CEDAR CITY, Utah – Utah State gymnastics posted its third-highest score in program history and defeated Southern Utah 196.875-195.725 here inside the America First Event Center Monday night. With the victory, USU went 4-0 against the Thunderbirds this year.
For Utah State, it is the highest team score since the 2022 club posted a 197.025 at the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference Championships. The school record is 197.225 set at Texas Woman's in 1997.
Utah State improves to 14-4 on the year, which is tied with the 1999 team and the 1986 squad for the second-best start to a season in program history. Only the 1978 team had a better record to start a season as it raced out to a 27-1 mark.
Utah State began the meet on the bars and posted its second-highest score of the season with 49.225. USU then produced a season-high 49.175 on vault, which is tied for the sixth-highest score in program history, and highest since the 2022 campaign. USU added 49.250 on floor, which is its second-best score of the season, and concluded the meet with a season-best 49.225 on beam.
Southern Utah scored 48.900 on vault, 49.125 on bars, 48.425 on beam and 49.275 on floor.
During the meet, Utah State notched eight career-highs and four season-high scores.
Five Aggies shared two event titles on the night. Junior Nyla Morabito, fellow junior Isabella Vater, and sophomore Lundyn VanderToolen all scored a career-high 9.875 on vault to win the event. Senior Avery Bibbey and freshman Charley Laufer both scored 9.875 on bars to share that title. For Bibbey, that score tied her season-high and it was a career-high for Laufer.
Morabito now has 18 career titles with 10 on vault, seven on floor and one on beam. Those 10 vault titles are tied for the fifth most in program history. It is her ninth title this year, including her seventh on vault, which is tied for the second most in program history.
Vater won her seventh career title tonight, including her first on vault. It is her sixth title this year with three on floor, two on bars, and one on vault.
VanderToolen won her third career title, including her first on vault to go along with a pair of bar titles. It is her second title this season.
Bibbey claimed her fifth career bars title, including her second this season.
For Laufer, it is her first career title.
Head Coach Kristin White
"Wow! There are seriously no words for what our team is feeling right now. The third highest team score in school history. Beating Southern Utah four times this season and doing it for each other. It's a great night to be an Aggie!
"Aggie Nation, we need you Friday night. Let's send the seniors off with record attendance. They deserve it!"
Rotation One – Bars (49.225)
Utah State began the meet on bars and posted its second-best score of the season with 49.225. Bibbey and Laufer paced the Aggies as each gymnast scored 9.875 to tie for first. That score for Bibbey tied her season-high, while Laufer's score is a career-high. Junior Sydney Jelen began the rotation with 9.800, followed by 9.850 from Vater. Sophomore Olivia Orengo scored 9.825 and VanderToolen scored 9.800.
1. Sydney Jelen – 9.800
2. Isabella Vater – 9.850
3. Olivia Orengo – 9.825
4. Avery Bibbey – 9.875
5. Lundyn VanderToolen – 9.800
6. Charley Laufer – 9.875
Rotation Two – Vault (49.175)
Utah State moved to vault for its second rotation and posted a season-high 49.175, which is tied for the sixth-best vault score in program history and best since the 2022 campaign. Four Aggies notched career-highs on the event, including Morabito, VanderToolen, and Vater, who all scored 9.875 to tie for first. Junior Mya Witte began the rotation by tying her career-high with 9.775. Freshman Anabelle Dewey scored 9.775 and fellow freshman Alianna Valdez posted 9.625.
1. Mya Witte – 9.775
2. Lundyn VanderToolen – 9.875
3. Anabelle Dewey – 9.775
4. Alianna Valdez – 9.625
5. Isabella Vater – 9.875
6. Nyla Morabito – 9.875
Rotation Three– Floor (49.250)
Utah State shined on floor and posted its second-best score of the season with 49.250 as three Aggies notched season-highs. Morabito and Vater paced USU on this event with 9.875 to tie for second. For Morabito, it is a season-high score. Orengo began the rotation with 9.850 and freshman Sienna Yelle followed with 9.800. Senior Marley Peterson then posted a season-high 9.825 and freshman Mara Gruber concluded the event with 9.825.
1. Olivia Orengo – 9.850
2. Sienna Yelle – 9.800
3. Marley Peterson – 9.825
4. Nyla Morabito – 9.875
5. Isabella Vater – 9.875
6. Mara Gruber – 9.825
Rotation Four – Beam (49.225)
Moving to beam for its fourth and final rotation, Utah State scored a season-high 49.225 with three career-high scores. Jelen led off with by scoring 9.850 and Orengo followed with 9.800. Sophomore Kaylie Medrano then tied her career-high with 9.850. Valdez posted 9.850 as well to tie her career-high and Laufer followed with a career-high 9.825. Witte concluded the rotation with 9.850. Jelen, Medrano, Valdez and Witte all tied for third on the event.
1. Sydney Jelen – 9.850
2. Olivia Orengo – 9.800
3. Kaylie Medrano – 9.850
4. Alianna Valdez – 9.850
5. Charley Laufer – 9.825
6. Mya Witte – 9.850
Up Next
Utah State concludes its home schedule by hosting future Pac-12 opponent Oregon State on Friday, March 6, at 6:30 p.m. Following the meet USU will honor its four seniors in Avery Bibbey, Amari Evans, Marley Peterson, and Chelsea Southam.
Tickets
Fans can purchase tickets for the 2026 Utah State gymnastics season here.
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Utah State vs. Southern Utah
Cedar City, Utah | America First Event Center | March 2, 2026
Team Results
1. Utah State: 196.875 (VT: 49.175; UB: 49.225; BB: 49.225; FX: 49.250)
2. Southern Utah: 195.725 (VT: 48.900; UB: 49.125; BB: 48.425; FX: 49.275)
