Resilience a trait of USU’s Abrego
Despite having had four knee surgeries in her life, the most recent forcing her to redshirt the 2000 season, Jessenia Abrego is a favorite on the Utah State University gymnastics team and holds three top-10 all-time Aggie records.
She was named the Western Gymnastics Conference Gymnast of the Week Feb. 5 following her 39.175 all-around performance at Boise State University, a score which ties the 18th best mark in USU history. Her all-around performance at BSU was only the second time she had competed in the event, and her score included three top-three finishes: First in the beam (9.775), second in the vault (9.825) and third in the floor exercise (9.825).
Abrego got her start in gymnastics when she was in a dance class at the age of 12.
“My sister used to do gymnastics and ballet, and I was always following in her footsteps,” Abrego said. “I took a dance class and the teacher told me to try out for gymnastics.”
Abrego said she came to USU because she was impressed with the gymnastics program after visiting and talking to Head Coach Ray Corn. She also said she thought Utah State’s program would help her become the best she could be.
“I had an old teammate from Vegas, [and] I came to visit her and started talking to Ray,” she said. “I knew if I came here I would improve, unlike other schools where I’d just stay the same.”
Abrego said her favorite event is the floor exercise because she likes to dance, tumble and perform for the crowd.
“It lets me show my personality a little bit, unlike other events,” she said.
Although the gymnasts have had a slow start this year, Abrego said she hopes the team will make it to
nationals.
“We started off a little slow and had a lot of injuries before the season even started,” she said. “The team is really young, but we’re improving every meet. I think about the team qualifying for regionals, winning conference and hopefully going to nationals.”
Abrego said she feels a bond with her teammates that helps her compete, especially on road trips.
“Our chemistry is there,” she said. “We’re always helping each other improve.”
Abrego actually lives with teammate Mika Love Houston. They are both from Las Vegas and are now roommates.
“I’ve known Mika since I was 12,” Abrego said. “We’re like sisters. I’m so happy she’s up here.”
The season is going well for Abrego. She tied her personal record in the vault on Feb. 1, and has remained healthy and able to compete in every meet so far.
“I feel good,” she said. “I worked really hard in the summer and in fall training. I just need to work on being more consistent in practice. My goal for every meet is to go out and hit four for four events, help the team out and be more confident.”
Abrego said she likes doing the all-around and hopes to go to nationals this year.
“I’m glad I’m doing the all-around this year because if the team doesn’t make it to nationals, at least I still have a chance,” she said.
Being redshirted in the 2000 season was hard for Abrego because she wanted to compete, she said. She tore her ACL a week before the first meet doing a floor routine in practice.
“It was so hard for me to come in here and practice and then watch everybody else compete,” she said. “But I found that if you help other people, it makes it a lot easier on you.”