Abrego keeps on smiling
Utah State junior gymnast Jessenia Abrego has a lot to smile about.
Having fully recovered from knee surgery that kept her out of the conference championships last season, Abrego returned as one of the team’s most powerful and important floor and vault performers.
“She is a young lady that absolutely thrives on competition,” said coach Ray Corn. “Competition is the ultimate part and culmination of her week. You can’t teach it. You can’t bottle it. Therefore, you can’t buy it. It’s got to come from within your heart, and that is what Jessenia is all about.”
Abrego said she loves to go out there and play on the crowd’s reactions.
“I just love going out there and competing and helping the team out.”
Abrego has done her share of helping the team this season. She holds the Aggies’ best vault average this season with a 9.754 mark and the best uneven bar average this season with a 9.704 mark.
Having placed in the top three on the vault in five of the Aggies’ last six meets, including two 9.900s, Abrego is looking to reclaim her 1999 all-Big West vault title.
“I’m just going to go out there and do my best,” Abrego said. “Hopefully I can win Big West again on vault.”
The vault comes pretty easily to her, but Abrego said she considers floor her favorite event.
“I get to dance around in front of the crowd,” Abrego said.
Looking to be an Aggie all-around competitor next season, Abrego said she feels that she struggles with beam, which is the only event she is currently not competing on.
“I’m just not very consistent on it,” Abrego said.
With the regular season over and the Aggies headed into postseason action, Abrego said she feels happy with the team experience this season.
“I though we did really well for a team this young,” Abrego said. “We’re doing pretty good, and I’m proud of that.”
Abrego began gymnastics at age 12 through the influence of her sister. A Liberal Arts and Science major, Abrego said she plans to enjoy her next year of school and have fun.