Utah State gymnastics starts 2016 season with a win over Centenary College
For the third consecutive year, the Utah State gymnastics team started the season with a win, defeating Centenary College 194.375-184.225 on Friday in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
Prior to the 2013 season, the Aggies hadn’t started the year with a win since a 2002 home victory against Cal State – Fullerton.
“We’re all pretty prepared coming into the season,” said senior McKinzey Martinez. “We don’t think of this as our first meet because of our blue and white intersquad… It’s more just going out there and having fun.”
Martinez earned the top score in three of the four rotations and claimed the all-around competition with a score of 39.150.
“Starting the season with a win is great for us,” Martinez said. “We’re continuing to grow and we just expect to go up from here.”
In Friday’s victory, USU outscored its opponent in each of the rotations, recording scores of 48.925 on the uneven bars and on the beam, 48.225 on the floor and 48.300 on the vault.
“This is a group of girls that just knows what they’re doing,” said head coach Nadalie Walsh. “I don’t have to give them a pep rally. I don’t have to get them pumped up. They’re more ice cold, but they have fun and they get the job done. I think we’re off to a great start.”
The Aggies started the evening convincingly, sweeping the top five scores on the vault. Martinez led the way with a score of 9.750, followed by senior Jillian Chappel at 9.700, senior Michelle Yasukochi at 9.650, junior Bailey McIntire at 9.625 and sophomore Miranda Hone at 9.575.
Centenary, who lost junior Allison Scates to an injury while warming up before the meet, continued to struggle in the second rotation. The Aggies again claimed the top five spots in the uneven bars, led by Martinez’ score of 9.850. She was followed closely by McIntire and senior JoAnna Cuba at 9.825, sophomore Miranda Hone at 9.725 and junior Charly Belliston at 9.700.
“It’s a really good feeling to be coaching a team that can do the hard events really well,” Walsh said. “It’s harder to stay composed on beam and bars, but they have it down.”
Sophomore Melanie Oster, who finished last in the uneven bars, rebounded to take the top score in the third rotation.
“I was really proud of her because after she didn’t make her bar routine I was really hoping she could just wash it away,” Walsh said. “We talk about that a lot in the gym, you have to live in the moment and you can’t carry your routine from one event to the other.”
The Aggies swept their third event of the night with the balance beam, led by Oster’s score of 9.825. Freshman Emily Briones was close behind with a score of 9.800, followed by Martinez and sophomore Keri Peel at 9.775. Junior Hayley Sanzotti rounded out the top five with a score of 9.750.
Martinez finished her impressive night with the floor routine, taking the top spot for the third time with a score of 9.775. She was followed by Sanzotti at 9.700, Peel at 9.650 and McIntire at 9.600. The fourth rotation was the only one USU didn’t sweep, as sophomore Ashley White claimed the fifth spot for the visiting ladies with a score of 9.550.
“Floor is just fun,” Martinez said. “It’s fun to get out there and show off to the crowd. I love to tumble, I love the power events so floor’s just a fun ending to the meet.”
Two Aggies got their first action tonight as Hone and Briones each made their first career appearances for USU. In addition, Oster and Peel each set new personal records with their respective performances on the balance beam.
The Aggies return to the Spectrum on Friday at 7 p.m. for a meet against visiting Kent State.
– thomas.sorenson@aggiemail.usu.edu
– Twitter: @tomcat340