Aggie gymnasts hope to improve RQS at Ohio State
In talking to his team’s upcoming opponent, Utah State gymnastics Head Coach Ray Corn received a big compliment about his squad.
“In a phone call to Ohio State last week I made the statement that Ohio State is still the best team we’ve seen, and they still are in my opinion,” Corn said. “And yet, a comment from their assistant coach, Patrick Dent, basically said, ‘No. You guys are the best team we’ve seen.'”
And this comes from a No. 15-ranked team that has played the likes of No. 2 Nebraska and No. 10 Michigan.
But the praise may be warranted as the Aggies are coming off a season high — and second-best all-time — score and are still on their way up.
Corn said Friday’s meet against North Carolina State, in which USU scored 196.350, was as close to perfect as the Aggies have come all season, but they can still improve.
“It can always get cleaner,” he said. “It can always get more exact. How much more? Gosh, I don’t know.”
Going on the road against OSU (9-4), which beat USU (9-9) in the Spectrum Feb. 28, USU will be looking to improve on its road scores and maybe get a little bit of revenge.
“We have every intention of going back to Ohio State and beating them, and they’re waiting for us,” Corn said.
In a quote released by the university, OSU Head Coach Larry Cox said, “I am sure [the Aggies] would love nothing more than to get a little revenge on our showing up at their place earlier this season when we defeated them.”
Although Utah State posted a high score in its final home meet, it didn’t do much to help its overall standings, No. 28 nationally and No. 7 in its region, because the rankings are based on the Regional Qualifying Score (RQS).
RQS is calculated by taking a team’s top six scores, three of which must be road scores, throwing out the highest score, and averaging the remaining. Utah State’s RQS is 195.360, up 0.160 from last week. It’s also the second-highest RQS, just behind 195.447, in school history.
USU gymnast Rachel Ropelato said Friday’s meet wasn’t that important because the Aggies were replacing an already high score.
“The next meets are the important ones,” she said. “We’ve got to replace a couple lower scores.”
The Aggies will be looking to replace a 194.350 they posted Feb. 14 at NC State, as well as working to defeat the Buckeyes.
“Whoever stays on the equipment and is the cleanest and the crispest, that’s the team that’s going to win,” Corn said. “But ultimately, no matter what, we’ve got to go there and score. And you’re not going to score if you fall.”
After having a week off since their last meet, the Aggies should be ready, Corn said.
“I think they’re cranked up for it,” he said.
Leading the team will be its three all-arounders: Senior Nicole Kilpatrick and freshmen Meagan Nelson and Jessica Parenti.
In the last meet, Kilpatrick posted the second-best ever USU all-around score — a 39.525. For her efforts, she was named the Western Gymnastics Conference co-Gymnast of the Week on Tuesday.
Nationally in the all-around, Nelson is ranked No. 31 at 39.285 and Kilpatrick is No. 36 at 39.250.
“Meagan and Nicole, competing in every meet, have been absolutely outstanding,” Corn said.
One potential complication in Utah State’s travel could be the conflict between the United States and Iraq.
Earlier in the week, the NCAA was considering postponing events, but announced Tuesday events would continue as scheduled.
Corn said he is happy competition will continue, though.
“I really am. Until something happens within our borders, I don’t think anything should stop,” he said.
The team will just deal with the situation the best it can and focus on competition, Corn said.
“I think it will be a nervous day on Friday and coming home as well,” he said. “We’ll get on the airplane and try to survive the tension of what’s going on out there in the real world and just have a great competition.”
The meet against Ohio State is Utah State’s final meet before the conference tournament March 29 in Cedar City.
–slbk5@cc.usu.edu