Gymnasts take third in quad meet
USU at SUU
Utah State gymnastics topped Southern Utah University for the first time since 2005 to kick off Spring Break. The Aggies beat the T-birds by just under a point 194.200-193.700.
Sophomore Paige Jones and freshman Sarah Landes each had a share of the vault title, Jones won the floor and all-around titles outright, and senior Rebecca Holliday won bars.
Opening on bars, junior Amelia Montoya and freshman Kaitlyn Betts each scored a 9.750, and Holliday landed a 9.800.
On vault Betts flipped to a 9.675 and Jones and Landes tied, each with 9.825. The Aggies’ total score of 48.600 on the event was their second best of the season.
Holliday scored a 9.750 on floor before Jones tied her career high with a 9.850.
Freshmen Ashley Follet and Samantha Wagner were the top Aggie beam workers, each with 9.725.
USU at Arizona
The Aggies saw their final action of the week in a quad meet hosted by the University of Arizona on Friday. USU picked up its top road score of the season on bars and second-best overall score of the season but ended up in third.
The meet was won by No. 18 Arizona followed by Bridgeport University in second. The Aggies held on to third place at 192.975, just ahead of the Air Force Academy at 192.175.
The Aggies were without junior Amanda Watamaniuk, who suffered a season-ending injury in practice.
Jones was the top Aggie, tying for second on bars. She also tied for fourth in the all-around – one spot ahead of Holliday.
“We started a little slow,” Jones said. “We had a few uncharacteristic mistakes.”
The Aggies opened up the meet on floor. Freshman Susie Miller scored a 9.725 after Montoya posted a 9.775.
“It was a good performance,” Utah State head coach Jeff Richards said. “We faltered in the second half of our lineup.”
On vault Jones registered 9.725 and Landes scored a 9.775.
Utah State was on bars for the third rotation when Landes and Montoya each landed a 9.825. Jones scored a 9.850.
“We were aggressive and confident,” Jones said. “We hit.”
On beam Wagner posted a career-best 9.800 and Jones stuck a 9.775.
“Scorewise it seems to be our best event, but we have the most talent on beam and floor,” Richards said.
The Arizona meet was the Aggies’ final regular season meet before the Western Athletic Conference championships March 24.
– meredith.kinney@aggiemail.usu.edu