USU set to host WAC Championships
The last time Utah State hosted the Western Athletic Conference gymnastics championships was in 2006, the Aggies’ first year in the conference. USU will play host again this year when the five-team conference championship hits Logan on Saturday.
The Aggies will be joined by San Jose State University, Sacramento State University, Southern Utah University and No. 18 University of Denver. DU is USU’s sixth-ranked opponent of the season.
After the championships, the top 36 teams in the country will be selected for the NCAA Regional Championships in April.
USU was on the road for two meets leading up to championships. The Aggies took down SUU for the first time since 2005 before coming in third at a quad meet hosted by the University of Arizona.
Freshman Sarah Landes leads the Aggies in the all-around. The Edmond, Okla., native is sixth in the WAC with a regional qualifying score of 38.925. She also leads the team in beam RQS with a 9.690, which ranks 16th in the conference.
Sophomore Paige Jones is fifth in the WAC on vault with an RQS of 9.810. She is also tied for sixth on bars with a 9.805.
Senior Rebecca Holliday is 10th in the WAC in all-around rankings.
As a team, Utah State has an RQS of 193.745, which includes the second-best bar average in the WAC. The Aggies regained the top spot on the event two weeks ago but were dethroned by DU. Their 48.865 ranks fifth in the North Central region and 28 in the country.
The DU Pioneers are the highest ranked in the conference, sitting at No. 18 in this week’s rankings. They lead the WAC with a 14-6 record.
This is the first season the Pioneers have competed in the WAC. DU joined the conference when Boise State University and California State, Fullerton left.
The Pioneers have posted a team total 196 or higher in four of their last five meets. They lead the WAC in team total RQS as well as all four events.
Individually, sophomore Moriah Martin leads Denver with a 39.210 all-around RQS and a 9.915 on vault. Senior Lousie Mercer leads the Pioneers on bars with a 9.855 RQS.
The University of Denver has made 13 consecutive appearances at the NCAA Regionals and three NCAA National Championship berths.
The Sacramento State Hornets are 9-8 overall and went 1-2 in WAC matchups. They are coming off a season best 195.275 in their final regular season meet – a loss to San Jose State. The other WAC loss came at the hands of Utah State.
SSU freshman Kalliah McCartney set a school record with a 39.375 all-around score. She leads the Hornets in all-around, vault and beam scores.
Sophomore Kailey Hansen leads the team on floor, and Nicole Meiller leads the team on bars.
The San Jose State Spartans captured the WAC regular season title with a perfect 3-0 conference record. They are 12-6 overall.
The Spartans are coming off their season high and second-best score in school history with a 195.850 earned in their regular season finale.
SJSU is led by senior power gymnast Thomasina Wallace, who won 10 all-around titles in the regular season. She holds the record for highest all-around mark in school history with a 39.575 and came close to scoring a 39.550 in last week’s meet.
Wallace also leads the Spartans in all four events, including a 9.890 RQS on bars.
The SUU Thunderbirds are 4-11 overall and 1-2 in WAC action. They are also coming off a season high 195.875 in their home finale against Boise State.
Freshman Rochelle Bernier is the top T-bird on vault with a 9.800 RQS. Junior Alyssa Click leads the team on bars with a 9.790 RQS, and fellow junior Caitlin Kennedy leads beam with a 9.790. Freshman Brittney Jensen leads the team on floor with a 9.790 as well.
The WAC Championships begin Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. The Aggies will open the meet on vault before heading to bars and beam, and USU will close out the meet on floor.
– meredith.kinney@aggiemail.usu.edu