Strong scores, but mixed results for USU gymnasts
After a long battle of trying to make a stance on the 194 mark as one of the team’s goals this season, the Aggies finally accomplished it March 7 against the San Jose State Spartans, 194.450-194.125. With their consistency level, USU gymnasts applied “so much pressure” to San Jose State that SJSU faltered and allowed USU the win, gymnastics coach Ray Corn said. “We were sharp on all four events and looked extremely professional,” he said. After leading the first two events, the Ags were behind San Jose in the third rotation but came back in their final rotation on the floor exercise to put an edge over San Jose. “I was so pleased that the ladies were tough enough to stay on (the balance beam), and we went off and polished it all on the floor,” he said. San Jose had to count a few bobbles on beam, and that was the difference of the win in the meet, Corn said. “When we compete like that and go 24-for-24, to me, the ladies are all MVPs,” he said. “We certainly overcame our buck-boos on the balance beam and pulled off the win. “I honestly believe that they approached the beam with a great deal of toughness and a great deal of grit, and they decided at this juncture of the season that they can’t let this meet get away from them,” Corn said. “We have to keep duplicating these kinds of scores.” The team saw season bests on the uneven parallel bars with a 48.525 and the balance beam with a 48.125. Aggie gymnasts sealed the win with another season best on their final event, the floor exercise, scoring a 49.050, marking their first 49.000 or higher in any event this season. For the third meet in a row this season, USU posted a season best as a team on bars and tallied a 48.750. Sophomore Heather Heinrich posted a career high in the all-around with a 39.000 and a 9.850 on the floor exercise, tying for first with teammate Jasmine Minion. Freshman Nicole Simoneau won the bars event, posting a 9.850 as she marked the seventh time this season she has won the event. Minion tied for first place on the vault with San Jose State’s Raylyn Cardeno, with a 9.825. Fellow teammate freshman Jackie Dillon posted a season high of 9.775 in placing fourth, while Heinrich tied for fifth with a 9.700. “I honestly believe (Friday) we competed to our potential,” Corn said. “If this team keeps competing like this, we are going to go higher.” All together, the Aggies set or tied 10 season highs individually.
BYU
Momentum carried into the following Monday meet for USU as they topped their 194 again for the second meet in a row, but the Aggies fell to the Brigham Young University Cougars, 196.300-194.250. Season highs were in the cards for USU as they topped season-best performances on the vault with a 48.875 and a 48.125 on the balance beam. Senior Katie Omann tallied a career-high 9.800 on the balance beam, tying for third, matching USU’s highest place in the meet with Simoneau tying for third on bars with a 9.800. Heinrich was second in the all-around with a 38.325, while junior Nicki Felley and freshman Lyndsie Boone tied for third both with a 38.125. Utah State scored a 48.300 while BYU scored a 49.975 on the beam, giving BYU its lead to 147.175-145.575 heading into the final rotation. USU registered a 48.675 on beam while BYU scored a 49.125 on floor to secure the win. Quad Meet
Utah State couldn’t maintain its lead down the stretch as they finished third in a gymnastics quad meet Friday hosted in Denton, Texas, scoring a 193.900.
Meet-winner No. 23 Kentucky topped a 195.200 as No.37 Texas came in second with a 194.200 and the Ags came in third ahead of No. 50 Centenary’s 192.025.
Aggie gymnasts have continued to improve over the course of the last three meets, Corn said.
“We continue to improve over our last three meets,” Corn said. “We’re pushing for a top 36 mark to qualify us for regionals. Next Friday’s home and season finale meet is huge for us.”
Minion posted USU’s best finish of the night, tying for first on floor with a career-best 9.900, USU’s first 9.900 this season. Minion also tied for second on vault with a 9.850.
Fellow freshman Simoneau also tied for second, posting a 9.825 on bars, while Heinrich tied for second in the all-around with 38.875, just shy of her career best of 39.000. Heinrich also was the Aggies’ top finisher on beam, placing sixth with a 9.650.
Utah State notched a 48.975 on floor, its second highest this year, while tallying a season-best 48.850 on vault. USU’s 48.525 on bars was its third highest on the year while also logging a 47.550 on beam.
The result pushes USU’s record to 5-13 on the year.
-candice.sandness@aggiemail.usu.edu