March 21, 2009

Complete Results

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Utah State finished sixth at the Western Athletic Conference Gymnastics Championships Saturday night at Sacramento, Calif., hosted by Sacramento State at the Hornets Nest.

Boise State successfully defending its crown, repeating as conference champions with a 196.525, followed by host Sacramento State with a 195.350 for second. Southern Utah was third with a 195.175, while San Jose State was fourth at 194.875 and Cal State Fullerton had a 192.975 for fifth. Utah State was sixth with a 192.425, marking USU's second sixth-place finish at the conference meet in as many years.

The Aggies notched a 47.925 on vault, 48.375 on bars, 48.150 on beam, 47.975 on floor for the 192.425 final score, USU's fifth-best score this season. The 48.150 on beam was No. 3 on the Aggies' bests list of the year.

Senior Nicki Felley earned second-team all-WAC honors by finishing third in the all-around with a 38.700 in all-around, while sophomore Lyndsie Boone was ninth in the all-around at 37.450.

Sophomore Nicole Simoneau earned second-team all-WAC accolades on both beam and bars by finishing fifth on each apparatus. She was fifth on both beam and bars, notching a career-high 9.825 on beam while registering a 9.850 on bars. Simoneau scored a 9.800 or higher in the last nine meets in a row and 12 this season, as well as 25 times in 28 career meets.

After being out of the lineup since Feb. 9 with an illness, junior Heather Heinrich continued her slow return, competing in three events Saturday. In the Aggies' regular-season finale on March 16, Heinrich was limited to vault action only.

Utah State started the meet on bars, where Boone started with a 9.600, followed by a 9.650 from freshman Brandie Dickson then a 9.675 from Felley, before a 9.600 by Dillon. Simoneau notched her second-team all-WAC earning 9.850, before Heinrich registered a 9.600, giving USU a 48.375 on bars.

For the second rotation the Aggies were on beam, with Boone leading off with a 9.050, followed by a 9.200 by freshman Erica Huelsmann, then a 9.650 by Felley preceded a career-best 9.825 by Simoneau. Freshman Haley Hogan tied her career best with a 9.725, before Heinrich posted a 9.750 as USU tallied a 48.150 for a 96.525 after two apparatus.

After a bye for the third rotation, USU was on floor for rotation number four, where a leadoff 9.125 by Boone was followed by a 9.625 by Hogan, then a 9.700 by Huelsmann. Dillon posted a 9.750 before Felley closed out the rotation with a 9.775, posting a 47.975 for the Aggies' team total, giving them a 144.500 after three events.

USU moved to vault for the fifth rotation, with Hogan notching an opening 9.550, before Simoneau posted a 9.350. Felley notched a 9.600, preceding a 6.675 by Boone which was followed by a 9.750 by Heinrich. Dillon notched a 9.300 to complete the Aggies' rotation and action in the WAC meet with a 47.925 for the event and a final score of 192.425.

San Jose State's Thomasina Wallace earned the WAC Freshman of the Year award, after she finished fourth in the all-around, winning the floor as well as finishing tied for second on bars, while placing tied for 22nd on vault and 30th on beam. Southern Utah's Elise Wheeler was named the WAC Gymnast of the Year, winning the all-around Saturday night, placing tied for third on beam, tied for sixth on bars, tied for eighth on floor and tied for ninth on vault. Boise State's co-head coaches Tina Bird and Neil Resnick collected the WAC Coach of the Year award.

Utah State will now await Monday's announcements of the NCAA Regional selections to see who will be going to regionals.