CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Flippin' Birds are on the road once again on Monday, February 9, for a quad-meet at Utah State University. Southern Utah will be taking on the Aggies along with Mountain Pacific Sports Federation foes, Sacramento State and Alaska Anchorage. The meet begins at 6:30 p.m. MT and can be streamed on the Mountain West Network. 

The Flippin' Birds last competed on February 6 at home in the America First Event Center. SUU posted a season-high 196.000 in the meet with some outstanding individual performances. Junior Niya Randolph continued to be a force, winning the all-around title with a 39.300. Senior Kayla Pardue took home the crown on the vault with an incredible 9.925. On the Bars, junior Maria Ferguson placed second with a 9.850, while Randolph and junior Alex Routsis tied for third with a 9.825. Randolph and sophomore Emma Nipper tied for second, each scoring 9.875. 

Coach Scotty Bauman Said

"Our focus is on continuing to build on the momentum we created at home. We saw a lot of growth in our lineup last week, and now it's about carrying that confidence on the road. If we stay disciplined, trust our preparation, and compete the way we know we're capable of, this meet is another great opportunity for us to keep raising our standard."

The Competition 

Utah State

Utah State enters the heart of the season ranked 27th nationally, with a lineup that continues to trend upward behind strong depth and solid event winners. The Aggies are currently ranked 32nd on vault, 28th on bars, 32nd on beam, and an impressive 20th on floor, where they've consistently found momentum. Most recently, USU posted a 195.400 to finish second at the Air Force Tri Meet, improving to 8-3 overall and 3-1 in Mountain West action. The meet featured five career-high performances and event titles from junior Isabella Vater on floor and Nyla Morabito and freshman Alianna Valdez on vault. Vater has emerged as a steady scoring threat, especially on the floor, while Morabito continues to build one of the most decorated vault resumes in program history. With contributions across the lineup and growing confidence on floor, Utah State remains a dangerous and competitive team capable of pushing scores higher as we reach the middle of the season.

Sacramento State

Sacramento State entered week six ranked 48th nationally, continuing to build depth and consistency across the lineup despite navigating early adversity. The Hornets are currently ranked 55th on vault, 50th on bars, 39th on beam, and 57th on floor, with beam standing out as a potential strength. In their most recent meet at Boise State, a short-handed Sacramento State squad posted a 193.425 while competing against a strong field, highlighted by Lexi Frank's career-high 9.825 on beam to tie for the event title. Bars proved to be the Hornets' top-scoring rotation on the night, led by Kara Houghton's 9.825 and solid contributions from Chloe Cohen and Makayla Townsend. With athletes stepping into expanded roles and proven competitors like Frank, Houghton, and Sarah Lutrel anchoring the lineup, Sacramento State continues to show resilience and growth as it looks to build momentum.

Alaska Anchorage

Alaska Anchorage enters the matchup ranked 69th nationally, continuing to develop across the lineup while leaning on key returners for steady production. The Seawolves are currently ranked 75th on vault, 63rd on bars, 66th on beam, and 77th on floor, with recent performances showing encouraging progress, especially on beam. In their latest outing at the Air Force tri-meet, UAA posted a season-high 190.325, highlighted by junior Claudia Lessig's season-best 38.250 in the all-around and a standout 9.85 on beam that tied one of the top marks in program history. Beam proved to be a bright spot as three Seawolves placed among the top finishers, while senior Madelyn Gomez provided leadership on vault and bars. With Lessig anchoring multiple events and a young core gaining confidence, Alaska Anchorage continues to build momentum as the season moves forward.

Southern Utah Notes

Week 5 National, Regional, and Conference Rankings:

• No. 26 National Ranking 
• Vault: Ranked 29th nationally (48.869 Ave).
• Floor: Ranked 26th nationally (49.025 Ave).
• Bars: Ranked 32nd nationally (48.844 Ave).
• Beam: Ranked 24th nationally (48.869 Ave).
• SUU continues to lead the MPSF on vault, bars, beam, and floor so far this season.

MPSF Awards:

• Southern Utah swept the MPSF Weekly awards in three out of four weeks so far. 
• The Flippin' Birds have tallied nine Conference Weekly awards so far: Randolph (3), Hall (3), Pardue (1), Hampton (1), and Routsis (1). 
• In 2025, Southern Utah became the first program in MPSF history to sweep all five major end-of-year awards.
• 2025 MPSF Gymnast of the Year: Niya Randolph (Sophomore) — Second consecutive year receiving the award.
• 2025 MPSF Freshman of the Year: Mia Hampton (Freshman) — Earned eight Freshman of the Week awards.
• 2025 MPSF Head Coach of the Year: Scotty Bauman — Guided SUU to a No. 21 national ranking and conference-best NQS of 196.315.
• 2025 MPSF Assistant Coaches of the Year: Jamie Wysong and Jeff Richards — Recognized for leading top-ranked vault, floor, and bars squads.
• 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.

Top Performances of 2026 so far:

• Team's high score this season is 196.000
• Niya Randolph: Scored a 2026 season-high 39.400 in the all-around and a season-best 9.900 on bars in the opening meet against Boise State
• Kayla Pardue holds the team's top vault score with a 9.925
• Mia Hampton and Niya Randolph are tied to the team's top mark on the bars with a 9.900
• The beam team holds a three-way tie for the top score of 9.875 with Rylee Miller, Niya Randolph, and Mia Hampton
• Berlin Hall is the floor leader so far this season with a 9.875, which she has scored twice 

Season Tickets On Sale Now

Don't miss a moment as the Flippin' Birds pursue greatness and soar to new heights in 2026! Help us pack the America First Event Center by buying your season tickets today! Visit tbirdtickets.com to reserve your seats! 

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