Aggies finish fifth at WAC Championship
When the Western Athletic Conference Gymnastics Championship hit the Spectrum this weekend, Utah State head coach Jeff Richards said the Aggies entered their home arena feeling ready.
“They looked confident, they looked aggressive, they didn’t hold up,” Richards said.
Aggie senior Rebecca Holliday agreed and said it was the team’s attitude that was really beneficial.
“We said any doubts you have get rid of them,” Holliday said. “Attack everything, don’t doubt yourself and get after everything.”
The Aggies finished in fifth place, but Richards said he was happy with the team’s performance.
“When we finished that last rotation – that fourth rotation – and we went up in the tunnel, I was proud of them,” he said.
The University of Denver won the meet with a total score of 196.350. Sacramento State finished second with a 195.675, followed by Southern Utah University in third, with a score of 195.025. San Jose State University sat in fourth with a 194.800, and the Aggies were .025 back with a 194.775.
The Aggies opened up on bars. Coming into the meet with the second-best bars average in the WAC, USU had a lot riding on its routines.
Freshman Sarah Landes led off with a 9.775. Her score was tied by fellow freshman Kaitlyn Betts. Senior Rebecca Holliday stuck her landing for a 9.750, but it was sophomore Paige Jones with the high score for Utah State – 9.800. Junior Amelia Montoya also scored high, landing her double layout dismount for a 9.725.
USU was on the balance beam for the second rotation. Holliday put up a big score with a high gainer dismount, earning a 9.875. Landes and freshman Samantha Wagner tied at 9.725.
For the third rotation the Aggies moved to floor. On their way to a season-best team score on the event, four Aggies scored above 9.8. Montoya converted on big tumbling passes for a 9.800. Jones added a 9.825, and freshman Christina Nye landed her career-best 9.850 and a second team all-WAC honor.
“She really shined,” Richards said. “That was great to see.”
Landes was the top Aggie on the event picking up a 9.875, earning first team all-WAC honors. She said she felt her routine come together.
“Today I got out there and did the best I could,” Landes said.
For the final rotation the Aggies were on vault. Betts scored a career-high 9.825 and was honored with second team all-WAC. Richards said the big score is something the Aggies have been waiting for from their young gymnast.
“All season we’ve been working on upgrades and tonight we tried to put them in,” Richards said. “(Betts) had some upgrades and it really paid off.”
Freshman Breyanna Aufiero struggled during warm-ups but landed a 9.600, her career best. Holliday added a hop onto her landing but scored a 9.525 to give her an all-around score of 38.900.
“I had a feeling before vault that I was really close to it,” Holliday said. “Then when I took that step, I was like ‘I bet I’m going to be one-tenth away.'”
Landes’ score of 9.750 on vault gave her a 39.125 all-around. Both she and Holliday scored well enough for all-WAC honors.
The pair have a chance to move on to regionals in the all-around competition, which will be held in Salt Lake City on April 7.
– meredith.kinney@aggiemail.usu.edu