Following tri-meet USU’s Landes named gymnast of the week
Utah State gymnastics came in behind Boise State and in front of UC Davis in a tri-meet at home Friday.
The Aggies scored a 194.275 overall, just 1.7 points behind Boise State’s 195.975, and UC Davis scored a 193.550.
Utah State’s Sarah Landes, a senior on the team, won the all-around competition with a season-high 39.225. She led the Aggies with a 9.8 or higher in three of her four events. She scored a 9.850 on vault, a 9.800 on bars, a 9.775 on beam and a 9.800 on her floor exercise.
Later on in the week Landes was named the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference gymnast of the week.
“I’m very happy to have Sarah represent Utah State as our first MRGC Gymnast of the Week,” said USU head coach Nadalie Walsh. “This is the highest honor a gymnast can earn in our new conference, and she definitely deserves it. Sarah works hard and is passionate about the sport, and even more so, about the program. We wouldn’t be where we are as a team without all her contributions.”
Dani Judal of UC Davis took second place in all-around with a score of 38.700 and Boise’s Kelsey Morris took third with a 38.450.
The Aggies began their night on the vault, where Landes took second place with her season high 9.850. Boise State’s Ciera Perkins took first place in the event when she scored a perfect 10.000. After the first rotation the Aggies had a team score of 48.925.
Utah State then moved to the uneven bars where Landes again led the Aggies and set a new season-high record with a 9.800. Redshirt freshman Keri Peel and junior JoAnna Cuba tied for fifth place with a score of 9.775, which tied Peel’s career high. USU recorded a 48.100 on the event leaving them at 97.025 going into the third rotation.
“I think gymnastics is a sport of perfection, and it’s hard week in and week out to be on your game and to be absolutely perfect,” Walsh said. “I think the girls had a lot of mistakes, and we just need to go back in the gym and fix those.”
The Aggies moved to the beam third where junior Michelle Yasukochi notched a second-place finish with a score of 9.850. Landes and sophomore Hayley Sanzotti tied for seventh place overall with a score of 9.775, and Martinez placed ninth with a 9.750, contributing to Utah State’s overall beam score of 48.800.
In the final rotation the Aggies competed on the floor where Landes once again led USU with a season-high score of 9.800 and a second-place overall finish. Sophomore Bailey McIntire took sixth place with a 9.775, followed by senior Susie Miller with a 9.725. Utah State finished the rotation with a 48.450 team score.
“Coming home, they were extra excited,” Walsh said. “Next week we’ll be here, so they can be a little more calm in their rhythm and do their routines a little bit better.”
The Aggies will continue their season Friday at 7 p.m. when they host Seattle Pacific in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
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Twitter: @missemilymduke