By Spencer Rodak, Southern Utah Gameday
CEDAR CITY – Hosting in-state and future Pac-12 rival Utah State, the SUU gymnastics team fell 196.875-195.725 Monday night.
Rylee Miller put together a career night for the Flippin’ Birds, setting new personal bests on bars (9.875) and beam (9.900).
Emma Nipper also delivered on beam, earning a career-high score of 9.925.
First rotation – vault
The Thunderbirds began the night on vault, totaling a score of 48.900. Mackenzie Kelly started with a 9.650 before Elliot Bringhurst earned a 9.850. Kayla Pardue was next with a score of 9.825, which Niya Randolph complemented with a 9.800. Vinciane Le Pen (9.525) and Sage Paladino (9.775) then finished out the first rotation.
Elliot turned off gravity! 😱#OneFamilyOneFight ⚡️ #TBirdNation ⚡️ #RaiseTheHammer pic.twitter.com/1xQYF87Jic
— SUU Gymnastics (@SUUGym) March 3, 2026
Second rotation – bars
SUU then moved to bars, totaling a 49.125. Alex Routsis led off with a strong 9.850, and Mia Hampton then added a 9.800 score. Randolph was next with a 9.825 before Rylee Miller posted a career-best 9.875. After a fall, Ariel Collum scored a 9.775 to finish on bars.
🚨CAREER HIGH ALERT FOR RYLEE WITH A 9.875 🚨#OneFamilyOneFight ⚡️ #TBirdNation ⚡️ #RaiseTheHammer pic.twitter.com/tKIticlnRi
— SUU Gymnastics (@SUUGym) March 3, 2026
Third rotation – beam
The Flippin’ Birds were on the beam for the third rotation, receiving a score of 48.425. After a fall on the opening routine from Randolph (9.225), Mia Hampton would follow with a 9.700. Emma Nipper was next, totaling a career-high mark of 9.925, which Miller followed with her own career-best 9.900. Elliot Bringhurst rounded out the scoring with a 9.675.
OH MY 😮💨🤩 🚨CARRER HIGH FOR EMMA WITH A 9.925🚨#OneFamilyOneFight ⚡️ #TBirdNation ⚡️ #RaiseTheHammer pic.twitter.com/9J5s8sKMqW
— SUU Gymnastics (@SUUGym) March 3, 2026
HAVE YOURSELF A DAY RYLEE! 🚨ANOTHER CAREER HIGH ON BEAM WITH A 9.900🚨#OneFamilyOneFight ⚡️ #TBirdNation ⚡️ #RaiseTheHammer pic.twitter.com/CVMnkBjRl5
— SUU Gymnastics (@SUUGym) March 3, 2026
Final rotation – floor
SUU ended the meet on the floor, earning a total score of 49.275. Hampton started with a 9.875 before Miller earned a 9.725. Alyssa Fernandez was next up, notching a 9.775 before Carilia Martinez brought the energy with a 9.875. Berlin Hall’s 9.900 and Randolph’s 9.850 finished things off on a positive note for the T-birds.
Got the AFEC ROCKING 💥🤘#OneFamilyOneFight ⚡️ #TBirdNation ⚡️ #RaiseTheHammer pic.twitter.com/bOVtvS3vMh
— SUU Gymnastics (@SUUGym) March 3, 2026
In the end, the early struggles and multiple falls were too much to overcome for Southern Utah, as Utah State totaled its third-highest score in team history in a 196.875-195.725 win.
Coach Bauman post-meet
Up next
Southern Utah returns to action for its final regular-season meet on Friday, March 6, in Cedar City against Big Ten member Washington.
First touch set for 6:30 p.m. and the meet can be seen via the Overnght streaming platform.
Photo courtesy of SUU Athletics.