Final Results

CEDAR CITY, Utah – Not even the best score Utah State has ever recorded in Cedar City was enough to take down No. 17 Southern Utah on Friday night.
 
The Flippin' Birds (4-5, 3-4 Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference) set a school record with a 197.275 to win the dual meet against the No. 23 Aggies (1-7, 1-6 MRGC), who notched a 195.975 at the America First Event Center.
 
"We had a crazy day," said fourth-year Utah State head coach Amy Smith. "We had a few people out very unexpectedly, which forced us to make some big changes to three of the lineups, but this team battled through this meet and stepped up big time. This score helps us and it's really neat to walk away with the highest score we have ever posted at SUU.
 
"I am super happy with the fight and determination I saw from this team tonight."
 
Utah State senior Autumn DeHarde captured Utah State's lone event title of the night with a season-high-tying 9.925 on beam. It was her school-record 15th such title on the apparatus. Furthermore, the native of Sussex, Wis., now has 25 career titles, which is tied for 11th all-time in school history.
 
"Overall, we did well as a team," DeHarde said. "We fought through the meet and in the end, we still got a decent score and we were able to drop our 194 from the beginning of the season. There are things we can improve on, so I am excited to get back into the gym and put those tenths back into our routines."
 
The Aggies started on bars with a 48.575, while the Flippin' Birds opened with a 49.275 on vault. Freshman Eve Jackson led the way on the event with a 9.800 to tie for fifth.
 
In the second rotation, Utah State recorded a 49.025 on vault, highlighted by senior Leighton Varnadore's career-high-tying 9.875 to place second. DeHarde tied for sixth with a 9.825, while senior Logan Varnadore and sophomore Rebecca Wells each had a 9.800 to tie for eighth.
 
"Bars didn't go completely the way we wanted, but they made it through," Smith said. "During vault, they started to settle in and it was great. It was great to get Autumn back in the vault lineup, and she did an incredible job."
 
Southern Utah followed up its 49.275 on vault with a 49.300 on bars to open up a 98.575-97.600 lead at the midway point of the meet.
 
In the third rotation, the Aggies had a season-high 49.150 on floor as DeHarde tied for third with a 9.875. Wells placed sixth with a career-high-tying 9.850 and Leighton Varnadore tied for seventh with a 9.825. Jackson and sophomore Ariel Toomey rounded tied for 10th with matching 9.800s.
 
"It was great to hit our season high on floor, but we still haven't hit our stride on that event yet," Smith said.
 
Utah State closed the meet on beam, its best event of the night. The Aggies tallied a 49.225, which is tied for seventh all-time in school history. It marked the fifth-consecutive meet USU has gone 49 or better on beam.
 
"I am just super proud of what the beam team did tonight putting up that score with having a very uncharacteristic fall from Rebecca in the leadoff spot," Smith said.
 
After DeHarde's 9.925, junior Carley Bayles matched her career high with a 9.875, while Leighton Varnadore and fellow senior Taylor Dittmar each had a 9.825 to tie for sixth.
 
UP NEXT: Utah State remains on the road when the Aggies travel to Provo, Utah, to take on No. 11 BYU on Friday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m.
 
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.
 
No. 23 Utah State at No. 17 Southern Utah – Cedar City, Utah – America First Event Center – Feb. 19, 2021

Team Results: 1. Southern Utah – 197.300 (vault: 49.275, bars: 49.300, beam: 49.300, floor: 49.425); 2. Utah State – 195.975 (vault: 49.025, bars: 48.575, beam: 49.225, floor: 49.150).

Vault: 1. Rachel Smith – SUU, 9.900; 2. Leighton Varnadore – USU, 9.875; T3. Stephanie Tervort – SUU, 9.850; T3. Morgan Alfaro – SUU, 9.850; T3. Molly Jozwiakowski – SUU, 9.850; T6. Autumn DeHarde – USU, 9.825; T8. Rebecca Wells – USU, 9.800; T8. Logan Varnadore – USU, 9.800; T11. Grace Rojas – USU, 9.725; T11. Mikaela Meyer – USU, 9.725.
 
Bars: 1. Hannah Nipp – SUU, 9.925; Tw. Shylen Murakami – SUU, 9.875; T2. Mayson Bentley – SUU, 9.875; 5. Eve Jackson – USU, 9.800; T6. Grace Rojas – USU, 9.775; T6. Maia Fishwick – USU, 9.775; 9. Leighton Varnadore – USU, 9.700; 11. Mikaela Meyer – 9.525; 12. Lexi Aragon – USU, 9.425.

Beam: 1. Autumn DeHarde – USU, 9.925; T2. Hannah Nipp – SUU, 9.900; T2. Karley McClain – SUU, 9.900; T2. Aubri Schwartze – SUU, 9.900; 5. Carley Bayles – USU, 9.875; T6. Leighton Varnadore – USU, 9.825; T6. Taylor Dittmar, USU – 9.825; T10. Eve Jackson – USU, 9.775; 12. Rebecca Wells – USU, 9.325.

Floor: T1. Karley McClain – SUU, 9.925; T1. Hannah Nipp – SUU, 9.925; T3. Autumn DeHarde – USU, 9.875; T3. Aubri Schwartze – SUU, 9.875; T3. Molly Jozwiakowski – SUU, 9.875; 6. Rebecca Wells – USU, 9.850; T7. Leighton Varnadore – USU, 9.825; T10. Ariel Toomey – USU, 9.800; T10. Eve Jackson – USU, 9.800; 12. Mikaela Meyer – USU, 8.900.

All-Around: 1. Karley McClain – SUU, 39.425; 2. Leighton Varnadore – USU, 39.225.
 
-USU-