WEEKLY AGGIE UPDATE - MARCH 28, 2022
Weekly Aggie Update
GYMNASTICS
Contact: Wade Denniston - (435) 797-1361
This Week
Thur.-Sat., March 31-2 --- at NCAA Regionals, Norman, Oklahoma, Noon (MT)
• Utah State gymnastics (14-9) continues its 2022 season this week when the 25th-ranked Aggies compete at the NCAA Regional Championships, which will be held Thursday through Saturday, March 31-April 2, in Norman, Oklahoma. USU will compete in session one of the second round on Thursday, at noon (MT), against No. 8 Minnesota, No. 9 California and No. 24 Boise State. If USU advances to the Regional Final, they would compete on Saturday, April 2, at 4 p.m. (MT).
Last Competition
1st, 197.025 --- at Mountain Rim Championships, Boise, Idaho
• Utah State captured its first-ever Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference championship as the Aggies recorded a 197.025 two weekends ago at ExtraMile Arena in Boise, Idaho. With their season-high-score, which ranks second all-time in school history, the Aggies notched their sixth conference title overall, including their first since 2005 (Western Gymnastics Conference). Boise State placed second with a 196.500, Southern Utah finished third with a 196.500 and BYU rounded out the team scoring in fourth with a 196.375. Junior Rebecca Wells led the Aggies as she became the third USU gymnast to win the MRGC all-around title with a 39.400, which is the second-best score for a conference championship meet and tied for 11th all-time in school history. USU had an individual champion in three of the four events, as junior Maia Fishwick earned a share of the bars title with a career-high-tying 9.950, senior Carley Bayles won beam with a career-high-tying 9.925, and freshman Brie Clark had a career-high-tying 9.950 to capture the floor crown. In total, USU had six top-three finishes and scored a 49.325 or higher on three events. Utah State began the meet on beam, its best event – the Aggies were ranked 13th nationally on the event coming into the championships. USU did not disappoint as the team scored a 49.375, which ranks sixth all-time in school history and the best-ever for a conference championship meet. Junior Sofi Sullivan tied for second on beam with a 9.900, while Wells, Clark and sophomore Brianna Brooks had matching 9.850s to tie for seventh. Following the first rotation, Utah State was in the lead, where it would stay for the duration of the meet. The Aggies carried their momentum from beam to floor, where all six of Utah State's gymnasts recorded a 9.825 or better. Sophomore Eve Jackson, along with freshmen Trinity Brown and Amari Evans, tied for fifth with identical 9.850s. Utah State finished with a 49.325 on floor, bringing its team total to 98.700 at the midway point of the meet. The Aggies moved to vault in the third rotation, where they recorded their lowest team score of the night with a 48.950. Wells tied for second with a 9.850 and Brooks tied for fifth with a 9.825. Closing the meet on bars, where it had to count a fall in each of its last two meets, Utah State turned in one of its best performances in school history on the event to slam the door on Boise State, BYU and Southern Utah. Junior Jessica Gutierrez led the Aggies off on bars with a 9.800, while Wells followed with a 9.875. Senior Grace Rojas, seeing action in just her fifth meet of the season due to injury, had a career-high 9.900 in the third spot to place sixth. Brooks notched a 9.850 in the fourth spot, setting the tone for Fishwick and her stellar 9.950 to give Utah State its 49.375 on the event, which ranks second all-time in school history and is the top score for a conference championship meet.
SOFTBALL
Contact: Ashley Springer - (435) 797-5547
This Week
Tues., March 29 --- WEBER STATE, 4 p.m. (MWN)
Fri., April 1 --- COLORADO STATE, 4 p.m. (MWN)
Sat., April 2 --- COLORADO STATE, Noon (MWN)
Sun., April 3 --- COLORADO STATE, Noon (MWN)
• Utah State softball (16-15, 3-0 MW) continues its 2022 campaign with four games this week as it hosts Weber State (22-7) on Tuesday, March 29, at 4 p.m., followed by a three-game Mountain West home series against Colorado State (12-16, 4-3 MW). The first game against CSU will be played on Friday, April 1, at 4 p.m., while the final two games will be played at noon on Saturday and Sunday, April 2-3. All-time, the Aggies are 37-17 against the Wildcats and 38-24 against the Rams. Fans can watch every game via the Mountain West Network, streaming online at www.utahstateaggies.com/watch.
Last Week
W, 8-3 --- UTAH VALLEY
W, 5-4- --- at New Mexico
W, 4-2 --- at New Mexico
W, 13-4 --- at New Mexico
• Utah State softball went 4-0 last week, including 3-0 in Mountain West play, after defeating Utah Valley 8-3 at home and sweeping New Mexico on the road (W, 5-4; W, 4-2; W, 13-4). Five Aggies saw time in the circle, combining for an ERA of 2.33. The USU pitching staff allowed 33 hits and nine earned runs, while striking out 13 batters and walking eight. Senior catcher Gabriella Jimenez led the Aggies at the plate after batting .500 (6-of-12). As a team, USU hit .330 (38-of-115), including eight doubles and three home runs. Senior first baseman/right fielder Bri Lerma led the team defensively with 17 putouts and one assist.
MEN'S TENNIS
Contact: Daniel Hansen - (435) 797-8584
This Week
Fri., April 1 --- UNLV, 11 a.m.
Sun., April 3 --- NEVADA, 11 a.m.
• Utah State men's tennis (6-9, 0-0 MW) opens Mountain West play this weekend with home matches against UNLV (10-9, 0-0 MW) and Nevada (12-6, 0-0 MW). The Aggies will take on the Rebels on Friday, April 1, at 11 a.m., before playing the Wolf Pack on Sunday, April 3, at 11 a.m. Both matches will be played at the Sports Academy & Racquet Club.
Last Week
L, 3-4 --- at BYU
• Utah State lost its only match of the week at BYU, 4-3. The Cougars took the doubles point with wins at the first and third position. Senior Felipe Acosta and junior Bodin Zarkovic were leading their match at the second position (6-5) when it was suspended. In singles play, Zarkovic extended his unbeaten streak to 11 singles matches with a victory at the No. 2 spot (6-4, 6-1). Freshman Sergi Mico Fenollar and junior Roko Savin also notched straight-set wins at the No. 4 (7-5, 6-3) and No. 5 spots (6-2, 6-1).
OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Contact: Daniel Hansen - (435) 797-8584
This Week
Fri.-Sat., April 1-2 --- at Stanford Invite, All Day
Fri.-Sat., April 1-2 --- at West Coast Relays, Fresno, California, All Day
• Utah State men's and women's outdoor track & field teams continue their outdoor season on Friday and Saturday, April 1-2, at the Stanford Invitational and the West Coast Relays hosted by Fresno State.
Last Competition
NTS --- at Arizona Invite
• Utah State track & field began its outdoor season at the Arizona-hosted Willie Williams Classic two weekends ago and won four titles to go along with 15 top-three finishes. For the women, sophomore Gia Malone won the high jump with a mark of 1.60 meters (5-3.00) and junior Bailey Brinkerhoff won the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 11:10.07. On the men's side, sophomore Kelton Chenworth won the high jump with a height of 2.05 meters (6-8.75) and senior Zach Meyer won the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.51. Sophomore Ben Hoffman finished right behind Chenworth in the high jump to place second with a mark of 2.00 meters (6-6.75). Three Aggie women also broke into the top 10 all-time in school history in their respective events. In the pole vault, sophomore Maren Garnett set the fifth-best mark at 3.83 meters (12-6.75), finishing second overall. And in the javelin, freshman Valerie Clark, competing in her first collegiate meet, set the sixth-best mark in school history with a throw of 45.14 meters (148-1), while sophomore Djamilliah Paepke-Chile posted the eighth-best mark in program history at 43.30 meters (142-0).
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Contact: Daniel Hansen - (435) 797-8584
This Week
Sat., April 2 --- vs. Boise State, Reno, Nevada, Noon (MT)
Sun., April 3 --- at Nevada, Noon (MT)
• Utah State women's tennis (5-6, 0-2 MW) continues Mountain West play this weekend with a pair of matches in Reno, Nevada, as it faces Boise State (4-3, 0-2 MW) on Saturday, April 2, at noon (MT) and Nevada (7-4, 1-1 MW) on Sunday, April 3, at noon (MT).
Last Week
L, 0-4 --- vs. UNLV, San Diego, California
L, 0-4 --- at San Diego State
• Utah State dropped a pair of decisions to UNLV (4-0) and San Diego State (4-0) last weekend in San Diego, California. Against the Rebels, senior Gabrielle Dekkers and junior Sidnee Lavatai were leading at the first doubles position (6-5) before the match was suspended with UNLV taking the doubles point. In singles play, senior Annaliese County secured USU's lone set victory at the No. 5 spot, eventually having her match suspended prior to the third set (6-4, 1-6, unfinished). Versus the Aztecs, ranked No. 64 in the country, USU came close to earning the doubles point as County and junior Carolina Millan earned a 6-2 victory at the third position before wins at the first and second spots earned SDSU the opening point of the match. In singles play, Millan went up against the nation's No. 83-ranked player and had her match suspended facing a 6-2, 6-5 deficit. Dekkers also had her match suspended while trailing, 6-2, 5-3. Junior Zara Ryan was the sole Aggie leading at the time of clinch, holding a 7-6, 3-3 advantage at the fourth position.
GOLF
Contact: Wade Denniston - (435) 797-1361
Next Week
Mon.-Tue., April 4-5 --- at Wyoming Classic, Chandler, Arizona, All Day
• Utah State's golf team continues its 2022 spring season on Monday and Tuesday, April 4-5, at the Wyoming Cowboy Classic in Chandler, Arizona.
Last Week
T-3rd/14 --- at UC San Diego Invite
• Utah State recorded its best finish of the season as the Aggies tied for third at the UC San Diego Invitational, held last week at La Costa (Champions Course) in Carlsbad, California. The Aggies posted a 54-hole score of 9-over 873 (291-280-302), tying with Weber State in the 14-team field. Sacramento State shot a 1-over 289 on the final day to wrap up the team title at 10-under 854. Javier Vazquez led the Aggies with his best-ever finish as the sophomore tied for fifth at 3-under 213, a 54-hole career best. John Cook, playing in just his second collegiate tournament, tied for 20th at 3-over 219. The sophomore was 1-over through the first three holes of the second round before making five birdies and an eagle to finish at 6-under 66, a career best for 18 holes. Senior Cameron Tucker tied for 28th at 4-over 220, while freshman Esteban Jaramillo shot an even-par 72 on Tuesday to move 10 spots up the leaderboard and finish in a tie for 37th at 5-over 221. Fellow freshman Julio Arronte Sanchez tied for 80th at 23-over 239. Vazquez led the Aggies with 11 birdies during the tournament, while he and Cook each had an eagle.
