USU falls to ranked Broncos
Two weeks ago, Utah State gymnastics had a massive meet on bars; last week the Aggies notched five career highs on vault. This week in Boise, the gymnasts picked up a season high on floor.
After posting low scores on the beam rotation, two gymnasts scored career highs and three landed above 9.8.
The Aggies opened up the meet on bars scoring a 48.825.
“We did what we wanted to do as far as coming out in the first rotation and being aggressive,” USU head coach Jeff Richards said.
Junior Amelia Montoya dismounted for a 9.775 before Paige Jones landed a 9.825 — good enough to tie for third with Boise State University’s Lindsay Kazandjian.
“It’s our best event, and we came out ready, prepared and confident,” Richards said.
On vault, USU faltered. Coming off a big meet, the gymnasts struggled to post big scores.
“Vault was just a little flat,” Richards said. “We were a little bit hesitant.”
Freshman Sarah Landes threw her vault for a 9.625, and Jones registered a 9.750 on the event.
The Broncos had a big meet on vault. Four gymnasts competed for scores above 9.8, and Bronco Brittany Potvin-Green scored a 9.9 to win the event.
On floor in the third rotation, the Aggies posted a 48.875 on the event. Freshman Susie Miller landed a career-high 9.85 before Jones landed a 9.8. Landes scored a 9.85 to close out the rotation.
For the final rotation, the Aggies moved to beam. After posting a season high on floor the Aggies struggled again on beam.
“Going into beam, we needed a 48.4, which is pretty easy to do,” Richards said. “We would still have a 194, which was right what we were aiming at as coaches.”
USU didn’t get it and scored a 46.95. Red-shirt freshman Samantha Wagner posted a 9.725 — her highest of the season. Senior Rebecca Holliday landed a 9.575, and Jones added a 9.525.
“We just fell apart and didn’t get it done,” Richards said. “As soon as we got up on there we were hesitant, we were shaky.”
For Boise State, Potvin-Green scored a 9.925 on beam, her second 9.9-plus score, to win the event.
The Aggies have a quick turnaround, returning home to take on Brigham Young University in their final home meet of the season Monday night.
– meredith.kinney@aggiemail.usu.edu