USU Gymnastics sets program record for NCAA Tournament meet, gets eliminated

NORMAN, OKLA. — Utah State Women’s Gymnastics traveled to Oklahoma to compete against No. 8 Minnesota, No.9 Cal and No. 24 seed Boise State in the NCAA Regional competition on Thursday, March 31. Coming off a Mountain Rim Gymnastics Championship, No. 25 ranked Utah State, had high hopes for the meet. 

They finished third, behind Minnesota and Cal, ending their hopes of advancing to the Regional Finals. 

Despite the loss, the Aggies set a program record for the highest team score at an NCAA tournament in history with a 196.825. 

“We could not have gone out and did better than we did tonight,” head coach Amy Smith said. “I’m so proud of the integrity of the character they held throughout the meet. The gymnastics was just a lovely extra component.” 

The Aggies finished behind Minnesota (197.825) and Cal (197.325). The Golden Gophers and the Golden Bears will advance to the Regional Finals on Saturday. 

The Aggies recorded a 49.075 on vault; their lowest scoring event. Freshman Molly Arnold recorded the team’s best performance on the apparatus with a 9.850. 

On the uneven bars, the Aggies scored a 49.300. Sophomore Brianna Brooks and Maia Fishwick scored a 9.900 each. 

Utah State scored a 49.125 on beam. Junior Rebecca Wells led her team on the beam with a 9.900. The Aggies recorded their best floor rotation in school history with a 49.325. Freshman Brie Clark led her squad with a 9.925. 

Clark was recently named to the Regular Season Second Team All-American on the floor. She joins Olympians Sunisa Lee, Grace McCallum, and Jade Carey as one of just four freshmen to earn All American Honors on the floor. 

Senior Grace Rojas reflected on her final gymnastics event as an Aggie.

“It was so fun to be out there with the girl, just everyone giving everything they had…it was electric.”