USU uses floor exercise to top Missouri
USU had to use a stellar floor exercise rotation to squeeze out a victory vs. the University of Missouri Saturday, 193.900-193.025.
“We feel fortunate for the win,” said USU head coach Ray Corn.
Going into the final rotation, the Aggies trailed the Tigers by more than 1.3 points – a monster lead in gymnastics.
Kristen O’Dell, Nicole Kilpatrick and Jessenia Abrego all scored meet-high 9.875s. Abrego’s routine brought out chants of “10! 10!” from the Spectrum crowd of 1,372.
Abrego and teammate Mika Houston were playing in front of former teammates and coaches from Las Vegas, Nev.
“It’s all about Vegas,” Abrego said. “It helps out.”
Kilpatrick won the all-around with a score of 39.125, beating out USU’s Tina Ellis (38.425) and four Missouri gymnasts. She was one of the few who survived the beam rotation where three Aggies fell.
“We need to get a lot more confidence [on beam],” Houston said.
After the meet, Corn suggested he might simplify the beam routines and then slowly add difficulty, like he did to the vault rotation – the Aggies have improved on this year.
On Saturday the vault proved strong again for USU as Megan Woolstenhulme led the Aggies with a 9.8. Every competing USU gymnast scored a 9.675 or better on the event.
The Aggies had some trouble on the bars, as Houston was the only one who hit her routine.
“We struggled on bars, and it carried to beam,” Corn said.
USU now takes the week off, its next home meet will be Monday at 7 p.m. vs. San Jose State University.