Utah State Gymnastics Looking To Keep Momentum Rolling Into Uncertain 2021
 
LOGAN, Utah – Coming off one of the best seasons in school history, Utah State's gymnastics team is looking to continue that momentum as it navigates through a 2021 campaign that offers so many uncertainties due to the COVD-19 pandemic.
 
But the Aggies are poised and ready for whatever challenges await them.
 
"We always talk about being adaptable and resilient, and with everything constantly changing, that is the only way we will get through this season successfully," said fourth-year Utah State head coach Amy Smith. "With so many variables this year, it is imperative that the team keep a great attitude and continue to be adaptable and resilient. We are so lucky to get out there together and do what we love and there are other teams that aren't getting a 2021 season, so we need to celebrate that with every opportunity we get."
 
Smith was named the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference (MRGC) Coach of the Year by her peers after leading the Aggies to a 7-6-1 overall record in 2020, marking the first time since 1999 that USU finished the season with a winning record.

Smith coached the MRGC Gymnast of the Year in Autumn DeHarde and MRGC Freshman of the Year in Sofi Sullivan. DeHarde also earned MRGC co-Beam and co-Floor Specialist of the Year accolades, and was named to the first team on both events. Sullivan shared the MRGC co-Beam Specialist of the Year award with DeHarde, and also earned first-team honors on the event, as well as a first-team citation in the all-around.

Under Smith's tutelage, Leighton Varnadore earned second-team honors on vault and in the all-around.
 
"The team needs to keep a positive attitude and really stick together as a cohesive unit," said Smith, when asked what her squad needs to do to build off last year's success. "This year has been really trying in a lot of ways, but I am really excited about the potential opportunities it's going to present to some people that may not have gotten the chance to get out on the competition floor otherwise.
 
"We need to stay focused and just keep building, and the team needs to understand that the back end of the season is where things are really going to count since this year's rankings are being calculated differently."


Before the 2020 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Aggies were ranked 29th in the nation with a National Qualifying Score (NQS) of 195.915 – the highest in school history – and were poised to advance to the NCAA Regional Championships for the first time since 2017.

Utah State defeated every MRGC rival in 2020, snapping a 22-meet losing streak to Boise State (dating back to 2012), a nine-meet losing streak to BYU (dating back to 2017) and a five-meet losing streak to Southern Utah (dating back to 2018).

The Aggies led the MRGC and ranked 19th nationally on beam with a 49.105 NQS. USU recorded the best beam score in school history with a 49.575 at the Boise State quad meet.

Utah State averaged 49.039 on beam, which set the single-season school record. The Aggies averaged 48.875 on vault (third all-time in single-season school history), 48.756 on bars (tied for sixth) and 48.992 on floor (fifth).

USU recorded the second- (196.800), fourth- (196.600) and fifth-best (196.525) team scores in school history in 2020, and the 196.600 against No. 17 BYU and the 196.525 against No. 20 Southern Utah are the second- and third-best home scores in school history. The 196.800 at the Boise State quad meet ranks second all-time for an away meet.
 
Utah State opens the 2021 campaign at the second annual Rio Tinto Best of Utah Meet on Saturday, Jan. 9, at the Maverik Center in West Valley City. The Aggies placed fourth at the inaugural Best of Utah, but are looking forward to getting back out on the podium and competing against in-state rivals BYU, Southern Utah and Utah.
 
"We are so excited to open the season at the Rio Tinto Best of Utah Meet," Smith said. "We are very appreciative of the Maverik Center and all the work that went into producing this event in such a difficult time. I expect the team to come out and be aggressive, adaptable and resilient, and enjoy the fact that we get to compete."
 
INTRODUCING THE 2021 AGGIES:
 
SENIOR CLASS
 
DeHarde (vault, beam, floor) headlines this year's senior class. The native of Sussex, Wis., averaged 9.889 on beam , which ranks first all-time in single-season school history, during the 2020 season. She tied for first in the MRGC and tied for 27th in the nation with a 9.895 NQS on the event. DeHarde had a career-high 9.950 on beam, which is tied for second all-time in school history, at the Boise State quad meet.

Furthermore, DeHarde tied for first in the MRGC and tied for 43rd nationally with a 9.895 NQS on floor. She averaged 9.883 on the event, which ranks second all-time in single-season school history, and recorded a career-high 9.950 on floor against BYU, which is tied for third all-time in school history.
"I expect Autumn to be authentically Autumn, just to bring her awesome gymnastics and her goofy great attitude to every competition," Smith said. "We are hoping for her to have a stellar senior year and take down some more records."
 
DeHarde ranks first all-time in school history with 12 beam titles and is tied for 10th all-time with eight floor titles.
 
Taylor Dittmar (beam), a three-time Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Scholastic All-American and three-time academic all-MRGC recipient, competed as a beam specialist in all nine meets of the 2020 season. She averaged 9.731 on beam, which ranks 18th all-time in single-season school history.
 
The native of Lebanon, Ill., recorded a career-best 9.925 on beam at the Boise State quad meet to tie for third on the event.
 
"Taylor looks so confident and her beam routine is the best it has ever looked," Smith said. "I am so excited to see what Tay is going to do with this year."
 
Having not competed on bars since her freshman campaign, Mikaela Meyer (vault, bars, floor) is back competing on the event this year, which excites Smith.
 
"Mik has been on fire," Smith said. "She has never looked better, gymnastically, and just her outlook and attitude this year. She has decided to bring back her bars routine and she should see herself in three lineups for her senior campaign."
 
The three-time academic all-MRGC honoree and two-time WCGA Scholastic All-American competed on vault in all nine meets of the season for the Aggies last year and on floor in the final seven meets. Meyer was tabbed the MRGC Vault Specialist of the Week after tying for first on the event with a career-best-tying 9.875 at the Boise State quad meet.
 
During her junior campaign in 2020, Varnadore (all-around) averaged 9.809 on vault, which ranks fourth in single-season school history. The three-time WCGA Scholastic All-American and three-time academic all-MRGC recipient also averaged 9.738 on beam last season, which ranks 17th in single-season school history.
 
"I am excited to see what Leighton is going to do with her senior year," Smith said. "She had a little slow start to the preseason, but is gaining momentum and getting back to form. She is back to training on all four events."
 
Logan Varnadore, Leighton's twin sister, missed last season due to injury. In fact, she has battled injuries throughout her Utah State career, but is healthy and ready to compete on vault this season.
 
"We are excited to get Logan back for her senior year," Smith said. "She is only training vault and should find herself in the lineup."
 
The native of Aiken, S.C., is a three-time academic all-MRGC recipient and two-time WCGA Scholastic All-American.

JUNIOR CLASS
 
The junior class is comprised of returners Carley Bayles (beam) and Grace Rojas (vault, bars, beam), and newcomer Anique Grenier (vault, bars, floor).
 
Bayles competed on beam in the last seven meets of the 2020 season, recording a career-best mark of 9.875 at the Boise State quad meet. The native of Baton Rouge, La., averaged 9.775 on beam, which is tied for 11th in single-season school history.
 
"Carley had an incredible preseason," Smith said. "She has gotten so much stronger physically and mentally. I am excited to see what she is going to do on beam this year."
 
Grenier, a two-time state champion on both bars and beam, retired from gymnastics after her senior year at Chaparral High School in Parker, Colo. After graduating in 2018, she continued her education at Southern Utah, where she served as a student-coach for the Thunderbirds.
 
Being around the gymnasts, however, only fueled her fire of wanting to be back out on the floor competing.
 
"Anique is starting to put together a full set on bars," Smith said. "It took us some time to find a dismount that would work for her. She is so tall, and has pretty long lines on bars."
 
An academic all-MRGC recipient, Rojas competed on vault and bars in all nine meets during the 2020 campaign, and on beam in three meets. She averaged 9.800 on bars, which is tied for third all-time in school history.
 
"Grace has really turned it on in the last month and is looking better than she ever has on vault, bars and beam," Smith said. "She should see herself in all three of those lineups."
 
SOPHOMORE CLASS
 
Ten sophomores dot Utah State's roster, but only eight will get the chance to compete this year as Sullivan and Tori Loomis have opted out.
 
Sullivan tied for first in the MRGC and tied for 27th in the nation with her 9.895 NQS on beam in 2020. She captured her first-career beam title with a school-record 9.975 at Air Force, which also ranks second all-time in MRGC history. The native of Manhattan Beach, Calif., also had a 9.950 on beam, which is tied for second all-time in school history, at the Boise State quad meet. Sullivan averaged 9.883 on beam, which ranks second all-time in single-season school history.
 
Lexi Aragon (bars, beam floor), who garnered WCGA Scholastic All-American and academic all-MRGC accolades a year ago, competed in one meet, recording a 9.700 on bars against UC Davis. Smith loves what she has seen from the native of Salt Lake City during the preseason.
"Lex has made such a turn around since last year," Smith said. "She is a totally different person, and is more confident in herself, and that confidence has trickled over to her gymnastics. We should definitely be seeing her more this year in the bars and beam lineups."
 
Fellow SLC native Emma Cobabe (bars) did not compete during the 2020 season, but earned WCGA Scholastic All-American and academic all-MRGC honors.
 
"Emma is just training bars for us and is currently putting together a routine," Smith said.
 
In her first season at Utah State, Maia Fishwick competed on vault, bars and beam for the Aggies. She recorded a career-high 9.875 on bars while making her collegiate debut at the Rio Tinto Best of Utah Meet, tying for second on the event.
 
A two-time world championship competitor, Fishwick rotated with Team USA's Simone Biles at the 2018 world championships.
 
"Maia was injured during preseason and had some limited training, but is coming back strong on bars, beam and floor, and we will hopefully be training vault here shortly," Smith said. "She should be an all-arounder for us."
 
Morgan Gill (vault, floor) was a WCGA Scholastic All-American and academic all-MRGC honoree in 2020. She performed three floor exhibitions during the season, recording a high of 9.575 against UC Davis.
 
"Morgan has put together a floor routine that is super entertaining," Smith said. "She just needs to show more consistency in order to find a potential lineup spot."
 
A WCGA Scholastic All-American last season, Jessica Gutierrez (bars, beam, floor) competed on bars in six of the nine meets during the season. The former member of the Mexico National Team captured her only title of the season with a career-high 9.825 on bars against UC Davis (2/28).
 
"Jessy's bars look incredible," Smith said. "We upgraded her dismount to a double lay, and it is so pretty. Jessy has all the parts on beam, but needs to show more consistency in her training if she wants to fight for a lineup spot. Jessy should be in the floor lineup this season. She has a new pass (front through to double tuck) that is looking great. You can just see the polish in her dance from being an international elite and she is just lovely to watch."
 
Hadley Hamar (vault, beam, floor) competed on floor in three meets last season, tallying a career-best 9.675 against UC Davis. She earned WCGA Scholastic All-America and academic all-MRGC accolades.
 
"Hadley had a great preseason," Smith said. "She should have a solid lineup spot on floor. She worked really hard during the preseason and has a great routine put together. Vault and beam have been looking great, as well, and at any point she wants to challenge for a spot she could crack into either of those lineups."
Like Hamar, and many of her teammates, Loomis earned WCGA Scholastic All-America and academic all-MRGC honors last season. She competed on beam during the first four meets of the season with her best finish coming at Air Force, where she placed ninth with a 9.500.
 
Ariel Toomey competed as a floor specialist in all nine meets. She ranked 13th in the MRGC with an NQS of 9.805 on floor, where she averaged 9.792. Smith loves how hard Toomey has worked during the offseason, and even through her injury.
 
"Ariel came into the preseason on fire," Smith said. "She worked her butt off while she was home and came in looking phenomenal, and then unfortunately, suffered a foot injury. But, during her 'down time,' Ariel was relentless in pushing herself in practice every day, doing everything she could to put her in the best position possible to make her transition back flawless when she got the go ahead, and that's exactly what she did. She will be in the floor lineup this first meet with a fun, new high-energy routine."
 
Toomey (all-around) earned WCGA Scholastic All-America and academic all-MRGC honors last season.
 
Rebecca Wells (all-around) had a stellar freshman campaign for the Aggies as the native of Smyrna, Tenn., averaged 9.800 on floor, which is tied for 19th in single-season school history. She tied for 14th in the MRGC with an NQS of 9.790 on vault.
 
"Rebecca looks great," Smith said. "She should be in the vault, beam and floor lineup for us, and whenever she chooses to, she could make the bar lineup, as well. Vault is looking big and dynamic, beam is strong and solid, and she has a fun new floor routine that I'm sure everyone is going to love it."
 
FRESHMAN CLASS
 
Six freshmen round out Utah State's 2021 roster in MiKelle Ballard (bars, beam, floor), Olivia Blakely (vault, floor), Brianna Brooks (all-around), Lara Burhans (all-around), Eve Jackson (all-around) and Angel Stuart (all-around).
 
Ballard trained for 10 years at Gym406 in Helena, Mont., under coaches Denny Allen and Sharon Mozer. She was the beam and floor state champion in 2019, and vault champion in 2018.
 
"MiKelle was really building momentum in preseason and then got injured and it slowed her progress down, but she is back and we are hoping for her to get a floor routine together," Smith said. "She learned a new pass during preseason and is a great performer, so we are really hoping she will get out there. She also is a strong beam worker and hopefully, we can get her back to full strength on beam, as well."
 
Blakeley trained for six years at Ultimate Gymnastics in Duluth, Ga., under Sharon Kelly. She was the 2019 state vault champion and regional bars champion, where she also placed second on floor, vault and in the all-around at regionals.
 
"Liv has been training floor for us and just needs to show more consistency to break into the lineup," Smith said. "She has a unique first pass that is packed with difficulty."
 
Brooks trained at Desert Gymcats Gymnastics in Las Vegas, Nev., under Jordan Schwiker. She qualified for the 2019 Junior Olympic National Championships, and placed third on bars at the 2019 Region 1 Championships. She also placed third in the all-around (38.275), second on bars (9.650), fourth on beam (9.450), fifth on floor (9.425) and tied for second on vault (9.750) at the 2019 Nevada State Championships.
 
"BB has had an awesome preseason," Smith said. "She is a machine, but also a great performer. Her bar routine is definitely one of the best in the country, and we are excited to see BB in the all-around. She is ready to go on vault, bars and beam, and is really close to being ready to go on floor."
 
Burhans trained for four years at Texas Dreams Gymnastics in Coppell, Texas, under Kiki Parenteau. She was a level-10 state and regional qualifier in 2019, placing fifth in state in the all-around.
 
"Lara was really starting to figure out preseason and starting to excel on her events, and then unfortunately, she got injured during the holiday break," Smith said. "She was really coming along on bars and beam, and we are hoping to get her back once the season has started."
 
Jackson trained at Broadway Gymnastics School in Los Angeles, Calif., and placed first on vault at the 2019 California Grand Invitational, the New Orleans Jazz Invitational and the Fiesta Bowl. She began competing as a level-10 gymnast in 2018, where she placed 10th on vault at the SoCal State Championships and seventh on bars at the Region 1 Championships.
 
"Eve will be contributing on three events this year – bars, beam and floor," Smith said. "Her bars routine is dynamic, she is a solid beam worker and her tumbling is sky high."
 
Stuart trained at Legacy Elite Gymnastics in Aurora, Ill., during the 2019-20 season under the direction of Jiani Wu. She was the 2017 regional floor and all-around champion, while placing second on vault and beam… In 2018, she was the regional floor champion and placed third on vault, and in 2019, she finished 12th in the all-around.
 
"Angel could contribute on vault and floor this year," Smith said. "She has a really fun floor routine and is really close to breaking into the lineup."
 
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.
 
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