Defending champs are first gymnastics foe

Julie Ann Grosshans

The USU gymnastics team will open its 2001 season on the road as the Aggies take on the defending Big West champion Boise State on Monday.

Boise State is coming off an 11-13 finish for the 2000 season. In an impressive postseason performance, the Broncos were able to win the 2000 Big West Championship and finished fifth at the NCAA West Regional.

BSU ended the season ranked 22 last season and is currently No. 25 on the 2001 Preseason Coaches Poll.

The Aggies are ranked 27 on the poll.

USU holds a 39-4 all-time record against BSU that includes a 15-1 record on the road. The Aggies were able to defeat the Aggies two of their three meetings with Boise State last season, 191.625-190.100 at the Spectrum and 194.725-194.650 at the Boise State Pavillion, prior to the loss to the Broncos in the Big West Championship, 196.225-194.250.

“I think that the athletes have a level of expectation that is quite high because after the regional meet last year half the team was in the gym the following Monday morning training for this upcoming year,” said USU head coach Ray Corn.

Following the match against the Broncos, the team will travel to Berkley, Calif., to compete in a quad-meet including University of California, University of Arizona (No. 20), and Oklahoma University (No. 21) on Jan. 21.