Utah State Gymnastics Jumps Eight Spots in National Poll
Following a season-opening team score of 194.375 in its home meet against Centenary College Jan. 8 at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, Utah State's gymnastics program jumped eight spots in the national poll to No. 26, as released by RoadToNationals.com.
Following a season-opening team score of 194.375 in its home meet against Centenary College last Friday night [Jan. 8, 2016] at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, Utah State’s [University] gymnastics program jumped eight spots in the national poll to No. 26, as released by RoadToNationals.com.
The Aggies also rank tied for 14th nationally on beam with a 48.925 and tied for 18th on bars with a 48.925.
Utah State led after each rotation against Centenary, which recorded a team score of 184.225. The win against the Ladies was the Aggies’ largest since posting a 192.875-181.975 victory against Hamline in a home tri-meet, which also featured Southern Utah, on Jan. 25, 2013.
Utah State senior McKinzey Martinez became the first Aggie gymnast since Jessica Parenti-Otte in 2007 to win three events titles. Martinez won the vault (9.750), bars (9.850) and floor (9.775) titles against Centenary. Parenti-Otte accomplished the feat by winning the vault (9.825), bars (9.850) and beam (9.800) titles in a 194.525-186.750 victory against Alaska-Anchorage on March 2, 2007.
Martinez went on to win the all-around against the Ladies, recording a score of 39.150 as she also notched a 9.775 to tie for third on beam. The native of Kimberly, Idaho, is currently ranked tied for 20th nationally in the all-around.
A pair of Aggies made their collegiate debuts in the meet as freshman Emily Briones competed on beam and floor, while sophomore Miranda Hone competed on vault and bars. Additionally, sophomore Melanie Oster made her first career appearance on beam and won that event with a 9.825.
The Aggies return to action Friday, Jan. 15, when they welcome Kent State to the Spectrum for a 7 p.m. meet. The Golden Flashes opened their season with a 195.150-188.450 victory against Temple this past Sunday [Jan. 10, 2016] at the M.A.C. Center in Kent, Ohio.
For USU gymnastics ticket information, contact the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, by phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or (435) 797-0305, or online 24 hours a day at www.UtahStateAggies.com.
Fans can follow the Aggie gymnastics program on Twitter, on Facebook at Utah State Gymnastics and on Instagram. Fans can also follow the USU athletic program on Twitter or on Facebook at Utah State Athletics.
Additional Aggie sports news is available at the Athletics website.
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