FORT WORTH, Texas – Utah State gymnastics scored a season high 196.475 which is the ninth best road score in program history to finish second at the Metroplex Challenge here Friday night.
 
Utah State began the meet on the bars and scored 49.275, followed by a season-high-tying 49.050 on beam, a season-best 49.250 on floor and 48.900 on vault. Its bars score is its second best this year and its vault score is tied for its second best on the season.
 
No. 7 California won the tri meet with a 197.050 as it scored 49.100 on vault, 49.425 on bars, 48.925 on beam and 49.600 on floor. Texas Woman's finished third with 195.375 as it scored 48.925 on vault, 48.675 on bars, 48.775 on beam and 49.000 on floor.
 
Graduate Brianna Brooks tied for first on beam with her 9.875. Junior Avery Bibbey, freshman Lundyn VanderToolen and Brooks all scored 9.875 on bars as the trio tied for third on the event. Sophomore Nyla Morabito was the top scorer for USU on vault with 9.825 to tie for fourth. Morabito and freshman Olivia Orengo tied for sixth on floor with scores of 9.875.
 
During the night, Utah State gymnasts produced four career highs and two more season bests.
 
Head Coach Kristin White
"Incredibly proud of the team tonight. We had a rough warmup, and the team rallied before the meet and put up the best score of the season. We talked about how this team is capable of greatness and they delivered tonight. We made some great adjustments with our landings on vault from Monday and I am really proud of that.
 
"The grind doesn't stop. We have to keep pushing and chasing our best. But tonight, we celebrate! Ninth best road score in school history is pretty awesome!"
 
Rotation One– Bars (49.275)
Utah State opened the meet with 49.275 for its second-best bars score of the season. Orengo started the night scoring 9.800. Sophomore Sydney Jelen followed with a 9.700 and freshman Lundyn VanderToolen scored a career high 9.875. Junior Avery Bibbey and Brooks also scored 9.875 as the trio tied for third. Senior Dani Kirstine finished the rotation with 9.850. 
 
1. Olivia Orengo – 9.800
2. Sydney Jelen – 9.700
3. Lundyn VanderToolen – 9.875
4. Avery Bibbey – 9.875
5. Brianna Brooks – 9.875
6. Dani Kirstine – 9.850
 
Rotation Two – Beam (49.050)
Utah State moved to beam for its second rotation and posted a season-high-tying 49.050. Jelen started the team off by scoring 9.850. Graduate Jenna Eagles followed with 9.700 and Orengo posted 9.800 to tie her career high. Freshman Kaylie Medrano scored 9.725 and sophomore Mya Witte notched a 9.800. Brooks then anchored the event with a team-best 9.875 to tie for first.  
 
1. Sydney Jelen – 9.850
2. Jenna Eagles – 9.700
3. Olivia Orengo – 9.800
4. Kaylie Medrano – 9.725
5. Mya Witte – 9.800
6. Brianna Brooks – 9.875
 
Rotation Three– Floor (49.250)
Moving to the floor for its third rotation, Utah State scored a season high of 49.250. Eagles and graduate Angel Stuart both scored 9.825. That score for Stuart is a season best. Orengo and Medrano then posted back-to-back career highs of 9.875 and 9.850, respectively. Sophomore Isabella Vater followed with a 9.750 and Morabito finished the rotation with 9.875 as her and Orengo tied for third on the event.
 
1. Jenna Eagles – 9.825
2. Angel Stuart – 9.825
3. Olivia Orengo – 9.875
4. Kaylie Medrano – 9.850
5. Isabella Vater – 9.750
6. Nyla Morabito – 9.875
 
Rotation Four – Vault (48.900)
Utah State finished the competition with 48.900 on vault for its second-best score of the season on the apparatus. Brooks scored 9.750 to get the Aggies started and VanderToolen followed with 9.775. Senior Payton Gatzlaff then scored a season high 9.800 and Medrano had 9.750. Morabito had the best score for USU with 9.825 to tie for fourth on the event and Witte finished the competition with 9.675.
 
1. Brianna Brooks – 9.750
2. Lundyn VanderToolen – 9.775
3. Payton Gatzlaff – 9.800
4. Kaylie Medrano – 9.750
5. Nyla Morabito – 9.825
6. Mya Witte – 9.675
 
Up Next
Utah State hosts Mountain West-foe Boise State on Friday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m.
 
Tickets
Fans can purchase tickets for the Utah State 2025 season by visiting www.UtahStateAggies.com.
 
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Utah State vs. California, Texas Woman's
Fort Worth, Texas | Fort Worth Convention Center Arena | February 14, 2025
 
Team Results
1. California: 197.050 (VT: 49.100; UB: 49.425; BB: 48.925; FX: 49.600)
2. Utah State: 196.475 (VT: 48.900; UB: 49.275; BB: 49.050; FX: 49.250)
3. Texas Woman's: 195.375 (VT: 48.925; UB: 48.675; BB: 48.775; FX: 49.000)