March 25, 2005

FULLERTON, Calif. - Utah State gymnastics received numerous awards at the Western Gymnastics Conference banquet Thursday night. The Aggies had 10 gymnasts named academic all-conference and three garner WGC Athlete of the Week honors during the evening.

Freshman Megan Tschida received an athlete of the week award for her work during the week of Jan. 10. Against top-ranked Utah on Jan. 14, she took second in the all-around with a season high 39.100 as well as tied for the floor title with a 9.850.

Redshirt sophomore Jessica Parenti received an athlete of the week award for the week of Feb. 21, as well as being named academic all-conference. Against Boise State on Feb. 25, Parenti competed in the all-around for the first time this season and won it with a 39.150. She also took second on beam (9.850) and floor (9.875).

Junior Ashley Barr took the third and final athlete of the week award for the Aggies for her work during the week of Mar. 7. Against California on Mar. 7, she set a season high on beam with a 9.825. Later in the week against BYU, she had one of her best meets of the season as she scored a 9.800 on bars, a 9.775 on beam and a 9.750 on floor. Barr was also named academic all-conference.

Others receiving academic all-conference honors were junior Liesel Kohler, redshirt sophomores Rachel Mandy and Meagan Nelson, sophomore Alex Martin, and freshmen Jaymie Goodsell, Katie Omann, Kelly Patterson and Ana Rickard. The 10 academic all-conference members ties a school high set last season.

The Aggies return to the floor tonight to face Cal State Fullerton, Boise State and Southern Utah as part of the WGC Championships in Fullerton, Calif. 8 p.m. MST.