SUU gymnastics: T-Birds tumble to third

BOISE — Southern Utah University looked poised to take its first ever conference tiotle, but costly falls in the final rotation left the Thunderbirds in third place Saturday at the Western Athletic Conference Gymnastics Championships.

Host Boise State won the title with a 194.925 score, while San Jose State was second at 194.725. Southern Utah tallied a 194.575 for third place, while Sacramento State was fourth at 194.275. With a 194.150 score, Utah State finished fifth.

Boise State's Hannah Redmon finished in first place in the all-around with a 39.225, with SUU's Jenna Vogt just behind with a season-high tying 39.000. Shannon Coughlin proved to be the top competitor for the T-Birds with all three of her scores above 9.825.

USU senior Megan Tschida was co-WAC champion on floor, and she was joined by four teammates in earning all-WAC accolades. Joining Tschida on the first-team all-WAC list was sophomore Heather Heinrich, who tied for third on beam with a 9.825.

The Thunderbirds will now have to wait until next year for a run at a conference title, but have already qualified for the chance to participate at the NCAA Regional Meet on April 12. SUU will find out where it will be competing in the coming days with the chance to advance to the NCAA National Championships on the line.

WAC results

1) BSU 194.925

2) SJSU 194.725

3) SUU 194.575

4) CSUS 194.275

5) USU 194.150

6) Fullerton 192.650