By Angie Christiaens
The Boise State’s gymnastics team competed against Southern Utah on Friday in the last home meet at Taco Bell Arena. The Broncos, who are 9-2 in the season, beat the Thunderbirds 196.575-195.600 making it Boise State’s best overall score for the season and tying the school’s eighth
best record.
Beginning in the first rotation, the Broncos participated in the vault event where the overall team score was 48.875 winning that event over the Thunderbird’s 48.775 overall score. Junior Amanda Otuafi from Sparks, Nev.,received the best score of this event with a 9.90.
Then the blue and orange moved into their second rotation, featuring the bar, which they competed well in receiving a team score of 49.250 over Southern Utah who received a 48.675.
The leader for the Broncos in this event was all around gymnast, Kelsey Morris, who contended well gaining a score of 9.90. Boise State also tied the 10th best record in school history with this overall team score
of 49.250.
Changing into the third rotation, the Broncos balanced their way to a score of 48.875 on the beam making it the only event loss to the Thunderbirds who gained
a 49.125.
The high-point competitor in this event was senior Brittany Potvin-Green, who scored a 9.825.
In the final rotation of the night, the Broncos took to the floor exercise where they really shined.
They gained a team score of 49.575, their highest score of the night winning yet again over Southern Utah who only scored 49.025. Proving their strength over Southern Utah, Boise State’s Kelsey Black and Potvin-Green both scored a solid 9.950 to clinch the win.
“It’s (floor exercise) something that I struggled with last year,” Potvin-Green said. “And when I came up this year, I was really confident with it, and it’s so much fun.”
Ending with a record victory for the last home meet and senior night, the Broncos commemorated the three seniors on the team, Erin Wippermann, Brittany Potvin-Green and Cristy Dahlquist.
“It’s really crazy, I mean it’s such a bittersweet feeling, to just end with these girls and the team,” Wippermann said on the memorable night. “It’s just so amazing, but it’s so hard at the same time because you know it’s over. It was such a great way to finish.”
To improve for the upcoming meet, Co-Head Coach Tina Bird noted there were just some small things to clear up.
“I think just fixing a few more details, some more landings on vaults and getting rid of those little wobbles on beam,” Bird said.
Boise State will strive for victory next in San Jose next Friday, March 8 against San Jose State.
