<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>aggie gymnastics Archives - The Utah Statesman</title> <atom:link href="https://usustatesman.com/tag/aggie-gymnastics/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://usustatesman.com/tag/aggie-gymnastics/</link> <description>USU's Student Newspaper</description> <lastBuildDate>Sat, 11 Jan 2025 21:29:37 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2</generator> <image> <url>https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/cropped-screen-shot-2017-10-19-at-4.33.29-pm-32x32.png</url> <title>aggie gymnastics Archives - The Utah Statesman</title> <link>https://usustatesman.com/tag/aggie-gymnastics/</link> <width>32</width> <height>32</height> </image> <item> <title>Aggies Compete Against SUU Gymnastics</title> <link>https://usustatesman.com/aggies-compete-against-suu-gymnastics/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jack Burton]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 11 Jan 2025 21:29:37 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Arts and Culture]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Digital Paper]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Gymnastics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Humans of USU]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Letters to the Editor]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Our View]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Soapbox]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sports Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Spring Sports]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Student Life]]></category> <category><![CDATA[aggie gymnastics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[USU Gymnastics]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://usustatesman.com/?p=22132879</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>USU has a final score of 194.150, made up of 48.875 on vault, 48.450 on bars, 48.775 on beam and…</p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/aggies-compete-against-suu-gymnastics/">Aggies Compete Against SUU Gymnastics</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>USU has a final score of 194.150, made up of 48.875 on vault, 48.450 on bars, 48.775 on beam and 48.050 on floor. SUU has a final score of 195.000, consisting of 48.950 on vault, 48.350 on bars, 48.975 on beam and 48.725 on floor.</p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/aggies-compete-against-suu-gymnastics/">Aggies Compete Against SUU Gymnastics</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Aggies Compete in The Best of Utah Gymnastics Meet</title> <link>https://usustatesman.com/aggies-compete-in-the-best-of-utah-gymnastics-meet/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jack Burton]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 16 Jan 2024 21:36:08 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Gallery]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Gymnastics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Spring Sports]]></category> <category><![CDATA[aggie gymnastics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[USU Gymnastics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[women's gymnastics]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://usustatesman.com/?p=22127667</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>The women’s gymnastics team placed 4th amongst University of Utah, BYU, and SUU.</p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/aggies-compete-in-the-best-of-utah-gymnastics-meet/">Aggies Compete in The Best of Utah Gymnastics Meet</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The women’s gymnastics team placed 4th amongst University of Utah, BYU, and SUU.</p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/aggies-compete-in-the-best-of-utah-gymnastics-meet/">Aggies Compete in The Best of Utah Gymnastics Meet</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>USU Gymnastic fly high at the Blue & White Meet.</title> <link>https://usustatesman.com/usu-gymnastic-fly-high-at-the-blue-white-meet/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Wyatt Merchant]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 09 Dec 2023 17:10:38 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Gallery]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Gymnastics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Spring Sports]]></category> <category><![CDATA[aggie gymnastics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[gymnasts]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://usustatesman.com/?p=22127363</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>The girls of the USU Gymnastic team show off their skills to kick of the the 2024 season at the…</p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/usu-gymnastic-fly-high-at-the-blue-white-meet/">USU Gymnastic fly high at the Blue & White Meet.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The girls of the USU Gymnastic team show off their skills to kick of the the 2024 season at the USU Spectrum, Dec. 8, 2024.</p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/usu-gymnastic-fly-high-at-the-blue-white-meet/">USU Gymnastic fly high at the Blue & White Meet.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Aggie Gymnastics join the Mountain West Conference</title> <link>https://usustatesman.com/aggie-gymnastics-join-the-mountain-west-conference/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Emma Becerra]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 06 Jun 2023 00:01:50 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[All]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Gymnastics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category> <category><![CDATA[aggie gymnastics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Aggie women]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Mountain West Conference]]></category> <category><![CDATA[USU Gymnastics]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://usustatesman.com/?p=22124677</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>LOGAN – On May 24th, Utah State University gymnastics announced they’ll be joining the Mountain West Conference (MWC) starting with…</p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/aggie-gymnastics-join-the-mountain-west-conference/">Aggie Gymnastics join the Mountain West Conference</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">LOGAN – On May 24th, Utah State University gymnastics announced they’ll be joining the Mountain West Conference (MWC) starting with the 2023-2024 competition season. Also set to join the MWC are Boise State University, Air Force and San Jose State.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">USU Gymnastics was previously in the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference where they competed against Boise State University, Southern Utah University and Brigham Young University. The decision to accept USU into the MWC came after BYU gymnastics moved to the Big 12 Conference. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It wasn’t until a new commissioner for the Mountain West was hired that the sport was added to the conference. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gloria Nevarez, the new MW commissioner said, “The addition of women’s gymnastics to the Mountain West will allow us to cultivate more opportunities for female student-athletes to compete at the highest level while promoting the academic missions of our member institutions.” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Head coach Kristin White is going into her second season as the head coach and is excited about this opportunity to compete in the MWC. She believes it’s a step forward as the other sports at USU already compete in the conference. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">White believes the competitive atmosphere fostered in the MWC will allow their team to stand out as one of the better teams in NCAA gymnastics. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“All four of the programs are really excited to be joining the Mountain West and I know it’s been something that a lot of us have been hoping will happen over the last couple of years,” White said. “Just to be a part of the conference is a huge opportunity for our sport. Our sport has continued to grow over the last couple of years and has become a very popular sport among our fans in the NCAA.”</span></p> <div id="attachment_22124678" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-22124678" class="size-medium wp-image-22124678" src="https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/20230217_suuvsusugymnastics-9-600x348.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="348" srcset="https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/20230217_suuvsusugymnastics-9-600x348.jpg 600w, https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/20230217_suuvsusugymnastics-9-1000x580.jpg 1000w, https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/20230217_suuvsusugymnastics-9-300x174.jpg 300w, https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/20230217_suuvsusugymnastics-9-1536x891.jpg 1536w, https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/20230217_suuvsusugymnastics-9-335x194.jpg 335w, https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/20230217_suuvsusugymnastics-9-1050x609.jpg 1050w, https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/20230217_suuvsusugymnastics-9.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><p id="caption-attachment-22124678" class="wp-caption-text">USU Gymastics team huddles before their next rotation. (Photo/ Heidi Bingham)</p></div> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Brianna Brooks, one of the stars from last year’s team, is returning for her senior year. Last competition season, Brooks earned many accolades including North Central Region Gymnast of the Year. Going into this conference, she believes her team will be successful and is excited about the new competition.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I think we have a great chance to be great in this conference,” Brooks said. “We have a lot of great freshmen coming in with amazing talent and we are going to be a great team.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Going into the 2023-2024 competition season, both White and Brooks believe the team is capable of being successful. They plan to be one of the best in the conference and win their competitions.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The ultimate goal is to win a championship at the highest level,” White said. “Being a part of the Mountain West is going to give our student-athletes such a great experience with being able to compete at a high level.”</span></p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/aggie-gymnastics-join-the-mountain-west-conference/">Aggie Gymnastics join the Mountain West Conference</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Utah State Gymnastics splits results on senior night</title> <link>https://usustatesman.com/utah-state-gymnastics-splits-results-on-senior-night/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jake Ellis]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 04 Mar 2023 06:10:40 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[All]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Gymnastics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category> <category><![CDATA[aggie gymnastics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Alivia Ostendorf]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Avery Bibbey]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Brianna Brooks]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Carley Bayles]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chelsea Southam]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Grace Rojas]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jessica Gutierrez]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kristin White]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Lexi Aragon]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Maia Fishwick]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Payton Gatzlaff]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sofi Sullivan]]></category> <category><![CDATA[USU Gymnastics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Utah State gymnastics]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://usustatesman.com/?p=22123695</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>LOGAN — Utah State Gymnastics (194.600) topped Alaska Anchorage (191.750), but fell to Nebraska (197.500) on Saturday night in the…</p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/utah-state-gymnastics-splits-results-on-senior-night/">Utah State Gymnastics splits results on senior night</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">LOGAN — Utah State Gymnastics (194.600) topped Alaska Anchorage (191.750), but fell to Nebraska (197.500) on Saturday night in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. The Cornhuskers recorded a season-high total score to best the Aggies on senior night. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We wanted to come out here and really rock all four events and unfortunately we didn’t do that tonight,” USU head coach Kristin White said. “It was a great night regardless of the score.” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">USU started the night on vault scoring 48.850, their second-best total in the event this season. Utah State was led by a 9.850 from senior Alivia Ostendorf and a 9.800 from sophomore Payton Gatzlaff. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It was the first time this season that we had a really strong vault performance,” White said. “Really proud of those student-athletes that have been working hard to get in there and improve each and every week on vault.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Freshman Chelsea Southam set a personal record with a 9.70 on vault. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“One of my highlights was definitely Chelsea Southam,” White said. “She made her vault for the very first time. She’s competed it three other times so far and has not successfully completed it so for her to make that vault — she’s been working so hard. I’m incredibly proud of the hard work.” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">During the first rotation, Nebraska tallied 49.300 on floor and Alaska put up 47.550 on bars. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the second rotation, junior Brianna Brooks tied her personal record with a 9.900 on bars following a 9.850 from freshman Avery Bibbey. The Aggies recorded a 49.175, tying their second-best score in the event this year. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“A few home meets ago our bar team kind of struggled here in the Spectrum and they just knocked it out of the park today,” White said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Senior Lexi Aragon set a personal record with her 9.825.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Cornhuskers marked 49.300 on vault and the Seawolves had their best rotation tallying 48.350 on beam in the second rotation.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the third rotation, Nebraska showcased a meet-best 49.500 on bars while Alaska scored 48.125 on floor. Meanwhile, Utah State struggled on beam as three Aggies fell off during their routines. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It kind of started from the warmup over there,” White said. “All the other three events were super strong during warmups and beam was just lacking a little bit of confidence and I think we saw that during competition today.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">USU bounced back with two 9.925s from senior Sofi Sullivan and Brooks. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“When that happens I just want to get up there and do the best for my team and help bring it back,” Sullivan said. “I just think about doing what I do in practice every day so I don’t really worry about whatever happened before me.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">White knew Sullivan would get the Aggies back on track. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We call (Sullivan) our beam queen,” White said. “There was no doubt in my mind that even though we had the mistakes that we had that she was going to go out there and do her job like she does every single time. So very proud of her.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Aggies totaled 47.650 on beam. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After that tough rotation, White helped her team reset before the final rotation. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I told them it is what it is,” White said. “We can’t control what had just happened on beam. The only thing that we can control is going in that final rotation and giving everything that we’ve got. So we’ll go in the gym. We’ll continue to work hard. We’ll make those adjustments that we need to make, but again, those things happen in gymnastics and it’s just one event of the four. We’ve got to keep moving strong.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On floor, USU finished with 48.925 with two 9.850s from seniors Ariel Toomey and Ostendorf. The Cornhuskers secured their victory by scoring 49.400 on beam and the Seawolves finished their night with a total score of 47.675 on vault. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Also in the fourth rotation, Brooks capped off her all-around score with a 9.675 to start the Aggies on floor. She finished third with a 39.275 behind Nebraska’s Emma Spence (39.650) and Sophia McClelland (39.575). </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After the final rotation, Utah State honored its seniors with framed leotards. Carley Bayles, Grace Rojas, Maia Fishwick, Jessica Gutierrez, Aragon, Sullivan, Toomey and team manager Daniel Barclay were the seniors honored. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I tried not to think about it until after. I was just having fun with my team during it,” Sullivan said. “It’s crazy that I’ve been doing this sport my whole life and now it’s over, but I’ve had such great teammates and such a good experience here. And I’m going to be friends with these girls forever. Like they’re my sisters now so, you know, it was a good feeling just bittersweet.” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">White talked about how it can be “surreal” for seniors to reflect on their last home meet. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I think as a student-athlete all the memories that you have being here at Utah State kinda come back,” White said. “Seven seniors on this team – really proud of everything that they’ve done. So I hope that they walk away with pride in their heart and know that they’ve given everything to this program.” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With their results, Utah State improves to 2-9 on the season. The Aggies will wrap up the regular season next week at a quad-meet featuring California, Ohio State and Stanford before the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference Championships in Cedar City on March 18. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><em>Featured image by Heidi Bingham from the Southern Utah home meet on Feb. 17. </em></p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/utah-state-gymnastics-splits-results-on-senior-night/">Utah State Gymnastics splits results on senior night</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>USU Gymnastics scores season high in loss to Flippin’ Birds</title> <link>https://usustatesman.com/usu-gymnastics-scores-season-high-in-loss-to-flippin-birds/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Emma Becerra]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 18 Feb 2023 05:37:59 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[All]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Gymnastics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category> <category><![CDATA[aggie gymnastics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Amari Evans]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ariel Toomey]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Avery Bibbey]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Brianna Brooks]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dani Kirstine]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jenna Eagles]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kristin White]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Payton Gatzlaff]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sofi Sullivan]]></category> <category><![CDATA[USU Gymnastics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Utah State gymnastics]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://usustatesman.com/?p=22123422</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>LOGAN — Utah State Gymnastics scored a season-high 196.175 but fell to No. 21 Southern Utah, who scored 197.125, in…</p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/usu-gymnastics-scores-season-high-in-loss-to-flippin-birds/">USU Gymnastics scores season high in loss to Flippin’ Birds</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">LOGAN — Utah State Gymnastics scored a season-high 196.175 but fell to No. 21 Southern Utah, who scored 197.125, in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Friday night. The meet’s turnout was the 16th best attendance in school history, which helped give the Aggies the support they needed.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Going into the meet, SUU was favored coming off of a win against Brigham Young, while the Aggies were trying to bounce back from a loss to Boise State with a season-low score of 193.425. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although USU lost, there was a lot of success with multiple Aggies hitting new personal records. Junior Brianna Brooks, who competed in all four events for the night, hit a new personal record with her all-around score of 39.300. Her performance of the night earned her Rockstar of the Meet award. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I just had fun and it was a really amazing feeling performing on bars and beam,” Brooks said. “I felt the energy from all the fans and just had a good time.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">USU started the meet on the vault with a team score of 48.700 led by Brooks’ score of 9.800. SUU was able to come out on top with three of their athletes earning a score of 9.850. The Thunderbirds won the event 49.200-48.700.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Aggies then went on to get a score of 49.175 on bars. They had strong performances from Brooks who set a new personal record with a 9.900. Sophomore Dani Kirstine and freshman Avery Bibbey also scored new personal records with Kirstine scoring a 9.875 and Bibbey scoring a 9.850. SUU had an overall team score of 49.275 beating the Aggies’ score of 49.175.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Last week the Aggies struggled on the bars with two different athletes falling off during their routine and earned an overall score of 47.375. On Friday, USU earned a new event high and Head Coach Kristin White had extremely positive things to say about her athletes that competed. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We are trying to learn that it’s okay to make a mistake. Last weekend was a fluke thing,” White said. “We have to learn that adversity is going to happen and we have to keep pushing through and believing. I was really proud of them for putting it together tonight.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Aggies had a strong performance on the beam with an overall score of 49.075. Brooks had the highest score with another 9.900. Senior Sofi Sullivan was back performing, after being out in last week’s meet, clinching the second-highest score for the Aggies on the event with a 9.850. Graduate student Carley Bayles, who scored a 9.800, and senior Alivia Ostendorf, who scored a 9.750, both hit new personal records tonight as well. SUU won the event 49.450 to 49.075. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To finish off on the floor, the Aggies narrowly won the event with a score of 49.225 to SUU’s 49.200. Senior Ariel Toomey set a new personal record in the event, with a score of 9.925, and also got first place in the event. Sophomore Payton Gatzlaff and junior Jenna Eagles both set personal records on the event, earning a 9.825.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The team’s performance tonight was USU’s highest score of the season, and they did it through adversity. Key performer Amari Evans suffered an Achilles tendon rupture in the last meet ending her season, per her Instagram. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I think we came in with a chip on our shoulder and were ready to get it done,” Brooks said. “We wanted to do it for each other more than anything.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">USU will be on the road next weekend taking on BYU on Feb. 24 at 7 pm. Utah State’s lone win of the season came against the Cougars in January. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“To be able to put up a great performance and have a great home score is really exciting for us, so we are looking forward to going to BYU next weekend,” said Coach White.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><em>Featured image by Heidi Bingham. </em></p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/usu-gymnastics-scores-season-high-in-loss-to-flippin-birds/">USU Gymnastics scores season high in loss to Flippin’ Birds</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>USU Gymnastics: Ags respond ‘well’ in Spectrum Magic meet with BYU</title> <link>https://usustatesman.com/usu-gymnastics-ags-respond-well-in-spectrum-magic-meet-with-byu/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jake Ellis]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 28 Jan 2023 05:05:39 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[All]]></category> <category><![CDATA[aggie gymnastics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Brianna Brooks]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dani Kirstine]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kristin White]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sofi Sullivan]]></category> <category><![CDATA[USU Gymnastics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Utah State gymnastics]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://usustatesman.com/?p=22123026</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>LOGAN — After a tough meet last week at Southern Utah where Utah State Gymnastics finished with a 193.425, the…</p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/usu-gymnastics-ags-respond-well-in-spectrum-magic-meet-with-byu/">USU Gymnastics: Ags respond ‘well’ in Spectrum Magic meet with BYU</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">LOGAN — After a tough meet last week at Southern Utah where Utah State Gymnastics finished with a 193.425, the Aggies rebounded and scored a 195.900 in their loss to Brigham Young, who scored a 196.650, on Friday night.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We had a rough week last weekend and I think they responded really well,” head coach Kristin White said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the first rotation, USU again struggled on vault totaling 48.625, their worst score of the meet. At the same time, BYU took an early lead with a 49.150 on bars.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When the teams switched events, the Aggies showed they were better on bars with a 49.200, including two scores of 9.875 by junior Brianna Brooks and sophomore Dani Kirstine, who scored a career-high. On vault, BYU picked up a 48.925 headlined by two 9.850 scores. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In rotation three, Kirstine shined again with another career-high of 9.875 on beam, while senior Sofi Sullivan totaled a 9.925 to lead the Aggies to a 49.000. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Beam queen,” White said of Sullivan. “I think our crowd understands why she’s so good at what she does. When she gets up there, she’s confident. There’s no stress when Sofi’s on the beam. We know she’s going to rock a good set.” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kirstine’s consistent performance earned her the honor of most outstanding gymnast of the night. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Dani was a rockstar,” White said. “To come out here and rock these two events… absolutely incredible. I’m proud of how hard she’s been working.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kirstine said it felt “super good to be back” competing after rehabbing an injury during the offseason.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It feels great,” Kirstine said. “I had surgery this summer so it was really hard to come back, but put the days in the gym and now we’re good.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On floor, the Cougars scored 49.225, led by senior Rebekah Bean Ripley’s “Barbie Girl” routine — a performance that had gone viral on social media after BYU’s last meet — scoring a 9.875.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To round things off, the Aggies totaled a score of 49.075 on floor with senior Ariel Toomey leading USU with a 9.875. BYU secured their victory behind scores of 9.925 and 9.900 to total 49.350 on beam, the Cougars’ best event. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In her first meet as head coach, White was impressed with the crowd.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I think the atmosphere was absolutely incredible tonight,” head coach Kristin White said. “To have all these fans come out and support us — it was amazing.” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kirstine agreed with White adding that the fans helped the Aggies have “tons of energy.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The atmosphere was aided by the promotion of Spectrum Magic night. Thousands of fans filled the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum to watch the meet and they received t-shirts that said Spectrum Magic and featured the iconic seat colors, matching the leotards USU wore.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While the Aggies did not secure the win, White was proud of her team’s effort. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I think every single one of them know what they could’ve improved on and been just a half a tenth better on the event they competed on,” White said. “I know that they’re going to go the gym, they’re going to keep working hard and they’re going to keep improving meet after meet after meet.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Next week the Aggies travel to Idaho to take on Boise State on Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><em>Featured image by Paige Johnson.</em></p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/usu-gymnastics-ags-respond-well-in-spectrum-magic-meet-with-byu/">USU Gymnastics: Ags respond ‘well’ in Spectrum Magic meet with BYU</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>‘Beam queen’ Sofi Sullivan’s path to perfection</title> <link>https://usustatesman.com/beam-queen-sofi-sullivans-path-to-perfection/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Nathan Dunn]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 20 Jan 2023 23:54:19 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[All]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Gymnastics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category> <category><![CDATA[aggie gymnastics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Brianna Brooks]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kristin White]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sofi Sullivan]]></category> <category><![CDATA[USU Gymnastics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Utah State gymnastics]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://usustatesman.com/?p=22122970</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>Competing in the fourth annual Best of Utah meet on Jan. 13, Utah State Gymnastics needed a strong beam performance…</p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/beam-queen-sofi-sullivans-path-to-perfection/">‘Beam queen’ Sofi Sullivan’s path to perfection</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p id="bp-page-12" class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1215" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">C</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1216" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">ompeting in the </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1217" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">fourth annual Best </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1218" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">of Utah meet on Jan. </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1219" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">13, Utah State Gymnastics </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1220" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">needed a strong beam perfor</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1222" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">mance from their anchor to </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1223" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">stay within striking distance </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1224" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">of two top-25 opponents. </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1225" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Their senior anchor was </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1226" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">tasked with wiping a 9.625 </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1227" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">to keep the Aggies’ chances </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1228" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">alive.</span></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1229" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page127R_mcid1229" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">One rotation later, after a </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1230" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">9.900 routine, the Aggies </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1231" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">found themselves in second </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1232" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">place.</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1233" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1233" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Sofia Sullivan — who pre</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1235" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">fers to go by Sofi — produced </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1236" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">that 9.900, her fifth-best </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1237" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">beam score in her career.</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1238" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1238" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“She is a firecracker </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1239" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">always,” senior teammate Bri</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1241" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">anna Brooks said. “We know </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1242" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">she can do that and better. </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1243" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Her 9.900 was electric.”</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1244" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1244" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Head coach Kristin White </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1245" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">agrees.</span></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1246" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“It was perfection,” said </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1247" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">White. “No doubt in my mind </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1248" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">she is one of the best beamers </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1249" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">in the entire country.”</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1250" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1250" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Since being named the </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1251" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">2020 Mountain Rim Gym</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1253" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">nastics Conference Freshman </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1254" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">of the Year — thanks to her solid performances as an </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1255" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">all-around competitor — Sullivan has been a strict beam </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1256" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">performer the last two seasons. During her freshman </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1257" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">season, she set the school record and a career-high with </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1258" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">a 9.975 on beam, and her 9.883 single-season average </span></span><span class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">earned her second all-time in Utah State history.</span></span></p> <div id="attachment_22122972" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-22122972" class="size-medium wp-image-22122972" src="https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/gym_sullivan_0o7a9258-600x409.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="409" srcset="https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/gym_sullivan_0o7a9258-600x409.jpg 600w, https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/gym_sullivan_0o7a9258-1000x682.jpg 1000w, https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/gym_sullivan_0o7a9258-300x205.jpg 300w, https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/gym_sullivan_0o7a9258-1536x1048.jpg 1536w, https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/gym_sullivan_0o7a9258-335x228.jpg 335w, https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/gym_sullivan_0o7a9258-1050x716.jpg 1050w, https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/gym_sullivan_0o7a9258.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><p id="caption-attachment-22122972" class="wp-caption-text">Sofi Sullivan climbs onto the beam at the Best of Utah meet on Jan. 13. Photo by Heidi Bingham.</p></div> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1259" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page127R_mcid1260" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1260" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Sullivan, who hails from Manhattan Beach, California, </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1261" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">was granted an additional year of eligibility due to coro</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1263" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">navirus, and she is determined to get a perfect 10.</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1264" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1264" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“Every single day she comes in, you get the same ath</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1266" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">lete every time she steps on the beam,” White said. “She </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1267" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">is the beam queen — she wants to get that 10.”</span></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1268" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Winning freshman of the year often heralds extreme </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1269" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">potential heading into the next season, but for Sullivan, </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1270" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">it didn’t happen.</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1271" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1271" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“I initially opted out for covid reasons, but when I was </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1272" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">thinking of coming back, I dislocated my knee, which has </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1273" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">been an ongoing problem,” Sullivan said.</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1274" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1274" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“Problem” may be understating the series of events </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1275" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">with Sullivan’s knee. It was her ninth left-knee disloca</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1277" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">tion, and it resulted in her flying to California for surgery </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1278" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">with David Gazzaniga, an orthopedic surgeon specializi</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1280" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">ng in sports medicine and the head physician for the LA </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1281" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Chargers.</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1282" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1282" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“If she would’ve competed in her sophomore year with</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1284" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">out the injury and in her junior year, she would’ve been </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1285" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">an All American,” said Sullivan’s father, Paul. </span></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1286" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Paul said Sofi’s dislocations started when she was eight </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1287" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">or nine years old, and once, she dislocated her shoulder </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1288" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">at practice doing bars.</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1289" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1289" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Sofi, who turned 22 on Jan. 18, has suffered nine dislo</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1291" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">cations to her left knee.</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1292" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1292" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“My patella isn’t really in the right place — I have dis</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1294" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">located my left one like 10 times,” Sofi said, laughing.</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1295" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1295" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Nine left, five right. Fourteen knee dislocations since </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1296" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">she was eight years old seems like an insurmountable </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1297" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">obstacle, but Sofi pushed through.</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1298" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1298" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“It’s been difficult for her to overcome,” said Paul. </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1299" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“Whatever happens, it will be a great senior year, and we </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1300" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">are proud of her for fighting through the injuries.”</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1301" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1301" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Sofi said the surgery prepared her for life outside of </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1302" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">gymnastics.</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1303" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1303" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“I needed surgery for life, not just for gymnastics. I </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1304" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">couldn’t walk, and surgery was just required this time,” </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1305" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Sofi said. “I ended up getting an MPFL reconstruction, </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1306" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">and hopefully it’ll last me this last season.”</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1307" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1307" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">The MPFL is the medial patellofemoral ligament, which </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1308" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">lies near the patella. Post-surgery brought painful rehab </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1309" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">to get her back to a competitive level.</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1310" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1310" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“It was incredibly hard to get back on track. I did phys</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1312" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">ical therapy three times a week, and it was a struggle for </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1313" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">me going through the pain,” Sofi said. “Coming back into </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1314" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">gymnastics after being off for a really long time was a </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1315" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">struggle.”</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1316" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1316" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Sofi said the surgery didn’t just affect her physical </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1317" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">health, but her mental health too. Since then, she has </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1318" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">become a mental health advocate.</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1319" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1319" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“Being a student-athlete is really hard and taxing. I </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1320" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">think it is really important to find even 10 minutes out of </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1321" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">your day to find something you like and have someone </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1322" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">to talk to,” she said.</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1323" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1323" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Despite the challenges, Sofi is glad she made the choice </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1324" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">to return to gymnastics.</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1325" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1325" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“I am really happy that I did it and happy with where I </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1326" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">am at now,” she said.</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1327" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1327" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Sofi received an offer from Utah State when she was </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1328" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">just a junior in high school. But she didn’t attend a typi</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1330" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">cal high school.</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1331" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page127R_mcid1331" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“I was actually homeschooled in middle school and </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1332" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">high school so I could do gym,” Sofi said. “My parents </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1333" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">have been so supportive throughout mine and my sib</span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1335" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">lings’ sports careers. They spent so much time with me, </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1336" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">driving an hour and a half to practice — there and back </span></span><span id="page127R_mcid1337" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">every day.”</span></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page131R_mcid1345" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Being homeschooled allowed her to train with </span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1346" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">some of the top gymnasts in the world.</span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1347" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page131R_mcid1347" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“She kept bugging me for two years that she </span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1348" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">wanted to go to gymnastics. We finally took her </span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1349" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">because we got a coupon for a free lesson,” Paul </span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1350" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">said. “She was just a natural, and she trained with </span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1351" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">the Chinese coaches at Gym-Max that coached </span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1352" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">McKayla Maroney.”</span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1353" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page131R_mcid1353" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Maroney won a gold medal for the United States </span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1354" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">at the 2012 Summer Olympics.</span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1355" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page131R_mcid1355" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“Sofi was on the Elite Training Squad when she </span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1356" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">was just nine years old, trying to get on the na</span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1358" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">tional team, but got injured a few times and didn’t </span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1359" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">ascend because of it,” Paul said.</span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1360" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page131R_mcid1360" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Though injuries have plagued Sofi, she continues </span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1361" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">to dominate in her sport and has plans to grow t</span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1362" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">his season, in beam and beyond.</span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1363" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page131R_mcid1363" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">While competing in all-around events her fresh</span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1365" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">man year, she had 9.850 scores or better as her </span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1366" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">career highs in all four events.</span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1367" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page131R_mcid1367" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“Beam is my best event, and I really do love do</span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1369" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">ing it. It makes me happy helping my team in that </span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1370" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">event,” Sofi said. “Surgery made floor hard on my </span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1371" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">body; I am hoping to get back into the bar lineup</span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1372" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">and compete this season. I want to help my team </span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1373" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">the most I can.”</span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1374" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page131R_mcid1374" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Her team spirit does not go unnoticed. Brooks </span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1375" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">said she is “the best teammate.”</span></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page131R_mcid1376" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“We go back to back with each other. She has my </span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1377" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">back, and I have her back,” Brooks said.</span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1378" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page131R_mcid1378" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Sofi and the Aggies are looking to prove people </span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1379" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">wrong this season. The team sported “Something 2 </span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1380" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Prove” shirts at the Best of Utah meet, referencing t</span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1381" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">he people who “wrote off” the Aggies after the</span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1382" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">departure of former head coach Amy Smith and </span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1383" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">other key athletes.</span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1384" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page131R_mcid1384" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“We had a whole program switch. (The shirts) </span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1385" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">are to show everyone that even though we lost our </span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1386" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">lineups and coaches, we are still an amazing team, </span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1387" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">and we are going to prove to everyone we can win </span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1388" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">a championship again,” Sofi said.</span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1389" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><span id="page131R_mcid1389" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Sofi’s quest for a perfect 10 and the Aggies’ desire </span></span><span id="page131R_mcid1390" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">to get back to the top will continue tonight as Utah State takes visits no. 21 Southern Utah for a dual meet. </span></span></p> <p role="region" data-page-number="12" aria-label="Page 12" data-loaded="true"><em>Featured image by Heidi Bingham from the Best of Utah meet on Jan. 13. </em></p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/beam-queen-sofi-sullivans-path-to-perfection/">‘Beam queen’ Sofi Sullivan’s path to perfection</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>USU Gymnastics places third in Best of Utah meet</title> <link>https://usustatesman.com/usu-gymnastics-places-third-in-best-of-utah-meet/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Nathan Dunn]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 14 Jan 2023 08:00:41 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[All]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Gymnastics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category> <category><![CDATA[aggie gymnastics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Amari Evans]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ariel Toomey]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Grace Rojas]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kristin White]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Marley Peterson]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sofi Sullivan]]></category> <category><![CDATA[USU Gymnastics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Utah State gymnastics]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://usustatesman.com/?p=22122866</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>WEST VALLEY CITY — Utah State Gymnastics competed in the Best of Utah meet, falling to No. 3 Utah (197.750)…</p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/usu-gymnastics-places-third-in-best-of-utah-meet/">USU Gymnastics places third in Best of Utah meet</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">WEST VALLEY CITY — Utah State Gymnastics competed in the Best of Utah meet, falling to No. 3 Utah (197.750) and No. 23 Southern Utah (196.175) while defeating Brigham Young (195.050).</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Aggies finished the meet with a score of 195.800, which is the second-highest season-opening score in program history, just falling short of last year’s score of </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">195.875.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The event took place at the Maverik Center for the fourth consecutive year, with Utah winning the previous three years.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The atmosphere was incredible,” first-year head coach Kristin White said. “I was nervous at the start but after we finished bar rotation I settled in and had a great time with our team.” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the first rotation, the Aggies started on the bars scoring a 49.025. Senior Jessica Gutierrez and freshman Avery Bibbey led the Aggies at 9.825 with all scores coming at 9.775 or higher. Utah State trailed only Utah after the first rotation with the Red Rocks leading at 49.375.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">White — who took over for the program following the departure of Amy Smith — joined the team in wearing “Something 2 Prove” shirts before the meet referencing the people who “wrote off” the Aggies after the departure of Smith and key athletes. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I think a lot of people doubted Utah State. They wanted to get out there and prove they are the same team as last year,” White said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some returning athletes for the Aggies voiced their support and desire to prove those wrong who doubted them after the departure of Smith.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We had a whole program switch. (The shirts) are to show everyone that even though we lost our lineups and coaches, we are still an amazing team and we are going to prove to everyone we can win a championship again,” senior Sofi Sullivan said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Utah State traveled to the beam rotation and repeated its score of 49.025 from the first rotation.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The rotation was highlighted by a 9.900 anchor from Sullivan which prompted a 9.950 from one of the judges. The Aggies fell to third place trailing the Red Rocks at 98.275 and the Thunderbirds at 98.200. BYU trailed the Aggies at 97.975. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the third rotation, Utah State was on the floor, which was one of the Aggies’ best last season. Following the departure of Brie Clark — who scored a 9.950 in one of her floor routines last season — the Aggies were looking to replace her excellent results. While no Aggie scored that high in the meet, their floor routines continued to shine. A pair of 9.850 scores from Ariel Toomey and sophomore Amari Evans pushed the Aggies to their best score of the night at 49.125.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The final rotation for the Aggies was on the vault. Utah, SUU and BYU all finished at 48.800 or better but the Aggies couldn’t reach that benchmark. USU finished the vault at 48.625, their lowest rotation score of the meet. Brianna Brooks continued her excellent day with a 9.825 and Payton Gatzlaff scored a 9.800. Utah State’s anchor, Grace Rojas, only scored a 9.400 which failed to wipe the 9.525 scored previously by Marley Peterson.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Aggies were in second place after three rotations and had a chance to knock off a ranked opponent in Southern Utah, but fell short. However, White isn’t worried. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“That’s our vault rotation right now. We are a little low on our depth and that’s OK. We are going to continue building and will have a very solid lineup,” White said. “I am very proud of our vault.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The No.3 Red Rocks took first place in the event, backed by a great beam performance that produced five 9.900 scores or higher and a perfect 10 from Kara Eaker. The lowest score of the beam was 9.875 for Utah which was dropped.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“They are almost inspiring. It is so cool to watch them and we strive to be at that level. It’s a big goal,” Brooks said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Next week, Utah State will travel to Cedar City to take on the Thunderbirds on Friday, Jan. 20 before returning home to host BYU on Jan. 27.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><em>Featured image by Heidi Bingham. </em></p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/usu-gymnastics-places-third-in-best-of-utah-meet/">USU Gymnastics places third in Best of Utah meet</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Head coach Kristin White helps Utah State Gymnastics find its balance</title> <link>https://usustatesman.com/head-coach-kristin-white-helps-utah-state-gymnastics-find-its-balance/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Darcy Ritchie]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 2023 01:50:54 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Gymnastics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[aggie gymnastics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Angel Stuart]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Brianna Brooks]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kristin White]]></category> <category><![CDATA[USU Gymnastics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Utah State gymnastics]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://usustatesman.com/?p=22122758</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>Kristin White was in Oklahoma visiting her family when she got the call letting her know she had been hired…</p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/head-coach-kristin-white-helps-utah-state-gymnastics-find-its-balance/">Head coach Kristin White helps Utah State Gymnastics find its balance</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p id="bp-page-1" class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page3R_mcid8" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Kristin White was in Oklahoma visiting her family when she got the call letting her know she </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">had been hired as the new head coach of Utah State Gymnastics.</span></span><span id="page3R_mcid9" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page3R_mcid10" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page3R_mcid11" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page3R_mcid11" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">The announcement was met with lots of hugs and tears.</span></span><span id="page3R_mcid12" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page3R_mcid13" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page3R_mcid14" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page3R_mcid14" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“It’s something that you’ve dreamed up your whole life, and to kind of see it come to fruition was </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">something really exciting to share with all of them,” White said.</span></span><span id="page3R_mcid15" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page3R_mcid16" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page3R_mcid17" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page3R_mcid17" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">White was born and raised in O</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">klaho</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">ma and was the “hometown girl” competing on the </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">University of Oklahoma gymnastics team. After graduating in 2010, she remained at OU as the </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">team’s graduate assistant for two years. While th</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">ere, she realized coaching college gymnastics </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">was what she wanted t</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">o do with her life.</span></span><span id="page3R_mcid18" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page3R_mcid19" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page3R_mcid20" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page3R_mcid20" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“I found my passion for the sport again,” White said. “I wanted to be able to go into coaching </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">and give that same environment that I was given in college, and just really watch the student</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">–</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">athletes succeed.”</span></span><span id="page3R_mcid21" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page3R_mcid22" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page3R_mcid22" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">White knew if she wanted t</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">o coach college gymnastics, she needed to learn how to coach. After </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">receiving her master’s degree in adult and higher education, she started coaching club teams in </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Massachusetts and Oklahoma before being hired as an assistant coach at Iowa State for two </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">se</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">asons. White came to Logan from Arizona State, where she was an assistant coach for three </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">seasons.</span></span><span id="page3R_mcid23" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page3R_mcid24" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page3R_mcid25" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page3R_mcid25" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Upon her arrival in Logan, White focus</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">ed on reestablishing the team and</span> <span dir="ltr" role="presentation">getting her new staff in </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">place.</span></span><span id="page3R_mcid26" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page3R_mcid27" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page3R_mcid28" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page3R_mcid28" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">White hired Rachel Slocum and Robert Ladanyi as as</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">sistant coaches this summer. Slocum is the </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">primary coach on vault, and Ladanyi is the primary coach on bars.</span></span><span id="page3R_mcid29" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page3R_mcid30" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page3R_mcid31" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page3R_mcid31" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“I feel very blessed to have one of the best staffs in the country, in my opinion,” White said. </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“Both of them are great technical coaches and have</span> <span dir="ltr" role="presentation">worked at some of the top programs in the </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">country.”</span></span><span id="page3R_mcid32" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page3R_mcid33" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page3R_mcid34" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page3R_mcid34" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Other than preparin</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">g for a great se</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">ason, White has been focusing her first year as head coach on </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">building a better team culture and relationship with the student</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">–</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">athletes</span> <span dir="ltr" role="presentation">—</span> <span dir="ltr" role="presentation">trying to teach them </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">they’ve</span> <span dir="ltr" role="presentation">got people in their corner.</span></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page14R_mcid0" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page14R_mcid1" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page14R_mcid2" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“Gymnastics is hard, and you’ve got to love what you do, and you’ve got to love the people that </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">are around you,” White said. “When you have that feeling in the gym every single day, that’s </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">going to make you a better athlete, ev</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">en on the days when you don’t necessarily want to.”</span></span><span id="page14R_mcid3" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page14R_mcid4" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page14R_mcid5" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page14R_mcid5" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">White has been building that culture by getting to know</span> <span dir="ltr" role="presentation">the student</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">–</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">athletes an</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">d planning team </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">activities, including tailgates and a team retreat at Bear Lake. The coaching staff also has </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">monthly one</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">–</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">on</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">–</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">one meetings with the athletes to check in with them.</span></span><span id="page14R_mcid6" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page14R_mcid7" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page14R_mcid8" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page14R_mcid8" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Senior Ariel Toomey said the athletes can talk with the coaches about anything during those </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">meetings, and it’s nice that White truly wants to know what’s going on in the lives of her </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">students.</span></span><span id="page14R_mcid9" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page14R_mcid10" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page14R_mcid11" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page14R_mcid11" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“Not every day’s going to be perfect,” Toomey said. “Instead of getting mad, she really tries to </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">understand what might be going on outside of gymnastics. So she’s really big on communication </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">and making sure that we’re on the same page.”</span></span><span id="page14R_mcid12" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page14R_mcid13" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page14R_mcid14" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page14R_mcid14" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Toomey said her first impression of White was that she cared about the student</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">–</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">athletes as </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">individuals, rather than just their scores. Toomey was home for the summer when White started </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">the job, but White called her frequently to check in and get to know he</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">r.</span></span><span id="page14R_mcid15" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page14R_mcid16" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page14R_mcid17" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page14R_mcid17" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“She was just very involved from the very start and really wanted to get to know us,” Toomey </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">said.</span></span><span id="page14R_mcid18" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page14R_mcid19" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page14R_mcid20" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page14R_mcid20" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Junior Brianna Brooks said kind and caring coaches can be hard to find in the gymnastics world, </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">and the new staff has been “a breath of fresh air.”</span></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page14R_mcid23" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“I</span> <span dir="ltr" role="presentation">feel like it’s really easy to talk to her, and I can call her whenever,” she said. “Even at practice, </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">she’ll just, like, call people over and just ask them about their day.”</span></span><span id="page14R_mcid24" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page14R_mcid25" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page14R_mcid26" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page14R_mcid26" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Brooks is from Las Vegas, which is a seven</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">–</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">hour drive away, so she said it’s nice</span> <span dir="ltr" role="presentation">to have </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">someone there for her in Logan.</span></span><span id="page14R_mcid27" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page14R_mcid28" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page14R_mcid29" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page14R_mcid29" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“She’s like my second mom,” Brooks said. “I think she’s like everyone’s second mom.”</span></span><span id="page14R_mcid30" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page14R_mcid31" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page14R_mcid32" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page14R_mcid32" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Along with creating a positive team culture, White also stresses the importance of academics, </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">emphasizing “success both on the c</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">ompetition floor and in the classroom.”</span></span><span id="page14R_mcid33" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page14R_mcid34" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page14R_mcid35" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page14R_mcid35" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">White set a standard for a 3.6 GPA from each athlete this year, and she starts each practice with a </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">discussion about how school is going.</span></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page16R_mcid0" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page16R_mcid1" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page16R_mcid2" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Senior Angel Stuart said White emphasizes that the 3.6 GPA is a standard,</span> <span dir="ltr" role="presentation">not just a goal, and </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">she is proactive in making sure the student</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">–</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">athletes are turning in their work on time.</span></span><span id="page16R_mcid3" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page16R_mcid4" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page16R_mcid5" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page16R_mcid5" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“She’ll take the time to be like, ‘Step out of practice or go to study hall, get your homework </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">done, and then get back in the gym,’” Stuart said.</span></span><span id="page16R_mcid6" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page16R_mcid7" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page16R_mcid8" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page16R_mcid8" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">White sets these academic standards because one day, gymnastics will be gone, and the student</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">–</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">athletes are at USU to get an education and to set themselves up for the rest of their lives.</span></span><span id="page16R_mcid9" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page16R_mcid10" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page16R_mcid11" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page16R_mcid11" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“We’ve raised the standard in terms of academics, but I think they</span> <span dir="ltr" role="presentation">understand that it’s very </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">important to me, and they’re doing a great job staying on top of it,” White said.</span></span><span id="page16R_mcid12" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page16R_mcid13" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page16R_mcid14" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page16R_mcid14" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">White doesn’t just emphasize balance for her athletes</span> <span dir="ltr" role="presentation">—</span> <span dir="ltr" role="presentation">it’s also very important in her own life.</span></span><span id="page16R_mcid15" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page16R_mcid16" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page16R_mcid17" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page16R_mcid17" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“I really do believe in trying to have a good balance because balance makes us successful,” she </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">said. “That’s something that our staff tries to work on as well is just balancing the crazy coaching </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">lifestyle while also balancing, you know, kind of having th</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">at family aspect.”</span></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page16R_mcid20" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">White moved to Logan with her husband, Trent, and their 1</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">–</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">year</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">–</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">old son, Brayden. She said her </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">husband understands how important the job is to her and helps her maintain a balance between </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">work and family.</span></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page16R_mcid23" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“A coaching lifestyle is differ</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">ent, and a lot of people don’t experience that,” White said. “I give a </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">lot of credit to him because he’s my biggest supporter, and he’s the one that helps kind of keep </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">me grounded.”</span></span><span id="page16R_mcid24" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page16R_mcid25" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page16R_mcid26" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page16R_mcid26" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Utah State Gymnastics ended last season ranked No. 23 in the nation. Unde</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">r former head coach </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Amy Smith, the team won its first Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference championship and </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">finished third in Session 1 of the second round of the NCAA Norman Regional.</span></span><span id="page16R_mcid27" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page16R_mcid28" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page16R_mcid29" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page16R_mcid29" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Coming off a historic season could be intimidating for a new coach, but</span> <span dir="ltr" role="presentation">White is excited about </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">the standard of excellence the team has set.</span></span><span id="page16R_mcid30" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page16R_mcid31" class="markedContent"></span><span id="page16R_mcid32" class="markedContent"><br role="presentation" /></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page16R_mcid32" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">“Those goals and dreams don’t go away, you know, so I’m definitely very excited about it,” she </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">said. “I know that our team is very hungry to succeed on the competition floor.”</span></span></p> <p class="page" role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><span id="page16R_mcid35" class="markedContent"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">See coach</span> <span dir="ltr" role="presentation">White and the Utah State Gymnastics team in action during their first home meet on </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">Jan. 27.</span></span></p> <p role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"> <p role="region" data-page-number="1" aria-label="Page 1" data-loaded="true"><em>Featured image by Bailey Rigby. </em></p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/head-coach-kristin-white-helps-utah-state-gymnastics-find-its-balance/">Head coach Kristin White helps Utah State Gymnastics find its balance</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> </channel> </rss>