March 29, 2003

Final Stats

CEDAR CITY, Utah - Led by freshmen all-around performers Meagan Nelson and Jessica Parenti, Utah State gymnastics finished fourth in the second-ever Western Gymnastics Conference Championship meet here Saturday with a team score of 194.35. Nelson was third in the all-around (39.275), while Parenti tied for fourth (39.225).

Boise State won the meet (195.65), while Cal State Fullerton finished second (195.60), and Southern Utah was third (195.375). Boise State coach Yvonne ?Sam ? Sandmire was voted Coach of the Year, while all-around champion Carla Chambers (Boise State) was the Gymnast of the Meet. Utah State's team score was its lowest since Feb. 14 at NC State.

"We started the meet well, exactly the way we wanted," Utah State head coach Ray Corn said. "After beam and floor, we were right where we wanted to be. We didn't hold together on bars. Seemingly our season is over, except for the three all-arounders of Kilpatrick, Nelson and Parenti."

Three freshmen, Jessica Parenti (9.9), Meagan Nelson (9.875) and Liesel Kohler (9.8) led USU in the first rotation, as the Aggies scored 48.85 on beam. Parenti's beam score tied her career best, and tied for fifth place overall.

Boise State led the meet entering the second rotation. Cal State Fullerton was second, Southern Utah was third and USU was fourth, 0.375 behind BSU. In the second rotation, USU scored 49.00 on floor, marking the sixth consecutive meet this season the Aggies posted 49.00 or better in the event. Nelson and Kohler again led Utah State, as both scored 9.85, tying for eighth overall.

Entering the third rotation, the Aggies led Southern Utah by 0.225. In the third rotation, Rachel Ropelato had USU's highest score on vault, a 9.875, good for fourth place overall, while Nelson scored 9.775. With a team score of 48.75 on vault, USU slipped to second behind Cal State Fullerton, by 0.50.

USU struggled on bars in the final rotation, as USU scored a season-low 47.75. Parenti led the team with 9.85, tying for fourth overall. Nelson was second for the Aggies with a 9.775. Boise State's 49.30 on vault moved the Broncos into first place for good, while Cal State Fullerton's 48.950 on beam gave the Titans second in the meet.

The Aggies had five gymnasts earn all-conference honors on the night.

Utah State's regular season is now complete. NCAA regional bids, both individual and team, will be announced on Monday.

WESTERN GYMNASTICS CONFERENCE TOP SIX BY EVENT EARN ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS

BOISE STATE 195.650CAL STATE FULLERTON 195.600SOUTHERN UTAH 195.375UTAH STATE 194.350
VAULT (BSU 49.300, SUU 48.900, USU 48.750,CSF 48.425)1. Kea Cuaresma (BSU) 9.9752. Carla Chambers (BSU) 9.9503. Molly Bauer (SUU)9.9254. Rachel Ropelato (USU) 9.8755. Lindsey Thomas (BSU) 9.8506. Jayme Morgan (SUU) 9.825
UNEVEN BARS (BSU 49.225, CSF 49.100, SUU 48.725, USU 47.750)1. Carla Chambers (BSU) 9.9002. Kea Cuaresma (BSU) 9.8752T. Breanne Holmes (BSU) 9.8754T. Kristen Weigandt (CSF) 9.8504T. Jessica Parenti (USU) 9.8506T. Annette Reyes (CSF) 9.8256T. Kelly Mathiasen (CSF) 9.8256T. Stephanie Steward (BSU) 9.825
BALANCE BEAM (CSF 48.950, USU 48.850, SUU 48.450, BSU 47.950)1. Kelly Mathiasen (CSF) 9.9502T. Talayna Fortunato (SUU) 9.9252T. Kristy Parker (CSF) 9.9252T. Breanne Holmes (BSU) 9.9255T. Kim Runciman (CSF) 9.9005T. Jessica Parenti (USU) 9.900
FLOOR EXERCISE (SUU 49.300, BSU 49.175, CSF 49.125, USU 49.000)1T. Sandi Lyman (SUU) 9.9001T. Sheena Shaw (SUU) 9.9001T. Kea Cuaresma (BSU) 9.9004T. Talayna Fortunato (SUU) 9.8754T. Kelly Mathiasen (CSF) 9.8754T. Latoya Milburn (CSF) 9.8754T. Carla Chambers (BSU) 9.875
ALL-AROUND1.Carla Chambers (BSU) 39.5502. Kelly Mathiasen (CSF) 39.4753. Meagan Nelson (USU) 39.2754T. Jessica Parenti (USU) 39.2254T. Talayna Fortunato (SUU) 39.2256T. Jayme Morgan (SUU) 39.0256T. Kea Cuaresma (BSU) 39.025