Utah State Closes Out Regular Season with Dual-Meet Win at Illinois-Chicago

Utah State’s [University] gymnastics team closed out the regular season on a positive note as the Aggies defeated Illinois-Chicago in a dual meet, 194.725-191.025, on Sunday afternoon [March 13, 2014] at the UIC Pavilion.

The Aggies (7-8) swept the Flames (5-9) on all four events: vault (48.900-48.100), bars (48.700-47.875), beam (48.050-47.475) and floor (49.075-47.575).

Competing in her home state and in front of many family members and friends, Hayley Sanzotti tied for first in the only two events she competed in Sunday. The junior from Wheaton, Ill., had a 9.850 on floor and a 9.775 on beam.

Junior Bailey McIntire captured the all-around title for the fourth time this season with a score of 39.150. For the native of Kearney, Mo., it is the fourth consecutive meet and sixth time this season she has been above the 39.000-plateau.

Utah State opened the meet on bars and recorded a 48.700. Sophomore Melanie Oster and junior Bailey McIntire each had a 9.775 to tie for first, while freshman Madison Ward and senior JoAnna Cuba tallied 9.725s to tie for third. Rounding out the top five for the Aggies was sophomore Keri Peel, who tied for fifth with a 9.700.

The Aggies next competed on vault and notched a 48.900. Seniors McKinzey Martinez and Michelle Yasukochi both recorded a 9.800 to tie for first, while McIntire and fellow junior Katie Brown tied for third with 9.775s. Ward tied for fifth with a 9.750, which equaled her career best.

Utah State moved to floor in the third rotation and tied its season-high score of 49.075. For the second time in as many meets, Ward set a career high in the event as she had a 9.850 to tie for first, along with Sanzotti. Peel also recorded a career-high score on floor with a 9.825 to tie for third, along with McIntire.

The Aggies closed out the competition on beam, where they scored a 48.050. McIntire and Sanzotti tied for first as each notched a 9.775. Oster placed third with a 9.725.

Utah State will return to action next weekend when the Aggies head to Boise, Idaho, for the 2016 Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference Championships, which will be held at Taco Bell Arena on Saturday, March 19, at 6 p.m. Tickets for the meet can be purchased by calling the Boise State ticket office at (208) 426-4737 or by visiting broncosports.com/tickets.

Fans can follow the Aggie gymnastics program at Twitter, on Facebook at Utah State Gymnastics, and on Instagram. Fans can also follow the USU athletic program at Twitter or on Facebook.

Utah State at Illinois-Chicago – Chicago, Ill. — UIC Pavilion — March 13, 2016

Team Results: 1. Utah State — 194.725 (vault: 48.900, bars: 48.700, beam: 48.050, floor: 49.075); 2. Illinois-Chicago — 191.025 (vault: 48.100, bars: 47.875, beam: 47.475, floor: 47.575).

Vault: T-1. McKinzey Martinez — USU, 9.800; T-1. Michelle Yasukochi — USU, 9.800; T-3. Katie Brown — USU, 9.775; T-3. Bailey McIntire — USU, 9.775; T-5. Madison Ward — USU, 9.750; T-5. Mikailla Northern — UIC, 9.750; 7. Jillian Chappel — USU, 9.725.

Bars: T-1. Melanie Oster — USU, 9.775; T-1. Bailey McIntire — USU, 9.775; T-3. Madison Ward — USU, 9.725; T-3. JoAnna Cuba — USU, 9.725; T-5. Keri Peel — USU, 9.700; T-5. Jenna Squillo — UIC, 9.700; T-5. Katie Snyder — UIC, 9.700; 10. Miranda Hone — USU, 9.600.

Beam: T-1. Bailey McIntire — USU, 9.775; T-1. Hayley Sanzotti — USU, 9.775; 3. Melanie Oster — USU, 9.725; T-4. Nikki Woodruff — UIC, 9.600; T-4. Mikailla Northern — UIC, 9.600; T-4. Jenna Squillo — UIC, 9.600; 8.Emily Briones — USU, 9.525; T-9. Keri Peel — USU, 9.225; T-9. Natalie Rainbolt — USU, 9.225.

Floor: T-1. Hayley Sanzotti — USU, 9.850; T-1. Madison Ward — USU, 9.850; T-3. Keri Peel — USU, 9.825; T-3. Bailey McIntire — USU, 9.825; 5. Jenna Squillo — UIC, 9.750; T-6. Jillian Chappel — USU, 9.725; T-6. Emily Briones — USU, 9.725

All-Around: 1. Bailey McIntire — USU, 39.150; 2. Nikki Woodruff — UIC, 38.525; 3. Mikailla Northern — UIC, 38.675; 4. Nikki Woodruff — UIC, 38.525.

Additional Aggie sports news is available at the Athletics website.