Jan. 9, 2009

LOGAN, Utah - ­For the first time in 32 years of Utah State gymnastics, the Aggies will be under new leadership as Jeff Richards makes his USU head coach debut on Saturday, Jan. 10, leading the Aggies into action against No. 25 Kentucky, making their first-ever appearance in Lexington, Kent. at 4 p.m. (MT). Richards replaced legendary head coach Ray Corn, who retired after 31 seasons guiding the USU program.

"We're excited and ready for the season to get started," Richards said. "We've had a good preseason. We're looking a lot healthier than we thought we would be after preseason and we're ready to get going."

Richards has come full circle in the coaching ranks at Utah State, as he started his coaching career from 1988-1990 as a student assistant on the Aggie staff. In between, he was an assistant coach at Southern Utah (1991-98), as well as a head coach at both Wisconsin-Stout (1998-2004) and Winona State (2004-05) before being an assistant at Iowa (2005-08).

"I'm excited for the meet. I think we're ready as a team, as ready as you can be this early in the season," Richards said. "I'm just like the girls with the first meet jitters, as well as all the freshmen that haven't competed yet who we're relying on. Other than that, I'm excited and I think we're ready."

The Aggies, which were tabbed tied for fourth in the preseason Western Athletic Conference poll, return six letterwinners from last season's squad that posted a 6-18 overall record and a 2-6 WAC ledger. Among the six returners are three all-WAC honorees, including senior Nicki Felley, junior Heather Heinrich and sophomore Nicole Simoneau. While USU did not qualify as a team to the NCAA North Central Regional Gymnastics meet, the Aggies sent six individuals, and four of those six return in Felley, Heinrich, Simoneau along with sophomore Lyndsie Boone.

Felley led USU in the all-around last season, with a season-average of 38.246, good for ninth in the WAC and 17th in the region, while Heinrich added a 37.868 average, which was 11th in the conference and 20th in the region. Felley also has the top returning average on floor with a 9.611. Heinrich was the Aggies' top vaulter last year with a 9.728 average, while Dillon had a 9.732 average, but didn't compete enough to qualify for rankings. Heinrich also had Utah State's top beam average with a 9.505, while Simoneau totes USU's highest average on bars with a 9.823.

The 25th-ranked Wildcats return 11 letterwinners from last season's 9-13 squad, that was 1-5 in SEC action. Kentucky was fifth at the NCAA Central Regional Championships after placing seventh at the SEC Championships. Senior Heather Hite won seven individual titles last year, posting a season-average of 9.723 on beam and a 9.823 average on floor, as well as a 9.450 on vault. Juniors Hilary Ferguson and Emily Green won 10 individual titles each, with Ferguson leading UK on bars (9.652) and floor (9.788) while Green led the team on vault (9.838) and all-around 38.667. Kentucky is coached by Hajile "Mo" Mitchell, who is in his sixth year at the helm of the Wildcats' program, posting a 51-81 career record.

UK sophomore Jasmine Minion transferred to Kentucky after one season at Utah State. Last year with USU, Minion earned second-team all-WAC honors on vault, tying for sixth at the conference meet. She also advanced to the NCAA North Central Regional on vault, just missing advancing to the National Championships after finishing in a three-way tie for second.

Saturday is Utah State's first-ever first to Lexington, Kent. USU is 3-3 all-time vs. Kentucky. Utah State met Kentucky last season at the Texas Woman's quad meet on March 14, 2008 at Denton, Texas, which Kentucky won, posting a 195.200 score. USU was third with a 193.900. Prior to last year, the Aggies and Wildcats last met in 2005, at the NCAA Central Region Championships, when Kentucky was second with a 193.325 while Utah State was third with a 193.375.

Live results for Saturday's meet are available through Kentucky's web site by clicking on the "Live Results" link at www.UtahStateAggies.com, the official web site of USU athletics. Note the link will only work after the start of the meet.

Fans can also watch live video of Saturday's action through "Extreme Access" via Kentucky's web site by clicking on the "Watch Live" link at www.UtahStateAggies.com, the official web site of USU athletics. The cost is $6.95 for one event.

Utah State hosts Central Michigan on Friday, Jan. 16 in the Aggies' home opener at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. The meet starts at 7 p.m. (MT).

Tickets are available through the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, online at www.UtahStateAggies.com and clicking on "tickets" in left column, or by calling or (435) 797-0305 or 1-888-U-STATE-1 (1-888-878-2831).

-USU-