Aggie gymnasts get second win at BSU
For the Utah State gymnastics team, Friday night’s win was largely due to three freshman gymnasts, as the Aggies won the first of their back-to-back meets against Boise State, 194.550- 193.400.
The team pulled off 10 career and season highs during the meet with seven of them split in between freshmen Katie Omann, Jackie Fogli and Megan Tschida.
“They’re tough,” Utah State Head Coach Ray Corn said about the freshmen. “They did an outstanding job.”
For USU (2-4) it was its second win of the season against its first opponent not ranked in the top 25, in what Corn said was a tough house to compete in.
“You have to be sharp [and] we had them prepared for that,” Corn said of playing at Boise. “It was a great competition.”
For Utah State, the night started on the uneven bars, where Ashley Barr took the lead with a season high of 9.7 for third place in the event.
She was followed by co-captain Rachel Ropelato and Tschida who tied at 9.675, giving Ropelato a season high.
Omann competed on the bars for the first time, and had her first of four career highs, at 9.65.
“I was kind of nervous but my team needed a hit,” she said about her bars routine.
She competed in three events and was an exhibition on beam. “It feels great [especially] since our team’s so together and so behind me. I think that’s why I did so well,” she said.
The team moved on to the vault where, once again, the freshmen led the way. Fogli managed first place on the event with a career high of 9.875. She was followed by Omann at second place, with her career high of 9.825. Rachael Mandy and Meagan Nelson helped out, both scoring 9.725.
“I had a shaky warm up and I felt like I had something to prove,” Fogli said about her vault. “I know I can do it so I just went out there and did what I can do.”
After the second rotation USU was leading 96.950-96.650.
Utah State then went on to sweep the floor competition taking the top three spots in the event.
Liesel Kohler, co-captain Alex Martin and Tschida made it happen. Kohler and Tschida tied at first with 9.875.
The score gave Kohler a season high and Tschida a career high. Martin was right behind with a 9.85.
This meet was the first in two that Tschida was able to compete in the all-around because of her tender ankles. She was hurt, but didn’t show it.
“They feel good,” she said about her ankles. “They feel like money.”
The team had their biggest lead going into the balance beam, 146.025- 144.625.
“That is a team that went to the balance beam with a great deal of determination,” Corn said. “They didn’t break and got the job done.”
It was Fogli who got the job done for the Aggies, taking first place on the beam and getting a career high of 9.825.
Fogli was originally not competing on the beam but was put in to take Jessica Parenti’s place. Parenti has been recovering from sickness and was fatigued.
“She came roaring and not only won the beam but secured the win for us,” Corn said of Fogli’s performance. Tschida also helped on the beam as she tied her season high of 9.775.
With the win, the team moved back into the top 25 for the first time since falling out in the first week of January. The Aggies are now ranked No. 25 nationally.
The team will take on Boise State once again in the Spectrum on Friday at 6:45 p.m.
-vramirez@cc.usu.edu