On Saturday, Mar. 21, Southern Utah University hosted the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Conference Championship. In a meet versus the University of California, Davis, Sacramento State University and University of Alaska Anchorage, the Flippin’ Birds scored 194.850 to place first and give them their fourth straight conference championship.
SUU ended the year with a 10-10 record and will head to the NCAA Regional Tournament on April 2. This is their third MPSF championship in a row, with the team also winning the Mountain Rim Conference in 2023 and the Western Athletic Conference in 2010.
This is the Flippin’ Birds’ final year in the MPSF, as they’ll join the Pac-12 next season.
Vault
The T-Birds held the lead through the first rotation. Niya Randolph led the team at vault with a 9.875. Kayla Purdue added a 9.825, while Mackenzie Kelly tacked on a 9.800.
Vinciane Le Pen, Sage Paladino and Elliot Bringhurst each rounded out the routine with solid scores of 9.775. The team’s total at the end of the rotation was a strong 49.050.
Bars
SUU led in the bars event as well with an overall score of 48.950. Again, Randolph led with a score of 9.900, which ranked first in the event. Ariel Collum also had a great impact with a score of 9.825.
Juniors Alex Routsis and Kendall McGuire earned 9.775 and 9.750 respectively. Rylee Miller and Mia Hampton battled a bit in their routines, posting a 9.700 and 9.625 respectively, but SUU stayed strong heading into the second half of the meet.
Beam
The Flippin’ Birds slipped up a little on beam, ranking last in the event with an overall score of 47.550. The leader of the event was Sacramento State, who scored 48.475.
SUU was led by Bringhurst’s 9.800 and Randolph’s 9.725, but struggled through some lower scores. Hampton scored 9.500 while Emma Nipper and Miller both had scores below 9.300.
Floor
The final rotation was Southern Utah’s strongest event, scoring a meet-best 49.300. The Flippin’ Birds were led by four different 9.875 scores.
Hampton, Miller, Paladino and Berlin Hall were able to set their meet highs on the floor. Randolph joined them with a 9.800, pushing SUU over the edge to reclaim their throne atop the MPSF.
What’s next?
SUU looks to compete in the NCAA Regional Tournament on Thursday, April 2 in Tempe, Ariz., at 2:00 p.m. The meet will be streamed live on ESPN+. SUU will face off against the University of Georgia, Michigan State University and Brigham Young University.
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Author: Mitch Wilson
Photographer: SUU Athletics
Editor: Payson Davis
