Utah State University Athletics

BARB ZAHL
Hometown: Apple Valley, Minnesota
Sport: Gymnastics
Years: 1988, 1990-92

Barb Zahl came to Utah State as a walk-on, but was rewarded for her accomplishments with a scholarship during her sophomore season. As a senior in 1992, Zahl captured the floor title with a 9.850 at the Big West Conference Championships, where she also garnered first-team honors in the all-around (second), vault (third) and bars (third). Her all-around score of 38.80 in those championships was the second-highest score in school history at the time. In 1992, Zahl competed in all 14 of Utah State’s meets as an all-arounder, helping the Aggies to a top-10 national ranking. Zahl’s 37.996 all-around average and 38.50 Regional Qualifying Score were both school records at the time, as was her 9.85 on floor. During her time at Utah State, Zahl, who dislocated both elbows prior to regionals in 1991, competed in 57 of 60 meets and was a national championships competitor as an individual in 1990. Zahl is tied for seventh all-time in school history with 34 career titles, including 16 on floor (fourth in school history) and nine in the all-around (tied for fifth in school history). Zahl captured 12 total titles as a sophomore, which is tied for second all-time in class history, eight as a freshman (tied for ninth), seven as a senior (tied for ninth) and seven as a junior (tied for 12th). Zahl was Utah State’s Big West Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 1991, and was a four-time USA All-American Scholastic Team recipient and three-time High Country Athletic Conference (HCAC) all-academic honoree. Zahl was also a two-time finalist for the AIA “American Award,” which was given to the outstanding senior gymnast in the nation and a finalist for the 1992 NCAA Woman of the Year Award.