CEDAR CITY, Utah - Feb. 6 - Southern Utah's Elise Wheeler won or shared every individual title possible as the senior led the Thunderbirds to a 195.275-193.625 victory over the Kent State Golden Flashes on Saturday night. The night also marked a season-best score for SUU, besting the previous mark of 195.050 set at home against Utah State.
"I thought we were a bit flat tonight," head coach Scott Bauman said after the meet. "We did a pretty good job, but we had to count a fall and that is never our goal going into a meet. Wheeler had a great meet tonight, but we know as a team that we have some room for improvement."
Both teams got out to a rough start in the opening rotation as Bailey Baker sat down during the landing of her vault and Christina Lenny fell on a transition from the low bar to the high bar in the first bar routine for Kent State. Following the choppy start, SUU vaulters went 5-for-5 to finish with a team score of 48.875. Wheeler and Melissa Johhson led the T-Birds with matching 9.875's to capture the individual title on the event. They were followed by freshman Caitlin Kennedy, scoring a career-best 9.800. Kent State finished its opening rotation with a team score of 48.125.
The Thunderbirds matched their first rotation team score with another 48.875 on bars during the second rotation. Southern Utah was led by Baker and Alyssa Click who each scored 9.800's, marking personal best for both gymnasts. They were joined by Wheeler with a 9.800 as the trio tied for the individual title on the event.
"It's just a matter of regaining your composure and going out and hitting one skill at a time," Baker said after being asked about what it takes to bounce back from a fall. "You know that your teammates are behind you and that they will have your back."
Southern Utah remained in the 48's during the third rotation as Wheeler secure her third individual title with a meet-best 9.850 on beam, helping the team to a 48.825. The T-Birds swept the top four spots in the event with Johnson (9.775), Brooke Cersosimo (9.775) and Click (9.750) following Wheeler.
SUU also took the top four spots on the floor exercise as Wheeler led the way with a 9.900. Click continued her strong performances with another career-best 9.850 to tie teammate Shannon Coughlin (9.850) for second place in the event. Lindsey Schultz' personal-best of 9.825 put the senior in fourth place. Despite the strong marks, Southern Utah had to count its first fall of the night as freshman Michaela Chernoch tumbled out of bounds on her first pass and Baker had to catch herself with her hands on her final pass. However, Kent State was unable to capitalize as the Golden Flashes also had to count a fall on the final rotation, giving SUU the 195.275-193.625 victory.
Wheeler wrapped up her individual titles with her fifth consecutive all-around crown, scoring a season-best 39.425 to tie her for the No. 2 performance all time in the all-around.
Southern Utah will now have a bit of an extended break before taking on the Utah State Aggies in Logan on Monday, February 15. That meet is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Spectrum Arena.
