April 2, 2007

Gymnast Jessica Parenti-Otte claimed the Utah State Athlete of the Week honor it was announced Monday. The award is voted on by a state media panel.

Parenti-Otte, a senior from Glendora, Cal., scored a season high 9.900 on vault to win the all-around with a season high 39.350 at the WAC Championships in Cedar City Saturday. All-in-all, she claimed the vault with a score of 9.900, bars at 9.875 and all-around titles at the championships.

After the meet she was named WAC Gymnast of the Year for her efforts throughout the season. Parenti-Otte has been named WAC Gymnast of the Week three times this season and USU Athlete of the Week twice.

Nationally, Parenti-Otte is currently tied for 62nd on bars with a 9.830 RQS and is tied for 69th on beam with a 9.815 RQS. In the all-around, Parenti-Otte is 36th with a 39.115 RQS. Within the WAC, Parenti-Otte ranks third in the vault with a 9.800 RQS and is one of three Aggies ranked in the top 10 on bars, as she is second with 9.830 RQS.

Also nominated for Athlete of the Week was Jessica's husband, Preston Otte, of the golf team. Otte received the Athlete of the Week honor Oct. 2 of this season. Parenti-Otte claimed the weekly honor earlier this year, winning on Jan. 29.

NOMINEES FROM OTHER SPORTS INCLUDED:

Golf - Preston Otte... The senior tied for 23rd individually to lead USU to a 14th place team finish at the Cuesta Vista Intercollegiate. Otte was the Aggies' top finisher for the fourth time in seven tournaments this year as he shot 77-71-76--224.

Softball - Lauren Guzman... Went two of four with an RBI in a three-game series with Fresno State. The Aggies were 0-3, scoring just two runs in the series. Guzman went two of three in the final game and recorded an RBI.

Men's Tennis - Oscar Ericsson... Won both of his number two singles matches as well as splitting his doubles matches in USU's two victories against Sonoma State (5-2) and Nevada (4-3). Ericsson finished the weekend with a 6-3, 6-3 win against his opponent from Nevada.

Men's Track - Scott Bell... Posted a regional qualifying mark in the 400-hurdles, placing fourth, with a time of 52.40 at the Stanford Invitational. Bell was also part of the 4x400 relay team that ran a season best and had a top conference time in the relay of 2:13.97.

Women's Track - Amy Egan... Won the 800-meters with a personal best mark of 2:09.20 at the Stanford Invitational. This time qualifies her for the Regional Championships in Eugene, Ore. at the end of May. Her time also puts her in second-place in the USU record books.

2006-07 USU ATHLETE OF THE WEEK WINNERS

Aug. 28 - Amanda Nielson, Volleyball
Sept. 5 - Amanda Nielson, Volleyball
Sept. 11 - Marcus Cross, Football
Sept. 18 - Vance Twitchell, Cross Country
Sept. 25 - Erin Salmon, Soccer
Oct. 2 - Preston Otte, Golf
Oct. 9 - Riley Nelson, Football
Oct. 16 - Kelsi Peterson, Volleyball
Oct. 23 - Paul Igboeli, Football
Oct. 30 - Vance Twitchell, Cross Country
Nov. 6 - Charity Weston, Soccer
Nov. 13 - Beth Hodge, Volleyball
Nov. 20 - Jaycee Carroll, Basketball
Nov. 27 - Jaycee Carroll, Basketball
Dec. 4 - Jaycee Carroll, Basketball
Dec. 11 - Jaycee Carroll, Basketball
Dec. 18 - Chris Sessions, Basketball
Jan. 8 - Taylor Richards, Women's Basketball
Jan. 15 - Jaycee Carroll, Basketball
Jan. 22 - Amber Peterson, Women's Track
Jan. 29 - Jessica Parenti-Otte, Gymnastics
Feb. 5 - Jaycee Carroll, Basketball
Feb. 12 - Stacie Lifferth, Women's Track
Feb. 19 - Brittany Phillips, Women's Basketball
Feb. 26 - DJ Smith, Track
March 5 - Lindsey Benson, Softball
March 12 - Jennifer Twitchell, Women's Track
March 19 - Lexy Perry, Softball
March 26 -  Nicki Felley, Gymnastics
April 2 - Jessica Parenti-Otte, Gymnastics