March 17, 2003

LOGAN, Utah -

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THIS WEEK - No. 28 Utah State gymnastics (9-9) travels to No. 15 Ohio State for a 5 p.m. MST meet on Saturday, March 22. Ohio State (USU assistant coach Mark Lee's alma mater) defeated USU in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Feb. 28, 196.375-195.275.

NEXT WEEK - The Aggies compete in the Western Gymnastics Conference Championship in Cedar City, Utah on Saturday, March 29 at 7 p.m. Utah State takes on Boise State, Cal State Fullerton and Southern Utah, and starts on beam.

LOOKING AT OHIO STATE -No. 15 Ohio State (9-4) has an RQS of 196.105 and an average score of 195.255. The Buckeyes set a season high team score on March 14, as they defeated Kent State (9-9) 196.825-196.450 in Kent, Ohio. Freshmen Jill Weber (39.575) and Kaylin Schlecht (39.25) each set personal bests in the all-around. Shelby Warner added a 38.725. In its last three meets, dating to Feb. 28 in Logan, OSU has posted scores of 196.00 or better, and hasn't scored below 195.00 since Jan. 17. The teams' meeting on Feb. 28 marked the first ever.

USU FALLS TO NO. 28, STAYS AT NO. 7 REGIONALLY - USU's regional qualifying score (RQS) stands at 195.360, up 0.160 from last week. Despite the jump in its RQS, Utah State moved from No. 24 to No. 28 nationally. In the North Central region, the Aggies remained seventh overall.

RQS EXPLAINED - The regional qualifying score (RQS) is the factor by which teams are invited to the NCAA Regional competition. To figure the RQS, take the team's top six scores, three of which must be from away meets. Throw out the high score and average the remaining five.

KILPATRICK PROVIDING SENIOR LEADERSHIP - Senior Nicole Kilpatrick set two career highs against NC State on March 14. She scored 39.525 in the all-around, 0.025 shy of the school record, and tied the school record on vault (9.95). On floor, she hasn't scored below 9.80 this season, and has been above 9.875 in the last five meets. In that span, she is averaging 9.915.

SECOND-BEST RQS EVER - Utah State's RQS of 195.360 is the second-highest in history. In 1997, the Aggies entered the regional meet with an RQS of 195.447.

NELSON SETS SEASON ALL-AROUND RECORD - Freshman Meagan Nelson's 10 all-around scores better than 39.00 this season set a school record, and break the mark set by Christy Denson in 2000. Additionally, Nelson is the first gymnast in Utah State history to score more than 39.00 in seven consecutive meets.

ABOVE-AVERAGE ALL-AROUND - In 25 years of gymnastics at USU, just Christy Denson has ended the season with an all-around average better than 39.00 (1999). Were the 2003 season to end today, all three all-arounders - Meagan Nelson (39.206), Nicole Kilpatrick (39.173) and Jessica Parenti(39.069) - would end the year with all-around averages better than 39.00.

SPECTRUM, SWEET SPECTRUM - USU averaged 195.871 at home this season. The team's lowest home score was 195.275 against Ohio State on Feb. 28, while its highest team score was a 196.675 against NC State on March 14.

TOPS IN THE WGC - USU is the only Western Gymnastics Conference team ranked among the top 30. Boise State is 32nd, Southern Utah is 34th and CS Fullerton is 42nd this week.

ALL-AROUND STRENGTH - Utah State's all-around corps - Nicole Kilpatrick, Meagan Nelson and Jessica Parenti- has posted 30 combined all-around scores. All but five of those scores have bettered 39.00. The three have a combined all-around average of 39.149.

TOP 10 LISTS CHANGING RAPIDLY - In 2003, the Aggies have set 27 new scores on the USU all-time individual top scores lists, more than any other single year in history. USU has 10 scores on the vault list, improving upon 1997 when the team set three new scores. On bars USU added four scores in 2000 and 1999, respectively, as opposed to the six this season. On beam, Utah State has put four scores on the list this season; in 1997, the team added five top 10s.

NELSON, KILPATRICK TOP 40 NATIONALLY... - Meagan Nelson and Nicole Kilpatrick are 30th and 37th, respectively, in the national all-around rankings.

... AND TOP 10 AT USU - The freshman-senior all-around duo has also claimed seven of the top 10 all-around scores in USU history this season. Nelson (39.500, 39.350) and Kilpatrick (39.525, 39.475, 39.375, 39.350, 39.325) join former Aggies Christy Denson (four spots) and Shannon Passe (one) on the list.

REGIONAL RANKINGS - The Aggies remained at seventh in the North Central region this week. USU's team bars is fourth, floor is fifth and vault and beam are seventh. All-arounders Meagan Nelson, Nicole Kilpatrick and Jessica Parenti are ranked sixth, eighth and 13th, respectively.

REGIONAL STRENGTH - Seven North Central region teams are ranked in the top 25, but just three - Utah (sixth), Iowa State (14) and Denver (18th) - are among the top 18. Iowa (20), Minnesota (21) and BYU (22) round out the top 25.

BEST SCORES EVER - Never before has USU scored better than 195.00 eight times in a season. In both 1997 and 1999, the Aggies reached the 195.00 mark twice in their first eight meets, but it took at least 11 before they managed to post four. Last year, USU had just two team scores of 195.00 or better.

AGGIES REWRITING TEAM SCORE HISTORY - USU's 196.675 against NC State was its best home score ever, replacing the 196.150 scored against Utah on Feb. 7. USU scored 195.925 against BYU (Feb. 21), the fifth-highest score in history. The last time USU had two top-five scores was in 1997.

NC STATE RECAP -Led by senior Nicole Kilpatrick's 49.525 all-around score, Utah State tied the second-best team score in school history, defeating North Carolina State, 196.675-195.775, March 14 in the Spectrum. Her score was 0.025 shy of Christy Denson's record (49.550). Kilpatrick posted a school-record 9.95 on vault. The Aggies set two school-record team scores. Vault (49.175) was also a season best, and bars (49.325) tied a score set earlier this season against BYU. USU earned at least a share of first in each event, including Kilpatrick's three titles. Meagan Nelson (39.225) posted a school-record 10th all-around score better than 39.00, while Jessica Parenti scored 39.30. USU all-arounders swept first, second and third place. Freshmen Ashley Barr and Liesel Kohler each tied career-high scores, and Rachel Ropelato set a career high. On floor, Kohler took second (9.90), while Ropelato scored 9.80. Barr scored finished third on bars (9.875) and on floor (9.85).

HEAD COACH RAY CORN - Ray Corn (Northern Colorado '71) is in his 26th year as the Aggies' head coach. Corn's teams own a 350-220-2 regular-season meet record and have participated in postseason competition 24 times, including 17 straight trips to the NCAA Regionals. USU has competed at the national championship meet five times. Corn was named NCAA Midwest Region Coach of the Year in 1991, was honored as High Country Athletic Conference Coach of the Year three times and selected Big West Conference Coach of the Year in 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2001. Corn's overall record, including postseason action, currently stands at 408-359-2. He's assisted by Mark Lee and Ernestine Russell.

A LOOK AT THE 2003 AGGIES - ASHLEY BARR - Freshman from Littleton, Colo... Has three top-three finishes and is one of just three Aggies to finish in the top three besides the all-arounders (Kilpatrick, Nelson, Parenti)... Career-best 9.875 on bars gave her third place against NC State (3/14)... Tied for the bars title (9.875) against Ohio State (2/28) and was named Gymnast of the Meet... Career best of 9.875 on floor came against Ohio State (2/28)... Scored a 9.800 on beam against Boise State (1/24)... Competed as a Level 10 gymnast for Lindy Franzini, Vinici Liera and Enis Hudson at Colorado Gymnastics Institute... A 2002 Level 10 national qualifier... Second in the all-around at the state Level 10 competition in 2002... Won the 2002 state Level 10 title on floor, finished third on vault, fifth on bars and eighth on beam... Finished second on bars and sixth in the all-around at 2002 regional competition... Graduated from Cherry Creek High with a 3.6 GPA.

NALANI CHUNG - Sophomore from Fort Collins, Colo... Set a career high on bars (9.900) against Utah (2/7), her season debut... Competed in six meets in 2002, posting a 9.713 bars average in that span... Set a career-best at Cal State Fullerton (3/15/02), where she scored a 9.825 and took fourth in the event... Her first collegiate action came at BYU, where she scored 9.550.

SARAH COLSON - Sophomore from Littleton, Colo... Suffered a stress fracture after the meet at Oklahoma... Had a career-best vault at Oklahoma (1/19), with a 9.650... Broke her ankle in practice prior to the 2002 Western Gymnastics meet and did not participate the rest of the season.

NICOLE KILPATRICK - Senior from Ringwood, N.J... Has scored at least 39.0 in seven of 10 all-around competitions... Owns 28 top-three finishes on the year... Only Aggie to finish among the top three against Utah... Has improved upon every career-best score this season - Vault (9.95, school record) and all-around (39.525, 2nd all-time) against NC State (3/14); bars (9.875) against Utah (2/7); beam (9.95, school record) against Boise State (1/24); and floor (9.95, 2nd all-time) at BYU (3/7)... Has 11 event titles (four vault, one beam, three floor, three all-around) this season... All-around score against Utah tied the fourth-best in USU history... 2002 season average of 38.468 in the all-around is 11th all-time at USU.

LIESEL KOHLER - Freshman from Watsonville, Calif... Current floor average of 9.828 is the third-best all-time behind Kilpatrick and Nelson... Has three top-three finishes on the year, one of three Aggies besides all-arounders (Kilpatrick, Nelson, Parenti) to post a top-three finish on the year... Shared floor title with Nicole Kilpatrick with a 9.875 against SUU and Central Michigan (3/10)... Scored 9.900 on floor against BYU (2/21)... Career-best 9.825 on beam came against Utah (2/7)... Competed as a Level 10 gymnast for Javier Vargas at Elite Gymnastics Academy in Salinas, Calif... A 2002 graduate of Monterey Bay Academy (La Selva Beach, Calif.) with a 3.75 GPA.

RACHAEL MANDY - Freshman from Fargo, N.D... Tore her ACL in practice prior in December, and will redshirt this season... Competed as a Level 10 gymnast for Amy Sahli and Kelli Dronen at American Gold Gymnastics in Fargo... 1999 and 2000 Level 10 state champion... Took second at 2001 state... Qualified for regional competition seven consecutive years, once at Level 9 and six times at Level 10... Won the 2001 regional vault championship and took second in 1999.

KYLA MATTIOLI - Junior from Hampton, N.J... Competed once this season - on floor at Southern Utah on Feb. 10.

MEAGAN NELSON - Freshman from Las Vegas, Nev... Set USU record for 39.00-plus scores in a season with 10 (NC State, 3/14), which broke former Aggie Christy Denson's mark of nine... All-around scores in 10 of first 11 meets were better than 39.000, including 39.500 against Boise State (1/24), the fourth-best all-around score in USU history... Has 29 top-three finishes on the year... Against Boise State, she set career high on floor (9.950), second-best score ever at USU... Career beam score (9.925), set against BYU (2/21) ties the fourth-best score in USU history... Eleven event titles on the season (vault, bars, beam, four floor, four all-around)... Competed as a Level 10 gymnast for Cassie Rice and Jill Enritta at GymCats Gymnastics in Las Vegas... An eight-time state champion, she has titles in the Level 10 bars, vault, floor and all-around... Took second at the 2001 state meet in the all-around... Finished 11th at Level 10 nationals as a senior.

JESSICA PARENTI - Freshman from Glendora, Calif.... Has 16 top-three finishes on the season... Became the second freshman in USU history - and the second this season - to score better than 39.00 in an all-around debut, with 39.275 against Utah (2/7)... Career-best floor (9.900) came against Ohio State (2/28), while best beam (9.90) came against Central Michigan and Southern Utah (3/10)... Won the bars title at CS Fullerton (1/12), with a 9.925, which tied the sixth-best bars score in school history, and tied it against BYU (2/21)... Has six event titles this season (five bars, one beam)... Competed as a Level 10 gymnast at Charter Oak Gliders for Lisa Muellers and Jay Wells... Three-time nationals competitor (1999-2001)... Second at 2000 nationals in bars, beam and the all-around... Finished second on beam and third in bars at 2001 national competition... Glendora High valedictorian (class of 540), she graduated with a 4.0 GPA.

JESSICA RANDS - Sophomore from Sammamish, Wash... Scored a career-best 9.825 on vault against Boise State (2/2/02).

RACHEL ROPELATO - Sophomore from Nibley, Utah... Career-high score on vault (9.90) came against Southern Utah and Central Michigan (3/10), where she won the event title... Set career best on bars (9.900) against BYU (2/21)... Career floor score (9.80) was against NC State (3/14)... Has four top-three finishes this year and is one of three Aggies besides all-arounders (Kilpatrick, Nelson, Parenti) in that category... Has one event title on the year, tying teammate Meagan Nelson on vault against Boise.

ALLISON ROSENTHAL - Senior from Scottsdale, Ariz... Career-high floor score of 9.90 came at BYU (3/7)... Posted career-high beam score against Boise State (1/24) with a 9.775.

KATIE RUTHERFORD - Sophomore co-captain from Chappaqua, N.Y... Keeps improving on career vault scores in 2003, with a 9.725 at NC State (2/14)... Also tied her career high on bars (9.925) against the Utes this season... Earned bars title at the WGC meet (3/22/02), scoring 9.925 and tying the fifth-best bars score at USU... Has two top-three finishes this year... Career-best 9.900 on beam tied the seventh-best beam score in school history... Only freshman to compete in all 14 meets for the Aggies in 2002.

KIMBERLY SCHARMAN - Senior co-captain from Salt Lake City, Utah... Has not competed in 2003... Set a career best on beam at the Western Gymnastics Conference meet on March 22 with a 9.750.

ASHLEY YOUNG -Freshman from Longmont, Colo... Set career highs on vault (9.650), beam (9.825) and floor (9.700) against Boise State (1/24)... Competed as a Level 10 gymnast Richard Villarela and Blythe Baca at Berthoud School of Gymnastics... Was the 2001 regional vault champion... Also finished fifth on bars and sixth in the all-around at the 2001 regionals... A 2001 national qualifier... Graduated with a 3.7 grade point average from Skyline High.