bringhurst fought through for a determined 9.800, while Cacciola battled to a 9.400. Sophomore Rylee Miller added a 9.850, and Ferguson closed out the event with a confident 9.875, anchoring the lineup with reliability. Southern Utah headed to the final rotation trailing UC Davis by a tenth of a point.
Floor (49.325)
The Flippin' Birds wrapped up the meet on the floor, feeding off the crowd's energy. Hampton kicked things off with a lively 9.875, setting the pace for the rotation. Sophomore Alyssa Fernandez followed with a confident 9.775 before Christensen wowed the judges with an electric 9.925. Randolph kept the energy high with a matching 9.925, and Cacciola added a dynamic 9.825 to maintain the momentum. Senior Taylor Gull sealed the night with a 9.625, closing the competition and leaving the Flippin' Birds with a 196.625.
Next Up
The Flippin' Birds will await their placement in the NCAA Regional on Monday, March 24 at 10:00 a.m. MT. If you would like to join the team to find out where they will compete, make your way to the Student Center living room to watch the NCAA Selection Show.
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