Aggies to face Division II schools
Competing in California seems to present tough competition. Things tend to look a little more interesting though when you throw two Division II opponents in the mix.
“I don’t like playing Division II schools,” said Utah State University gymnastics Head Coach Ray Corn. “They have everything to gain and we have everything to lose.”
The Aggies will compete in their first multi-team meet Saturday as they travel to San Jose State University for the Spartan-hosted event. The University of Alaska-Anchorage and the University of California Davis, both Division II schools, will also compete.
“We all know how hard it is to win in California,” Corn said. “This meet does worry me. I did not know there were going to be all of these Division II schools.”
Coming off a bye week and a second-place finish out of three teams on Jan. 12, Corn said he expects a tough battle from San Jose State.
Returning only four letterwinners, compared to the USU total of 11, the Spartans finished the 2001 season ranked 49th in the country. The Aggies finished last season ranked 31st in the country, losing in the first round of the NCAA Regionals.
Another program Corn expects to be ready to challenge is UC Davis. Also nicknamed the Aggies, UC Davis finished second in a three-team meet, falling to Seattle Pacific 190.325-189.3 on Jan. 18.
Alaska-Anchorage currently holds a 2-0 record, defeating Bridgeport on Jan. 18 (177.75-177.3) and Jan. 19 (181.425-179.200).
“We are still in our preseason,” Corn said to the team. “I just want you to go and be aggressive.”
Corn said his team needs to be aggressive starting on the first event and continue from there. When a crucial point in a routine is hit, the competitors confidence should be high, Corn said, and every step needs to be more aggressive.
Statistically favored, the Aggies hold the lead in each series (6-1 over SJSU, 2-0 over Alaska-Anchorage and 1-0 over UC Davis) between the teams they will meet Saturday.
The California Bay area is also a traditionally low-scoring area, Corn said, which should favor the Aggies.
Despite having the advantage, Utah State will have to contend with losing uneven bars competitor Brittnee Penman, who injured her neck on the vault against Arizona State on Jan. 11.
“[Penman] is doing well,” Corn said. “She is attending all of her classes and is not experiencing a whole lot of pain.”
Expected to be done competing for this season, Corn said anything could happen.
“Who knows?” Corn said. “Like Britt said, she is a fast healer.”
With Penman out, the Aggies are happy to welcome back Kirra Seeley, who has been working on a new routine, to the bars. USU will also see Stephanie Gordon, who has been out due to a pulled groin, on vault and Jessica Rands, who recently had meniscus surgery.
Currently ranked No. 32 in the nation, the Aggies entered last week’s rankings at No. 21.
“I don’t care,” Corn said. “We’ve done a lot of manipulation and watering down of our routines to avoid injury.”
Following a bye week last season, the Aggies dropped from being ranked in the 20’s to the 40’s, Corn said.
“Our season does not really begin and we are not really going to try and assault those rankings until we get to Boise.”
Corn said he feels the meets and events starting at Boise will be more judging-friendly.
Following the four-team meet Saturday in California, the Aggies will travel to Boise State on Feb. 1 and return home to take on BYU on Feb. 6.