The Flippin’ Birds finished fourth with a score of 195.725 at the regional semifinal in Tempe on Apr. 2, competing against Michigan State, Georgia, and Brigham Young University. Michigan State took first place with a team total of 197.350, while Georgia and BYU followed with scores of 197.125 and 196.250 respectively.
Junior Niya Randolph stood out for the Flippin’ Birds by earning an all-around score of 39.525, which placed her second overall among competitors. Randolph also tied for second on both the uneven bars and balance beam events as Southern Utah posted the top beam rotation of the meet with a score of 49.125.
The team’s performance began strongly on floor exercise, highlighted by junior Carilia Martinez and Randolph each scoring a team-high 9.900 to help secure an opening event total of 49.225 points heading into subsequent rotations.
On vault, juniors Mackenzie Kelly and Elliot Bringhurst each contributed scores of 9.800 before Randolph added a strong Yurchenko one-and-a-half vault that scored a meet-best for her team at 9.875.
The bars rotation saw consistent performances from junior Alex Routsis (9.650), sophomore Mia Hampton (9.700), freshman Ariel Collum (9.775), Miller (9.750), McGuire (9.800), and another high mark from Randolph at 9.900.
Southern Utah concluded their competition on balance beam where Hampton, Nipper, Fernandez, Miller, and Randolph all scored above a 9.800 mark to finish out their day.
Looking ahead, Head Coach Scotty Bauman will lead his staff into the offseason as Southern Utah prepares to transition into PAC-12 conference play in July after securing four consecutive conference titles.
