SUU vs UCLA Gymnastics Meet

The Thunderbird Gymnastics team upset the NCAA defending national champion UCLA Bruins 194.750 - 194.425 in front of a home crowd of more than 5,000 in the Centrum on Friday, January 14.

"This was an incredible meet tonight, " head coach Scott Bauman said at the end of the night. "The crowd really made all the difference. I don't want to take away from our gymnasts, but that crowd was what really helped us win by three-tenths tonight."

UCLA head coach Valorie Kondos Field was equally impressed with the SUU crowd. After the meet she came on the floor to speak to the crowd over the public address system and called the Centrum atmosphere the best competitive atmosphere she has ever experienced. She also praised our Thunderbird team and coaching staff.

Take a look at a few pictures from this historic meet, courtesy of Dr. Deb Hill and Dr. Greg Stauffer:

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Left to right: Lindsey Schultz, Bailey Pendley, Ari Lamb & Caitlin Kennedy

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Left to right: Lauren Jeffrey, Shannon Coughlin, Michaela Chernoch & Brooke Cersosimo

Prior to the meet, SUU Alumni, Thunderbird Athletics and SUUSA hosted a party in the Sharwan Smith Center Rotunda that was attended by an estimated 1,000 Flippin' Birds fans.

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Left to right: Jared Wilcken ('98), Karl Bradshaw ('58) & Jeannine Davis serve up sandwiches; Enoch & Tasha Decker ('01) Seegmiller family and Thor enjoying the food and festivities.

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Left to right: Louise Hill Jones ('72) and Brenda Stones Schmutz ('82); Patrick Terrones & Marsha Rowley ('10) two of the busiest and hardest working members of the SUU Facilities staff.