WEEKLY AGGIE UPDATE - MARCH 25, 2024
OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Contact: Jake Ellis - (435) 797-8584
This Week
Fri.-Sat., March 29-30 --- at Stanford Invite, All Day
• Utah State's track & field teams return to action this weekend as it competes in the Stanford Invitational on Friday and Saturday, March 29-30.
Last Week
NTS --- at Utah Tech Invitational
• Utah State track & field won nine titles and had 37 top-five finishes last weekend at the Utah Tech Invitational. During the first day of competition, junior Adi Nielson won the women's 400-meter hurdles with a time of 59.83 seconds, which ranks eighth all-time in school history. Junior Maddie Edwards took second with a time of 1:00.30 and senior Olivia Smith finished third with a time of 1:00.43. Freshman Samuel Beckwith and junior Joshua Hartvigsen shared the title in the men's long jump with both attaining a mark of 6.88 meters (22-7). In the women's high jump, freshman Madeline Carmona won her first title as an Aggie, clearing 1.66 meters (5-5.25). Sophomore Hannah Lybbert finished second at 1.61 meters (5-3.25), while senior Inka Mehtola and freshman Viann Robinson tied for third at 1.56 meters (5-1.25). Sophomore Milly Garren placed second in the women's shot put with a mark 14.58 meters (47-10), and freshman Ruby Jordan took fourth with a mark of 12.79 meters (41-11.5). In the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase, freshman John Simmons finished third with a time of 9:24.50. Senior Gavin Beierle placed third in the men's shot put with a mark of 16.78 meters (55-0.75), while junior Nate Franz and senior Brandon Ovington placed fourth and fifth with a mark of 16.51 meters (54-2) and 15.84 meters (51-11.75), respectively. In the men's high jump, junior Kelton Chenworth and Beckwith tied for third, clearing 1.85 meters (6-0.75), while sophomore Javin Richards took fifth with a mark of 1.70 meters (5-7). Freshman Joseph Turner placed third in the men's discus with a mark of 49.42 meters (162-1), while Franz achieved fifth with a mark of 47.35 meters (155-4). In the women's long jump, freshman Elle Jacobson finished fourth with a mark of 5.25 meters (17-2.75). Freshman Joseph Douglas took fourth in the men's 200 meters with a time of 22.05.
During the second day of competition, senior Sidnee Naerebout won the women's triple jump with a mark of 12.04 meters (39-6). With her performance, Naerebout set the Utah Tech Invitational meet record and moved up to fifth all-time in USU history. Freshman Viann Robinson placed second in the event with a mark of 10.95 meters (35-11.25). In the women's javelin, senior Djamilliah Paepke-Chile claimed the title with a mark of 47.49 meters (155-9), while junior Madison Tareski took fourth with a mark of 43.47 meters (142-7), which ranks ninth all-time in school history. Freshman Shelby Jensen was victorious in the women's 1,500 meters with a time of 4:28.57. In the men's 3,000 meters, the Aggies swept the podium as sophomore LJ Floyd took first with a time of 8:29.78, while freshmen Joshua McKee and Joseph McKee finished second and third with times of 8:31.75 and 8:35.98, respectively, in their first meet as Aggies, and sophomore Caleb Armstrong placed fifth with a time of 8:50.18. Freshman Joseph Douglas won the men's 100 meters with a time of 10.81. In the men's triple jump, Chenworth won the title with a mark of 13.12 meters (43-0.5). Senior Abbey Bryant placed second in the women's 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.80, while Edwards took fifth with a time of 14.28. Bryant also finished fourth in the women's 100 meters with a time of 12.05 and freshman Claire Petersen placed fifth at 12.18. In the women's 3,000 meters, three Aggies finished in the top five. Sophomore Sarah Ellis took second with a time of 9:57.34, freshman Brie Smith came in third with a time of 10:20.99 and freshman Cameron Moore placed fifth with a time of 10:25.68. Nielson finished third in the women's 400 meters with a time of 56.29. In the men's javelin, freshmen Walker Deede and Kace Jones placed third and fifth with marks of 60.68 meters (199-1) and 57.82 meters (189-8), respectively. Sophomore Logan Garnica took third in the men's 1,500 meters with a time of 3:51.81. In the men's 800 meters, junior Wyatt Evans finished second with a time of 1:53.74. Sophomore Rylan Anderson placed fourth in the men's 400 meters with a time of 48.50. In the men's 110-meter hurdles, sophomore Javin Richards took fifth with a time of 15.75. The Utah State team of sophomore Carter Guiness, Richards, Evans and senior Christopher Kauffman finished second in the men's 4x400-meter relay with a time of 3:26.12. In the women's 4x100-meter relay, Utah State B, consisting of sophomore Krysthina Vlahovic, Edwards, sophomore Alison Richter and senior Olivia Smith took second with a time of 48.04, while the Utah State team made up of Petersen, senior Autumn Kidd, Bryant and junior Emma Reeves placed third with a time of 53.22.
MEN'S TENNIS
Contact: Emma Becerra - (435) 797-8584
This Week
Thur., March 28 --- at New Mexico, 4 p.m.
Sat., March 30 --- at Air Force, Noon
• Utah State men's tennis (13-3, 0-0 MW) begins Mountain West play this week with a pair of matches at New Mexico (9-7, 0-0 MW) on Thursday, March 28, at 4 p.m., and at Air Force (5-8, 0-0 MW) on Saturday, March 30, at noon.
Last Week
W, 4-0 --- vs. Montana, Boise, Idaho
W, 4-0 --- vs. Idaho, Boise, Idaho
L, 3-4 --- at Boise State
• Utah State posted a 2-1 record last week as it advanced to the championship match of the Boise State-hosted Spring Fling. USU began the tournament with a 4-0 win against Montana and then posted a 4-0 win against Idaho, before losing to the Broncos in the championship match, 4-3. Against the Grizzlies, USU clinched the doubles point as junior Sergi Micó Fenollar and graduate senior Bodin Zarkovic posted a 6-3 win at the second position, while freshman Mohammad Alkotop and junior David Martirosian won 6-3 at the third position. In singles play, senior Stijn Paardekooper won at the No. 2 (6-4, 6-1), Martirosian won at the No. 6 spot (6-4, 7-6) and Alkotop won at the No. 4 spot (7-5, 6-4) to clinch the match. Against the Vandals, USU claimed the doubles point as Fenollar and Zarkovic posted a 6-1 win at the second position, while Paardekooper and sophomore Nuno Pinheiro notched a 6-1 win at the second position. In singles play, freshman Phillip Rein won in straight sets at the No. 6 spot (6-2, 6-3), followed by Zarkovic winning in straight sets at the No. 1 spot. USU then won the match when Alkotop won in straight sets at the No. 5 spot (6-3, 6-2). And against the Broncos, USU earned the doubles point to start the match as Fenollar and Zarkovic posted a 6-4 win at the second position, while Alkotop and Martirosian posted a 6-3 win at the third position. In singles play, Zarkovic won at the No. 1 spot (7-6 (5), 7-5) and Fenollar won at the No. 3 spot (3-6, 6-3, 6-4).
SOFTBALL
Contact: Jaden Johnson - (435) 797-2066
This Week
Thur., March 28 --- at UNLV, 7 p.m. (MT)
Fri., March 29 --- at UNLV, 4 p.m. (MT)
Sat., March 30 --- at UNLV, 1 p.m. (MT)
• Utah State softball (19-12, 3-3 MW) continues its 2024 campaign this week with a three-game Mountain West series at UNLV (18-10, 3-2 MW). The Aggies and the Rebels will first face off on Thursday, March 28, at 7 p.m. (MT), followed by games on Friday, March 29, at 4 p.m. (MT) and Saturday, March 30, at 1 p.m. (MT). Links to live streams and stats are available at www.utahstateaggies.com.
Last Week
W, 6-4 --- IDAHO STATE
W, 2-1 --- BOISE STATE
W, 9-1 (5) --- BOISE STATE
L, 1-13 (5) --- BOISE STATE
• Utah State played its first home games of the season last week, going 3-1 against Idaho State and Boise State. The Aggies started the week with a 6-4 win over the Bengals, followed by a pair of wins against the Broncos (2-1, 9-1 (5), before losing the series finale in five innings (13-1). The wins against Boise State snapped a 17-game losing streak in the series, and secured the first series win for USU against the Broncos since 2017. Five Aggies saw time in the circle, combining for an ERA of 6.38. The USU pitching staff allowed 32 hits and 17 earned runs, while striking out 21 batters and walking 10. Senior outfielder Ali Ashner led the Aggies at the plate after batting .500 (5-for-10) with three doubles, a home run, three RBIs and four runs. As a team, USU hit .310 (27-for-87), including six doubles, a triple and three home runs. Sophomore catcher Grace Matej led the Aggies with 23 putouts and one assist.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Contact: Emma Becerra - (435) 797-8584
This Week
Thur., March 28 --- AIR FORCE, 11 a.m.
Sat., March 30 --- NEW MEXICO, 11 a.m.
• Utah State women's tennis (3-11, 0-4 MW) continues its 2024 spring season this weekend with two Mountain West matches as it hosts Air Force (1-11, 0-4 MW) on Thursday, March 28, and New Mexico (14-1, 3-0 MW) on Saturday, March 30. Both matches will begin at 11 a.m.
Last Week
L, 1-4 --- at Colorado State
L, 0-4 --- at Wyoming
• Utah State lost a pair of Mountain West matches last week at Colordo State (4-1) and at Wyoming (4-0). Against the Rams, freshman Niyati Kukreti earned the only Aggies point of the day with a win at the No. 6 singles spot in straight sets (6-1, 6-1). Kukreti also teamed with freshman Magdalena Nunez Pureco for a 6-2 win at the third doubles position. Other Aggies to compete during the week include graduate senior Zeynep Naz Ozturk, senior Laura Fernanda Eugenio De Hilario, senior Lisa Küng, junior Indya Nespor and freshman Ana Paula Chavez Sanchez.
GOLF
Contact: Doug Hoffman - (435) 797-3714
This Week
Sun.-Tues., March 24-26 --- at UC San Diego Invite, All Day
• Utah State's golf team continues its 2024 spring season at the UC San Diego Invitational on Sunday through Tuesday, March 24-26.
Last Week
13th/14 --- at Arizona Invite
• Utah State finished in 13th place at the Arizona-hosted Thunderbirds Intercollegiate last week with a 54-hole team score of 51-over 915 (310-301-304) against the 14-team field. Junior Esteban Jaramillo led USU as he tied for 44th at 12-over 228 (72-79-77). Senior John Cook tied for 57th at 15-over 231 (80-74-77), as did senior Josh Pehrson (77-72-82). Junior Julio Arronte Sanchez tied for 62nd at 16-over 232 (81-76-75) and freshman Ashton McArthur tied for 73rd-place at 20-over 236 (82-79-75).
GYMNASTICS
Contact: Adalee Randall - (435) 797-1361
Next Week
Fri., April 5 --- at California Regional, TBA
• Senior Brianna Brooks will represent Utah State at the NCAA Regionals as she qualified as an individual on bars. Brooks will compete in the California Regional on Friday, April 5.
Last Week
2nd, 196.500 --- MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIPS
• Utah State gymnastics (8-18, 2-4 MW) concluded its season as a team with a second-place finish at the inaugural Mountain West Championships with a season-high score of 196.500. The score ties for the fifth highest home score in school history and is second-year head coach Kristin White's career-high. It is also the second highest score in a conference championship meet in school history behind the 197.025 scored to win the 2022 Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference championship. USU won one event title during the championships as senior Brianna Brooks claimed the bars title with a season-high-tying 9.900, which ironically, was her first bars title of the season and the third of her career. Brooks also finished second in the all-around with a 39.300. USU began the meet with a season-high 49.275 on beam, followed by a 49.275 on floor, a 48.750 on vault and a 49.200 on bars. Boise State won the meet with a score of 196.550, San José State placed third with a score of 196.400 and Air Force placed last with a score of 195.450. USU scored a season-high 49.275 to start the night on beam as senior Brianna Brooks and fifth-year senior Lexi Aragon tied for seventh with a score of 9.875. Senior Jenna Eagles and junior Dani Kirstine scored a pair of 9.850s and tied for ninth place. Junior Amari Evans scored a career-high 9.825 to round out the scoring on beam. USU headed to the floor for the second rotation and scored a 49.275. Freshman Nyla Morabito and Evans topped the Aggie scorers with a pair of 9.875s, which tied them for third place. Graduate student Alivia Ostendorf and senior Angel Stuart both tied for sixth place each scoring a 9.850. Eagles and Brooks each earned a 9.825, which tied the duo for 10th place. The score is tied for Brooks' career high on the event. On vault, Ostendorf scored the team high with a 9.800 and tied for third place. Morabito followed with a 9.775, which tied for eighth place as junior Payton Gatzlaff tied for 11th with a 9.750. Stuart posted a 9.725 and Brooks had a 9.700 to round out the scorers on the event. Brooks led USU's scoring on bars with a season-high-tying 9.900 and the MW Championship bars title. Graduate student Juliette Boyer followed with a season-high-tying 9.875 and tied for second place. Sophomore Avery Bibbey tied for fifth place with a 9.850, while Evans and Kirstine posted a 9.800 and 9.775, respectively.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Contact: Ashley Springer - (435) 797-5547
Last Week
2024 NCAA Tournament, Indianapolis, Indiana
W, 88-72 --- vs. #9 TCU
L, 67-106 --- vs. #1 Purdue
• Utah State men's basketball (28-7, 14-4 MW) concluded its season with a 106-67 loss to top-seeded and third-ranked Purdue in the second round of the NCAA Tournament after posting an 88-72 win against ninth-seeded TCU in the first round, which was USU's first NCAA Tournament win since 2001, snapping a 10-game losing streak. Against the Horned Frogs, USU shot 53.1 percent (17-of-32), including 33.3 percent (3-of-9) from 3-point range, and 85.7 percent (6-of-7) at the free throw line. TCU shot 35.8 percent (24-of-67), including 31.8 percent (7-of-22) from 3-point range, and 77.3 percent (17-of-22) at the free throw line. Four Aggies scored in double figures in senior guard Ian Martinez (21), redshirt sophomore center Isaac Johnson (19), junior wing Great Osobor (13) and graduate guard Darius Brown II (10). Against the Boilermakers, USU shot 36.4 percent (12-of-33), including 5-of-15 (.333) from 3-point range, and was 4-for-7 (.571) at the free throw line. Purdue shot a blistering 55.9 percent (38-of-68), including 47.8 percent (11-of-23) from 3-point range, and 82.6 percent (19-of-23) at the free throw line. Five Aggies scored in double figures in Osobor (14), junior guard Josh Uduje (13), Brown (12), Martinez (11) and Falslev (10).
