No. 4 Utes will host the Aggies Tuesday in Salt Lake
After coming out on top in two consecutive home meets, the USU gymnastics team will hit the road for two meets, traveling first to Salt Lake City Tuesday to take on in-state rival – and No. 4 in the nation – University of Utah.
“We are trying to do everything possible to focus the first third of our season with that meet on the road at Utah,” said head coach Ray Corn. “I think we can do that.”
With their only loss of the season from defending national champion UCLA, the Utes hold a 3-1 record. Utah recorded its season-high 196.400 on Jan. 26 against the University of Arizona.
Additionally, Utah holds an all-time 72-3 advantage over the Aggies, which includes an unblemished 31-0 record in the Huntsman Center.
In the last meeting between the two, the Utes ran all over the Aggies, 197.075-193.175.
“We’re excited; it will be fun,” said sophomore all-arounder Tina Ellis. “We are going to go out and do what we did here [against Southern Utah], improving more, staying on the equipment and hopefully hitting 24 for 24. Just doing our best.”
One of the keys to an Aggie win on the road at Utah will be a healthy team.
“We need to make sure that we keep our troops healthy,” Corn said.
To do this, Corn has placed competitors like Kristin Bloom on the sidelines to make sure she is completely ready for the important match on Tuesday.
Though the Aggies will look to all-arounders Ellis and Nicole Kilpatrick to lead the team against the Utes, everyone will be a contributing factor.
“It takes all 18 girls for us to be successful,” Corn said.
Following the match Tuesday, the Aggies will travel to face No. 24 University of Denver Pioneers Saturday.