CEDAR CITY, Utah — The SUU gymnastics team earned their first conference victory, topping the Utah State Aggies 195.500-194.975 on Friday night in the America First Event Center.
The Flippin’ Birds won the individual event championship on all events except vault. Shylen Murakami set a career-high 9.900 on beam while Becky Rozsa-Thompson earned a season high 9.875 on bars. Karley McClain scored two career-high marks with a 9.875 on floor and 39.175 overall en route to champion titles in each.
Watch for excellence 👀
Karley’s career high floor routine – 9.875 pic.twitter.com/aqB0GX0DTZ— SUU Gymnastics (@SUUGym) February 2, 2019
SUU’s best event of the night was on the beam where the T-Birds scored a season-high 49.125. Murakami led with a 9.900, Hannah Nipp earned a 9.875 and McClain scored a 9.850. Alyssa LaDieu earned a season high 9.800 and Karen Gonzalez finished with a 9.700.
Will we ever get over Shylen’s beam routine?? No, never. Never ever. 🤯9.9 pic.twitter.com/jcqOLZ29W1
— SUU Gymnastics (@SUUGym) February 2, 2019
SUU set yet another season high with 49.000 on bars. Rozsa-Thompson’s 9.875 led the way as Stephanie Tervort and Murakami followed with a 9.850 and 9.825 respectively. McClain and Gonzalez each finished with a 9.725.
Becky going BIG on Bars 🔥🔥🔥9.875 pic.twitter.com/JGlFeb0Wa9
— SUU Gymnastics (@SUUGym) February 2, 2019
The Flippin’ Birds finished with a 48.000 on vault led by a trio of 9.775’s from Morgan Alfaro, Molly Jozwiakowsi and Tervort. Rachel Smith earned a 9.750 while Caitlin Kho and McClain each scored a 9.275.
McClain’s 9.875 led SUU’s floor routine and Gonzalez followed with a 9.750. Madison McBride and Jiang Braley both notched 9.725’s while Jozwiakowski scored a 9.500.
SUU’s 195.500 was the team’s highest home score of the year and the second highest overall mark this season.
The Flippin’ Birds improved to 2-2 overall and 1-2 in the Rocky Mountain Gymnastics Conference. They’ll go to Iowa State next Saturday before coming back home to face the Temple Owls on Feb. 15.
Story by: Aaron Peterson
aapete3232@gmail.com
Photo courtesy of SUU Athletics Strategic Communication
