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Gymnasts roll through weekend series
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In gymnastics wins and losses are secondary.
What really concerns the Boise State gymnastics team is the score. The team’s scores have been on a steady incline as the season has progressed, priming the squad for the Western Athletic Conference tournament March 24.
Monday, the Broncos posted their highest score of the season, a 194.775. The fact that the Broncos edged out Brigham Young University to win at Taco Bell Arena wasn’t as important as achieving such a high team score. The Cougars scored a 194.525, just a smidgeon behind.
What matters to head coach Sam Sandmire is that her gymnasts are getting better.
As the scores rise, so do the chances of the Broncos taking more members of the team to the national tournament.
“We want to be up in that 195-195 range, but you won’t get there until you hit everything,” Sandmire said after the Utah state meet. “It’s nice to put together another good meet, but there’s also room for improvement.”
The past four meets, the Broncos have scored 194.225, 188.875, 193.525 and a season-high 194.775 Monday against BYU. The 188.875 was in a loss at Cal State Fullerton, where junior all-arounder Kristen Aldrich had a nasty fall in warm-ups and did not compete. Lindsay Ward was also reeling from an upper respiratory infection and only competed in two events.
The Broncos rebounded from that loss with a strong performance at home, again without Aldrich. BSU beat its most heated rival (Utah State University) and Seattle Pacific with freshmen Shaniece Craft and Taylor Jacob both competing in the all-around.
“It feels good; our last meet out of town, we struggled,” Sandmire said. “So it’s good to come back and hit almost everything. And we’re looking forward to doing more.”
It really feels good to have the win.,Utah stsate is one of our toughest rivals.
Jacob has been getting significant playing time this year. She has steadily increased her skills in all facets of her game.
“Taylor has cleaned up her bar routine,” Sandmire said. “She has a beautiful floor (routine), but she’s had a f
Jacob tallied personal bests in both the uneven bars (9.775) and in the all-around (38.75).
“I’m so excited,” Jacob said. “I got thrown into the all-around right away and I didn’t do so well, so this makes it all worthwhile. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to do the all-around again and I got to come in and get a personal best, I’m so excited.”
Jacob would again improve those personal bests Monday against BYU. She helped lead the Bronco team to the narrow win with a 39.1 in the all-around. She tied for first place with BSU senior Kea Cuaresma.
Jacob says that her teammates have welcomed her with open arms.
“I fit in so well,” Jacob said. “I love it here These are the coolest girls. It’s like family. We’re so close and I don’t see that with a lot of teams, I love it.”
Cuaresma won the floor exercise Monday with a 9.850 and Jacob won the uneven bars event with a 9.875. Lindsay Ward won the balance beam with a 9.875, but did not compete in the all-around.
Craft also put in a great run Monday, finishing fourth in the all-around with a 38.1, edging the Broncos to the win.
“It was fun to see our team put it all together tonight.” Boise State coach Sam Sandmire said. “Now we just need to carry momentum from this on to the road. It was especially fun watching Kea and Taylor tie for first in the all-around.”
The Broncos scored a season high as a team on bars with a 48.5.
Katie Dinsmore scored a team-high 9.8 on vault, but still took second in the event to BYU’s Dayna Smart, whom had a 9.85.
The Broncos again totaled a season-high score on beam against BYU (48.8).
To prove that the BYU meet was the best so far for BSU, it was cemented by a season-high score of 48.875 on the floor routine, led by Cuaresma’s 9.85.
Kristen Aldrich is still listed as day-to-day, but should return to the lineup soon.
The Broncos next visit Arizona State in the Unos Classic Feb. 24.
Dustin Lapray
Assistant Sports Editor
