Feb. 16, 2005

LOGAN, Utah -

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

THIS WEEK - Utah State gymnastics (1-4) heads back to the road to face its second conference opponent Boise State (2-7) Friday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. in the Taco Bell Arena.

NEXT WEEK - The Aggies return home for the second meet of their back to back meets with Boise State (2-7) Friday, Feb. 25 at 6:45 p.m.

LAST WEEK - Utah State started off the week against the Thunderbirds who lead the Western Gymnastics Conference and are currently ranked 15th in the nation. In addition to their #15 team ranking the Thunderbirds are eighth in the country on floor (49.012) while senior Carly Geronimo comes in a 12th in the nation on floor with a 9.869 average. She won the floor title against the Aggies with a 9.825. SUU defeated USU 193.900 - 192.625 Tuesday. The Aggies had their best vault score of the season (48.800) and had the highest beam score of the night (48.250) but it was not enough as a low bar scored was too much to overcome once again. Jessica Parenti and Liesel Kohler did return from injury and Freshman Jackie Fogli tied for the vault title with a 9.825. Utah State was finally able to put a whole meet together as they upset then #11 Denver at home 194.925 - 194.875. In addition to their season high total score the Aggies also set season highs on vault (48.950), bars (48.475) and beam (48.850). The 48.950 was the Aggies ninth best vault score all-time. The Aggies were led by Jessica Parenti who finished tied for first on vault and beam with a 9.850 on each event. She also finished second on bars with a 9.775. Alex Martin competed in the all-around for the first time this season winning with a 38.750. The Aggies had three personal best scores and 11 season highs.

LOOKING AT BOISE - The Broncos are the first opponent the Aggies have faced this season who are not in the top-25. Boise State's season high is a 194.550 and has a season average of 191.520. They are currently ranked thrid in the Western Gymnastics Conference behind Southern Utah and Utah State. The Broncos are led by all-arounder Lindsay Ward who has a 38.558 average in the all-around this season. BSU also returns Carla Chambers who is the defending conference all-around champion, Kristin Gaare the defending conference floor champion and Kea Cuaresma who won the vault and floor titles at the conference meet in 2003. Boise State is coming off of a season high 194.550 at Southern Utah last Friday. Though they lost to SUU (196.175), BSU's Lindsey Thomas won the all-around with a career high 39.250 and Ward won the beam with a 9.950.

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 before traveling to #17 Central Michigan and then returned home to face #11 BYU. Denver, which is one of four teams Utah State will face twice this year, is currently ranked 13th in the nation. Other current opponents in the top-25 include Southern Utah (15th), Oregon State (16th) and Kentucky (20th). Currently the Aggies are ranked 32nd 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 the first two 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 and tied for first against SUU with a 9.825.

THE ERROR UP THERE - Utah State has hosted two teams ranked in the top-10 coming into the meet (#1 Utah and #8 BYU). So far the Logan air has not been too kind to the visiting teams as both Utah and BYU's lowest scores of the season have come in Logan. Utah fell from #1 to #2 the week after coming to Logan while BYU fell from #8 to #13. Though #11 Denver had an average meet, they fell in the rankings from #11 to #13.

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. BYU then came into town and the Aggies once again struggled only scoring a 190.600. One bright spot came on floor as the Aggies scored their highest floor team score with a 48.750.

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 411-389-2 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 competed on bars, beam and vault in four of the first five meets for the Aggies. Had her best meet of the season against Denver setting season highs on bars (9.600), beam (9.725) and floor (9.775).

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 on both. Tied for first place on vault at Southern Utah with a 9.825.

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 later in the season.

Liesel Kohler - A junior out of La Selva, Calif., Kohler has competed on beam and floor in four out of the first five meets this season with a season high of 9.775 on beam and 9.850 on floor. Her 9.850 on floor agaisnt Denver won her the event title. All this despite the fact she suffered a concussion that kept her from training for most of November and December. Kohler missed the BYU meet due to injury. Tied teammate Alex Martin for highest Aggie floor score with a 9.775 against Southern Utah.

Rachael Mandy - A redshirt sophomore from Fargo, N.D., Mandy has competed on the vault in all five 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. Against BYU she tied two teammates for the best Aggie vault score with a 9.725. Against Southern Utah and Denver she scored her season average of 9.750. Saw her first bars action against Denver with a 9.675.

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 led the Aggies on bars in the first four meets of the season with a season high of 9.725. Took fourth on the bars against Southern Utah. She won the all-around title agasint Denver in her first time going all-around this season with a 38.750. Took third on beam against Denver with a 9.800.

Meagan Nelson - A redshirt sophomore from Las Vegas, Nev., Nelson has come back from her injury to compete in the vault and bars in the first four meets this season. Her season high on bars is a 9.650. Set a season high on vault against Denver with a 9.800 which tied her for third on the event.

Katie Omann - A freshman out of Sartell, Minn., Omann had her best meet of the season as she set personal bests on bars (9.775) and floor (9.675) against Denver.

Jessica Parenti - A redshirt sophomore out of Glendora, Calif., Parenti was diagnosed with mononucleosis the day of the first meet. Saw her first action against Southern Utah in three events. Took third on beam with a 9.725. Against Denver she tied for first on vault (9.850) and beam (9.850) while taking second on bars with a 9.775. Was also named the USU Athlete of the Week for Feb. 7-13. May be seen in the all-around sometime in the next few weeks.

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 9.800 respectively.

Katie Rutherford - A senior out of Chappaqua, N.Y., Rutherford has competed on bars and beam for the Aggies in all five meets this season. Had her best meet against Denver scoring season highs on bars (9.750) and on beam (9.700).

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 her first two 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. Did not compete in the all-around the last two meets.