The Southern Utah University gymnastics team defeated Brigham Young University on Monday, March 4, with a season-high score of 197.125 to BYU’s season best of 197.000. The Flippin’ Birds celebrated the win at the America First Event Center after losing their previous meet with the Cougars on Friday, March 1, in Provo.
“The meet we both had on Friday wasn’t a great meet for either one of us, and to see both teams be able to turn around and come back like that was great,” Flippin’ Bird head coach Scotty Bauman said. “We’ve been putting a lot of different people under a little bit of pressure to see who’s floating to the top, and I love what I’m seeing out of all of them.”
Southern Utah’s freshman sensation Niya Randolph tallied an all-around score of 39.600, an outstanding record no Flippin’ Bird has reached. It also put her at the top of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation record books.
Vault
Randolph started her career night with a new high on the vault, posting a 9.900. Brinlee Christensen and Ellie Cacciola both poured in scores of 9.850, helping the Flippin’ Birds tally a 49.250 to start the meet.
The Cougars scored just below SUU, putting up a 49.225 in the event. Junior Melissa Earl put up a career-high 9.900 to tie for first in the category for the meet. Following her was Sydney Benson at 9.875 and Sophie Dudley with a career-high 9.850.
Bars
The Flippin’ Birds tallied a 49.250 in back-to-back rotations. There was another personal high from Randolph, this time a 9.950. Sophomore Trista Goodman poured in a score of 9.875, and Isabella Neff finished third for the Flippin’ Birds at 9.825.
BYU gave stellar performances, starting with a career-tying score of 9.950 from Anyssa Alvarado. Her younger sister, Alilah Alvarado, added her own career-high score of 9.900. Senior Anna Bramblett posted a 9.850, helping the Cougars score their second-highest score on the bars this season at 49.350.
Beam
The Flippin’ Birds beam team has been a staple recently. This stood true as they totaled a score of 49.350. Senior Anna Hartley posted a personal best of 9.900. Aly Coutu added her own personal best of 9.875 for SUU. The Flippin’ Bird lineup rounded out with three scores of 9.850 from Randolph, Kennedi McClain and Alyssa Fernandez.
Freshman Brynlee Andersen led the way on the beam for the Cougars, scoring a meet-high 9.925. Allix Mason tied her personal best with a 9.875, helping BYU finish with a category score of 49.250.
Floor
Southern Utah outscored BYU 49.300-49.175 in the floor routine. Randolph led the way, tallying a 9.900 to finish off her unprecedented evening. Following the star freshman were scores of 9.875 from Christensen and Cacciola.
The Cougars were able to get a career-high 9.900 out of junior Heidi Schooley. Rounding out the top three for BYU at 9.850 were Dudley and Eliza Millar-Crossman.
The 197.125 finish is tied for the third-highest all-time score for the Flippin’ Birds. It also earned them the first 197+ total in MPSF history.
What’s next?
The Flippin’ Birds will have a quick turnaround since they’ll be hosting No. 23 Penn State University on Friday, March 8, at 7 p.m. The meet can be streamed through Overnght. The Nittany Lions enter the matchup fresh off a quad meet win.
Author: Brig Pyfer
Photographer: Anden Garfield
Editor: Anden Garfield
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