T-bird, Aggie gymnasts lose

FULLERTON, CALIF. — Southern Utah's Elise Wheeler proved to be one of the bright spots for the Thunderbird gymnastics team as the junior captured the all-around in SUU's season opener. Despite that and some other strong individual performances, Southern Utah opened the season with a 190.450-192.275 loss at Cal-State Fullerton on Friday night.

The evening started rocky for the 'Birds as seniors Erin Morgan and Katie Hicks each recorded falls on bars and the team finished with a 47.200 score. Wheeler finished with a 9.825 to garner the individual title.

Southern Utah then moved to the vault, scoring the best team mark of the evening. The T-Birds tallied a 48.250 during the event with Melissa Johnson (9.725) and Lindsey Schultz (9.675) leading the team. "I thought those two did a great job with vaults that are very new to them," head coach Scott Bauman said. Johnson finished third overall in the event with CSF's Alaina Baker taking the individual title with a 9.775.

Wheeler, once again, paced the T-Birds when the team moved to the floor exercise.

Southern Utah wrapped up the competition on the beam, with four gymnasts suffering major miscues during the rotation.

AGGIES FALL AT HOME: At Logan, Utah State suffered a 193.025-190.800 loss to Central Michigan Friday in the Aggies' 2009 home opener.

Sophomore Nicole Simoneau was Utah State's only event champion, winning the bars with a 9.875, just shy of her career-best of 9.900, as well as tallying her 15th score of 9.800 or higher in 16 career meets. Classmate Lyndsie Boone was the Aggies' top all-arounder, scoring a 38.600, also just 0.025 off of her career-high.