Southern Utah Thunderbirds women's gymnastics
| 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.
Nickname[edit]
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.
Coaches[edit]
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.
History[edit]
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.
Championship results[edit]
Top 25 in the nation (6)[edit]
SUU has placed in the Top 25 in the nation in 2023, 2021, 2020, 2017, 2015, and 2010.
Conference Champions (3)[edit]
SUU has won 3 Women's Conference Championships – MPSF (1) in 2024, Mountain Rim (1)[33] in 2023, and WAC (1),[34] in 2010.
Second place finishes (6)[edit]
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]
Yearly results[edit]
| 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 |
Team records[edit]
Top team total[37][edit]
| 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 |
Top individual all-around[edit]
| Rank | Score | Gymnast | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 39.600[46] | Niya Randolph | 2024 |
References[edit]
- ^ "Women's Gymnastics". Southern Utah University Athletics.
- ^ "Southern Utah Joins MPSF Women's Gymnastics". mpsports.org.
- ^ "Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Members". Mountain Pacific Sports.
- ^ "Scotty Bauman – Head Coach – Staff Directory". Southern Utah University Athletics.
- ^ "Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association". Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association.
- ^ "After 30 years of coaching Southern Utah gymnastics, Scotty Bauman is still looking forward". The Spectrum.
- ^ "Scotty Bauman: Thirty Years at the Helm of the Flippin' Birds". T-Bird Nation Blog.
- ^ "SUU Gymnastics: Why the Birds Started to Flip". The Spectrum.
- ^ "Scott Bauman". NCAA Directory for Southern Utah University's Gymnastics Coach.
- ^ "Raising the Bar: The Legacy of SUU Gymnastics". Southern Utah News. 29 April 2023.
- ^ "2023 Gymnastics - Los Angeles Regional". Deseret News. 20 March 2023.
- ^ "Stacie Webb Scores First Perfect 10". SUU Gymnastics. 14 March 2017.
- ^ "Elise Wheeler 2010 Gymnast". SUU Gymnastics.
- ^ "2009 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships - All-Americans" (PDF). USA Gymnastics.
- ^ "Southern Utah University's Athletics Hall of Fame 2021-2022 class". The Spectrum.
- ^ "Southern Utah University's Athletics Hall of Fame 2023 class". St. George News.
- ^ "2016 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships - Women's Score Sheet Results" (PDF). USA Gymnastics.
- ^ "2016 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships". USA Gymnastics.
- ^ "2015 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships - Women's Score Sheet Results" (PDF). USA Gymnastics.
- ^ "2010 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships - Women's Score Sheet Results" (PDF). USA Gymnastics.
- ^ "2010 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships". USA Gymnastics.
- ^ "2010 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships - Women's Score Sheet Results" (PDF). USA Gymnastics.
- ^ "2009 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships - Women's Score Sheet Results" (PDF). USA Gymnastics.
- ^ "2009 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships". USA Gymnastics.
- ^ "2009 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships - Women's Score Sheet Results" (PDF). USA Gymnastics.
- ^ "Leah Sakhitab Competing in NCAA All-Around". Deseret News. 20 April 2005.
- ^ "Legacy of SUU Gymnastics". SUU News. 29 April 2023.
- ^ "2015 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships - Women's Score Sheet Results" (PDF). USA Gymnastics.
- ^ "2015 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships". USA Gymnastics.
- ^ "2015 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships - Women's Score Sheet Results" (PDF). USA Gymnastics.
- ^ "2015 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships". USA Gymnastics.
- ^ "SUU Gymnastics Camp". Scotty Bauman Gymnastics Camp.
- ^ "Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference Standings". Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference.
- ^ "SUU Gymnastics Captures WAC Championship". suutbirds.com/sports/womens-gymnastics. 28 March 2010.
- ^ "Road to Nationals: NCAA Gymnastics". Road to Nationals.
- ^ "Road to Nationals Final Standings: NCAA Women's Gymnastics". Road to Nationals.
- ^ "Records and Awards". SUU Gymnastics. 19 February 2021.
- ^ "Second Highest Score". SUU Gymnastics. 7 February 2020.
- ^ "Third Highest Score". SUU Gymnastics. 4 March 2024.
- ^ "Tied for Third Highest Score". SUU Gymnastics. 17 February 2023.
- ^ "Tied for Third Highest Score". SUU Gymnastics. 10 February 2023.
- ^ "Sixth Highest Score". SUU Gymnastics. 24 February 2020.
- ^ "Eighth Highest Score". SUU Gymnastics. 18 February 2022.
- ^ "Ninth Highest Score". SUU Gymnastics. 11 March 2022.
- ^ "Tied for Ninth Highest Score". SUU Gymnastics. 11 February 2022.
- ^ "Record-Breaking All-Around Score". SUU Gymnastics. 4 March 2024.