Gymnast enjoy taste of thoughts of warm weather
The palm trees were not blowing in the gentle breeze as the waves crashed against the shore Wednesday, but Boise State University freshman Marie Lucas felt right at home.
Lucas, a 5-foot-2-inch gymnast from Ewa, Hawaii, recorded her first career 10.000 mark on the beam en route to a team record 49.950 score on the event.
The meet was Lucas’ second collegiate competition, and although she said she didn’t know right off her performance was deserving of perfect marks, she said it felt awesome.
“It was like karma,” Boise State Head Coach Yvonne Sandmire said.
It was not enough for the Broncos though, as they fell 193.400-193.350 to the Aggies in the Spectrum.
The victory was only the second of its type for USU this season, the first coming Jan. 4 against Cal State Fullerton.
One difference between the win over the Titans and the win over the Broncos was the theme.
The Utah State marketing department themed Wednesday night’s meet Hawaii Night because it was something that was done during the women’s volleyball season and seemed to be a success, assistant director of marketing Kim Torman said.
Another key to the Hawaiian theme was the fact that it’s cold in Logan and everyone wants to be where it’s warm, Torman said.
“I’d like to think it helped me [being Hawaii Night],” Lucas said. “It had a little big of Hawaii feeling here [in the Spectrum].”
Lucas was not the only one in the Hawaiian mood. Aggie Head Coach Ray Corn and assistant coaches Mark Lee and Quin Shannon also dressed for the occasion, each donning flowered Hawaiian-style shirts.
“We got a kick out of it,” freshman Jessica Rands said.
Rands recorded a career-high 9.825 on the vault.
“It was great to see our coaches dressed up. I think it made them become a little bit more fun and relax a little bit,” she said.
Corn said he thought the night was a fun experience, even though he had never dressed like it before.
It was something different he said and he said, he thought everyone enjoyed it.
Despite capturing their second win, Aggie gymnasts and fans won’t see Corn dressed in the floral attire.
“I’m not that superstitious,” Corn said.
Former USU gymnast and current undergraduate assistant coach junior Tina Ellis, who also wore a Hawaiian shirt, said she enjoyed the night and hopes to see more themed nights in the future.