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] In July 2026, the Flippin' Birds will become single-sport members of the Pac-12 Conference.[5]
The Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA)[6] 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.
Nickname
The women's gymnastics team is also known as the Flippin' Birds.[7][8] The nickname "Flippin Birds"[9] 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.
Coaches
Scott Bauman:[10] Head Women's Gymnastics Coach from 1992–present (2025) (34 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, 2025 MPSF Coach of the Year, 2010 WAC Coach of the Year, and the North Central Region Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2010.
History
Over the past 40 years, as 2024 was 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.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13] Elise Wheeler[14] 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)[15] 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,[16] 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[17]
Four Southern Utah gymnasts have competed at the NCAA women's gymnastics tournament (Championships) in the all-around individual category:
Each year, Southern Utah University hosts an annual women's gymnastics camp.[33] The camp started in 2010. The summer of 2025 will be the 16th year of the camp.
Championship results
Top 25 in the nation (7)
SUU has placed in the Top 25 in the nation in 2025, 2023, 2021, 2020, 2017, 2015, and 2010.
Conference Champions (4)
SUU has won 4 Women's Conference Championships – MPSF (2) in 2025 and 2024, Mountain Rim (1)[34] in 2023, and WAC (1),[35] in 2010.
Second place finishes (6)
Mountain Rim (2) in 2017 and 2015, Western (3) in 2005, 2004, and 2002, and WAC (1) in 2001.
The Road to Nationals[36] is the official statistical site of NCAA Gymnastics (women's gymnastics) in the United States. Below are the final yearly results:[37]
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