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Broncos cruise to victory in record setting performance
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The No. 29 Boise State gymnastics team took an early lead in a three-team competition Friday night at Taco Bell Arena and never looked back.
They posted a season-high team score of 195.925 in front of a season-high crowd of 1,148. The Cal State Fullerton Titans finished second with a score of 193.825 and the BYU Cougars came in third with a score of 190.625.
On parents’ night, the families of BSU gymnasts accompanied the gymnasts to the floor. Among them was injured sophomore Amy Glass. Glass, who suffered a season-ending neck-injury earlier this year, was back in Boise for the first time since her fall. She was wearing a head brace, but stayed with the team for the entire event, cheering on her teammates throughout the competition.
“Last week Amy came to the Sac State meet, and I can’t tell you what a pick-me-up it was,” BSU co-head coach Neil Resnick said. “Her spirit and her mentality about what she’s dealing with and how she’s dealing with it brings nothing but strength to our team.”
The Broncos started out with an impressive performance on vault in their first rotation. They tied this season’s second-best team score, posting a 48.950. Senior Shaniece Craft won the event with a 9.875, followed by redshirt freshman Chelsea Apple with a 9.850.
Boise State went on to score a season-high of 49.050 on the uneven bars. Redshirt sophomore Katie Tuller started the event off strong, posting a 9.825. Freshman Lindsay Kazandjian struggled in her routine and finished with an 8.000.
Lead by Amber Neroes, the rest of the team picked up the slack. The senior out of Dallas, Texas competed on the bars for the first time this season and didn’t disappoint. She posted a career high of 9.850 to win the event.
“That was my first time actually being able to compete,” Neroes said. “I exhibitioned two weeks in a row and over-rotated on my dismount. So tonight I thought, I need to calm down and do what I need to do, and I was really excited that I could bring it in for the team.”
The Broncos continued to build their lead in the third rotation posting a 48.775 on the balance beam. Neroes put up another season-high, scoring a 9.750. Kelsey Lang finished off the event for the Broncos setting a career high score of 9.900.
Sophomore Sarah Smith ended the night with a record-setting performance on the floor. She put up a near-perfect routine, posting a 9.950. The score ties the school record in the event.
“Personally, I think we have one of the strongest floor teams in the nation,” Smith said. “When all four or five girls hit before me, it sets me up and allows me to relax. Watching them sets me up, gets me even more excited to do my best.”
The Broncos continue their home stand next Saturday in their third and final home meet of the season, hosting Western Athletic Conference rival Southern Utah at 7 p.m.
ANDREAS KREUTZER
Arbiter Journalist
