Feb. 13, 2007

LOGAN, Utah -

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THIS WEEK - #30 Utah State (5-4, 3-1) will travel to conference in-state rival #41 Southern Utah (3-6, 1-2) on Friday, Feb. 16, in the Centrum Arena at 7 p.m. MST.

NEXT WEEK - Utah State will host conference in-state rival #41 Southern Utah (3-6, 1-1) on Friday, Feb. 23, in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum at 6:30 p.m. MST.

LAST TIME OUT - Utah State's gymnastics team scored a 194.325 for a season high, but the Aggies fell to fourth-ranked Utah, which posted a 196.575 here on Friday night.

The Aggies also recorded season bests on the bars with a 48.775 and on the floor with a 48.975, but could not upset the Utes.

Katy Schilla had the best individual finish for USU as she placed second on the vault, scoring a 9.850, the third best mark on the team this season.

Utah's Kristina Baskett won the all-around with a 39.700, while claiming the vault (9.950) and bars (9.950). She also finished second in the other two events.

USU's Ashley Barr had the second-best bar score for the Aggies this year as she registered a 9.825 in leading USU on that event.

Megan Lewis was USU's top all-arounder scoring a 39.025 as she finished third behind Baskett and Utah's Nicolle Ford, who scored a 39.625.

SCOUTING SUU - The Thunderbirds most recently fell to conference foe Boise State with a season high road score of 192.975, falling short of Boise State's score of 193.200.

Southern Utah started the season off strong with a win against defending conference champions Sacramento State with a final score of 194.075 to 191.600 at home. In the meet, the Thunderbirds swept every event as a team and had three individuals place in the top five in three of the four events.

In its second meet, SUU fell to then #10 Michigan with a final score of 188.625 to 194.775. Despite the loss, Leah Sakhitab won the all-around with a score of 38.600.

Following the loss to Michigan, the Thunderbirds went 2-1 at a four-team meet hosted by Cal State-Fullerton. Cal State-Fullerton won the event with a 192.225, while Southern Utah beat out UC-Davis (189.675) and Hamline (181.375) with a score of 190.525.

Currently, SUU ranks fourth in the WAC with an average team score of 191.380. The Thunderbirds rank fifth on the vault (47.825), second on bars (48.200), third on beam (47.775) and sixth on floor (47.580).

AGAINST SUU - Overall the Aggies are 35-17-0 against the the Thunderbirds. While visiting SUU, Utah State is 10-7-0.

Last season the Aggies lost three straight to SUU, at Utah (192.675 -193.175), at SUU (192.650 - 194.000) and at home (193.775 - 195.125).

WATCH THE AGGIES LIVE - All home meets can be viewed live on WAC.TV. There is a $3.95 registration fee to view the meets.

IN THE NATION - Utah State currently ranks 30th in the nation with a total team average score of 192.912. The Aggies rank 21st on the vault (48.762), 28th on bars (48.317), 45th on beam (47.425) and are tied for 25th in the floor exercise (48.408).

Individually, Katy Schilla is tied 25th in the nation on the vault with an average of 9.842. Meagan Lewis is tied for 104th on bars with a 9.725 average, while Megan Tschida is ranked 43rd in the floor exercise with an average of 9.806. In the all-around, Jessica Parenti-Otte tied for 68th with a 38.750, Devin Markle ranks 71st with a 38.733 average and Lewis is 103rd with a 38.421.

WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE - Freshman Katy Schilla is ranked first in the conference in the vault with an average score of 9.842, while Jessica Parenti-Otte ranks third with a 9.779 average. Katie Omann (4th, 9.775), Devin Markle (5th, 9.756) Heather Heinrich (7th, 9.700) and Meagan Lewis (9th, 9.696) also rank in the top-10 on vault.

The Aggies also have four gymnasts ranked in the top 10 on bars with Lewis (4th, 9.725), Nicki Felley (6th, 9.700), Heather Heinrich (t7th, 9.692) and Parenti-Otte (t7th, 9.692) . On balance beam, Parenti-Otte is ranked 11th with a 9.625 average. Megan Tschida leads the conference in the floor exercise with a 9.806 average, while Parenti-Otte ranks ninth with a 9.654 average.

Utah State leads the conference in average team scores with a 192.912, followed by San Jose State (191.615) in second and Sacramento State (191.568) in third. Southern Utah (191.380), Boise State (190.800) and Cal State-Fullerton (190.635) round out the six in that order.

Utah State leads the conference on vault (48.762), bars (48.225) and floor (48.808), while the Aggies rank fifth on beam with an average of 47.425.

In the all-around, Parenti-Otte is ranked second with her average score of 38.750, Markle is ranked third with her 38.733 average and Lewis is ranked 6th with a 38.421.

SCORES AROUND THE WAC -

Southern Utah 192.975 - Boise State 193.200

San Jose State 193.175 - Stanford 197.275 - Oregon State 194.100 - Iowa State 196.075

Sacramento State 191.900 - Seattle Pacific 191.550

Cal State-Fullerton 191.600 - UC Davis 192.725

SCORES AROUND UTAH -

Southern Utah 192.975 - Boise State 193.200

BYU 194.550 - Texas Woman's 191.525 - Ball State 188.875

2007 TEAM CAPTAINS - Junior Kelly Patterson, senior Alex Martin and fifth-year seniors Barr, Lewis, Mandy and Parenti-Otte are serving as team captains. This is Mandy and Patterson's second season in the position, and Martin's third.

2007 SEASON OUTLOOK - Utah State will look to improve from its fourth-place finish in the Western Athletic Conference in 2006 behind Meagan Lewis and Jessica Parenti-Otte, who each advanced to regional competition a year ago. With 12 members of last year's team returning to compete, the Aggies have an improved outlook for the 2007 season.

The Aggies have added three freshmen to the roster after losing four gymnasts from last year's roster, including standout Leisel Kohler.

This year the Aggies return five seniors. Ashley Barr returns to competition as a fifth-year senior after redshirting last season due to injury. Meagan Lewis, Rachael Mandy and Jessica Parenti-Otte also return as fifth-year seniors.

The Aggies look forward to stiff competition throughout the season, continuing competition against a strong conference lineup. The toughest meet will come against Utah, which finished the 2006 season ranked second in the nation. Other strong competitors will be Minnesota, which finished ranked 19th in the country, and BYU which finished 2006 ranked 30th. Utah State will also meet a distant opponent from University of Alaska-Anchorage, which was ranked 54th at the end of the 2006 season.

All of the Aggies WAC competitors finished last season ranked in the top 50 in the nation. The top team was 29th-ranked San Jose State, which was two spots in front of conference champion Sacramento State, which finished 31st. Boise State followed ranked 34th while Southern Utah was 37th. Utah State ranked 42nd at the end of 2006 with Cal-State Fullerton ranking in the 48th spot.

HEAD COACH RAY CORN - Ray Corn has created and maintained a tradition of success in his 29 years at Utah State, both in the gym and in the classroom.

As the only coach in USU's Division I gymnastics history, he has led the Aggies to the postseason 25 times in his 29 years in Logan, including five trips to the national championships. Corn owns an overall record of 425-415-2, with a regular-season record of 372-260-2.

In 1978, Corn took a club-level Utah State gymnastics team and transformed it into an AIAW power, finishing 30-4 in his first season. The next year, the Aggies made the first of four consecutive trips to the AIAW National Championships, finishing as high as ninth in 1982.

In 1991, USU returned to the national championship meet, now under the supervision of the NCAA. In 20 of the past 23 years, USU has qualified for the NCAA regional competition.

Corn has coached three All-Americans, three Olympians, two World Championship competitors and had nine gymnasts qualify for the NCAA National Championships.

Since 1991, 32 gymnasts have earned academic All-America honors 50 times.

A GLANCE AT THE AGGIES -

Ashley Barr - After redshirting the 2006 season, the senior has started off well. She has a season high on bars (9.825), which she posted at home against Utah (Feb. 9) She also had a strong outing on bars at Sacramento State (Jan. 7) where she posted a 9.700. She competed in the floor exercise at San Jose State (Jan. 26) where she placed 13th with a score of 9.600. Tied her season high on bars (9.775) against Boise State (Feb. 1), while posting a 9.625 in the floor exercise.

Nicki Felley - Posted her career high in the floor exercise at San Jose State (Jan. 26) where she placed first with a 9.900. Also posted a career high on balance beam at Washington (Jan. 12) with a 9.700. She has yet to compete on bars, and has a season high of 9.700 on beam which she also posted at Washington (Jan. 12). Competed in three events against Boise State (Feb. 1) posting her high score of the night in the floor exercise with a 9.800. Competed on bars for the first time in her career at home against Utah (Feb. 9) and scored a 9.700.

Heather Heinrich - A freshman from Little, Colo., posted a season high on vault at San Jose State (Jan. 26) finishing in second-place with a 9.825, while posting her season high bars with a 9.725. At Washington (Jan. 12), she posted her season high on beam with a 9.700. Had high marks on vault (9.700) and bars (9.725) at home against Utah (Feb. 9).

Meagan Lewis - Posted her season high on vault at home against Boise State (Feb. 1) with a 9.750. Scored a season highs on bars (9.825) and floor (9.825) at home against Utah (Feb. 9). Posted season highs on beam against BYU (Jan. 22), with a 9.825, and went on to post her season high in the all-around with a 39.125. Won the all-around at home against Boise State (Feb. 1) with a score of 39.025, with high points on bars (9.800) and the floor (9.800).

Rachael Mandy - A fifth-year senior vault specialist, scored her high score of the season at Sacramento State (Jan. 7) with a 9.650. She also posted a 9.475 at Washington (Jan. 12) and a 9.400 at home against BYU (Jan. 22).

Devin Markle - The reshirt freshman competed in the all-around for the first time in her collegiate career at San Jose State (Jan. 26) scoring a 38.575. Scored her season high on bars against BYU (Jan. 22) with a 9.725. Placed third in her second all-around of her collegiate career at home against Boise Sate (Feb. 1) with a 38.850 with a career high scores on vault (9.800) and floor (9.825). Posted a season high score on beam at home against Utah (Feb. 9) with a 9.625.

Alex Martin - Had her strongest performance at Washington, scoring a 9.700 on bars and a 9.625 on beam. She competed in three events at Sacramento State (Jan. 7) with a high score of 9.550 on bars, while scoring a 9.425 in the floor exercise and a 9.200 on beam. She also competed on the bars and beam at home against BYU (Jan. 22), scoring a 9.125 on bars and a 9.550 on beam. At San Jose State (Jan. 26), she scored a 9.675 on bars and a 9.525 on beam. Scored a 9.575 on bars and a 9.475 on beam at home against Boise State (Feb. 1).

Katie Omann - Has competed only on the bars in all four meets, posting a high score at home against BYU (Jan. 22) with a 9.650, after scoring a 9.425 at Washington (Jan. 12) and an 8.850 at Sacramento State (Jan. 7), while posting a 9.250 at San Jose State (Jan. 26) in her last meet. Competed on vault for the first time this season at home against Utah (Feb. 9) with a score of 9.775.

Jessica Parenti-Otte - Won the all-around for the second time this season at San Jose State (Jan. 26) with a season high score of 39.300, while posting season highs on beam (9.850) and the floor exercise (9.850) and finishing in the top-five in each event and placing first on bars and beam. Posted season highs on vault (9.825) and bars (9.900) at home against BYU (Jan. 22), while finishing in the top-five in all four of those categories and placing first on bars and second in the all-around. Placed second in the all-around at home against Boise State (Feb. 1) with a score of 39.000, scoring 9.825 on vault, bars and the floor. Has been named WAC Gymnast of the Week twice already this season for the weeks of January 8 and January 29. Had an all-around score of 38.900 at home against Utah (Feb. 9), with a high mark of 9.800 on beam.

Katy Schilla - The freshman from Blaine, Minn., continues to dominate on vault. She placed first on the vault for the second time this season at San Jose State (Jan. 26) tying her career high score of 9.875. She placed second at home against BYU (Jan. 22) posting her career high 9.875, while placing seventh in the floor exercise with a 9.700. Scored a 9.825 on vault and a 9.600 on floor at home against Boise State (Feb. 1). She posted her career high on floor at home against Utah (Feb. 9) with a 9.750, while scoring a 9.850 and competed on beam for the first time in her collegiate career and scored a 9.175.

Megan Tschida - Won two consecutive floor exercise titles, with a season high of 9.850 at home against BYU (Jan. 22). She also tied for first at Washington (Jan. 12) with a 9.800 and finished third in the floor exercise at Sacramento State (Jan. 7) with a 9.775. After sitting out two meets, she tied her second highest floor score of the season with a 9.800 at home against Utah (Feb. 9).

INDIVIDUAL EVENT CHAMPIONS

VAULT BARS BEAM Katy Schilla (9.850) at Sac. St. Jessica Parenti-Otte (9.900) BYU Jessica Parenti-Otte (9.850) at SJSU (9.875) at SJSU (9.825) at SJSU (9.825) BSU FLOOR EXERCISE ALL-AROUND Megan Tschida (9.850) BYU Jessia Parenti-Otte (38.850) at Sac. St. Nicki Felley (9.900) at SJSU (39.300) at SJSU Meagan Lewis (39.025) BSU

WAC GYMNASTS OF THE WEEK

Jessica Parenti-Otte - Week of Jan. 8 Week of Jan. 29

USU ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Jessica Parenti-Otte - Week of Jan. 22