Undefeated at home, gymnasts welcome Missouri
Following two disappointing losses on the road, the Utah State Aggies gymnastics team returns to the Smith Spectrum Saturday to take on the University of Missouri at 7 p.m.
“We are going to be upgrading several things in the meet against Missouri,” said head coach Ray Corn. “We have seven 10.0 vaults, which is going to be critical for us to be successful at the regional meet and giving us the opportunity to make it to the nationals.”
Coming off a 196.475-190.500 loss to Iowa State on Sunday, the Missouri Tigers are currently 3-4 on the year. Averaging a team all-around score of 190.615, the Tigers received their highest score of the season, 194.425, Jan. 28 against Nebraska.
The last time the teams met, last year’s Texas Woman’s meet, the Aggies out-scored the Tigers 195.900-195.050.
Utah State holds a 4-1 advantage over Missouri.
Sophomores Tina Ellis and Nicole Kilpatrick will lead Utah State in the all-around competition.
Most of all, during Saturday’s meet the Aggies will be looking for improvement.
“I’d just like to approach each and every one of these meets with improvement,” Corn said.
The team has seen improvement, averaging a score of 193.400 per meet after starting the year off with a 188.800 at Boise State.
“Improvement was our battle cry from the very beginning of the year,” Corn said. “Obviously with the 188.800 at Boise it hasn’t been difficult to do.”
Corn said feels his team has taken no steps backward.
They are currently ranked 25th in the nation on vault, 48.440, led by junior Jessica Abrego with a season average of 9.746. The Aggies are also ranked 21st in the nation on bars, 48.635, led by senior Amanda Jenkins with a season average of 9.779.
Following the match against Missouri, the Aggies will host San Jose State in the Spectrum Feb. 26.