As the 2012 season approaches, the Southern Utah University Gymnastics team has been working hard to pick up exactly where they left off last season.
After what was a very successful season despite being impacted by injuries, the SUU Flippin’ Birds are looking to build on their success in recent years.
The team lost eight of their 12 athletes on scholarship from last year’s team. In other words, there are some big shoes to be filled at SUU. With team leaders Lindsey Schultz, Ari Lamb, and Jenna Vogt departed, the time is now for seniors Lauren Jeffery and Brook Cersosimo along with juniors Caitlin Kennedy, Michaela Chernoch, and Alyssa Click to step up.
Last season SUU pulled one of the biggest upsets in school history when they defeated the defending national champion UCLA Bruins at the Centrum Arena.
With only four home meets scheduled for this season, it’s obvious SUU’s success is shining nationwide. The University of Kentucky and University of Arizona canceled meets against SUU in Cedar City this season.
Head Coach Scott Bauman said, “I would be afraid to come to a school like this, too, in that environment. The Centrum is a very tough place to compete in gymnastics because it’s very loud down on the floor. It’s a great place. People love coming here but, if you’re a huge school, it’s a scary place to come compete.”
SUU opens its 2012 season at home on January 13 against Missouri before hosting Brigham Young University the following week. You can find the entire 2012 season schedule here.
