April 5, 2005

LOGAN, Utah -

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THIS WEEK - Utah State gymnastics (8-8, 6-1) heads to the Central Region Championships to face host Alabama, Iowa State, Auburn, Kentucky and Kent State, Saturday, April 9 at 5 p.m. (MST) in the Coleman Coliseum. USU is ranked 16th in the nation for the third straight week while Alabama is fourth, Iowa State is ninth, Auburn is 21st, Kentucky is 23rd and Kent State is 27th. This is the Aggies first trip to the regionals since 2002. USU's rotation will be: floor, vault, bye, bars, beam, bye. Cherisse Marier of Western Michigan will join the Aggies in their rotation as an individual all-around qualifier.

LAST TIME OUT - Utah State gymnastics won its first ever Western Gymnastics Conference Championship with a 195.150. It was the first ever conference title for the Aggies since the WGC started four years ago. USU was followed by Southern Utah which scored a 194.350, Boise State which scored a 193.700 and Cal State Fullerton which finished with a 193.550. Utah State benefited from the luck of the draw as it was able to compete first on vault, the same event they usually start on in home meets. The Aggies responded by notching their second highest team score of the season with a 48.925. USU was led by freshman Jackie Fogli who scored a personal best 9.900 and tied for first. The score also marked the highest vault scored ever scored by an Aggie in the WGC Championships. Senior Katie Rutherford set a season high on vault with a 9.800. The Aggies survived bars, their nemesis all season, with a 48.525. Redshirt Sophomore Jessica Parenti led the way as she took third place with a 9.800. The Aggies were leading the meet after the first rotation but fell just behind Southern Utah after the second. The third rotation started off well for the Aggies as junior Ashley Barr led off the beam with a season high tying 9.825. Parenti also had a nice routine scoring a 9.800. Junior Liesel Kohler capped off the event with a great routine garnering a 9.850, and a tie for third, to lead the Aggies to a 48.825. At the end of the third rotation the Aggies led the Thunderbirds by only 0.025. USU finished on floor scoring a 48.875. Fogli led off the event with a personal best 9.775. Kohler again capped off the floor as she won with a 9.850. Fogli and Kohler became only the third and fourth Aggies ever to win a individual WGC title. While the Aggies finished strong, the other teams struggled on their final events. The victory gave Rutherford and fellow senior Rachel Ropelato their first conference title. They were out to prevent their becoming the first four-year seniors to not win a conference title since the Aggies first began competing in the Big West in 1992. Ray Corn was also honored as he received the WGC Coach of the Year award. All Aggies who finished in the top-three received all-conference honors. Joining them in receiving all-conference honors were Alex Martin (bars), Rutherford (bars), Barr (beam), Fogli (floor) and Tschida (floor). Parenti also received all-conference honors as she finished third in the all-around with a 39.025.

LOOKING AT THE CR OPPONENTS- Host Alabama is the fourth ranked team in the nation and is coming off of a third place finish in the SEC Championships with a 196.700. The Tide led by junior Ashley Miles who won the vault, uneven bars and floor exercise. She has won five SEC Championship event titles in her three years at Alabama. Iowa State took second at the Big 12 Championships with a 196.000. They were led by sophomore Janet Anson who tied her season-high floor score to tie for the floor title with a 9.925. Auburn is coming off of its second-best score ever, a 195.125 that earned them a sixth place finish at the SEC Championships. The Tigers were led by freshman Julie Dwyer who was named the SEC Freshman of the Year. Kentucky finished seventh at the SEC Championships after sophomore Krystle Cook sprained her ankle on floor, the first event of the evening. Cook is one of the Cats' best gymnasts in three events and her loss was felt as they were only able to score a 193.800. Kent State is coming off of a MAC championship, their ninth in school history, with a score of 195.000. Senior Erika Linnersten, who is 11th in the nation on beam, won the beam title with a 9.875. Freshman Phylicia Robertson, 17th in the nation on floor, won the floor title with a 9.900.

USU REGIONAL HISTORY - Though this is the first regional trip for the Aggies since 2002, the Aggies have made the postseason 25 of the 28 seasons that USU has had gymnastics. The Aggies had competed in 17 straight regional competitions before they did not qualify in 2003. The Aggies best ever finish at regionals was a third place finish in 1999. Before that, the best finish was fourth in 1983, the first year it was an NCAA sanctioned sport. Utah State's only trip to the NCAA Championships was in 1991.

AGGIES VS. CR OPPONENTS ALL-TIME - USU is 0-4 against Alabama all-time and is 0-2 at Alabama. The Aggies are 2-1 against Iowa State and the two teams have only met on neutral floors. Auburn is 2-2 against USU with a 1-0 advantage on a neutral floor. Before the season began the Aggies had never lost to Kentucky, but that changed when Kentucky beat the Aggies on a neutral floor earlier this season at Denver. USU still holds a series lead of 3-1. USU and Kent State have met only once, on a neutral court, with the Aggies walking away with the victory.

SEC CONNECTION - Assistant coach Ernestine Russell coached at Florida, an SEC school, as the head coch for 13 years. While there, she posted a 185-48 record, won one national title and made 11 consecutive NCAA Championships between 1979 - 1992. They claimed five SEC titles and she earned SEC Coach of the Year honors in 1989 and 1992. At UF she coached 35 All-American and 20 all-SEC athletes.

AGGIES IN THE RANKINGS - After starting the year off with one of their best ever opening performances, the Aggies found themselves ranked 24th in the nation and first in the WGC. The following week the Aggies fell out of the top-25 until a few weeks later when the rankings switched from being based upon team average to team RQS. When the change occurred the Aggies once again found themselves in the top-25 as the 25th team in the nation. After spending one more week out of the rankings the Aggies found themselves again in the top-25, this time to stay. Utah State has now been ranked 16th in the nation since March 14th, the same time they regained the top spot in the WGC after losing it the week of Jan. 24. By finishing 16th in the nation at the end of the regular season, the Aggies secured the best regular season ending ranking since 1997 when they finished 11th.

WGC RECOGNITIONS - The Aggies had 10 gymnasts named to the academic all-conference team and three garner WGC Athlete of the Week honors this year. 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 to the academic all-conference team for the third time. 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.

A FRESHMAN SHALL LEAD THEM, AGAIN AND AGAIN - Two years ago it was Meagan Nelson and Jessica Parenti, last year it was Alex Martin and this year a freshman once again led the Aggies in the all-around to begin the year. After redshirt sophomore Jessica Parenti was diagnosed with mononucleosis on the day of the first meet, Freshman Megan Tschida was thrust into the limelight as the only all-arounder competing for the Aggies. She responded by taking second in the all-around in the first two meets this season. Against Utah she tied for first on floor with a 9.850. Freshman Jackie Fogli is also making her mark as she had the top vault score against Utah with a 9.850 which was good enough for a third place tie on the event and tied for first against SUU with a 9.825. Against Boise State Tschida and Fogli once again had great meets and were joined by freshman Katie Omann in setting seven career bests and nothing four top-three finishes. Fogli won the vault (9.875) and beam titles (9.825) while Tschida finished second in the all-around (38.825). Omann set three career bests and took second on vault with a 9.825. Fogli tied for her second vault title in a row with a 9.850 against Boise State at home. Tschida tied for third on floor with a 9.825 against Boise State as well. Omann tied for third on vault against Texas Woman's with a 9.850 Tschida tied for the second best all-time Aggie score as she won the floor with a 9.950. Tschida also scored a personal high 9.800 against California to tie for second on bars with Omann. Tschida upped that personal high to a 9.825 at the next meet at BYU. Also had a 9.850 on floor at BYU. Fogli added even more history as she joined teammate Katie Rutherford as the only Aggies to win a WGC event title as a freshman when she tied for the vault title with a 9.900.

2005 TEAM CAPTAINS - Seniors Rachel Ropelato and Katie Rutherford and Sophomore Alex Martin serve as captains for the 2005 squad. This is Rutherford's third year as captain, Ropelato's second year and Martin's first year.

2005 SEASON IN REVIEW - After losing its first four meets, Utah State won three straight. The Aggies began the season with what is most likely their highest ever beginning score (193.850) against Utah. Utah State started very well scoring a 48.775 on vault. Uncharacteristically the Aggies had a tough floor rotation which is where the Aggies have been excelling over the last few years. This prevented the Aggies from having a chance at one of the biggest upsets in Utah State history. Still it moved the Aggies into the top-25 as the 24th ranked team in the nation. USU followed up the meet with one only two days later at Central Michigan. After having to count three falls, the Aggies were only able to garner a 191.850. BYU then came into town and the Aggies once again struggled only scoring a 190.600. One bright spot came on floor as the Aggies scored their then highest floor team score with a 48.750. After losing to Southern Utah for their fourth straight loss and once again scoring a low total, the Aggies turned things around against Denver at home and Boise State on the road. The Aggies won both meets with scores of 194.925 and 194.550 respectively. The Aggies also set then season highs in every event between the two meets including cracking the 49.000 barrier for the first time this season with a 49.075 on floor against Boise State. USU once again scored over a 49.000 on floor the next week at home against BSU with a 49.150 on floor on its way to winning its third straight with a 195.450 - 194.200 victory over Boise State. Despite the controversial loss to Texas Woman's, USU notched its 11th best team total ever with a 195.900. The week was good enough to move the Aggies back into the top-25. USU followed up the loss by returning to winning ways as it defeated California 195.325 - 192.350. The 49.050 scored on vault is the 7th best all-time for the Aggies. They notched their fourth straight score above 195 in a loss at BYU. USU was finally able to get a solid bars score as it notched a 48.950. The Aggies returned to their winning ways at home against Southern Utah with their second highest score of the season, a 195.825. They also set a new season high on bars with a 48.950. The Aggies then traveled to Denver to in a tri-meet with Denver and Kentucky. Though they finished third, they had a solid meet and did not have to count a fall. It was the first time in six meets that the Aggies did not score over a 195. The Aggies finished the season strong however as the won the WGC Championships in Fullerton, Calif. After going neck and neck with Southern Utah during the first three rotations, the Aggies pulled away in the final rotation to garner their first ever WGC Championship title. USU finished with a 195.100. The Aggies also had only their third and fourth ever WGC Championship individual title winners as Jackie Fogli tied for first on vault with a 9.900 while Liesel Kohler won the floor outright with a 9.850. The Aggies finished the season with six above 195 performances.

HEAD COACH RAY CORN - Utah State's Ray Corn (Northern Colorado `71) is in his 28th year as the Aggies' head coach. Corn's teams own a 418-393-2 overall record and have participated in the postseason 25 of his 28 years. Aggie squads have competed at national championship meets 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. Named the Western Gymnastics Conference Coach of the Year in 2005.

A LOOK AT THE 2005 AGGIES - Ashley Barr - A junior from Littleton, Colo., Barr competed on bars, beam and vault in six of the first seven meets for the Aggies. At Boise State she set her season high on bars with a 9.700. A week later she set season highs on bars (9.725) and floor (9.725). Set a beam high of 9.750 at Texas Woman's before upping it a little higher against California with a 9.825. Set a new season high at BYU with a 9.800 as part of one of her best meets of the season. She then returned home to have an even better meet as she had a season high 9.825 on bars and a 9.775 on floor in addition to her 9.750 on beam. Received WGC all-academic honors for the third straight year as well as was named the WGC athlete of the week for the week of Mar.7. Received WGC all-conference honors on beam by finishing fifth with a 9.825.

Jackie Fogli - A freshman out of Wheaton, Ill., Fogli vaulted to the top Aggie score against Utah with a 9.850 which was good enough for a third place tie in the event. Tied for first place on vault at Southern Utah with a 9.825. Against Boise State she led the Aggies to victory by winning the vault and beam titles with career high scores of 9.875 and 9.825 respectively. A week later she again won the vault title against Boise State and tied her season high on beam with a 9.825. Injured her knee against Texas Woman's and returned to limited duty against SUU. She had a solid meet against Denver/Kentucky. At the WGC Championships she tied for the vault event title with a career high 9.900, which also earned her all-conference honors on the vault. She became only the second freshmen to win a WGC event title for the Aggies. She also earned all-conference honors on floor with her fourth place finish, a career high 9.775.

Jaymie Goodsell - A freshmen out of Blaine, Minn., Goodsell is the tallest USU gymnast this year and is expected to add depth to the Aggies on floor and beam later in the season. Received academic all-conference honors this season.

Liesel Kohler - A junior out of La Selva, Calif., Kohler has competed on beam and floor for the Aggies in all but one meet this season. All this despite the fact she suffered a concussion that kept her from training for most of November and December. Kohler missed the BYU meet due to injury. Tied teammate Alex Martin for highest Aggie floor score with a 9.775 against Southern Utah. Won the floor title against Denver with a 9.850 and tied her season high on beam with a 9.775. A week later she won her second straight floor title against Boise State as she tied teammate Megan Tschida with a 9.875. She then returned home to win her third straight floor title as she scored a 9.900, the first Aggie score over 9.900 this season. Set a personal best on beam which ties for the fourth best all-time for the Aggies with a 9.925 while also tieing the 18th best all-time floor score with a 9.900 against Texas Woman's. Won the beam title and finished third on floor against TWU. She currently has seven of the top 20 all-time floor performances and three of the top 9 all-time beam performances for the Aggies. Has been very solid for the Aggies on beam and floor for the Aggies the last two meets with a 9.900 and 9.775 on beam and a 9.825 and 9.850 on floor. Received academic all-conference honors this season. Won the WGC Championships floor title (9.850) and finished third on beam (9.850). She garnered all-conference honors in both events. Was named USU's athlete of the week for her work at the WGC Championships.

Rachael Mandy - A redshirt sophomore from Fargo, N.D., Mandy has competed on the vault in all the meets this season. Against Utah, Mandy tied for the second highest vault score with a 9.750. Two days later against Central Michigan she led the Aggies on vault with 9.775. Against BYU she tied two teammates for the best Aggie vault score with a 9.725. Against Southern Utah and Denver she scored her season average of 9.750. Saw her first bars action against Denver with a 9.675. Has scored at least a 9.700 on vault in each meet this season. Tied personal best and 14th all-time score on vault with a 9.850. Tied personal best and 14th all-time vault score against Texas Woman's and California with a 9.850. Continues to be the most solid Aggie on vault as she has scored nothing lower than a 9.700 and has a season average of 9.7583, just slightly lower than her top-10 average of last year. Received WGC academic all-conference honors.

Alex Martin - A sophomore from Longmont, Colo., Martin suffered a small injury that limited her action a little bit in the first two meets. Martin led the Aggies on bars in the first four meets of the season. Took fourth on the bars against Southern Utah. She won the all-around title against Denver in her first time going all-around this season with a 38.750. Took third on beam against Denver with a 9.800. Finished third on floor against Boise State with a 9.850. Against Boise State at home, she tied for first on bars with a season best 9.800. Had four personal bests against Texas Woman's including a 9.900 personal best which ties her for ninth all-time on beam. Also posted a 39.275 in the all-around. Had a season high 9.825 on bars at BYU. Tied her season high on floor of 9.850 against Denver/Kentucky. Received WGC academic all-conference honors. After throwing her shoulder out during warm-ups, she toughed out three routines at the WGC Championships and earned all-conference honors on bars with a six place finish (9.725).

Meagan Nelson - A redshirt sophomore from Las Vegas, Nev., Nelson came back from her injury to compete on bars and vault this season. Her season high on bars is a 9.700. Set a season high on vault against Denver with a 9.800 which tied her for third on the event. Received WGC academic all-conference honors.

Katie Omann - A freshman out of Sartell, Minn., Omann set then career personal bests on vault (9.775) and floor (9.675) against Denver. Against Boise State Omann set career highs on vault (9.825), bars (9.650) and floor (9.725). Her 9.825 on vault was good for second behind teammate Jackie Fogli. Her personal best on bars of 9.825 against Texas Woman's was good enough to tie her for third. Tied for second on bars against California with a 9.800. Tied her season high of 9.725 on floor against Southern Utah. Received WGC academic all-conference honors.

Jessica Parenti - A redshirt sophomore out of Glendora, Calif., Parenti was diagnosed with mononucleosis the day of the first meet. Saw her first action against Southern Utah in three events. Took third on beam with a 9.725. Against Denver she tied for first on vault (9.850) and beam (9.850) while taking second on bars with a 9.775. Was also named the USU Athlete of the Week for Feb. 7-13. At home against Boise State Parenti competed in the all-around for the first time this year and won it with a 39.150. She also had season highs on bars (9.775), beam (9.850) where she tied for second and floor (9.875) where she again took second. Had another stellar met against Texas Woman's as she set three personal bests with three top-20 all time performances for the Aggies. She won the vault (9.900, 4th all-time) and all-around (39.350, 12th all-time) and finished third on floor (9.900, 18th). Won the all-around (39.425, 6th all-time) and vault (9.950, t1st all-time) and finished second on beam with a 9.825. Had a season high 9.825 on bars at BYU and tied a season high 9.850 on beam. Parenti had six top-three finishes the next week, including an all-around victory over Southern Utah. Against Southern Utah, she won the all-around with a 39.275, took second on vault (9.775), bars (9.825) and floor (9.825) and finished third on beam (9.850). Her efforts led the Aggies to a victory as well as moved the team into 16th place nationally. At Denver against Denver and Kentucky she had the only top-three finish for the Aggies as she finished third on bars with a 9.775. Though she sat out on beam, she also scored a 9.750 on vault and floor. Was named Utah State's athlete of the week twice (Feb. 15 and March 22). Was named the WGC athlete of the week for the week of Feb. 21. At the WGC Championships she took third on bars (9.800) and the all-around (39.025), earning all-conference recognition in both events. Has the highest Aggie average on beam and the second highest on floor. Has the top-three all-around performances for the Aggies this season. Received WGC academic all-conference honors this season.

Kelly Patterson - A freshman out of Twin Falls, Idaho, Patterson has been on the Aggie coaching staff's radar for quite a while. The coaching staff looks forward to her contribution on bars and floor. Received WGC academic all-conference honors this season.

Ana Rickard - A freshman out of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Rickard, along with fellow freshman Jackie Fogli, are expected to add strength to the Aggie vault. She may also be seen on floor and bars. Saw her first action of the season as she scored a 9.600 on vault against SUU. Went exhibition against Denver and scored a 9.750. Received WGC academic all-conference honors this season.

Rachel Ropelato - A senior out of Nibley, Utah, Ropelato has competed on vault, bars and floor for the Aggies with high scores of 9.750, 9.725 and 9.800 respectively. Has been rested the last few meets but should be seen at the regional championships.

Katie Rutherford - A senior out of Chappaqua, N.Y., Rutherford competed on beam for the Aggies in the first six meets this season. Had her best meet of the season on her senior night against Boise State. She tied a career high on vault with a 9.725 and had a season high on beam with a 9.775. Set a new season high of 9.825 on beam at BYU. Improved her career high on vault with a 9.800 at the WGC Championships.

Megan Tschida - A freshman from St. Paul, Minn., Tschida flipped into the number one all-around role when Jessica Parenti was unable to compete at the beginning of the season. Tschida responded by finishing second in the all-around in her first two meets this season with an all-around high score of 39.125 against Utah. She also tied for the floor title against Utah with a 9.850. Her floor score of 9.800 against Central Michigan tied her for second on the event. Returned to the all-around for the Aggies against Boise State finishing second once again with a 38.825. Also set season highs on beam (9.775) and floor (9.875). Her 9.875 on floor tied her for first with teammate Liesel Kohler. Tied for third on floor against Boise State at home with a 9.825. Tied a personal best on bars (9.750) and set one on floor (9.950) against Texas Woman's. Her floor score tied her for second all-time for the Aggies. Against California set a personal record 9.800 on bars as she tied for second. She finished third on floor with a 9.850. Had a career best bars score at BYU with a 9.825. Had a 9.800 on bars and a 9.850 on floor against Southern Utah. Returned to the all-around at Denver/Kentucky scoring a 38.800. Was named USU's athlete of the week for the week of March 8. Received WGC academic all-conference honors. Named the WGC athlete of the week for the week of Jan. 10. Received all-conference honors by finishing fourth on floor with a 9.775. Has the highest floor average of all the USU gymnasts.