Weekly Aggie Update
WEEKLY AGGIE UPDATE - FEBRUARY 20, 2023
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Contact: Ashley Springer - (435) 797-5547
This Week
Tues., Feb. 21 --- at Wyoming, 7 p.m. (CBSSN)
• Utah State men's basketball (21-7, 10-5 MW) continues Mountain West play this week with a road game at Wyoming (8-18, 3-11 MW) on Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m. USU is 34-52 all-time against the Cowboys, including a 7-31 road record. The will be televised live on CBS Sports Network (Xfinity Ch. 269/753 HD, DISH Ch. 158, DirecTV Ch. 221).
Last Week
W, 80-65 --- AIR FORCE
W, 75-66 --- NEVADA
• Utah State posted a 2-0 Mountain West home record last week with an 80-65 win against Air Force and a 75-66 comeback victory against Nevada. Against the Falcons, USU shot 48.3 percent (29-of-60) from the field, 40.9 percent (9-of-22) from behind the 3-point line and 86.7 percent (13-of-15) at the free throw line, while AFA shot 43.6 percent (24-of-55) from the floor, 31.8 percent (7-of-22) from behind the arc and 83.3 percent (10-of-12) at the free throw line. Junior guard Max Shulga led the Aggies with a career-high 29 points, while senior center Trevin Dorius had a career-best 17 points and senior guard Sean Bairstow added 11 points. Against the Wolf Pack, USU shot 47.3 percent (26-of-55) from the floor, 25.0 percent (6-of-24) from behind the 3-point line and 85.0 percent at the charity stripe, while UN shot 41.8 percent (23-of-55) from the field, 40.0 percent (9-of-22) from deep and 73.3 percent (11-of-15) at the free throw line. Five Aggies scored in double figures in junior guard Steven Ashworth (20), Shulga (13), graduate forward Dan Akin (12), graduate forward Taylor Funk (11) and senior guard RJ Eytle-Rock (10). Shulga also logged a double-double with a career-high-tying 10 rebounds, while Bairstow also collected a career-best 10 boards.
MEN'S TENNIS
Contact: Adalee Randall - (435) 797-8584
This Week
Fri.-Sun., Feb. 24-26 --- at Arizona State Invite
• Utah State men's tennis (3-5, 0-0 MW) continues its 2023 spring season this weekend in Tempe, Arizona, for the Arizona State Invite. USU will play three matches during the tournament and will be competing against Idaho, Loyola Marymount, Nevada, New Mexico, New Mexico State, UNLV and the host Sun Devils.
Last Week
L, 1-6 --- at Denver
L, 2-5 --- vs. Idaho, Denver, Colorado
• Utah State posted an 0-2 record last week with a 6-1 loss at Denver and a 5-2 neutral court loss to Idaho. Against the Pioneers, senior David Cierny posted a three-sets win at No. 1 singles (4-6, 6-4, 6-1) and teamed with fellow senior Bodin Zarkovic for a 6-3 win at the first doubles position. Against the Vandals, USU won a pair of singles matches as Zarkovic won in three-sets at the No. 2 spot (6-4, 2-6, 6-4) and senior Roko Savin posted a three-sets win at the No. 4 spot (6-7 (6), 6-4, 10-7). Also, the duo of junior Stijn Paardekooper and freshman Nuno Pinheiro notched a 6-4 win at the second doubles position.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Contact: Ajay Salvesen - (435) 797-2066
This Week
Thur., Feb. 23 --- at UNLV, 7:30 p.m. (MT) (MWN)
Sat., Feb. 25 --- at New Mexico, 2 p.m. (MWN)
• Utah State's women's basketball (4-22, 1-14 MW) continues Mountain West play this week with a pair of road games at UNLV (25-2, 15-0 MW) on Thursday, Feb. 23, at 7:30 p.m. (MT), and at New Mexico (17-11, 9-6 MW) on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 2 p.m. USU is 4-29 all-time against the Rebels and 6-25 all-time against the Lobos. Both games will be streamed live on the MW Network and available at www.utahstateaggies.com/watch.
Last Week
L, 61-76 --- FRESNO STATE
L, 41-89 --- at Boise State
• Utah State posted a 0-2 Mountain West record last week with a 76-61 home loss to Fresno State and an 89-41 road loss to Boise State. Against the Bulldogs, graduate guard Maria Carvalho led the Aggies with 18 points and junior guard Olivia Wikstrom added 11. USU shot 36.1 percent (22-of-61) from the field, 29.4 percent (5-of-17) from behind the arc and 80.0 percent (12-of-15) at the free throw line. FSU shot 40.0 percent (26-of-65) from the field, 23.1 percent (6-of-26) from deep and 90.0 percent (18-of-20) at the free throw line. Against the Broncos, junior guard Tamiah Robinson led the Aggies with 10 points. USU shot 22.4 percent (15-for-67) overall, 4.5 percent (1-for-22) from behind the arc, and 76.9 percent (10-for-13) from the free throw line. BSU shot 47.6 percent (30-for-63) from the field, 46.2 percent (12-for-26) from 3-point range, and 54.8 percent (17-for-31) from the free throw line.
GYMNASTICS
Contact: Wade Denniston - (435) 797-1361
This Week
Fri., Feb. 24 --- at BYU, 7 p.m.
• Utah State gymnastics (1-7, 1-6 MRGC) continues its 2023 season this weekend at BYU (2-9, 2-5 MRGC) on Friday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m..
Last Week
L, 196.175-197.125 --- #21 SOUTHERN UTAH
• Utah State enjoyed its best outing of the 2023 campaign last weekend with a season-high 196.175 against No. 21 Southern Utah last weekend. The Thunderbirds won the dual meet with a 197.125. Junior Brianna Brooks finished second in the all-around with a personal-best 39.300 as she tied for fifth on vault (9.800), tied for first on bars (career-high-tying 9.900), tied for third on beam (personal-best-tying 9.900) and placed 11th on floor (9.700). USU opened the meet on vault and recorded a 48.700, highlighted by Brooks' 9.800. SUU began on bars and finished with a 49.275. In the second rotation, Brooks' 9.900 on bars helped the Aggies record a 49.175, their second-highest score of the season on the event. Sophomore Dani Kirstine tied for third with a career-high-tying 9.875 and freshman Avery Bibbey tied for sixth with a personal-best 9.850. On beam in the third rotation, USU notched a season-best 49.075. Following Brooks in third place was senior Sofi Sullivan in fifth with a 9.850. Closing the meet on floor, senior Ariel Toomey placed first with a career-best 9.925 as the Aggies had a 49.225, their second-highest team score of the season on the event. Senior Alivia Ostendorf tied for second with a 9.875, while sophomore Payton Gatzlaff and junior Jenna Eagles tied for seventh with 9.825s, both career highs.
INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Contact: Daniel Hansen - (435) 797-8584
This 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 this 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 Competition
NTS --- at New Mexico Invitational
NTS --- at Washington Invitational
• Utah State recorded 15 top 10 marks across six events two weekends ago 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
This Week
Sat., Feb. 25 --- IDAHO, 11 a.m.
• Utah State women's tennis (2-3, 0-0 MW) continues its 2023 spring season this weekend as it hosts Idaho (1-3) on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 11 a.m.
Last Competition
L, 0-7 --- at BYU
• Utah State lost at BYU 7-0 in its only match of the week two weekends ago. 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 Grand Canyon Tournament, Phoenix, Arizona
Fri., Feb. 24 --- vs. South Dakota, 11 a.m.
Fri., Feb. 24 --- at Grand Canyon, 4 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 25 --- vs. Montana, 11 a.m.
Sat., Feb. 25 --- vs. South Dakota, 1:30 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 26 --- vs. Montana, 9:30 a.m.
• Utah State softball (4-6, 0-0 MW) continues non-conference play this weekend at the Grand Canyon Tournament in Phoenix, Arizona. USU will begin the tournament on Friday, Feb. 24, with a pair of games against South Dakota (3-8) at 11 a.m., and Grand Canyon (9-1) at 4 p.m. The Aggies will then face Montana (0-9) and South Dakota on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively. USU concludes the tournament on Sunday, Feb. 26, against Montana at 9:30 a.m.
Last Week
at Saint Mary's Tournament
L, 0-1 --- vs. UC San Diego
W, 3-2 --- at Saint Mary's
L, 0-2 --- at Saint Mary's
W, 5-2 --- vs. San José State
L, 0-7 --- vs. UC San Diego
• Utah State softball went 2-3 last week at the Saint Mary's Tournament as the Aggies were 0-2 against UC San Diego (L, 0-1; L, 0-7), 1-1 against Saint Mary's (W, 3-2; L, 0-2) and defeated San José State 5-2. Four Aggies saw time in the circle, combining for an ERA of 2.18. The USU pitching staff allowed 30 hits and eight earned runs, while striking out 23 batters and walking 13. Freshman Grace Matej led the Aggies at the plate after batting .375 (3-of-8). As a team, USU hit .174 (23-of-132), including three doubles. Senior catcher/first baseman Makenzie Macfarlane led the Aggies with 38 putouts and four assists.
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 Competition
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 two weekends ago 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.
