CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Flippin' Birds are making their 12th straight appearance in the NCAA Regional at the University of Utah on Thursday, April 3, in the 1:00 p.m. MT session. Southern Utah will take on UCLA, Minnesota, and Boise State in hopes of advancing to the Regional Final on April 5. All sessions will be available to stream on ESPN+, and live stats can be found on virti.us.
The Flippin' Birds are fresh from winning their third consecutive conference title and back-to-back MPSF Championship in Anchorage, Alaska. Southern Utah was led by all-around efforts of Niya Randolph (39.425) and Brinlee Christensen (39.275), who also led the team's incredible floor rotation, each scoring a 9.925. The Thunderbirds also had Ellie Cacciola and Mia Hampton tie 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.
Coach Scotty Bauman Said
"This team has been a joy to coach this season. They've worked hard, lifted each other up, and had a blast along the way. Winning another conference championship was a huge accomplishment, and now we get to take on some of the best in the country. We're excited, we're ready, and we can't wait to show what the Flippin' Birds can do!"
The Competition
The Flippion' Birds earned a spot in round two of the NCAA regional with their #24 ranking this season. Former MRGC opponents BYU and Utah State will square off in round one of the competition on Wednesday, April 2, at 2:00 p.m. MT. The winner of that duel will be placed into session two on Thursday against Utah, Stanford, and Denver. That session will begin at 7:00 p.m. MT.
UCLA
The UCLA gymnastics team has established itself as one of the nation's most dominant programs, blending elite talent with a legacy of excellence. Led by standout junior Jordan Chiles, a three-time Olympic medalist and 13-time All-American, the Bruins boast a deep and accomplished roster. Chiles has scored three perfect 10s this season and holds the No. 1 national ranking on floor. Graduate Chae Campbell, a 10-time All-American, continues to be a force on vault and beam, while senior Emma Malabuyo excels on beam with a season-best 9.975. The Bruins set a Big Ten Championship record with a 198.450 in their last meet, demonstrating their championship potential. Six gymnasts earned a total of 10 WCGA All-America honors this season, tying a school record and underscoring the team's depth. With a strong mix of experience and rising talent, UCLA is poised to make a statement in the postseason as they chase another national championship.
Boise State
The Broncos are coming off a strong performance at the 2025 Mountain West Championships, finishing second with a team score of 195.950. Emily Lopez shined once again, earning co-champion honors on vault (9.850) and bars (9.900), while Emma Loyim defended her floor title with a 9.875, becoming just the second Bronco in history to win back-to-back floor championships. The Broncos opened on beam with a 48.750, led by Sydney Kho's 9.850, before moving to floor, where Loyim, Bridget Kemp, and Elaina McGovern powered the team to a 49.075. Vault saw another solid effort, with Lopez guiding the squad to a 48.850. The team wrapped up on bars, where five gymnasts scored 9.800 or higher, highlighted by Lopez's 20th career event title. Boise State's three individual event titles marked their most at a conference championship since 2021. The Broncos have some incredible talent that could make an impact at the Regional.
Minnesota
Minnesota Gymnastics delivered a strong performance at the 2025 Big Ten Championships, finishing third with a score of 197.425. The Gophers showcased their depth across all events, with standout performances on the beam, where they posted a season-best 49.525, the eighth-best in program history. Jordyn Lyden tied for the bars event title with a 9.950, earning a spot on the Big Ten All-Championships Team. Ava Stewart and Sarah Moraw shined on beam, each setting career and season-highs with 9.925 scores, while Emily Koch and Lyden added 9.900s. Minnesota opened strong on the floor with a 49.425, led by Koch, Leah Gonsiorowski, and Lauren Pearl, scoring 9.900. Vault saw solid contributions from Mya Hooten and Stewart (9.875), while bars featured another stellar effort from Lyden, Stewart (9.900), and Teryn Crump (9.875). Head coach Jenny Hansen praised the team's resilience, particularly their attack on the beam, noting their continued improvement throughout the season.
Southern Utah Notes
National and Conference Rankings:
- No. 24 National Ranking
- Vault: Ranked 21st nationally (49.135 NQS).
- Floor: Ranked 18th nationally (49.325 NQS).
- Bars: Ranked 29th nationally (49.165 NQS).
- SUU led the MPSF on vault, bars, beam, and floor.
Major Award Winners:
- Southern Utah became the first program in MPSF history to sweep all five major end-of-year awards.
- MPSF Gymnast of the Year: Niya Randolph (Sophomore) — Second consecutive year receiving the award.
- MPSF Freshman of the Year: Mia Hampton (Freshman) — Earned eight Freshman of the Week awards.
- MPSF Specialist of the Year: Ellie Cacciola (Senior) — Ranked first in MPSF on vault and beam, second on floor.
- MPSF Head Coach of the Year: Scotty Bauman — Guided SUU to a No. 23 national ranking and conference-best NQS of 196.315.
- MPSF Assistant Coaches of the Year: Jamie Wysong and Jeff Richards — Recognized for leading top-ranked vault, floor, and bars squads.
- The Thunderbirds have earned 21 total Weekly Awards from the MPSF conference, including Hampton (8), Randolph (4), Bringhurst (1), Cacciola (2), Christensen (2), Gull (2), Miller (1), and Neff (1).
- The Flippin' Birds have won three consecutive Conference Championships in two separate conferences. Winning the Final MRGC Championship before transitioning to the MPSF and securing their first two titles in their new conference.
All-Conference Honors:
- 18 of 37 total All-MPSF selections awarded to SUU gymnasts.
- 11 First-Team All-MPSF honors — Most in the conference.
- Notable First-Team Honorees:
Record-Breaking Performances:
- Achieved a season-best score of 196.900 against No. 29 Boise State, tied for the third-highest score in MPSF history.
- Broke the 196-point barrier in nine meets this season.
Other Notable Performances:
- Niya Randolph: Scored a season-high 39.450 three times in the all-around and a conference-best 9.925 on bars.
- Mia Hampton: Posted a 9.900 on floor twice this season and finished the season ranked third in the MPSF on floor.
- Ellie Cacciola: Earned a conference-leading 9.870 NQS on vault and 9.865 NQS on beam.
Tickets On Sale Now
Help us pack the America First Event Center by buying your 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.
