Jan. 27, 2005
LOGAN, Utah -
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THIS WEEK - Utah State gymnastics (0-2) returns home to host in-state rival #8 Brigham Young (4-1) Tuesday, Feb. 1 at 6:45 p.m. in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
NEXT WEEK - The Aggies will compete against their first conference foe as they travel to #16 Southern Utah Tuesday, Feb 8 at 7:00 p.m. Utah State then returns home to face #9 Denver Friday, Feb. 11 at 6:45 p.m.
LAST WEEK - Before their two weeks off, the Aggies faced two top-25 teams in three days. Utah State opened its season against then top-ranked Utah. Despite the loss of their top all-arounder, the Aggies were able to take advantage of Utah's lack-luster performance as they stayed within a few tenths of the Utes into the final rotation. Utah finally found its stride scoring a 49.200 on beam while Utah State struggled uncharacteristically on floor scoring only a 48.250. The Aggies best rotation came on vault as they scored a 48.775. Despite the loss, the 193.850 was the best known start the Aggies have ever had. Freshman Megan Tschida was another bright story for Utah State as she took second in the all-around with a 39.125.
Only two days later Utah State was in Central Michigan for its first ever trip to the land of the Chippewas. The Aggies started slow and never recovered as they were only able to score a 191.850. Utah State had to count one fall on vault and two falls on beam. Before the meet the bars broke while Sophomore Alex Martin was warming up. She was uninjured and ended up posting the highest bar score for the Aggies with a 9.725. Freshman Megan Tschida once again took second in the all-around.
LOOKING AT BYU - The eighth ranked Cougars are 4-1 on the season following a 195.025 to 193.925 victory over New Hampshire. The Cougars only loss was at the hands of 11th ranked Oklahoma to start off the season at the Cancun Classic in Mexico. BYU is ranked second in the North Central Conference behind Utah. BYU has started the season on fire as it has scored over a 195.025 in each of its three meets this season. The Cougars are led in the all-around by seniors Marie-Helene Claveau and Jaime Mabray who have both scored a 39.250. Both have also scored a 9.900 on vault.
The Cougars lead the all-time series 49-38-1. The Aggies hold a 21-13 advantage in Logan. Last season the Aggies scored a 196.225 against the Cougars in Logan, their highest of the season and third highest all-time, but BYU countered with an all-time team record 198.025 to take the victory. Utah State is 1-1 in Logan against the Cougars over the last two years having beaten them by three-tenths of a point in 2003, 195.975 - 195.675.
2005 TEAM CAPTAINS - Seniors Rachel Ropelato and Katie Rutherford and Sophomore Alex Martin serve as captains for the 2005 squad. This is Rutherford's third year as captain, Ropelato's second year and Martin's first year.
TOUGHEST SCHEDULE EVER? - The Aggies opened the season against top ranked Utah (now second) before traveling to number 24 (now 25) Central Michigan. Their third meet will once again be against a top-10 opponent as they face number eight BYU. Denver, who Utah State will face twice this year, is currently ranked ninth in the nation. Other current opponents in the top-25 include Oregon State (14th), Southern Utah (16th) and Kentucky (18th). Currently the Aggies are ranked 29th in the nation. Rankings are based upon the team's total average score of all meets this season. Rankings will not be based upon a team's Regional Qualifying Score (RQS) until Feb. 21.
A FRESHMAN SHALL LEAD THEM, AGAIN - Two years ago it was Meagan Nelson and Jessica Parenti, last year it was Alex Martin and this year it looks like a freshman will once again be leading the Aggies in the all-around. After redshirt sophomore Jessica Parenti was diagnosed with mononucleosis on the day of the first meet, Freshman Megan Tschida was thrust into the limelight as the only all-arounder competing for the Aggies. She has responded by taking second in the all-around in both meets this season. Against Utah she tied for first on floor with a 9.850. Freshman Jackie Fogli is also making her mark as she had the top vault score against Utah with a 9.850 which was good enough for a third place tie on the event.
2005 SEASON IN REVIEW - The Aggies began the season with what is most likely their highest ever beginning score (193.850) against Utah. Utah State started very well scoring a 48.775 on vault. Uncharacteristically the Aggies had a tough floor rotation which is where the Aggies have been excelling over the last few years. This prevented the Aggies from having a chance at one of the biggest upsets in Utah State history. Still it moved the Aggies into the top-25 as the 24th ranked team in the nation. Utah State followed up the meet with one only two days later at Central Michigan. After having to count three falls, the Aggies were only able to garner a 191.850. Utah State's 192.850 average is currently the 29th highest in the nation.
HEAD COACH RAY CORN - Utah State's Ray Corn (Northern Colorado `71) is in his 28th year as the Aggies' head coach. Corn's teams own a 410-387-2 overall record and have participated in the postseason 24 of his 27 years. Aggie squads have competed at national championship meets five times. Corn was named NCAA Midwest Region Coach of the Year in 1991, was honored as High country Athletic Conference Coach of the Year three times and selected Big West Conference Coach of the Year in 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2001.
A LOOK AT THE 2005 AGGIES -
Ashley Barr - A junior from Littleton, Colo., Barr has competed on bars, beam and vault in each of the first two meets for the Aggies. Her season high score on floor is a 9.700 while her bars and beam high score is a 9.600.
Jackie Fogli - A freshman out of Wheaton, Ill., Fogli vaulted to the top Aggie score against Utah with a 9.850 which was good enough for a third place tie in the event. She has also competed on beam and floor with season highs of 9.750 and 9.625 respectively.
Jaymie Goodsell - A freshmen out of Blaine, Minn., Goodsell is the tallest USU gymnast this year and is expected to add depth to the Aggies on floor and beam.
Liesel Kohler - A junior out of La Selva, Calif., Kohler has competed on beam and floor in both meets this season with a season high of 9.775 in both events. All this despite the fact she suffered a concussion that kept her from training for most of November and December.
Rachael Mandy - A redshirt sophomore from Fargo, N.D., Mandy has competed on the vault in both meets this season. Against Utah Mandy tied for the second highest vault score with a 9.750. Two days later against Central Michigan she led the Aggies on vault with 9.775.
Alex Martin - A sophomore from Longmont, Colo., Martin suffered a small injury that limited her action a little bit in the first two meets. Martin has led the Aggies on bars in both meets this season with a 9.725.
Meagan Nelson - A redshirt sophomore from Las Vegas, Nev., Nelson has come back from her injury to compete in the vault and bars in both meets this season. Her season high on vault is a 9.675 while her bars high is a 9.650.
Katie Omann - A freshman out of Sartell, Minn., Omann has competed on vault in both meets and floor once. Expect to see an upgraded vault from her when the Aggies return to the floor against BYU.
Jessica Parenti - A redshirt sophomore out of Glendora, Calif., Parenti was diagnosed with mononucleosis the day of the first meet. She is expected to miss at least four to six weeks. The Aggies expect her to return slowly before returning to the all-around where she was expected to lead the team this year.
Kelly Patterson - A freshman out of Twin Falls, Idaho, Patterson has been on the Aggie coaching staff's radar for quite a while. The coaching staff looks forward to her contribution on bars and floor.
Ana Rickard - A freshman out of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Rickard, along with fellow freshman Jackie Fogli, are expected to add strength to the Aggie vault. She may also be seen on floor and bars.
Rachel Ropelato - A senior out of Nibley, Utah, Ropelato has competed on vault, bars and floor for the Aggies with high scores of 9.750, 9.650 and 9.625 respectively.
Katie Rutherford - A senior out of Chappaqua, N.Y., Rutherford has competed on bars and beam for the Aggies in both meets this season with a high score on bars of 9.600 and beam of 9.650.
Megan Tschida - A freshman from St. Paul, Minn., Tschida flipped into the number one all-around role when Jessica Parenti was unable to compete at the beginning of the season. Tschida responded by finishing second in the all-around in both meets this season with an all-around high score of 39.125 against Utah. She also tied for the floor title against Utah with a 9.850. Her floor score of 9.800 against Central Michigan tied her for second on the event.
