Utah State Gymnastics Second To 21st-Ranked Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. --Utah State's gymnastics team wrapped its regular season at 21st-ranked Minnesota Saturday night with a second-place finish to the Gophers, 191.175-194.850. The score was the Aggies second lowest of the season. With the loss the Aggies fall to 5-14 overall, while going 0-8 in the WAC.

The meet started with the Aggies and Gophers tied after the first rotation at 48.350. It was in the first round that Jessica Parenti scored the highest score of the night for Utah State with an 9.825 and a third place finish, also the highest finish of the night for Utah State.

In the second rotation, on vault, the Aggies went three, four, five with Katie Omann vaulting into third (9.725), Meagan Lewis was fourth (9.675), and Parenti finished tied for fifth (9.625). Utah State finished almost a full point behind Minnesota heading into the third rotation as the Gophers scored their second-highest score of the year on bars with a 49.050.

On beam, Utah State recorded its second-lowest score of the year as the highest finish it could muster was a 9.550 from Nicki Felley who finished in sixth. As a team the Aggies scored a 46.825.

Parenti led the way on floor with a 9.700, good enough again for sixth place as three of the Gophers scored a 9.750 to tie for third. Carmelina Carabajal finished in first for Minnesota with a 9.800.

Parenti was the top finisher for the Aggies in the all-around with a third-place finish and a 38.375.

The Aggies will compete again on Saturday, March 25 as they host the inaugural Western Athletic Conference Gymnastics Championship in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. The event is set to begin at 2 p.m.

There are six teams competing in the WAC Championship, including host Utah State, Boise State, San Jose State and affiliates, Cal State Fullerton, Sacramento State and Southern Utah.

The rotation for the 2006 championship will be: vault, bye, uneven parallel bars, balance beam, bye and floor exercise.

Ticket prices are $8 for adults and $5 for senior citizens (60 years and up) and students. Youth tickets (ages 12 and under) will be $3. All seats are general admission and parking is free.

Tickets may be purchased by calling 435-797-0305 or 1-888-878-2831 or on-line at www.UtahStateAggies.com. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Spectrum Ticket Office. Office hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The day of the event the Spectrum Ticket Office will open at noon.

Minnesota: 194.850 (Vault: 48.350, Bars: 49.050, Beam: 48.625, Floor: 48.825) Utah State: 191.175 (Vault: 48.075, Bars: 48.350, Beam: 46.825, Floor: 47.925)

All-Around

1. Laura Johnson UM 38.825

3. Jessica Parenti USU 38.375

4. Meagan Lewis USU 38.250

5. Alex Martin USU 37.950

Vault

1. Laura Johnson UM 9.800

3. Katie Omann USU 9.725

4. Meagan Lewis USU 9.675

5t. Jessica Parenti USU 9.625

Kelly Ganchan UM 9.625

10. Nicole Felley USU 9.550

11. Rachael Mandy USU 9.500

12. Alex Martin USU 9.100

Bars

1. Stephanie Funk UM 9.875

3. Jessica Parenti USU 9.825

6. Alex Martin USU 9.725

8. Megan Tschida USU 9.675

9. Katie Omann USU 9.650

10. Meagan Lewis USU 9.475

12. Rachael Mandy USU 8.750

Balance Beam

1. Ashley Mutchler UM 9.775

6. Nicole Felley USU 9.550

7. Alex Martin USU 9.500

8t. Meagan Lewis USU 9.475

Laura Johnson UM 9.475

10. Jessica Parenti USU 9.225

11. Brittany Price USU 9.075

12. Megan Tschida USU 9.000

Floor

1. Carmelina Carabajal UM 9.800

6. Jessica Parenti USU 9.700

7t. Alex Martin USU 9.625

Meagan Lewis USU 9.625

9t. Megan Tschida USU 9.500

Maria Opsahl UM 9.500

11. Nicole Felley USU 9.475

12. Brittany Price USU 8.900