March 6, 2007

LOGAN, Utah -

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THIS WEEK - After posting its top two scores of the year (195.675 and 194.525) #34 Utah State (7-5, 4-2) will travel to #29 Brigham Young in a tri meet with #10 Oregon State in Provo, Utah on Friday, Mar. 9, at 7 p.m.

NEXT WEEK - Utah State will say farewell to the Spectrum for the season as it hosts #26 Minnesota on Saturday, Mar. 17, in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum at 6:30 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT - Behind senior Jessica Parenti-Otte's all-around win, 30th-ranked Utah State gymnastics dazzled its way to a 194.525 - 186.750 win over Alaska-Anchorage last Friday night at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. The Aggies' five seniors were honored with a post-meet ceremony before their second-to-last home meet.

USU swept at least the top four finishes in all four events plus the all-around on the way to the big win, moving its record to 7-5 overall, while the Seawolves fell to 0-9.

Parenti-Otte posted an all-around score of 39.050 after winning three of the four events with winning performances in the vault (9.825), bars (9.850), beam (9.800), while finishing seventh in floor exercise (9.575). The 9.825 in the vault ties a season-high for Parenti-Otte.

Fellow senior Meagan Lewis was second in the all-around with a score of 38.800, finishing second in the vault with a season-high score (9.800) and also beam (9.700), as well as fourth in floor exercise (9.775) and tied for sixth on bars (9.525).

Freshman Devin Markle posted a career-high 9.750 on bars to log a third-place finish in the all-around with a 38.525, finishing second on bars, third on floor exercise (9.800), tied for third on vault (9.750), and 11th on beam (9.175).

Junior Megan Tschida, the reigning WAC Specialist of the Week, won the floor exercise with a 9.875, while sophomore Nicki Felley was second with a 9.825.

SCOUTING BYU - BYU has had a strong start to the season, with a record of 10-4 and an RQS of 194.065 to rank them 29th in the nation.

The Cougars started the season off with a third-place finish at the Cancun Classic with a team score of 194.025.

Following the classic BYU went 3-0, with a season high team score of 195.475 in a win against the Aggies in Logan. Following the win against USU, BYU finished third out of four teams with a team score of 192.600 which beat SUU but was not enough to top host Utah and neutral opponent Arkansas.

Since the quad meet at Utah, BYU has gone 4-0, with three of those wins coming on the road. Most recently, the Cougars beat in-state rival SUU 194.700 to 192.775.

SCOUTING OREGON STATE - Oregon State has also gotten off to a good start to the 2007 season, with a current record of 9-4 and an RQS of 195.790 which ranks them 10th in the nation.

The Beavers started off the season with a loss at Florida, which is now the number one team in the nation, by a score of 193.800 to 196.850. Following the loss the Beavers went home to host California and routed them by a score of 195.400 to 191.875.

So far this season Oregon State has a perfect 3-0 home record with wins against Califnornia, Arizona and highly-ranked UCLA.

Most recently Oregon State swept a quad-meet at Boise State with a score of 196.475 to overtake UC Davis, Boise State and Seattle Pacific.

AGAINST THE COUGARS - On the season the Aggies are 0-1 against BYU, with a 195.475 - 193.800 loss at home in Logan on Jan. 22.

All-time the Aggies are 38-54-1 agains the Cougars, and 6-22-1 while visiting in Provo.

AGAINST THE BEAVERS - Utah State only has one win all-time against Oregon State, with an overall record of 1-15-0, the lone win came at home. At neutral sites, the Aggies are 0-5 against the Beavers.

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 34th in the nation with a regional qualifying score of 193.350. The Aggies rank 24th on the vault (48.810), tied for 37th on bars (48.340), 41st on beam (47.935) and are 31st in the floor exercise (48.460).

Individually, Katy Schilla is tied for 33rd in the nation on the vault with a regional qualifying score of 9.845. Jessica Parenti-Otte is tied for 79th on bars with a 9.780 RQS and 66th on beam with a 9.770 RQS, while Devin Markle is tied for 105th in the floor exercise with a 9.760 RQS. In the all-around, Jessica Parenti-Otte is tied for 34th with a 38.980 RQS and Meagan Lewis is 63rd wih a 38.440 RQS.

WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE - Freshman Katy Schilla is ranked first in the conference in the vault with a regional qualifying score of 9.845, while Jessica Parenti-Otte ranks third with a 9.780 RQS. Heather Heinrich is also in the top-10 ranked 6th with a 9.755 RQS.

The Aggies also have three gymnasts ranked in the top 10 on bars with Parenti-Otte (2nd, 9.780), Lewis (5th, 9.760) and Ashley Barr (7th, 9.721). On balance beam, Parenti-Otte is ranked fifth with a 9.770 RQS. Devin Markle (6th, 9.760), Parenti-Otte (9th, 9.720) and Nicki Felley (10th, 9.705) rank in the top 10 on floor.

Utah State is second in the conference with a regional qualifying score of 193.350 behind Southern Utah's 193.390. USU is followed by San Jose State (193.150) in third and Sacramento State (192.760) in fourth. Boise State (191.885) and Cal State-Fullerton (191.530) round out the six in that order.

Utah State leads the conference on vault (48.810), third on bars (48.340) and first on floor (48.460), while the Aggies rank fifth on beam with a 47.935 RQS.

In the all-around, Parenti-Otte is tied for second with a 38.980 RQS and Lewis is seventh with a 38.440.

SCORES AROUND THE WAC -

Cal State-Fullerton 192.800 - San Jose State 193.250

Boise State 192.350 - Oregon State 196.475 - UC Davis 192.775 - Seattle Pacific 192.050

Sacramento State 193.925 - Pennsylvania 192.950

Southern Utah 192.550 - Iowa 193.875

SCORES AROUND UTAH -

Utah 196.100 - Nebraska 196.675

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. Posted a 9.550 on bars and a 9.475 on floor against SUU (Feb. 16). Tied her season on bars with a 9.825 at home against SUU (Feb. 23) while posting a season high on floor with a 9.750. Scored a 9.600 on bars and beam at home against UAA (Mar. 2).

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. Posted a 9.700 at home against Utah (Feb. 9). Posted her season high on beam with a 9.725 at SUU (Feb. 16). 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. Competed in the all-around for the first time in her collegiate career and lead the Aggies in a third-place finish with a 38.775 at Southern Utah (Feb. 16). Posted her career high on vault (9.875) and bars (9.775) at home against SUU (Feb. 23). Competed in two events at home against UAA (Mar. 2) with a 9.600 on vault and a 9.825 on floor.

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 a 9.700 on beam. Had high marks on vault (9.700) and bars (9.725) at home against Utah (Feb. 9). Posted a 9.725 at SUU (Feb. 16). Scored her season high on beam (9.850) at home against SUU (Feb. 23). Competed in the all-around for the first time in her collegiate career scoring a 38.000 at home against UAA (Mar. 2) with a high score of 9.750 on vault.

Meagan Lewis - Posted her season high on vault at home against Boise State (Feb. 1) with a 9.750. Scored a 9.825 on floor and a 9.825 on bars at home against Utah (Feb. 9). Posted season highs on beam against BYU (Jan. 22), with a 9.825, and went on to post a 39.125 in the all-around. 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). Scored a 37.875 in the all-around at SUU (Feb. 16), while winning the bars competition with a score of 9.800. Scored season highs on bars (9.875), floor (9.900) and the all-around (39.275) at home against SUU (Feb. 23). Placed second in the all-around with a 38.800 at home against UAA (Mar. 2) with a high score of 9.800 on vault.

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 a 9.725 on bars at home against BYU (Jan. 22). 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 9.625 on beam at home against Utah (Feb. 9). Posted a 9.700 on floor at SUU (Feb. 16). Scored her career high on beam (9.700), floor (9.850) and the all-around (38.925) at home against SUU (Feb. 23). Posted a career high on bars with a 9.800 at home against UAA (Mar. 2) to finish with a 38.525 in the all-around.

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). Competed in one event at home against UAA (Mar. 2) scoring a 9.650 on bars.

Katie Omann - Posted 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). Competed on vault for the first time this season at home against Utah (Feb. 9) with a score of 9.775. Posted a season high 9.800 on vault at SUU (Feb. 16). Scored a 9.775 on vault and a 9.225 on beam at home against SUU (Feb. 23). Scored a 9.750 on vault and a 9.600 on beam at home against UAA (Mar. 2).

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 a 9.850 on beam, a season high in 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. Scored a 38.600 in the all-around at SUU (Feb. 16) with a high mark on beam (9.800). Tied for second in the all-around with a score of 39.275 at home against SUU (Feb. 23), with a season high on the beam (9.875). Tied a season high on vault with a 9.825 at home against UAA (Mar. 2) to place first in the all-around with a 39.050.

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. Won the vault for the third time this season at SUU (Feb. 16) with a score of 9.825.

Megan Tschida - Won two consecutive floor exercise titles, with a 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). Tied for first on floor with a season high 9.900 at home against SUU (Feb. 23). Placed first on floor for the third time this season at home against UAA (Mar. 2) with a 9.875.

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 (9.800) UAA (9.825) at SUU (9.825) BSU (9.850) UAA Nicki Felley (9.875) SUU Meagan Lewis (9.800) at SUU Jessica Parenti-Otte (9.825) UAA (9.875) SUU

FLOOR EXERCISE ALL-AROUND Megan Tschida (9.850) BYU Jessia Parenti-Otte (38.850) at Sac. St. (9.900) SUU (39.300) at SJSU (9.875) UAA Meagan Lewis (9.900) SUU Meagan Lewis (39.025) BSU Nicki Felley (9.900) at SJSU

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