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LOGAN, Utah – Utah State senior Madison Ward-Sessions set one school record and tied another in the final home meet of her career, helping the Aggies score a 195.275 against Southern Utah on Friday night at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
 
The Thunderbirds won the meet with a 196.350, capturing three individual titles and the all-around crown in the process.
 
"It's so crazy and I never thought it would actually happen, but here I am," Ward-Sessions said of competing in her final home meet. "It's so special that Emily (Briones) and I can go out together and compete together. This team is so fun and it's the most fun team I've ever been a part of. That just made it so much more special."
 
Both Briones, also a senior, and Ward-Sessions were honored following the meet.
 
Ward-Sessions was the Aggies' final competitor of the night and she absolutely stole the show, recording a 9.975 on floor to win the event and tie the school record previously set by Christy Denson in 1999.
 
"With my floor routine, I was excited to get out there and put what I've been doing into play because in practice, I've been really working on landing drills," Ward-Sessions said. "I was trying to focus on that and not what came after. I never really know what to expect after I finish my routine, but it felt really good. I felt good on all of my landings and they were spot on. I was really happy about that because I finally put it all together."
 
With her floor win, Ward-Sessions now has 20 career titles on the event, which is the top mark in school history.
 
"At the beginning of the meet, Madi didn't quite settle in, but she fought throughout the meet," said second-year USU head coach Amy Smith. "She got a handle on it on the last event and good thing she did, because that was phenomenal. In my opinion, it should've been a 10 because it was absolutely gorgeous. I am really proud of her for battling through and finishing on such a high note. She tied the school record on floor and it was phenomenal. I'm really proud and happy for her."

The only other Aggie to capture an event title on Friday was junior MaKayla Bullitt, who tied for first on bars with a career-high-tying 9.875. SUU's Stephanie Tervort also recorded that same score.
 
In her final home meet, Briones had a 9.775 on beam to tie for sixth and a 9.550 on floor to place 11th.
 
Utah State (5-9, 0-6 Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference) began the night on vault, where the Aggies scored a 48.525. Sophomores Autumn DeHarde and Leighton Varnadore each had a 9.775 to tie for fourth on the event. For DeHarde, it was a career-high-tying score.
 
Moving to bars in the second rotation, the Aggies eclipsed the 49-point plateau for the second consecutive week, this time notching a 49.050. Besides Bullitt's 9.875, freshman Grace Rojas scored a career-best 9.850 to tie for third, along with Ward-Sessions. Junior Madi Tueller also had a career high on the event, scoring a 9.725 to tie for 10th.
 
Utah State moved to beam in the third rotation, where it scored a 48.650. Varnadore led the way for the Aggies with a 9.825 to tie for third.
 
The Aggies closed the meet on floor, tallying a 49.050. While Ward-Sessions stole the show on the event, Varnadore matched her career high with a 9.875 to tie for second, along with DeHarde.
 
Varnadore took second in the all-around with a career-high-tying 39.225, while Ward-Sessions placed third with a 38.250. SUU's Karley McClain placed first in the all-around with a 39.450.
 
The Thunderbirds (5-4, 3-2 MRGC) recorded a 48.975 on vault, 49.050 on bars, 49.125 on beam and a 49.200 on floor. McClain won the vault and beam titles with a 9.850 and 9.900, respectively.
 
Utah State returns to action on Saturday, March 16, when it takes on No. 2 UCLA at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, Calif. The meet is slated to begin at 5 p.m. (MT) and will be streamed live on the Pac-12 Network.
 
Fans can follow the Aggie gymnastics program at twitter.com/USUGymnastics, on Facebook at Utah State Gymnastics, and on Instagram at USUGymnastics. Fans can also follow the USU athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on Facebook at UtahStateAthletics.
 
Southern Utah at Utah State – Logan, Utah – Dee Glen Smith Spectrum – March 8, 2019
 
Team Results: 1. Southern Utah – 196.350 (vault: 48.975, bars: 49.050, beam: 49.125, floor: 49.200); 2. Utah State – 195.275 (vault: 48.525, bars: 49.050, beam: 48.640, floor: 49.050).
 
Vault: 1. Karley McClain – SUU, 9.850; T2. Morgan Alfaro – SUU, 9.800; T2. Madison McBride – SUU, 9.800; T4. Autumn DeHarde – USU, 9.775; T4. Leighton Varnadore – USU, 9.775; T7. Grace Rojas – USU, 9.750; T9. Elle Golison – USU, 9.700.
 
Bars: T1. MaKayla Bullitt – USU, 9.875; T1. Stephanie Tervort – SUU, 9.875; T3. Grace Rojas – USU, 9.850; T3. Madison Ward-Sessions – USU, 9.850; T8. Leighton Varnadore – USU, 9.750; T10. Madi Tueller – USU, 9.725; 12. Annie Beck – USU, 9.600.
 
Beam: 1. Karley McClain – SUU, 9.990; 2. Shylen Murakami – SUU, 9.850; 3. Leighton Varnadore – USU, 9.825; T6. Autumn DeHarde – USU, 9.775; T6. Emily Briones – SUU, 9.775; 11. Grace Rojas – USU, 9.525; 12. Madison Ward-Sessions – USU, 9.175.
 
Floor: 1. Madison Ward-Sessions – USU, 9.975; T2. Leighton Varnadore – USU, 9.875; T2. Autumn DeHarde – USU, 9.875; T2. Karley McClain – SUU, 9.875; T2. Karen Gonzalez – SUU, 9.875; 9. Elle Golison – USU, 9.775; 12. MaKayla Bullitt – USU, 9.400.
 
All-Around: 1. Karley McClain – SUU, 39.450 (vault: 9.850, bars: 9.825, beam: 9.900, floor: 9.875); 2. Leighton Varnadore – USU, 39.225 (vault: 9.775, bars: 9.750, beam: 9.825, floor: 9.875); 3. Madison Ward-Sessions – USU, 38.250 (vault: 9.250, bars: 9.850, beam: 9.175, floor: 9.975).