Utah State Gymnastics Moves Up To 24th in National Rankings

Feb. 21, 2006

 

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State's gymnastics team (5-9, 0-4) moved up six spots in the national rankings this week, from No. 30 to No. 24 as their lowest team score of 187.925 was replaced in their Regional Qualifying Score with the 192.225 scored at Boise State on Friday night.

 

The RQS is determined by taking a team's top six scores, at least three of which of which must be away scores. The top score is dropped and the remaining five scores are averaged. The Aggies RQS is currently 192.720, and with every meet the Aggies have the opportunity to improve that score.

 

Following the Western Athletic Conference championships, the top 18 teams in the nation by RQS rank will automatically make it to regionals. The final 18 spots will come as three teams from each of the six regions who are not in the top-18 will make the field. Currently, USU is sixth in the North Central Region, but three NCR teams currently rank in the top-18, including Utah (No. 3), Iowa State (No. 7), and Denver (No. 16).

 

In team event rankings, the Aggies are ranked in the top-30 in every event, ranking 21st on bars (48.330), 28th on floor and beam (48.115 and 47.800), and 30th on vault (48.295).

In individual rankings, senior Jessica Parenti is ranked 30th in the all-around with an RQS score of 38.650.

 

The Aggies are currently the second-ranked team in the WAC. Other league teams in the listings include 22nd-ranked Southern Utah, 28th-ranked San Jose State, and 33rd ranked Sacramento State. Cal State Fullerton and Boise State did not have scores posted.

 

"With as tattered and worn as this team is, these ladies have done a tremendous job getting us to where we are," said Ray Corn, Utah State's head gymnastics coach. "We have five gymnasts on the sidelines, and yet we are still ranked second in the conference, sixth in the region, and 24th in the country.

 

"We are slowly getting our injured back though, and some will compete this weekend against Sacramento State, and a few more will compete next week against Southern Utah. This weekend and next weekend are absolutely huge for us as a team, and we need to go out and perform every night."

 

The Aggies next competition will be this Friday, Feb. 24 at home in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum at 6:30 p.m. against WAC opponent Sacramento State.

 

National Rankings (Feb. 20, 2006)