April 9, 2005

Final Stats

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Southern hospitality was not very hospitable for Utah State's 16th ranked gymnastics team as the Aggies finished sixth with a 192.375 at the Central Region Championships here Saturday.

Host Alabama won the event with a 196.675 while Iowa State took second with a 195.625. Both teams will advance to the NCAA Championships in two weeks. Auburn, who will host the NCAA Championships, took third with a 194.800. Kentucky, who had to score three falls on beam, scored a 193.325 to finish fourth while Kent State, who came back from a tough start on floor and vault, took fifth with a 192.500.

Utah State started off on floor and, as expected, the scores were low. The Aggies were only able to garner their second lowest floor score of the season, a 48.100. Junior Liesel Kohler led the Aggies with a solid 9.750 but three other Aggies had their lowest floor scores of the season. USU found itself at least .65 behind the other three teams after the first rotation.

The Aggies found their stride on vault as they scored a 9.700 or better on all five scores to score a 48.650. Freshman Jackie Fogli, the Western Gymnastics Conference Champion on vault, led the way for Utah State with a 9.775. USU was in fifth at the halfway point with Iowa State holding a small advantage over Alabama.

Returning from their first bye of the night, the Aggies headed to bars, their weakest event this season. Once again the bars were too much for USU as it scored a 47.575. Redshirt all-arounder Jessica Parenti had the top bars score for USU with a 9.700. The Aggies finished the night without having to count a fall but they were unable to have the flawless evening they were hoping for. USU scored a 48.050 on beam, again the second lowest of the season, with junior Ashley Barr and sophomore Alex Martin leading the way with a 9.650 each. The Aggies were tentative on both the bars and the beam and were unable to take advantage of some errors being made by other teams.

"We were not at our sharpest tonight," said head coach Ray Corn. "I thought our girls fought very hard. We did not have to count a fall and I think this will provide a springboard for us into the next season."

The Aggies will lose two seniors, Rachel Ropelato and Katie Rutherford. Rutherford had a top-three Aggie score in all three events she competed in. Despite the loss of the two captains, the Aggies look forward to next season as the three incoming freshman are expected to make an immediate impact.

"Our flaws were exaggerated by the tough judging," Corn said. "We made no major mistakes but we made so many little ones that it reduced our scoring potential, each little tenth adds up. We have a lot to look forward to next year."

Team Scores Utah State - 192.375 Alabama - 196.675 Iowa State - 195.625 Auburn - 194.800 Kentucky - 193.325 Kent State - 192.500

Individual USU Scores All-around: Jessica Parenti, 38.100

VAULT: Jackie Fogli, 9.775; Katie Rutherford, 9.750; Rachael Mandy 9.725

BARS: Jessica Parenti, 9.700; Alex Martin, 9.625; Katie Rutherford, 9.475

BEAM: Ashley Barr, 9.650; Alex Martin, 9.650; Katie Rutherford, 9.625

FLOOR: Liesel Kohler, 9.750; Jessica Parenti, 9.650; Jackie Fogli, 9.600; Ashley Barr, 9.600