USU confident heading into WGC Championship Meet
It’s been said numerous times that gymnastics is a game of numbers – wins and losses don’t necessarily determine which teams make it to Regionals and eventually move on to Nationals.
It’s all about the scores, which make up the regional qualifying score (RQS).
And after having one of its best seasons ever, the Utah State gymnastics team may learn the harsh reality of the numbers game. The reason: The Aggies, currently ranked No. 27 in the country, hold a 195.510 RQS and are in seventh place overall in the North Central Region.
The top six teams are invited to the regional competition based on RQSs.
“I’m very optimistic,” Utah State Head Coach Ray Corn said of his team’s chances of advancing. “I do believe we’ve been having some of our best performances … but there is a strong possibility that we won’t get in.”
All-arounders Nicole Kilpatrick, Meagan Nelson and Jessica Parenti will likely continue to lead Utah State, each ranked in the nation’s top 50.
Five all-arounders, who are not on qualifying teams, are also eligible to compete at Regionals.
Kilpatrick (seventh overall), Nelson (ninth overall) and Parenti (11th overall) will likely make it to Regionals if the Aggies as a team do not make it. The three are ranked behind competitors from Utah, Denver and Iowa – all of which will make it to Regionals as a team.
Corn said he doesn’t think he has ever coached a team where there has been three solid all-arounders; so having Kilpatrick, Nelson and Parenti perform so well is exciting.
For now though, the Aggies have another meet on their minds. Utah State will compete in the Western Gymnastics Conference Championship meet Saturday at 7 p.m. in Cedar City. The Aggies finished third last season in the inaugural meet, as Denver, which is no longer in the conference, and Southern Utah took first and second, respectively.
Last season, four Aggies took home conference honors, including event champions Kilpatrick on vault and Katie Rutherford on bars. Jessenia Abrego, who earned all-league honors on floor and vault, and Kirra Seeley, who finished fifth on the beam, were seniors on the squad last year.
Corn said there is one thing his team must do in order to succeed in Cedar City.
“We need to have the same performance as we did at NC State,” he said. “If we do, we will be tough to beat.”
The following is a look at the other teams competing in the WGC Championship meet:
Boise State
The Broncos (5-12) hold a 194.90 RQS, and average a 194.392 score. All-arounders Kea Cuaresma and Carla Chambers lead Boise State, which is currently sixth in the West region.
“They are the improved team,” Corn said of seeing BSU throughout the season.
The Aggies won both meetings against the Broncos this season and hold a 45-7 all-time record, including an 8-3 record at neutral sites.
Cal State Fullerton
The only California team in the conference, the Titans (10-9) hold a 193.975 RQS, posing an average of 193.60. Kelly Mathiasen and Latoya Milburn lead CSF, each recording a 10.0 on the floor, March 14 against Rhode Island.
Although their scores may look lower than that of the Aggies, the Titans have said they feel they are judged a lot tougher in California, Corn said
Utah State fell to Cal State Fullerton 193.875-192.05 early in the season. The Aggies hold a 10-9 advantage all-time against CSF.
“We’re not the same team that went to Fullerton,” Corn said.
Southern Utah
The Thunderbirds (11-4) fell to BYU on Monday night, holding a 195.22 RQS prior to that meet. Eighth in the North Central Region, SUU averages 194.589.
The Aggies and Thunderbirds have met three times this year, with Southern Utah coming out on top twice (at Cedar City and BYU). Utah State knocked off SUU in the Spectrum on March 10.
“Southern Utah, once again, has been undaunted in the last six meets by its position and continues to climb up the rankings,” Corn said. “I don’t give the edge to anyone. [The only factor] is that it is hosted by SUU.”
The Aggies lead the all-time series 32-9, including a 10-4 advantage in Cedar City.
-juag@cc.usu.edu