March 27, 2007

LOGAN, Utah -

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THIS WEEK - No. 29 Utah State will travel to Cedar City, Utah to face the other five conference teams to decide who will be WAC Champions. The championship meet is on Saturday, Mar. 31, at the Centrum Arena and will begin at 6 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT - Utah State gymnastics was led by Nicki Felley's 39.000 all-around performance for its second win of the season against Boise State 194.775 to 192.725 in Boise, Idaho on Friday night.

Boise State was in a strong position to win the meet following the vault and bars routines with a 49.000 and over on each as a team, but struggled on beam with a team score of 45.975 which proved costly when the Aggies scored a season high team score on the beam with a 48.650 to finish with 48.000 and above on each event.

The score of 194.775 is the second highest road score for the Aggies on the season, which will replace a low road score of 192.275 in USU's Regional Qualifying Score which will likely improve the Aggies national ranking, and most importantly their regional ranking which could secure a spot at the regional meet.

The Aggies performed well as a team, counting nothing lower than a 9.600 on any event in the entire meet. The strongest event of the night for USU was the vault with a team score of 48.850.

Individually Meagan Lewis won the only event for the Aggies on the beam with a score of 9.800, in the event USU had the five highest scores. Aggie sophomore, Felley, won the all-around with a career high 39.000, just out scoring teammate Lewis who scored a 38.900.

2006 WAC CHAMPIONSHIPS - Jessica Parenti won the bars and finished second on the vault and in the all-around to lead Utah State at the Western Athletic Conference Gymnastics Championships in Logan, Utah on Saturday, Mar. 25.

The host Aggies finished fourth in the six-team meet that was won by Sacramento State. Sac State scored a 193.950 to defeat Boise State (193.775) and Southern Utah (193.600). USU scored a 193.100, while San Jose State was fifth at 192.800 and Cal State Fullerton was sixth at 192.600.

Parenti, a senior from Glendora, Calif., entered the meet with the two best all-around scores in the WAC. She scored a 38.875 and finished second to Southern Utah's Leah Sakhitab, who scored a 39.050.

Parenti claimed the bars title with a season-best score of 9.875, edging out Boise State's Taylor Jacob, who posted a 9.850. Teammate Alex Martin tied for third on the bars with a 9.800. Parenti's 9.850 on the vault was second to Shaniece Craft of Boise State, who scored a 9.875.

Parenti's other scores included a 9.725 (tied for 10th) on the floor, and a 9.425 on the beam (tied for 25th).

The Aggies scored a season-best 48.800 on the vault behind Parenti. Rachael Mandy and Megan Lewis tied for ninth on the event with 9.775 scores and Nicole Felley added a 9.750 and Katie Omann scored a 9.625.

Utah State entered the meet ranked fifth in the conference and 37th nationally, while Southern Utah (1st/25th) entered as the favorite followed by Boise State (2nd/28th), Sacramento State (3rd/30th), and San Jose State (4th/33rd). Cal State Fullerton was ranked 49th in the GymInfo Poll.

The top three finishers in each event earned first-team all-conference honors, while the fourth through sixth-place finishers were tabbed second-team all-WAC. USU honorees included Parenti in the all-around (second place), vault (second place), and bars (first place), Alex Martin on the bars (third place), and Megan Tschida on floor (fourth).

Hughes, of Sacramento State, was named the WAC coach of the year while Southern Utah's Leah Sakhitab was the gymnast of the year and Marina Borisova of Sacramento State earned freshman honors.

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY - In the 30 year history of the USU gymnsatics program, the Aggies have claimed five conference championships. The most recent championships title that USU won was the 2005 Western Gymnsatics Conference Championship.

The Aggies have placed second eight times, third six times and fourth once, having never finished lower than fourth place in a conference championship.

IN THE NATION - Utah State currently ranks 29th in the nation with a regional qualifying score of 194.505. The Aggies rank 22nd on the vault (48.930), tied for 27th on bars (48.705), 43rd on beam (48.195), and are 29th in the floor exercise (48.860).

Individually, Katy Schilla is tied for 58th in the nation on the vault with a regional qualifying score of 9.845. Jessica Parenti-Otte is tied for 62nd on bars with a 9.830 RQS and is tied for 69th on beam with a 9.815 RQS, while Megan Tschida is 78th in the floor exercise with a 9.830 RQS. In the all-around, Jessica Parenti-Otte is 36th with a 39.115 RQS and Meagan Lewis is 57th with a 38.905 RQS.

WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE - Freshman Katy Schilla is ranked second in the conference in the vault with a regional qualifying score of 9.845, while Jessica Parenti-Otte ranks third with a 9.800 RQS. Heather Heinrich is fifth with a 9.785 RQS and Katie Omann is seventh with a 9.780.

The Aggies also have three gymnasts ranked in the top 10 on bars with Parenti-Otte (2nd, 9.830), Lewis (7th, 9.775) and Ashley Barr (10th, 9.760). On balance beam, Parenti-Otte is tied for fourth with a 9.815 RQS. USU also has three gymnasts in the top 10 on floor in Megan Tschida (3rd, 9.830), Nicki Felley (4th, 9.825) and Parenti-Otte (9th, 9.795).

Utah State is first in the conference with a regional qualifying score of 194.505 ahead of Southern Utah's 194.240. SUU is followed by San Jose State (193.560) in third and Sacramento State (193.545) in fourth. Boise State (192.535) and Cal State-Fullerton (192.250) round out the six in that order.

Utah State leads the conference on vault (48.930), is second on bars (48.750) and first on floor (48.860), while the Aggies rank fifth on beam with a 48.195 RQS.

In the all-around, Parenti-Otte is second with a 39.115 RQS and Lewis is sixth with a 38.905.

SCORES AROUND THE WAC -

Cal State-Fullerton 192.700 - No. 9 Oregon 197.100

Sacramento State 195.150 - San Jose State 194.500 - California 196.500 - UC Davis 193.150

Southern Utah 194.875 - BYU 195.675 - Arizona 195.300

SCORES AROUND UTAH -

Utah 196.650 - Arizona State 194.950

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).Posted a 9.700 on bars at BYU (Mar. 9), while she struggled on the beam with a score of 8.250. Had a high mark of 9.775 on bars at home against Minnesota (Mar. 17). Scored a 9.725 on bas and a 9.775 on floor at Boise State (Mar. 23).

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. Scored a high of 9.825 on floor, a 9.750 on bars and a 9.525 on vault at BYU (Mar. 9). Picked up her second vault victory with a 9.850 at home against Minnesota (Mar. 17). Won her first all-around title with a career high 39.000 at Boise State (Mar. 23)

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 a 9.725 on bars. 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. Scored a high on vault with a 9.800, also scored a 9.250 on beam and a 9.750 on floor at BYU (Mar. 9). Posted a career high on bars with a 9.750 at home against Minnesota (Mar. 17). Scored over 9.650 on vault, beam and floor at Boise State (Mar. 23).

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. Had a strong performance at BYU (Mar. 9), scoring a high of 9.875 on floor, which tied for first place, to a fourth place finish in the all-around with a 39.050. Placed second in the all-around with a 39.000 at home against Minnesota (Mar. 17). Placed second in the all-around with a score of 38.900 at Boise State (Mar. 23).

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). Tied for sixth on the vault with a season high 9.750 at home against Minnesota (Mar. 17). Scored a 9.650 on vault at Boise State (Mar. 23).

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. Placed fifth in the all-around at BYU (Mar. 9) with a score of 38.900 with a high of 9.775 on floor. Had a high mark on 9.800 on vault at home against Minnesota (Mar. 17). Had a individual meet high of 9.775 on vault at Boise State (Mar. 23).

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. Continued single event competition at BYU (Mar. 9) with a score of 9.725 on bars. Competed on bars scoring a 9.775 at home against Minnesota (Mar. 17). Scored a 9.750 on bars and a 9.625 on beam at Boise State (Mar. 23).

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). Continued to improve on vault with a 9.825 at BYU (Mar. 9), she also scored a 9.450 on beam at that meet. Scored a career high on beam with a 9.700 at home against Minnesota (Mar. 17). Scored a 9.675 or better on vault, beam and floor with a 9.800 on vault at Boise State (Mar. 23).

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. Placed second in the all-around at BYU (Mar. 9) with a score of 39.275, scoring a 9.825 on vault, bars and floor, with a 9.800 on beam. Scored a 9.800 on bars and a 9.775 on beam at home against Minnesota (Mar. 17). Scored an individual meet high of 9.825 on bars at Boise State (Mar. 23).

Ana Rickard - Competed in her first event of the season scoring a 9.675 on floor at Boise State (Mar. 23).

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. Is still out and recovering from an ankle injury, she has hopes to return for the conference championships.

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. Continued solid floor competition with a 9.825 at BYU (Mar. 9). Scored a 9.875 on floor at home against Minnesota (Mar. 17).

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

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 (39.025) BSU Meagan Lewis (9.900) SUU Nicki Felley (39.000) at BSU Meagan Lewis (9.875) at BYU Nicki Felley (9.900) at SJSU

WAC GYMNASTS OF THE WEEK

Jessica Parenti-Otte Week of Jan. 8 Week of Jan. 29 Week of Mar. 12

WAC SPECIALIST OF THE WEEK

Megan Tshida Week of Feb. 26 Meagan Lewis Week of Mar. 12

USU ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Jessica Parenti-Otte - Week of Jan. 22 Nicki Felley - Week of Mar. 26