Three SUU TBirds Earn Weekly MPSF Awards

The Flippin' Birds are doing it again. SUU gymnastics got recognition by the MPSF this week.

Here's the press release by Regan Hunsaker - Assistant AD for Sports Information (full article here)

CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation has announced the first round of weekly awards, and the Flippin' Birds have swept this week, earning all three honors. Niya Randolph was named the Gymnast of the Week, Alex Routsis earned the title of Freshman of the Week, and Aubri Schwartze picked up the Specialist of the Week award.

Coach Scotty Bauman Said

"These athletes have worked hard preparing for the season, and to earn this recognition in week one is a huge accomplishment. They showed up this weekend ready to go and did some amazing gymnastics. In our conference, there are some outstanding athletes that could all qualify for these awards, so it is great to have the conference recognize our athletes and their exceptional opening weekend."

Specialist Schwartze

Aubri Schwartze has been a fixture with the Flippin' Birds since her arrival on campus. The Senior from Ames, Iowa, has become a top scorer for the team and a leader. Schwartze achieved a personal best score of 9.90 on the bars, accompanied by a 9.85 on the beam and 9.775 on floor exercise. Her contributions were vital in the Thunderbirds' overall score during their first competition of the season at the Las Vegas Mean Girls Super 16. Schwartze's impressive 9.900 score led the way for SUU's bars total of 49.300, which now stands as the fifth-best in both the school's and conference's history.

Debuting as Gymnasts of the Week

Niya Randolph, a freshman from Las Vegas, NV, showcased her talent by securing top scores for the Flippin' Birds, hitting 9.825 on the floor and reaching an impressive 39.300 in the all-around category. Her standout performances contributed significantly to the Thunderbirds' overall score of 196.025 at the inaugural MPSF-era meet for Southern Utah. The Thunderbirds competed at the Mean Girls Super 16 held in Las Vegas on January 6 to open the 2024 campaign. Southern Utah faced stiff competition from three ranked opponents: No. 13 Oregon State, No. 18 Minnesota, and No. 31 BYU. Randolph's consistency shone through with scores of 9.875 on the uneven bars, 9.825 on the vault, and 9.775 on the balance beam in her collegiate debut, earning her the title of MPSF Gymnast of the Week.

Flying Freshman

In her first collegiate appearance, Southern Utah freshman Alex Routsis from Falcon, CO, made a notable impact by contributing to the Thunderbirds' strong performance on the bars. Her impressive score of 9.850 helped propel the team to achieve 49.300 on this apparatus. Competing against formidable opponents, Southern Utah's collective effort resulted in a bars total that will remain in the record books as one of the top scores in both school and conference history.

Next Up

The Flippin' Birds will travel North on January 15 to compete in the Rio Tinto Kennecott Best of Utah Meet. The meet brings together the four teams from across the state who compete in gymnastics, including the University of Utah, Utah State, and BYU. The meet will be held at the Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah, beginning at 4:00 p.m. MT. To get your tickets, go to

https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1E005F50ED5925C1

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