Jan. 18, 2004

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.- - Freshman Gretchen Goerlitz won the vault title with a score of 9.775 as the Aggies kicked off their season at the Rocky Mountain Open in Colorado Springs, Colo. USU finished second with a score of 192.800, only behind San Jose State's 193.875. The hosts of the meet, Air Force Academy, took third with a score of 191.650. Division II defending national champion, Texas Women's College, and Wisconsin-Eau Claire finished with respective scores of 191.325 and 185.525.

"We would have liked for our scores to have been higher, but it was our first meet and we had some 'first meet jitters,'" said head coach Ray Corn. "Overall I am pleased with how the girls came back after a slow start. We will continue to get better."

Co-captain Katie Rutherford finished in the top five on both the Vault and the balance beam. Rutherford finished fourth on the vault with a score of 9.700, and also finished fourth on the beam with a score 9.775. Co-captain Rachel Ropelato finished tied for second on the vault with a score of 9.750.

Stacy Stewart, debuting for the Aggies, finished fourth on the bars with a score of 9.800. Alex Martin, another USU freshman, scored 38.350 in the all-around. That gave her a fourth place finish in the event. Sophomore Ashley Barr tied for fifth on the bars scoring 9.775.

USU stays on the road next Friday, Jan. 23 when they will face California, Arizona State, and tonight's winner San Jose State in Berkeley, Calif.