LOGAN, Utah – Utah State’s gymnastics team opened the home portion of its 2020 schedule in thrilling fashion, defeating Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference-rival Boise State 195.675-193.850 on Friday night at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
“We were really excited to get back in the Spectrum and do what we did tonight, and it was a great crowd,” said third-year USU head coach Amy Smith, whose team opened the season with four straight meets on the road. “It was awesome. We had three solid events and closed the meet incredibly strong on floor, so that was really fun to see the girls do that. It was a great night.”
For the 32nd-ranked Aggies (2-6, 1-4 MRGC), it was their first win over the Broncos (2-4, 0-2 MRGC) since Jan. 27, 2012, snapping a 22-meet losing streak. Prior to Friday, No. 35 Boise State had won 35 of the last 36 meetings with Utah State.
“It felt really good to be home,” said junior Autumn DeHarde. “We hadn’t beat Boise State since 2012, so it was really exciting.”
DeHarde captured two event titles to lead the Aggies. The native of Sussex, Wis., placed first on floor with a career-high-tying 9.925, and she won the beam with a 9.850. She now has nine career beam titles, which is tied for third all-time in school history.
“It felt really good,” DeHarde said of her floor routine. “I just went out there and had fun, because that’s what I love to do. Floor is my favorite event to compete, and I love just going out there and showing it off.”
USU junior Leighton Varnadore captured the all-around crown with a 39.200, while freshman Sofi Sullivan finished second with a 39.175. Senior Brittany Jeppesen tied for first on bars with a 9.850.
The lone event title that didn’t go the way of the Aggies was on vault as Boise State’s Gabriela Bouza had a 9.875 to place first.
FIRST ROTATION
Utah State opened the meet with a season-high 48.850 on vault. Varnadore tied her career high on the event with a 9.850 to place second, while Sullivan finished third with a 9.800.
The Broncos began on bars, their strongest event, but scored a 48.275 after having to count a fall and only putting five gymnasts up.
SECOND ROTATION
Moving to bars in the second rotation, the Aggies scored a 48.775, highlighted by Jeppesen’s title. Sophomore Grace Rojas tallied a season-high-tying 9.825 on the event to tie for fourth. After Boise State recorded a 48.850 on vault, USU led at the midway point of the meet, the 97.600-97.125.
THIRD ROTATION
On beam, DeHarde (9.850) and Sullivan (9.825) placed first and second, respectively, to help Utah State notch a 48.775 as a team. The Broncos turned in a strong performance on floor with a 48.975 and pulled to within 146.375-146.100 heading to the final rotation.
FOURTH ROTATION
Utah State finished the meet in emphatic fashion by recording a 49.300, which ranks 11th all-time in school history. Four Aggies finished in the top five on the event as DeHarde captured the title and Varnadore placed second with a career-best 9.900. Freshman Rebecca Wells also had a career-high score of 9.850 to tie for third and junior Mikaela Meyer matched her personal best with a 9.825 to tie for fifth.
Boise State closed the meet on beam and had to count two falls on the event, recording a 47.750.
UP NEXT
Utah State remains at home for a Valentine’s Day dual meet against Southern Utah on Friday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m.
Fans can follow the Aggie gymnastics program at twitter.com/USUGymnastics, on Facebook at Utah State Gymnastics, and on Instagram at USUGymnastics. Fans can also follow the USU athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on Facebook at UtahStateAthletics.
Boise State at Utah State – Logan, Utah – Dee Glen Smith Spectrum – Feb. 7, 2020
Team Results: 1. Utah State – 195.675 (vault: 48.825, bars: 48.775, beam: 48.775, floor: 49.300); 2. Boise State – 193.850 (vault: 48.850, bars: 48.275, beam: 47.750, floor: 48.975).
Vault: 1. Gabriela Bouza – BSU, 9.875; 2. Leighton Varnadore – USU, 9.850; 3. Sofi Sullivan – USU, 9.800; T4. Rebecca Wells – USU, 9.775; T8. Autumn DeHarde – USU, 9.700; T8. Grace Rojas – USU, 9.700; 11. Mikaela Meyer – USU, 9.675.
Bars: T1. Brittany Jeppesen – USU, 9.850; T1. Gabriela Bouza – BSU, 9.850; T1. Maddi Nilson – BSU, 9.850; T4. 9.825; 6. Sofi Sullivan – USU, 9.750; 8. Leighton Varnadore – USU, 9.700; 9. Jessica Gutierrez – USU, 9.650; 10. Maia Fishwick – USU, 9.100.
Beam: 1. Autumn DeHarde – USU, 9.850; T2. Sofi Sullivan – USU, 9.825; T2. Gabriela Bouza – BSU, 9.825; T2. Hope Masiado – BSU, 9.825; 6. Leighton Varnadore – USU, 9.750; 7. Taylor Dittmar – USU, 9.700; 8. Carley Bayles – USU, 9.650; 12. Grace Rojas – USU, 8.825.
Floor: 1. Autumn DeHarde – USU, 9.925; 2. Leighton Varnadore – USU, 9.900; 3. Rebecca Wells – USU, 9.850; T5. Mikaela Meyer – USU, 9.825; T8. Sofi Sullivan – USU, 9.800; 10. Ariel Toomey – USU, 9.725.
All-Around: 1. Leighton Varnadore – USU, 39.200; 2. Sofi Sullivan – USU, 39.175; 3. Hope Masiado – BSU, 38.300.