USU freshman Sofi Sullivan sets program record in win over Air Force
It was a record-setting weekend for Utah State University gymnastics and freshman Sofi Sullivan, in particular. Sullivan capped the meet for the Aggies by notching a school-record 9.975 on beam to win the event title. She also won the all-around with a career-best 39.325.
“I couldn’t be more proud of this team,” said third-year USU head coach Amy Smith. “We have a very frenetic pre-meet warmup and had to reel them in once warmups were over. They made the adjustments, came out and delivered. The resolve and focus of the team tonight was awesome. They didn’t back down and just kept building with the crescendo being that spectacular beam rotation.”
The final event of the evening was the beam and that was where Sullivan stole the show. She had already posted two scores of 9.775 and a 9.80, but in beam, she made program history with a perfect 10.00 on her first attempt and a combined score of 9.975.
Records are made to be broken‼️
Freshman Sofi Sullivan delivered this 9️⃣.9️⃣7️⃣5️⃣ routine to break the school record on beam.#MakeTheLeap pic.twitter.com/CAgGRKCfqt
— USU Gymnastics (@USUGymnastics) January 27, 2020
“Beam is the most exciting event for me, so being able to go up there and do my routine just how I practice it every day is the best feeling,” Sullivan said. “Setting the school record and helping the team win was the exclamation point of the night.”
The Aggies also earned their first win of the season by outscoring Air Force 195.550-192.375. In the process, Utah State notched a season-high 49.200 on beam, landing the score at sixth all-time in school history. All four phases of the meet went in favor of the visitors, and it was kicked off with a score of 48.725 in the bars. Sophomore Grace Rojas topped this portion of the meet with an average score of 9.80 and was one of four Aggies to finish with a score of 9.7 or above.
Next up in the competition was the vault, and Utah State picked up another score of 48.725, which junior Leighton Varnadore topped with an average score of 9.825.
“Leighton set the tone on beam and everyone followed suit,” Smith said. “The back end of the lineup with Autumn (DeHarde) and Sofi (Sullivan) was absolute fire. For Sofi to set the school record in just her third meet is beyond amazing. What a great way to close out a great night.”
Floor was the penultimate event of the meet — which the Aggies scored their highest of the night with a 49.20 — which was led by junior Autumn DeHarde who earned a 9.875 average thanks to a 9.90 on her first attempt.
The Aggies are back in action against in-state rival — and no. 23 in the nation — Southern Utah on Friday, Jan. 31 in Cedar City.
Full box score below
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Utah State at Air Force – USAFA, Colo. – Cadet West Gym – Jan. 25, 2020
Team Results: 1. Utah State – 195.550 (vault: 48.725, bars: 48.725, beam: 49.200, floor: 48.950); 2. Air Force – 192.375 (vault: 48.475, bars: 47.600, beam: 47.475, floor: 48.825).
Vault: 1. Anna Salamone – AFA, 9.850; T2. Leighton Varnadore – USU, 9.825; T2. Heidi Sand – AFA, 9.825; T4. Grace Rojas – USU, 9.775; T4. Sofi Sullivan – USU, 9.775; T7. Mikaela Meyer – USU, 9.675; T7. Rebecca Wells – USU, 9.675; 10. Autumn DeHarde – USU, 9.475
Bars: 1. Anna Salamone – AFA, 9.900; 2. Grace Rojas – USU, 9.800; T3. Brittany Jeppesen – USU, 9.775; T3. Sofi Sullivan – USU, 9.775; 5. Leighton Varnadore – USU, 9.725; 7. Annie Beck – USU, 9.650; 11. Maia Fishwick – USU, 9.150.
Beam: 1. Sofi Sullivan – USU, 9.975; 2. Autumn DeHarde – USU, 9.900; T3. Carley Bayles – USU, 9.800; T3. Daija Stevenson – AFA, 9.800; 5. Leighton Varnadore – USU, 9.775; Taylor Dittmar – USU, 9.750; 9. Tori Loomis – USU, 9.500.
Floor: 1. Tyler Davis – AFA, 9.925; 2. Autumn DeHarde – USU, 9.875; T3. Sofi Sullivan – USU, 9.800; T3. Pixie Brock – AFA, 9.800; 5. Ariel Toomey – USU, 9.775; Mikaela Meyer – USU, 9.750; T8. Leighton Varnadore – USU, 9.700; 12. Elle Golison – USU, 8.275.
All-Around: 1. Sofi Sullivan – USU, 39.325; 2. Leighton Varnadore – USU, 39.025.