Bidding for a trip to Nationals
Utah State gymnast Nicole Kilpatrick has been to Regionals before – with a team. This year will be slightly different, though. The senior will be on the floor of competition as an individual.
Something freshman Meagan Nelson and Jessica Parenti know about. The two are fresh out of club and say they can both remember the feel of having to compete for oneself and not the team.
So the trio can all help one another as they take the floor Saturday at Regionals at the University of Utah. The meet is slated to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Sophomore Rachael Ropelato was also invited to Regionals as an alternate.
“Since I’ve been there before, I’m going to try to help these guys out,” Kilpatrick said. “The atmosphere is a little bit different. I know what to expect.”
But it all boils down to the same thing for Kilpatrick – it’s just another meet. Kilpatrick said the Aggies have to go out there with the same attitude as every other meet, and just stick their routines.
And that is exactly what Utah State Head Coach Ray Corn is expecting the women to do.
“Sticking landings, sticking vaults and perfect execution is what is going to get them to the national championships,” Corn said. “I think all three have an excellent opportunity [of moving on]. It’s going to be tough though.”
Perhaps even more tough for Kilpatrick. While practicing on vault last Saturday, Kilpatrick’s hand was a little lower than usual and Corn said he was unable to catch it. She landed on her neck and has been seeing trainers every day since.
Corn said despite the injury, he is certain the senior will be in Salt Lake City for Regionals.
“Knowing Nicole, I don’t think that will stop her,” he said.
Kilpatrick finished the season first on the team’s all-time average list on floor (9.844), second on vault (9.833), fourth in the all-around (39.071) and sixth on bars (9.772).
Corn said the routines would likely not change for Regionals, because he doesn’t want to mess with the skills that got them there in the first place. It has been a different situation as far as practice is concerned though.
“It’s been hard training,” Corn said. “I can’t even recall how we used to do this. What we did is make sure they don’t train by themselves. We have half the team coming in on Monday and half the team coming in on Tuesday to make it seem normal, although I can already tell you that the girls know that it is not normal.”
Another difference for Regionals is whom the Aggies will be competing with. Kilpatrick will join California, Nelson will compete with Denver and Parenti will be with Stanford.
Interestingly enough, none of the women know any of the competitors they will be with. However, Kilpatrick said she knows some of Stanford’s women, while Jessica knows some people on California.
Parenti said Corn said it is somewhat difficult to not know someone on the other team because, if one did know someone, you could assimilate with her.
Nelson finished her first season at USU with the best all-around average in school history at 39.225, second on beam (9.777) and bars (9.814) and third on vault (9.800) and floor (9.835).
Parenti is second in all-around season average (39.095) and fourth on bars (9.777).
All of the women said there is not as much pressure come Saturday, because they are going out there and competing for themselves.
And, as two collegiate careers are just beginning, one is coming to an end.
“[I’m going to] have fun [in Salt Lake],” Kilpatrick said. “It may be one of the last meets I’ll ever compete in, so I’m going to try to go out on a positive note.”
-juag@cc.usu.edu