Ags fall to SUU in tight meet; Kilpatrick wins all-around
The Utah State gymnastics squad finished first on the vault, beam, uneven bars and the all-around, but it still wasn’t enough.
Southern Utah University dominated the floor exercise Monday to edge out the Aggies, 195.550-195.150 in Cedar City. SUU improves to 6-0 while USU drops to 3-4.
“I do believe we came out a little bit flat and low on energy,” said USU Head Coach Ray Corn. “I’m taking nothing away from Southern Utah University. They’re a great team and are very, very good. We caught them on an extreme good night.”
Trailing by 0.125 entering the final rotation, the Thunderbirds posted a 49.450 on the floor, their second highest event score ever, on their way to the fourth best team score in school history.
SUU gymnasts finished in the top six spots in the event as Thunderbird Sandi Lyman won with a 9.925. Jayme Morgan finished at 9.900 and four Thunderbirds tied at 9.875.
Megan Nelson was the top Aggie gymnast in the event, finishing with a 9.875. As a team, USU posted a 48.625.
The Aggies started the meet on bars, and although they hit five-of-six routines for a 49.025, the one fall cost them.
During her routine, Ashley Barr fell and injured to her knee. Corn said the extent of the injury is unknown, but it is possible Barr tore her ACL.
Jessica Parenti led USU on the bars, tying for first with a 9.850.
Southern Utah was close behind Utah State with a 49.000.
Moving onto the vault, Corn said USU vaulted well but that he made an error in coaching Parenti. Corn said she was struggling in her warm up but he insisted on her doing a twist in her vault instead of a layout.
“I do believe I made a bad mistake,” he said.
Parenti was unable to hit the vault and USU had to count a 9.475 by Katie Rutherford as its fifth score for a 48.575. The Thunderbirds scored 48.600 in the event.
Aggie Nicole Kilpatrick won the event with a 9.875.
On the beam, Parenti finished first with a 9.875 as the Aggies outscored SUU 48.925-48.500.
For the second straight meet, Kilpatrick led the Aggies in the all-around, winning the title with a 39.375. Friday against the University of Utah, Kilpatrick placed second with a career-high 38.475.
Nelson scored over 39.000 for the fifth time this season, posting a 39.350 to take second. In her second meet competing in the all-around, Parenti finished with a 38.000.
“In the all-around Megan Nelson and Nicole Kilpatrick were absolutely awesome,” Corn said.
Despite the loss, Corn said he is not disappointed in the team’s performance, but rather feels good about it scoring so well on the road.
“This 195.150 truly helps our cause,” he said.
The score helps the Aggies because qualification for the regional tournament is based on a regional qualifying score (RQS).
Utah State will compete in its third meet in a week when it travels to North Carolina on Friday for a four-team meet. The Aggies will face host No. 25 NC State, the University of Rhode Island and the College of William and Mary.
“This is going to be the toughest part of our season,” Corn said.
With such a quick turnaround until the meet, he said the team will need to be prepared mentally. Competing in matches, especially on the road, without much time between them, “defines the character of a team,” Corn said.
After the meet, the Aggies will then have a week off until they return home to face BYU on Feb. 21.
–slbk5@cc.usu.edu