Southern Utah Thunderbirds | |
---|---|
University | Southern Utah University |
Head coach | Scott Bauman (33rd season) |
Conference | MPSF |
Location | Cedar City, Utah |
Nickname | Thunderbirds |
Colors | scarlet & white |
Conference championships | |
MPSF: 2024 Mountain Rim: 2023 WAC: 2010 |
The Southern Utah Thunderbirds women's gymnastics team [1] is the women's gymnastics team that represents Southern Utah University (SUU) in Cedar City, Utah. Home meets are held in the America First Events Center. The school's team, alternately nicknamed Flippin' Birds, currently competes in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) from 2024 [2] [3] forward. SUU previously competed in the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference from 2014 to 2023, Western Athletic Conference (WAC) from 2006 to 2013 and from 1991 to 1993, the Western Gymnastics Conference from 2002 to 2005, and was Independent from 1994 to 2001. The Thunderbirds are currently coached by Scott Bauman. [4]
The Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) [5] represents the nation's intercollegiate gymnastics coaches within the NCAA. SUU is one of 83 NCAA women's gymnastics teams in the nation. In the NCAA Regional Championships, there are 4 Regions of 8 teams each, which totals 32 teams. You need to be one of the top two teams in your Region to advance to the Semi-finals, which has 8 teams. Top scoring individuals can go to the Semi-finals. The Final has 4 teams.
The women's gymnastics team is also known as the Flippin' Birds. [6] [7] The nickname "Flippin Birds" [8] had its origins around the turn of the century in 2000. A young gymnast asked SUU coach Scott Bauman if they were the Flippin' Birds? He responded no, but that he liked it. They played around with the name a bit and made a shirt that year, and people loved it. Ever since then, the SUU women's gymnastics team has had the moniker of the Flippin' Birds.
Scott Bauman: [9] Head Women's Gymnastics Coach from 1992–present (2024) (33 years). Led the Thunderbirds to 2 Conference Championships. Bauman was named the Region II Coach of the Year in 2023, and he was the 1993 Midwest Region Coach of the Year, 2010 WAC Coach of the Year, and the North Central Region Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2010.
Over the past 40 years, as 2024 will be the 40th anniversary of SUU's women's gymnastics program dating back to the 1985 season, the Southern Utah gymnastics program has risen from a relatively unknown program to a prominent powerhouse in collegiate gymnastics. [10] Southern Utah has qualified for NCAA Regionals on 19 different occasions. SUU competed in the NAIA Women's Gymnastics Championships (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) (NAIA) Nationals in 1985, 1986, and 1988, with their best finish of 7th place in 1988. Southern Utah University's women's gymnastics team has been referred to as "arguably one of the most successful 'small schools' in women's college gymnastics. [11] SUU has won 13 Academic National Championships and taken second 9 times. Stacie Webb scored the first perfect 10 in school history when she did it on balance beam in 2017. [12] Elise Wheeler [13] is the most decorated gymnast in SUU history. Elise was a 3-time All-American on bars (first team), balance beam (first team), and floor (second team) [14] at the 2009 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championship. She is on the List of former United States women's national gymnastics team rosters in 2000-01 as a Junior National Team member, she was inducted into Southern Utah University's Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the 2021-2022 class, [15] and she was part of the 2010 SUU gymnastics team that was also inducted into Southern Utah University's Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the 2023 class [16]
Four Southern Utah gymnasts have competed at the NCAA women's gymnastics tournament (Championships) in the all-around individual category:
Year | Gymnast | All-Around Place | Vault | Uneven Bars | Balance Beam | Floor |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | Danielle Ramirez | 26th [17] [18] | 66th [19] | 71st | 66th | 58th |
2010 | Elise Wheeler | 22nd [20] [21] | 40th [22] | 15th | 21st | 21st |
2009 | Elise Wheeler | 17th [23] [24] | 13th [25] | 6th | 28th | |
2008 | Elise Wheeler | |||||
2005 | Leah Sakhitab [26] | 23rd [27] | ||||
1995 | Angie Gunnel | |||||
Two Southern Utah gymnasts have competed at nationals on individual apparatuses:
Year | Gymnast | Apparatus |
---|---|---|
2015 | Jamie Armijo | Uneven Bars-14th [28] [29] |
2015 | Ana Jawarski | Balance Beam-30th [30] [31] |
Each year, Southern Utah University hosts an annual women's gymnastics camp. [32] The camp started in 2010. The summer of 2024 will be the 15th year of the camp.
SUU has placed in the Top 25 in the nation in 2023, 2021, 2020, 2017, 2015, and 2010.
SUU has won 3 Women's Conference Championships – MPSF (1) in 2024, Mountain Rim (1) [33] in 2023, and WAC (1), [34] in 2010.
Mountain Rim (2) in 2017 and 2015, Western (3) in 2005, 2004, and 2002, and WAC (1) in 2001.
The Road to Nationals [35] is the official statistical site of NCAA Gymnastics (women's gymnastics) in the United States. Below are the final yearly results: [36]
Year | Coach | NCAA Rankings | Regionals | Conference Championships |
---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | Scott Bauman | 27th | 8th | 1st |
2023 | Scott Bauman | 22nd | 6th | 1st |
2022 | Scott Bauman | 28th | 7th | 4th |
2021 | Scott Bauman | 23rd | 7th | 3rd |
2020 | Scott Bauman | 22nd | COVID-19 | 3rd |
2019 | Scott Bauman | 26th | 7th | 3rd |
2018 | Scott Bauman | 35th | 6th | 4th |
2017 | Scott Bauman | 22nd | 4th | 2nd |
2016 | Scott Bauman | 27th | 6th | 3rd |
2015 | Scott Bauman | 16th | 3rd | 2nd |
2014 | Scott Bauman | 26th | 5th | 3rd |
2013 | Scott Bauman | 31st | 5th | 5th |
2012 | Scott Bauman | 42nd | 10th | 3rd |
2011 | Scott Bauman | 33rd | 6th | 2nd |
2010 | Scott Bauman | 18th | 3rd | 1st |
2009 | Scott Bauman | 35th | 6th | 3rd |
2008 | Scott Bauman | 28th | 5th | 3rd |
2007 | Scott Bauman | 38th | ||
2006 | Scott Bauman | 37th | 3rd | |
2005 | Scott Bauman | 30th | 5th | 2nd |
2004 | Scott Bauman | 30th | 4th | 2nd |
2003 | Scott Bauman | 37th | 3rd | |
2002 | Scott Bauman | 28th | 6th | 2nd |
2001 | Scott Bauman | 47th | ||
2000 | Scott Bauman | 33rd | 6th | |
1999 | Scott Bauman | 43rd | ||
1998 | Scott Bauman | 42nd | ||
1997 | Scott Bauman | |||
1996 | Scott Bauman | |||
1995 | Scott Bauman | |||
1994 | Scott Bauman | |||
1993 | Scott Bauman | 4th | ||
1992 | Scott Bauman | |||
1991 | ||||
Rank | Score | Meet | Year |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 197.275 | Utah State | 2021 |
2 | 197.225 [38] | Central Michigan | 2020 |
3 | 197.125 [39] | Brigham Young | 2024 |
3 | 197.125 [40] | Utah State | 2023 |
3 | 197.125 [41] | Brigham Young | 2023 |
6 | 197.075 [42] | Pittsburgh | 2020 |
6 | 197.075 | NC State | 2017 |
8 | 197.000 [43] | Brigham Young | 2022 |
9 | 196.975 [44] | William & Mary | 2022 |
9 | 196.975 [45] | Utah State | 2022 |
Rank | Score | Gymnast | Year |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 39.600 [46] | Niya Randolph | 2024 |
The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) is an NCAA Division I conference. The WAC covers a broad expanse of the western United States with member institutions located in Arizona, California, Texas, Utah and Washington.
The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) is a college athletic conference with members located mostly in the western United States, although it now has members as far east as Pennsylvania. The conference participates at the NCAA Division I level, primarily in Olympic sports that are not directly sponsored by a school's home conference.
The BYU Cougars are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Brigham Young University (BYU), located in Provo, Utah. BYU fields 21 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) varsity athletic teams. They are a member of the Big 12 Conference for all sports except men's volleyball which is a member of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. They were a member of the West Coast Conference from 2011 to 2022. From 1999 to 2011 they were a member of the Mountain West Conference and before the formation of the MW, the Cougars competed in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the Mountain States Conference, and the Western Athletic Conference. BYU officially joined the Big 12 Conference on July 1, 2023.
Samantha Nicole Peszek is an American former artistic gymnast. She was a member of the U.S. women's gymnastics team at the 2008 Summer Olympics, which won silver.
The UCLA Bruins women's gymnastics team represents the University of California, Los Angeles and competes in the Big Ten Conference. They compete in Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California. The team, coached by Janelle McDonald, has won 21 Regional titles and seven NCAA National Championships, most recently in 2018.
Jillian Amaris Kraus is a water polo player. She won a gold medal in the 2005 Junior World Championships, won four straight NCAA Women's Water Polo Championships with UCLA, and has played with the United States women's national water polo team.
The Utah Valley Wolverines represent Utah Valley University in NCAA DI collegiate athletics and sponsor 16 sporting programs. The Wolverines participate in the Western Athletic Conference. The school mascot is the Wolverine, and the colors are green and white. The UVU student section is called The Den. A name change from The Mawl, the student section's previous name, was enacted in 2017. All UVU students can get their Den pass, which includes free admission to all athletic events.
The UC Davis Aggies are the athletic teams that represent the University of California, Davis.
The Southern Utah Thunderbirds are the varsity athletic teams representing Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah in intercollegiate athletics. The university sponsors thirteen teams including five men's sports: basketball, cross country, football, golf, and track and field and eight women's sports: basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, track and field, and volleyball. The baseball program was dropped after the 2011–12 season. The Thunderbirds compete in NCAA Division I and joined the Big Sky Conference on July 1, 2012, after departing from The Summit League.
The Alabama Crimson Tide gymnastics is a Division I gymnastics team representing the University of Alabama in NCAA competition. The Tide hosts its home matches in Coleman Coliseum on the university's Tuscaloosa, Alabama campus. One of only eight gymnastics teams to win the national title, the Crimson Tide has won six NCAA championships, ten SEC championships, and an NCAA-record 32 Regional championships. The team is led by first-year head coach Ashley Priess-Johnston, who succeeded Dana Duckworth following the 2022 season.
The Southern Utah Thunderbirds football program is a college football team that represents Southern Utah University (SUU). With a history dating back to 1963, SUU currently competes in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision as a member of the United Athletic Conference.
The Utah Utes women's gymnastics team, also known as the Red Rocks, represents the University of Utah and competes at the Division I level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as members of the Pac-12 Conference. Home meets are held in the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. As of the end of the 2024 season, the Red Rocks have won 10 national championships, including nine NCAA Gymnastics championships, and been runner-up nine times. The Red Rocks are the only team to have qualified for every NCAA Championships and have never finished lower than 10th. The team was coached from its inception by Greg Marsden until his retirement after the 2015 season. Carly Dockendorf is the current head coach, after the release of Tom Farden in 2023.
Kyla Briana Ross is a retired American artistic gymnast and current assistant coach for the Arkansas Razorbacks gymnastics team. She is the first female gymnast to win NCAA, World, and Olympic championship titles.
Samantha "Sami" Shapiro is an American gymnast. She is a five-time member of the US Women's National Gymnastics Team. She was the 2007 U.S. junior uneven bars champion, 2008 U.S. junior uneven bars and balance beam champion, 2008 Pan American Champion in both women's uneven bars and balance beam, and 2014 NCAA uneven bars silver medalist.
MyKayla Brooke Skinner Harmer is an American former artistic gymnast. She was the 2020 Olympic vault silver medalist and was an alternate for the 2016 Olympic team. Skinner competed at the 2014 World Championships where she contributed to the U.S. team's gold medal, also winning an individual bronze medal on vault. She won 11 total medals at the USA National Championships during her senior career. She also competed for the University of Utah's gymnastics team and was a two-time NCAA champion.
The NCAA women's gymnastics tournament is an annual gymnastics competition to determine the best collegiate women's gymnastics team in the country. Unlike most NCAA sports, the women's gymnastics championship is not separated into divisions and uses a single National Collegiate tournament instead.
The Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference (MRGC) was a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I women's gymnastics conference for schools that do not have women's gymnastics as a sponsored sport in their primary conferences. Established in 2013 and sponsoring its first competitions in 2014, the conference was recognized by the NCAA in the summer of 2014 and held its first "official" championships in March 2015 with qualifying athletes advancing to the Regionals of the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships. The conference was dissolved in 2023 after three of its four members departed; Utah State and Boise State began competing in their primary conference of the Mountain West after it added women's gymnastics as a sponsored sport, and BYU moved to the Big 12 along with the rest of the school's athletic programs.
Maile O'Keefe is an American artistic gymnast. She was a member of the U.S. National Team and is the 2016 and 2017 U.S. Junior National Champion. She is the 2023 NCAA all-around champion as well as a 4x NCAA event champion.
Natalie Wojcik is a former American artistic gymnast. She competed for the Michigan Wolverines women's gymnastics team, and is a seven-time All-American.
The Southern Utah Thunderbirds men's cross country team is the men's cross country team that represents Southern Utah University (SUU) in Cedar City, Utah. The school's team currently competes in the Western Athletic Conference from 2022 forward. SUU previously competed in the Big Sky Conference from 2012 to 2021, the Summit League from 2007 to 2011, the Mid-Continent Conference from 1997 to 2006, the American West Conference from 1993 to 1996, Independent from 1987 to 1992, and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference from 1967 to 1986. The Thunderbirds are currently coached by Eric Houle. SUU is one of 319 NCAA Division I cross country teams in the nation.