LOGAN, Utah – Utah State's 20th-ranked gymnastics team returns to action on Sunday, March 7, when the Aggies travel to the Centennial State to take on No. 13 Denver and No. 15 Southern Utah at Hamilton Gymnasium in Denver, Colo.
The tri meet featuring the Aggies (1-8, 1-7 Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference), Pioneers (7-3) and Flippin' Birds Cougars (4-6, 3-5 MRGC) is slated to begin at 2 p.m. The meet will be streamed at
https://bit.ly/30idCfO. Additionally, live stats will be available online at
https://bit.ly/3bl8Moj, and meet updates will be provided through the team's social media outlets.
"We are thrilled to hit the road and head to Denver," said fourth-year Utah State head coach
Amy Smith. "We had a great week of training and are excited to get another meet under our belt with the rotation we will have at the MRGC Championships. We are thrilled to get
Mikaela Meyer back on vault, and possibly bars. We are looking forward to putting together another complete meet with a road score that can help us. It should be a great competition. Denver is a phenomenal team, as is SUU. I'm looking forward to a high energy and exciting meet."
Utah State holds national rankings on three events. The Aggies are tied for 21st on vault with an NQS of 49.044. They are also 24th on bars (49.044) and tied for 13th on beam (49.194). Individually, senior
Autumn DeHarde is tied for first in the conference and tied for 19th in the nation on beam with an NQS of 9.906.
In the Aggies' last outing, Utah State tied its fourth-best score in school history and had season-best totals on two events and overall team score in a 196.925-196.600 loss at No. 11 BYU on Feb. 26, at the Smith Fieldhouse in Provo.
The Cougars the Aggies 147.500-147.325 heading to the fourth rotation, but scored a 49.600 on floor to record the comeback win.
For the first time since March 6, 2020, Utah State recorded a 49 or better on each event against the Cougars. The Aggies had a season-high 49.175 on vault, which is tied for fourth all-time in school history. They had a 49.025 on bars, a 49.100 on beam and a season-best 49.300 on floor.
Utah State senior
Logan Varnadore captured the vault title with a personal-best 9.900, which is tied for eighth all-time in school history. Her twin sister,
Leighton Varnadore, won the all-around with a 39.200.
Following their respective performances against BYU,
Logan Varnadore was tabbed the MRGC co-Vault Specialist of the Week, while Leighton was named the MRGC Gymnast of the Week.
The Aggies have scored 49 or better on beam in their last six meets, marking the first time in school history they have ever accomplished that feat. The streak began on Jan. 22, against Southern Utah, when USU notched a 49.275, which is tied for fourth all-time in school history. Over the next four meets, the Aggies went 49.150 (vs. BYU), 49.125 (at BSU), 49.025 (vs. BSU) and 49.225 (at SUU), which is tied for the seventh-highest score on the apparatus. Last weekend at BYU, USU notched a 49.100 on beam.
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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