LOGAN, Utah – Utah State's gymnastics team was picked to finish second in the Mountain West in the annual preseason coaches' poll that was announced on Thursday.
Boise State, the 2024 MW Champions, was picked first as the Broncos garnered three first-place votes and 30 points. USU received one first-place vote and 21 points, while San José State also received 21 points. Air Force received 12 votes.
Under the direction of third-year head coach
Kristin White, Utah State returns 14 gymnasts from last year's squad in graduates
Brianna Brooks,
Jenna Eagles and
Angel Stuart, seniors
Amari Evans,
Payton Gatzlaff and
Dani Kirstine, juniors
Avery Bibbey,
Marley Peterson and
Chelsea Southam, and sophomores
Sydney Jelen,
Nyla Morabito,
Isabella Vater,
Mya Witte and
Hattie Wright. USU also added three newcomers in freshmen
Kaylie Medrano,
Olivia Orengo and
Lundyn VanderToolen.
Highlighting Utah State's returners is Brooks, who was named the NCAA North Central Region (Region 2) Gymnast of the Year for the second-straight season in 2024 and earned second-team all-Mountain West honors on both bars and in the all-around. Brooks won the bars title at the 2024 MW Championships with a season-high-tying 9.900 and finished second in the all-around with a 39.300. Brooks was also the lone Aggie to compete at the 2024 NCAA Regional Championships and tied for first on bars with a season-high-tying 9.900 at the California Regional.
Three Aggies earned Mountain West weekly honors during the 2024 campaign as Brooks was named the MW Bars Co-Specialist of the Week once (2/2/24), Kirstine was named the MW Bars Co-Specialist of the Week once (2/2/24), and Morabito was named the MW Vault Specialist of the Week once (1/26/24) and the MW Freshman of the Week once (2/2/24).
Utah State officially begins its season on the road at No. 5 Utah on Friday, Jan. 3, at 7 p.m. USU will then open its home season the following weekend against Southern Utah on Friday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m.
Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at
www.UtahStateAggies.com.
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.
