Dec. 4, 2007

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State gymnastics head coach Ray Corn thinks that his team is right on schedule following the Aggies' second intrasquad meet of the season, held Tuesday in the HPER gym on the USU Campus.

"I'm always very optimistic about the squad," said USU head coach Ray Corn, who is entering his 31st season at the helm of Aggie gymnastics. "I personally think because we made everything harder, including our landings on the floor, we vaulted higher and firmer, we did full mounts and dismounts on balance beam, I'm very pleased. I think we're right on schedule."

Sophomore Heather Heinrich had the highest all-around score with a 39.15, while freshman Chelsea Marquardt posted a 38.175 and senior Megan Tschida tallied a 37.55 to round out the top three of the eight all-around competitors.

"It was great to see eight young ladies competing in the all-around," Corn said. "We haven't had that for a long, long time."

The Aggies posted a combined 191.775 in the all-around.

"I figured we would have scored between a 190 and a 192," Corn said. "Actually, with former collegiate athletes judging, we went about 191.775. We're looking better, we're still a month away, we've just got to refine our routines."

Heinrich also took top scores in vault (9.85) and beam (9.85), while tallying the second-highest scores on bars (9.75) and floor exercise (9.7).

"Certainly, Heather Heinrich was just a huge standout, going four-for-four in her events, scoring well into the 39's in the all-around, I thought that was just outstanding," Corn said.

Marquardt recorded a high score on bars with a 9.775 and third on beam with a 9.6, while Tschida captured high-score honors on floor with a 9.8 and third on bars with a 9.55. Senior Katie Omann was second on beam with a 9.75.

"Nicole Simoneau and Erica Huelsman stepping it up was just awesome. Certainly a bright spot tonight was Ana Rickard-Whitfield's floor and vault performances," Corn said.

Simoneau, a freshman, posted a 36.95 all-around score and Huelsman, also a freshman, was third in vault (9.65) and floor exercise (9.7). Senior Rickard-Whitfield was second in the vault (9.75).

"The thing that always concerns me are the in and out of our injured athletes," Corn said. "Today we held out Lyndsie Boone, but Nicole Simoneau stepped it up, as well as Erica Huelsman."

Junior Devin Markle had limited action Tuesday, only competing in floor exercise, while freshmen Lyndsie Boone (foot injury) and Jasmine Minion (ill) sat out Tuesday's meet. Freshman Christa Drury will be out for the year with a wrist injury.

USU will have one more intrasquad meet before the Holiday break, on Thursday, Dec. 20.

After a "Meet The Aggies" exhibition meet on Jan. 8, Utah State opens the year on Jan. 11 at Boise, Idaho, taking on Boise State in a dual. USU returns to Logan for its home-opener on Jan. 18 against Sacramento State, followed by its second meet in as many weeks against Boise State in the Spectrum on Jan. 22.

Utah State finished third at the WAC Championships and sixth at last year's NCAA Regionals, marking the 26th time in the 30 years of USU Gymnastics that the Aggies qualified for postseason competition. The Aggies have seven returning letterwinners as well as eight newcomers on their roster.

All USU home meets begin at 6:30 p.m.

Gymnastics tickets are available through the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, online at www.UtahStateAggies.com and clicking on "tickets" in left column, or by calling 1-888-U-STATE-1 or (435) 797-0305.

All-Around:
Heather Heinrich - 39.15
Chelsea Marquardt - 38.175
Megan Tschida - 37.55
Vault:
Heather Heinrich - 9.85
Ana Rickard-Whitfield - 9.75
Erica Huelsman - 9.65
Bars:
Chelsea Marquardt - 9.775
Heather Heinrich - 9.75
Megan Tschida - 9.55
Beam:
Heather Heinrich - 9.85
Katie Omann - 9.75
Chelsea Marquardt - 9.6
Floor:
Megan Tschida - 9.8
Heather Heinrich - 9.7
Erica Huelsman - 9.7