Despite a 49.125 in their final rotation on floor, the Southern Utah Flippin’ Birds fell at home to the Utah State Aggies 195.200-195.275.
The night got out to a strong start as two-time Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference Vault Specialist of the Week Megan McBride started the Flippin’ Birds out with a 9.825. This score also tied her with teammate Molly Jozwiakowski and Aggie Mikaela Meyer for event champion.
After the first rotation SUU held the slight lead over USU, 49.000-48.700.
Jozwiakowski has stepped into a large roll for her team in just her freshman year, earning event champion in just her sixth collegiate meet was validating.
“Megan’s amazing, she sticks all the time in practice and she has huge vaults,” said Jozwiakowski. “So I’m just glad that I slowly started to step it up on vault and get it to that level.”
Heading to bars, the Flippin’ Birds were looking to lean their reigning Co-MRGC Bars Specialists of the Week Becky Rozsa and Karen Gonzalez.
Rozsa came through again for SUU with a 9.800 as did Madison Howlett and Kirsten Yee. But Gonzalez stole the show for the second consecutive meet on bars with a 9.825 as she tied for event champion with Utah State’s Madison Ward.
Through two rotations and moving to beam, SUU strengthened their lead to .500 over USU after the Aggies scored a 48.700 on vault.
Beam is where things seemed to slow down for SUU as they had to count a fall and scored their first score lower than a 49.000 of the night. Mary Packham led the way for the Flippin’ Birds with a 9.825 followed by Autumn Jorgensen with a 9.800.
Looking to build off the second highest score in school history after a 196.800-196.450 victory over BYU on Friday, Flippin’ Birds head coach expressed his frustration with his team not reaching their potential.
“This is a nasty team to compete against when they’re on all eight cylinders,” said Bauman. “But we’ve got to get them all there.”
Heading into the final rotation, USU had taken the lead for the first time following their highest score of the night on floor 146.075-146.575.
With only one rotation remaining, the Flippin’ Birds posted their highest score of the night on floor as well. Autumn Jorgensen led the way with her second consecutive 9.900 on floor followed by Madison McBride with a 9.875 and Molly Jozwiakowski with a 9.825.
Their 49.125 would not be enough to claim victory as they ultimately fell to conference opponent USU 195.200-195.275.
“I’m still seeing growth in our all-arounders like Autumn Jorgensen and Madison McBride,” said Bauman. “I loved what I saw on vault and I’m really starting to like what I see on bars. The errors that we’re making on bars are not from being timid or holding back, they’re from attacking bars so you can’t be too mad about that.”
SUU will hit the road to Provo for the second time this season and their third meet in seven days as they take on the BYU Cougars for the third time on February 16.
Story By
Colton Gordon for SUU News
Featured Photo By
SUU Athletics Strategic Communications
