LOGAN, Utah — Utah State's gymnastics team posted a season-high 196.275 in a home meet against Southern Utah on Friday. USU began the meet with a season-high-tying 48.950 on vault, followed by season-highs of 49.125 on bars, 49.025 on beam and 49.175 on floor.
The 196.275 is head coach Kristin White's best score in her second year at Utah State. It is also the ninth-best home score in school history.
Southern Utah won the meet with a 196.800 as the Thunderbirds scored a 49.100 on vault, a 49.250 on bars, a 49.375 on beam and a 49.075 on floor.
Head Coach Kristin White
"We had two goals tonight; one was to win the competition the other was to go 196.000. We fell a little short on the win, but I couldn't be happier for our team and the score and what an incredible environment for us to compete in. It was a fantastic evening."
"Lexi (Aragon) had a career-high on the balance beam, going 9.925 in that anchor spot, and I'm proud of her. To be able to put up that performance when we needed it the most was amazing, and I'm so proud of her. She worked incredibly hard to get in that anchor spot and we're just really excited for her."
Rotation One – Vault (48.950)
Utah State began the meet with a season-high-tying 48.950 on vault. Leading the way for the Aggies was freshman Nyla Morabito with a career-high-tying 9.850, which tied her for second place. Graduate senior Alivia Ostendorf followed with a 9.825 to place fifth and senior Brianna Brooks notched a 9.800 to place sixth. Senior Angel Stuart rounded out the rotation with a season-high 9.750.
Rotation Two – Bars (49.125)
During the second rotation, the Aggies combined for a season-high 49.125 on bars. Junior Dani Kirstine and Brooks tied for second as they scored a pair of 9.900s, which is a career high for Kirstine. Graduate senior Juliette Boyer recorded a season-high-tying 9.850 and tied for fifth place. Sophomore Avery Bibbey scored a 9.750 and Stuart tied her career-high with a 9.725.
Rotation Three – Beam (49.025)
Utah State scored a season-high 49.025 on beam as graduate senior Lexi Aragon anchored the event and placed third with a career-high 9.925, which ties for the ninth-best score on the event in school history. Brooks placed fourth with a season-high 9.900 and Kirstine tied her career-high with a 9.875 to tie for fifth. Also scoring a career-high was freshman Sydney Jelen with a 9.675.
Rotation Four – Floor (49.175)
In the final rotation, the Aggies scored a season-high 49.175 on floor. Morabito highlighted the event with a career-high 9.925 first-place finish. Ostendorf followed with a season-high 9.875 to place third. Junior Amari Evans earned her season-high with a 9.850 and tied for fourth place. Senior Jenna Eagles and freshman Isabella Vater posted a 9.775 and 9.750, respectively, to round out the scoring on floor.
Next Up
Utah State heads to Norman, Oklahoma, to compete in the Oklahoma-hosted quad meet with BYU and Texas Woman's University on Friday, Feb. 9, at 5:45 p.m. (MT).
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.
Southern Utah at Utah State | Logan, Utah | Dee Glen Smith Spectrum | February 2, 2024
Team Results: 1. Southern Utah – 196.800 (vault: 49.100, bars: 49.250, beam: 49.375, floor: 49.075); 2. Utah State – 196.275 (vault: 48.950, bars: 49.125, beam: 49.025, floor: 49.175).
Vault: 1. Kennedi McClain – SUU, 9.875; T2. Nyla Morabito – USU, 9.850; T2. Ellie Cacciola – SUU, 9.850; T2. Kayla Pardue – SUU, 9.850; 5. Alivia Ostendorf – USU, 9.825; 6. Brianna Brooks – USU, 9.800; 7. Niya Randolph – SUU, 9.775; T8. Angel Stuart – USU, 9.750; T8. Mackenzie Kelly – SUU, 9.750; T8. Taylor Gull – SUU, 9.750; 11. Payton Gatzlaff – USU, 9.725; 12. Juliette Boyer – USU, 9.625.
Bars: 1. Niya Randolph – SUU, 9.925; T2. Dani Kirstine – USU, 9.900; T2. Brianna Brooks – USU, 9.900; 4. Isabella Neff – SUU, 9.875; T5. Juliette Boyer – USU, 9.850; T5. Aubri Schwartze – SUU, 9.850; T5. Trista Goodman – SUU, 9.850; T8. Avery Bibbey – USU, 9.750; T8. Brinlee Christensen – SUU, 9.750; T8. Alex Routsis – SUU, 9.750; 11. Angel Stuart – USU, 9.725; 12. Lexi Aragon – USU, 9.700.
Beam: T1. Kennedi McClain – SUU, 9.950; T1. Ellie Cacciola – USU, 9.950; 3. Lexi Aragon – USU, 9.925; 4. Brianna Brooks – USU, 9.900; T5. Dani Kirstine – USU, 9.875; T5. Alyssa Fernandez – SUU, 9.875; 7. Niya Randolph – SUU, 9.825; 8. Aly Coutu – SUU, 9.775; 9. Sydney Jelen – USU, 9.675; T10. Mya Witte – USU, 9.650; T10. Alivia Ostendorf – USU, 9.650; 12. Anna Hartley – SUU, 9.125.
Floor: 1. Nyla Morabito – USU, 9.925; 2. Taylor Gull – SUU, 9.900; 3. Alivia Ostendorf – USU, 9.875; T4. Amari Evans – USU, 9.850; T4. Kayla Pardue – SUU, 9.850; T6. Jenna Eagles – USU, 9.775; T6. Ellie Cacciola – SUU, 9.775; T6. Brinlee Christensen – SUU, 9.775; T6. Alyssa Fernandez – SUU, 9.775; T10. Isabella Vater – USU, 9.750; T10. Niya Randolph – SUU, 9.750; 12. Marley Peterson – USU, 9.500.
All-Around: 1. Niya Randolph – SUU, 39.275.
