After successfully integrating a huge freshman class into the program for another top-30 finish, the Thunderbirds will be put to the test maintaining that status quo as a group of key routines are in need of replacing. Helping the cause is budding star Niya Rudolph, who’s set for a breakout sophomore season, as she’ll be looked upon to lead Southern Utah to its sixth-straight regionals.
2024 Rewind
No. 27 overall | No. 1 at MPSFs | No. 33 in regular season | Regional semifinals
The Thunderbirds made a healthy jump in ranking from the regular season to the final after a walk-off win in round one of regionals and a strong showing during the semifinal. While Southern Utah is set for another season on the postseason bubble, it opens as the favorite in the MPSF race to defend the title.
Losses & Gains
| Returning | In |
| Seniors Ellie Cacciola Taylor Gull Isabelle Neff Juniors Trista Goodman Kayla Pardue Amelia Rieder Ellie Thomson Sophomores Elliot Bringhurst Brinlee Christensen Marisa de Groot Maria Ferguson Alyssa Fernandez Mackenzie Kelly Brinley Kitchen Carilia Martinez Kendall McGuire Rylee Miller Niya Randolph Alex Routsis | Freshmen Emily Countryman Mia Hampton Emma Nipper Mya North Sage Paladino |
| Out | |
| Graduated Aly Coutu (UB, BB) Anna Hartley (BB) Aubri Schwartze (UB, BB, FX) Retired Kennedi McClain (VT, BB) |
Apparatus Deep Dive
Vault
2024 Event Ranking: No. 35 | NQS: 49.130 | Average: 49.042
| Event Overview: Vault was a consistent event for the Thunderbirds in 2024, it just wasn’t a high-scoring one. Luckily, all but one vault returns to allow Southern Utah’s lineup to grow, and they must do so in power and landings. Kayla Pardue, Taylor Gull, and Brinlee Christensen hold the team’s lone 10.0 start values and will have to dial in on landings to wrap up a lineup of prior Yurchenko fulls. Of the contenders, Goodman got the nod most often a season ago. | ||
| Locks: Ellie Cacciola, Brinlee Christensen, Taylor Gull, Kayla Pardue, Niya Randolph | ||
| Contenders: Trista Goodman, Mackenzie Kelly | ||
| Wildcards: Emily Countryman, Mia Hampton, Sage Paladino |
Bars
2024 Event Ranking: No. 23 | NQS: 49.270 | Average: 49.475
| Event Overview: This was easily Southern Utah’s best event in 2024, and if the five returnees can hit every single meet, it will be again. Depth is where things get tricky, though, as the locks are the only five Thunderbirds who competed bars in 2024 left on this roster. An untested routine will be needed to fill out the top six. If Paladino can work out a dismount, the rest of her routine is college-ready. | ||
| Locks: Brinlee Christensen, Trista Goodman, Isabella Neff, Niya Randolph, Alex Roustsis | ||
| Contenders: Mia Hampton, Sage Paladino | ||
| Wildcards: N/A |
Beam
2024 Event Ranking: No. 26 | NQS: 49.225 | Average: 48.908
| Event Overview: Depth is a concern once again on beam, as half of last season’s top six is gone from one of the Thunderbirds’ stronger events. What Southern Utah does return is strong, but filling half a lineup is no easy task. However, the most likely freshman routine comes here, as former three-star recruit Emma Nipper can contribute from day one. | ||
| Locks: Ellie Cacciola, Alyssa Fernandez, Niya Randolph | ||
| Contenders: Elliot Bringhurst, Mia Hampton, Emma Nipper, Sage Paladino | ||
| Wildcards: Isabella Neff |
Floor
2024 Event Ranking: No. 46 | NQS: 49.190 | Average: 49.035
| Event Overview: The Thunderbirds’ floor lineup had no issues being consistent in 2024—it just had trouble breaking through for any big scores; the lineup maxed out at 49.300 last season. Promisingly, the entire top six returns, meaning we know, at minimum, what to expect from Southern Utah. It will be up to the returnees to up their game. However, former three-star recruit Mia Hampton could sneak in a few appearances when the upperclassmen are given a rest. | ||
| Locks: Ellie Cacciola, Brinlee Christensen, Alyssa Fernandez, Taylor Gull, Kayla Pardue, Niya Randolph | ||
| Contenders: Mia Hampton, Emma Nipper | ||
| Wildcards: Emily Countryman |
Records Watch
Team: 197.275 | AA: 39.600 | VT: 49.325/9.950 | UB: 49.475/9.975 | BB: 49.450/10.000 | FX: 49.550/9.950
In just her freshman season, Niya Randolph popped off for a school-record all-around total that she’ll certainly aim to break again throughout her career. Here’s to hoping she brings back her split-legged double layout on floor to do it.
The Big Picture
Southern Utah almost has it all together, with four or five solid sets returning on every event. But, it’s the unseen routines that must now step into the limelight that creates the high-ceiling, low-floor type of situation the Thunderbirds find themselves in. You can only rely on returnees so much, but the group Southern Utah has can carry this squad quite far.
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Article by Brandis Heffner
