Aggies comeback against Hornets

The Aggies won their first gymnastics duel meet Friday, beating California State University, Sacramento 193.875-193.400.

The meet matched a pair of sisters together. Aggie junior Amelia Montoya and CSUS's Maddie Montoya did not compete head to head in the same events, but Amelia Montoya said she enjoyed seeing her sister at the meet.

"It was pretty awesome to compete against my sister," Montoya said. "We're definitely close, and, so, I just wanted her to do good, and I think she wanted the same for me. We've always been really competitive, because she was always the more naturally gifted one when we were kids. There's always that sister rivalry, but it's healthy, and it's friendly."

Utah State won four of five events to earn its first conference win.

Freshman Kaitlyn Betts won the uneven parallel bars with a score of 9.825, followed by sophomore Paige Jones with a 9.800.

USU head coach Jeff Richards said it feels good to get the win, especially with the way his team has performed so well on the bars lately.

"It's exciting," he said. "I can't tell you how nervous I was. I was shaking so bad, because you hope you hit every time and nothing ever happens, but I was real nervous. It's exciting to see that we can hit."

Senior Rebecca Holliday won the beam title with a 9.825, followed by freshman Sarah Landes, who scored 9.775.

"It was a little scary at first," Richards said. "When Susie (Miller) fell (during her beam routine), I pulled the girls together and said ‘Hey, you guys, keep this going.' It's not over until the last person goes, and they kept fighting. Finally we got that W, so it's good."

Landes won the all-around competition with a 39.050 and shared the floor title with Sacramento State sophomore Kailey Hansen.

"We've been putting a little more emphasis on them trusting themselves," Richards said of USU's floor routine practices. "This team is so young, and to see them fighting the way they are is incredible."

– tavin.stucki@aggiemail.usu.edu