Women’s Gymnastics with Three First-Place Finishes in Home Opener

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Anna Salamone and Tyler Davis combined for three first-place finishes in Air Force's home opener against Utah State, Saturday evening in Cadet West Gym, at the United States Air Force Academy. Utah State posted 195.550 team score, besting the Falcons who recorded a 192.375.

VAULT
The Falcons opened up action on the vault where senior co-team captains Anna Salamone and Heidi Sand led the way finishing first and tied for second, respectively. Air Force posted a 48.475 team score, setting a season-high mark for the squad. Four Air Force gymnasts scored personal season-high marks; Salamone posted a 9.850, Sand scored a 9.825, sophomore Daija Stevenson scored a 9.750 and junior Brooke Bruder posted a 9.650. Other Falcons to post results were Grace Bardes (9.400) and Chloe Camello (9.025).

Utah State scored a 48.725 on the vault, led by Leighton Varnadore's 9.825 and second-place tie.

UNEVEN BARS
Salamone continued to shine in the next event, scoring a season-high 9.900 for her second true-first finish of the night. Stevenson had the next best score for the Falcons, finishing sixth with a 9.675 to tie her season-best mark. The remaining Air Force gymnasts to post scores were Tyler Davis (8^th, 9.600), Jessica Kirkpatrick (9^th, 9.250), Amber Boll (10^th, 9.175) and Pixie Brock (12^th, 9.000).

Utah State posted a 48.725 team score, led by Grace Rojas' second-place finish with a 9.800.

BALANCE BEAM
Stevenson had the highlight performance in the Falcons' third event, scoring a team-high 9.800, tying her season-best and finishing tied for third place. Sand had the next best finish for Air Force, posting a career-best 9.725 for a seventh-place finish. Sophomore Pixie Brock also posted a career-best 9.525 to finish eighth. Boll finished 10^th with a 9.475, Davis finished 11^th with a 8.950 and Briona Carswell finished 12^th with an 8.875.

Utah State posted its best team score on the beam, recording a 49.200 with Sofi Sullivan scoring a 9.975 and Autumn DeHarde scoring a 9.900 for first and second-place respectively.

FLOOR EXERCISE
Tyler Davis capped off the evening with a first-place finish on the floor exercise, posting a 9.925 while helping Air Force to a season-high 48.825 team score. Sophomore teammate Pixie Brock had a career-best performance, scoring 9.800 to tie for third place. Sophomores Natalie Meyer and Cameo Stapleton finished seventh and eighth with 9.725 and 9.700, respectively. Teammates Brooke Bruder (10^th, 9.675) and Salamone (11^th, 9.650) rounded out Air Force's action in the event.

Utah State scored a 48.900 in the event, led by Autumn DeHarde's 9.875 finish.

ALL-AROUND
Air Force did not have a gymnast compete in the all-around. Utah State's Sofi Sullivan took the first-place finish with a 39.325 while teammate Leighton Varnadore posted a 39.025.

Up next, Air Force travels to the University of Denver to compete in a tri-meet with the fourth-ranked Denver Pioneers and Ball State on Sunday, February 2. Action is slated to begin at 2 p.m. MT in Magness Arena.

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