WEEKLY AGGIE UPDATE - FEBRUARY 13, 2023
Weekly Aggie Update
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Contact: Ashley Springer - (435) 797-5547
This Week
Tues., Feb. 14 --- AIR FORCE, 7 p.m. (MWN)
Sat., Feb. 18 --- NEVADA, 6 p.m. (CBSSN)
• Utah State men's basketball (19-7, 8-5 MW) continues Mountain West play this week as it hosts Air Force (13-13, 4-9 MW) on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m., and Nevada (20-6, 10-3 MW) on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 6 p.m. (MT). USU is 24-7 all-time against the Falcons, including a 13-0 home record, and 40-25 all-time against the Wolf Pack, including a 21-6 home record. USU's game against AFA will be streamed live on the MW Network and available at www.utahstateaggies.com/watch, while its game against UN will be televised live on CBS Sports Network (Xfinity Ch. 269/753 HD, DISH Ch. 158, DirecTV Ch. 221).
Last Week
L, 61-63 --- #25 SAN DIEGO STATE
L, 64-69 --- at San José State
• Utah State posted an 0-2 Mountain West record last week with a 63-61 home loss to No. 25 San Diego State and a 69-64 loss at San José State. Against the Aztecs, USU shot 38.5 percent (20-of-52) from the field, 26.3 percent (5-of-19) from behind the arc and 72.7 percent (16-of-22) at the free throw line, while SDSU shot 39.7 percent (25-of-63) from the floor, 29.4 percent (5-of-17) from behind the 3-point line and 61.5 percent (8-of-13) at the free throw line. Junior guard Steven Ashworth led the Aggies with 18 points, while graduate forward Taylor Funk had 11 points. Against the Spartans, USU shot 42.3 percent (22-of-52) from the field, 33.3 percent (6-of-18) from deep and 93.3 percent (14-of-15) at the free throw line, while SJSU shot 41.4 percent (24-of-58) from the floor, 22.2 percent (4-of-18) from behind the 3-point line and 68.0 percent (17-of-25) at the free throw line. Five Aggies scored in double figures in Ashworth (14), junior guard Max Shulga (13), graduate forward Dan Akin (12), senior center Trevin Dorius (11) and senior guard Sean Bairstow (10).
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Contact: Ajay Salvesen - (435) 797-2066
This Week
Thur., Feb. 16 --- FRESNO STATE, 6 p.m. (MWN)
Sat., Feb. 18 --- at Boise State, 2 p.m. (MWN)
• Utah State's women's basketball (4-20, 1-12 MW) continues Mountain West play this week with a pair of games as it hosts Fresno State (8-19, 1-13 MW) on Thursday, Feb. 16, at 6 p.m., and plays at Boise State (13-14, 8-6 MW) on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 2 p.m. USU is 7-28 all-time against the Bulldogs and 12-30 all-time against the Broncos. Both games will be streamed live on the MW Network and available at www.utahstateaggies.com/watch.
Last Week
L, 48-70 --- at Wyoming
• Utah State lost at Wyoming 70-48 in its only game of the week. Graduate guard Mayson Kimball led the Aggies with 12 points as USU shot 25.9 percent (15-of-58), including 27.3 percent (6-of-22) from 3-point range, and 92.3 percent (12-of-13) at the free throw line. UW shot 39.7 percent (23-of-58), including 25.0 percent (6-of-24) from behind the arc, and 81.8 percent (18-of-22) at the free throw line.
GYMNASTICS
Contact: Wade Denniston - (435) 797-1361
This Week
Fri., Feb. 17--- SOUTHERN UTAH, 7 p.m.
• Utah State gymnastics (1-6, 1-5 MRGC) continues its 2023 season this weekend with a home meet against Southern Utah (10-1, 6-0 MRGC) on Friday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m.
Last Week
L, 193.325-196.075 --- BOISE STATE
• Utah State lost its Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference home meet to Boise State last weekend by a final score of 196.075-193.325. BSU captured all four event titles, but USU junior Brianna Brooks won the all-around with a 39.075 as she placed 10th on vault (9.700), tied for fifth on bars (9.775), tied for third on beam (9.825) and tied for eighth on floor (9.775). USU opened the meet on vault and recorded a 48.625, highlighted by a fourth-place finish with a 9.800 from senior Alivia Ostendorf. Sophomore Amari Evans placed fifth with a career-high-tying 9.775. In the second rotation, the Aggies suffered three falls on bars and had to count two in their team score, which was a 47.375. Graduate senior Grace Rojas led USU on the event as she placed third with a 9.875. The Aggies' best event of the night was on beam in the third rotation, where they finished with a 48.925. Joining Brooks in a tie for third was junior Jenna Eagles with a career-high 9.825. With only five gymnasts competing in the final rotation, USU closed the meet on floor with a 48.400. Ostendorf and fellow senior Ariel Toomey tied for third with matching 9.825s.
MEN'S TENNIS
Contact: Adalee Randall - (435) 797-8584
This Week
Fri., Feb. 17 --- at Denver, 5 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 18 --- vs. Idaho, Denver, Colorado, 12:30 p.m.
• Utah State men's tennis (3-3, 0-0 MW) continues its 2023 spring season this weekend with a pair of matches as it plays at Denver (2-4) on Friday, Feb. 17, at 5 p.m., and then faces Idaho (2-2) on a neutral court in Denver, Colorado, on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 12:30 p.m.
Last Week
L, 1-6 --- at Utah
W, 5-2 --- BYU
• Utah State posted a 1-1 record last week with a 6-1 loss at Utah and a 5-2 home win against BYU. Against the Utes, senior David Cierny notched a straight-sets win at No. 1 singles (6-4, 6-2) against the 37th-ranked player in the country for the Aggies lone point of the match. Against the Cougars, USU began the match by winning the doubles point as junior Stijn Paardekooper and freshman Nuno Pinheiro notched a 6-3 win at the second position, while seniors Javier Ruiz and Roko Savin posted a 6-3 win at the third position. In singles play, Cierny won in straight sets at the No. 1 spot (6-4, 6-4). Senior Bodin Zarkovic won in straight sets at the No. 2 spot (6-3, 6-0). Paardekooper won at the No. 3 spot (6-7 (8), 7-5, 1-1 retired). And Savin won in three sets at the No. 4 spot (3-6, 6-4, 7-5).
INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Contact: Daniel Hansen - (435) 797-8584
Next Week
Thur.-Sat., Feb. 23-25 --- at MW Champs., Albuquerque, N.M., All Day
• Utah State's indoor track & field teams continue their 2023 season next weekend at the Mountain West Championships, which will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico from Thursday thru Saturday, Feb. 23-25. The Aggie men placed third at last year's championships, while the Aggie women finished sixth.
Last Week
NTS --- at New Mexico Invitational
NTS --- at Washington Invitational
• Utah State recorded 15 top 10 marks across six events last weekend at a pair of meets. At the Washington Invitational, graduate senior Mica Rivera recorded a time of 9:23.90 in the 3,000 meters, which ranks second all-time in program history. Senior Abby Jensen and junior Morgan French followed closely behind Rivera with times of 9:30.64 and 9:40.34, respectively, also ranking third and sixth all-time at USU. Rivera and Jensen also posted top-tier marks in the mile. Rivera moved to fifth all-time in the event at USU with a time of 4:49.20, while Jensen now ranks sixth with a time of 4:49.74. In the women's 5,000 meters, sophomore Mimi Miyazawa led the Aggies with a time of 16:32.58, ranking fifth in program history. Sophomore Emma Thornley crossed the line at 16:43.27 and senior Bailey Brinkerhoff finished with a time of 16:50.34, ranking seventh and eighth all-time in the event at USU, respectively. On the men's side, graduate senior Caleb Garnica finished the 5,000 meters with a time of 13:53.07, which ranks third all-time in school history. Senior Bridger Altice also finished with a time of 14:10.42, moving to seventh all-time in program history. In the mile, junior Brennan Benson was the first Aggie finisher at 4:02.52, less than one second off his personal record, which ranks third all-time at USU. Sophomore Wyatt Evans finished with a time of 4:05.08 to move to sixth all-time at USU, while graduate senior Mark Crandall's time of 4:05.92 moves him to eighth all-time. Crandall also moved to seventh all-time at USU in the 3,000 meters, finishing with a time of 8:06.77. Senior Spencer Nelson narrowly bested Crandall with a time of 8:06.13 to move to sixth in program history. Lastly, junior Max Wehrli finished with a time of 8:09.73, ranking 10th all-time at USU. At the New Mexico Invitational, sophomore Camilla McKinstry registered the high-water mark of the weekend, winning the women's 3,000 meters with a time of 10:08.15. Senior Hannah Davidson placed fifth in the 800 meters with a time of 2:11.03, which ranks fifth all-time in school history. In the women's pole vault, junior Emma Shippen placed second with a cleared height of 3.76 meters (12-4.00), which ranks eighth all-time at USU. Senior Christopher Kauffman finished second in the men's 800 meters with a time of 1:51.969. And a duo of Aggie freshmen registered podium finishes in distance events as Drew Hogan finished third in the mile with a time of 4:10.97, while Stewart Brown placed third in the 3,000 meters with a time of 8:27.54.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Contact: Adalee Randall - (435) 797-8584
Next Week
Sat., Feb. 25 --- IDAHO, 11 a.m.
• Utah State women's tennis (2-3, 0-0 MW) continues its 2023 spring season next weekend as it hosts Idaho (1-3) on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 11 a.m.
Last Week
L, 0-7 --- at BYU
• Utah State lost at BYU 7-0 in its only match of the week. Junior Lisa Küng and senior Sidnee Lavatai notched a 7-5 win at the second doubles position for USU's only victory of the match.
SOFTBALL
Contact: Ashley Springer - (435) 797-5547
This Week
at Saint Mary's Tournament
Fri., Feb. 17 --- vs. UC San Diego, 12:30 p.m. (MT)
Fri., Feb. 17 --- at Saint Mary's, 3 p.m. (MT)
Sat., Feb. 18 --- at Saint Mary's, 11 a.m. (MT)
Sat., Feb. 18 --- vs. San José State, 5 p.m. (MT)
Sun., Feb. 19 --- vs. UC San Diego, 10 a.m. (MT)
• Utah State softball (2-3, 0-0 MW) continues its 2023 season this weekend in California at a tournament hosted by Saint Mary's. USU will begin the tournament on Friday, Feb. 17, with a pair of games against UC San Diego (3-2) and Saint Mary's (2-3) at 12:30 p.m. (MT) and 3 p.m. (MT), respectively. USU will then face Saint Mary's and San José State (0-5) on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 11 a.m. (MT) and 5 p.m. (MT), respectively. The Aggies will then conclude the tournament on Sunday, Feb. 19, against UC San Diego at 10 a.m. (MT).
Last Week
at CS Fullerton/UCLA/Loyola Marymount Tournament
L, 0-2 --- at CS Fullerton
W, 10-2 (5) --- vs. CSU Bakersfield, Fullerton
L, 3-4 (8) --- at Loyola Marymount
W, 3-2 (9) --- vs. CSU Bakersfield
L, 0-13 (5) --- vs. California
• Utah State went 2-3 during its opening weekend at a multi-host California tournament with a pair of wins against CSU Bakersfield (10-2 (5), 3-2 (9)), and losses to Cal State Fullerton (2-0), Loyola Marymount (4-3 (8)) and California (13-0 (5)). Six Aggies saw time in the circle, combining for an ERA of 3.91. The USU pitching staff allowed 27 hits and 19 earned runs, while striking out 27 batters and walking 16. Sophomore third baseman Claire Raley led USU at the plate after batting .500 (6-of-12) and a stole a team-best five bases. As a team, USU hit .244 (31-of-127), including six doubles and one home run. Graduate first baseman Gabriella Jimenez led the team defensive with 35 putouts. Freshman pitcher Hailey McLean set the Utah State and UCLA Easton Stadium record with 20 strikeouts in a nine-inning complete game effort against the Roadrunners and finished the weekend with a 3.75 ERA after throwing out a team-best 21 strikeouts in 9.1 innings of work.
GOLF
Contact: Wade Denniston - (435) 797-1361
Next Competition
Mon.-Tues., March 27-28 --- at UC San Diego Invite, All Day
• Utah State's golf team returns to action on Monday and Tuesday, March 27-28, when the Aggies travel to the Golden State, for the UC San Diego Invitational, at Torrey Pines in San Diego, California.
Last Week
3rd/10 --- at Southern Utah Invite
• Junior Josh Pehrson shot a 2-under 70 in the final round of the Southern Utah-hosted Thunderbird Invitational, helping Utah State to a third-place finish this past weekend at Sunbrook Golf Course in St. George, Utah. Pehrson was one of two Aggies to place in the top 10 as he tied for fourth with a career-best-tying 54-hole score of 6-under 210 (66-75-70) on the par-72, 6,781-yard course. It marked the best placing of his career. Sophomore Julio Arronte Sanchez, playing as an individual, recorded the best finish of his career as he placed seventh with a career-best 4-under 212 (70-70-72). John Cook, who was tied for first heading into Sunday's final round, ended tied for 19th at 1-over 217. Utah State led Utah Valley by six strokes heading into the final round, but the Wolverines shot a final-round 16-under 272 to win the tournament by 20 strokes at 22-under (280-290-272=842) over second-place Weber State (292-288-282=862). The Aggies (278-286-299=863) finished a stroke back of the Wildcats at 1-under. Utah Valley's Brady McKinlay took home medalist honors at 9-under 207, including a final-round 7-under 72. USU sophomores Esteban Jaramillo (219, +3) and Luis Gerardo Cantu (225, +9) tied for 23rd and tied for 38th, respectively. Junior Javier Vazquez also tied for 38th, and sophomore Nathan Preslar (229, +13), playing as an individual, tied for 46th.
