LOGAN, Utah – Utah State's gymnastics team will host Air Force and begin the home portion of its 2024 season on Friday, Jan. 26, in a Mountain West showdown at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum at 7 p.m. Links to live streams and stats are available at www.utahstateaggies.com. 
 
The first 400 kids at Friday's meet will receive a crown or cape for the Princess and Superhero night. All teachers, first responders and military members will receive $6 admission.
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MEET INFORMATION
Utah State vs. Air Force 
Date: Friday, Jan. 26, 2024
March In: 7 p.m. 
Site: Logan, UT
Venue: Dee Glen Smith Spectrum 
Promotion: Princess and Superhero Night 
Links: Live Stream | Live Stats
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HEAD COACH KRISTIN WHITE
"After starting the season with our first three meets on the road, the team is eager to be home and in front of our fans," said second-year head coach Kristin White. "We hope Aggie Nation comes out and helps support our hard-working women. It will definitely be the best show in Cache Valley on Friday Night."
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THE COMPETITION
Air Force is 0-3 on the season and 0-2 in Mountain West competition after beginning its 2024 season in a quad meet hosted by Boise State last weekend. The Falcons began their season by scoring a 194.975, which included a 48.925 on
vault, a 48.575 on bars, a 48.875 on beam and a 49.000 on floor. Freshman Maggie Slife won the all-around at the Boise State Quad with a 39.275, while fellow freshman Clara Wallace finished third with a 38.750. Sophomore Kylee Greene led the Falcons on beam with a career high 9.875. Wallace led AFA on the floor with a career-high 9.850. Slife led the Falcons on vault with a 9.800. And Slife scored a team-best 9.925 on bars. Air Force is coached by Jennifer Green, who is in her third year at the helm of the Falcons' program. Green also spent six years as the head coach at Iowa.

Utah State leads the all-time series with Air Force, 14-1, which includes a 3-0 home record. Overall, USU has won each of the last eight meetings against the Falcons, including a 194.950-191.975 win in a dual meet in Logan on Jan. 14, 2022, which was the last time the two programs faced one another.

Air Force is ranked No. 43 in the country in Week 3 of the Road to Nationals rankings with an average team score of 194.975. The Falcons are 31st on beam (48.875), 38th in the nation on floor (49.000), 49th on bars (48.575) and 59th on vault (48.525). Individually, freshman Maggie Slife is first in the Mountain West and tied for 39th in the nation in the all-around (39.275), first in the MW and tied for seventh in the nation on bars (9.925), and tied for third in the MW and tied for 134th in the nation on vault (9.800). Sophomore Kylee Greene is first in the MW and tied for 28th in the nation on beam (9.875). And, freshman Clara Wallace is tied for second in the MW and tied for 113th in the nation on floor (9.850).

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UTAH STATE NOTES
The Aggies (1-7, 0-0 MW) are coming off a season-high 195.375 second place finish at a tri meet against No. 24 Arizona State and hosted by No. 36 Southern Utah last weekend. USU began the meet with a 48.775 on bars, followed by season-highs of 48.750 on beam, 48.950 on floor and 48.900 on vault.
 
Utah State holds a 14-1 all-time record against Air Force. Their last meeting occurred on Jan. 14, 2022, when the Aggies defeated the Falcons at home 194.950-191.975.
 
The Week 3 Road to Nationals rankings has the Aggies at No. 53 with an average score of 194.050. The Aggies are 43rd on beam (48.550), 44th in the nation on bars (48.667), 51st on vault (48.675) and 62nd on floor (48.158). Individually, senior Brianna Brooks is fourth in the Mountain West and 84th in the nation in the all-around (38.725), and third in the MW and tied for 104th in the nation on bars (9.842). Graduate Alivia Ostendorf is sixth in the MW and tied for 175th in the nation on vault (9.783, and ninth in the MW and tied for 193rd in the nation on floor (9.817). And, senior Lexi Aragon is eighth in the MW and tied for 146th in the nation on beam (9.792).

Utah State posted a season-high 195.375 to place second at a tri meet against No. 24 Arizona State and hosted by No. 36 Southern Utah  last weekend. USU began the meet with a 48.775 on bars, followed by season-highs of 48.750 on beam, 48.950 on floor and 48.900 on vault. ASU  won the meet with  a 196.200 and SUU  placed third with  a 195.075.  This was USU's first win at Southern Utah since 2018. Senior Brianna Brooks and graduate student Juliette Boyer led USU with a pair of 9.850s on bars  to tie for third on the  event. The 9.850 is a season-high for Boyer. Utah State then scored a season-high 48.750 on beam as  senior Lexi Aragon led the Aggies with a 9.800 and took sixth place. Junior Dani Kirstine placed seventh with a season-high 9.775, and in eighth place were Brooks and graduate student Alivia Ostendorf  with a pair of 9.750s. Ostendorf's score was also a season-high. Utah State  took the floor for the third rotation and scored a season-high 48.950. Ostendorf  led  the team with a season-high 9.850 to place fourth, while senior Jenna Eagles and sophomore Marley Peterson followed with a pair of 9.800s to place ninth. Peterson's score was a season high. The Aggies' final rotation scored another season-high of 48.900 on vault. Ostendorf tied for fifth and posted her second 9.850 of the night, which is her season-high  for the event. Freshman Nyla Morabito and  junior Payton Gatzlaff earned a pair of 9.775s, which placed 11th, while  Boyer and sophomore Chelsea Southam followed with season-high 9.750s and tied for 13th. Gatzlaff also had a season-high on vault.  

Utah State had 10 different gymnasts record 13 season-best scores, including a pair of career highs, in last weekend's Southern Utah Tri Meet as the Aggies scored a season-high 195.375. Sophomore Chelsea Southam scored a career-high on vault (9.750) and fellow sophomore Marley Peterson tied her career-high on floor (9.800). Graduate Juliette Boyer had season-highs on vault (9.750) and bars (9.850). Graduate Alivia Ostendorf scored season-highs on vault (9.850), beam (9.750) and floor (9.850). Junior Amari Evans scored a season-high on floor (9.775). Junior Dani Kirstine scored a season-high on beam (9.775). Junior Payton Gatzlaff scored a season-high on vault (9.775). Freshman Nyla Morabito scored a season-high on floor (9.675). Freshman Isabella Vater scored a season-high on floor (9.725). And freshman Mya Witte scored a season-high on beam (9.675).

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FOLLOW ALONG
Friday's dual meet will be streamed online at utahstateaggies.com/watch and live scoring will be available online at utahstateaggies.com. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State gymnastics social media outlets for meet updates.

For more information on the Utah State gymnastics program, follow the Aggies on Twitter at @USUGymnastics, on Facebook at UtahStateGymnastics and on Instagram at USUGymnastics.