Statesman Sports Desk Winter 2026

FRESHWATER AND MARINE ECOLOGY Study

Department of Watershed Sciences

Letter from the editor

Aggie Nation,

Thank you for reading the Statesman Sports Winter Magazine. In this magazine, you will find feature stories on athletes from men’s and women’s basketball and women’s gymnastics. From all of us at USU Student Media, we hope you find the stories and content in this magazine engaging and that it gives you some insight into the lives of student-athletes who make Utah State special.

Winters in Logan can be cold, long, snowy and downright dismal at times. Each of the included teams compete in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on USU’s Logan campus. For me, those winter nights inside the Spectrum watching and covering these teams and student-athletes offer a warm beacon I look forward to all year long. So much so that I even have a painting of the Spectrum framed in my apartment.

Anyone who has experienced the magic that resides inside the Spectrum knows this magic has little to do with the structure itself; it’s the Cache Valley community, the HURD, the studentathletes and the incredible moments we experience together that truly make it magical. Each student-athlete, whether born and raised in Cache Valley or experiencing Spectrum Magic for the first season, has a unique story to tell.

These athletes aren’t just special players — they’re special people. As we embark this winter to tell the stories of these special people, we thank you for your interest and support. We would also like to thank the student-athletes, families, coaching staffs, SIDs and athletic department personnel for the access necessary to properly cover these teams and athletes.

This winter, I hope each of you can experience Spectrum Magic in your own unique way — one that can begin with the student-athlete connection in this magazine.

Sincerely,

Mark Greenwood

Sports Editor, The

Utah

Statesman

Sports Editor:

Mark Greenwood

Design Manager:

Kamrin McNeill

Reporters:

Essence Barnes

Carson Frost

Jayke Martin

Dylan Moore

Bailey Daniels

Rory McNeill

Photographers:

Jack Burton

Hadley Sintay

Dane Johnson

Claire Ott

Advertising:

Carson Day

Copy EditorS:

Ella Stott

Camille Simpson

Drake Allen’s path to Aggie Stardom

Essence Barnes

Utah State Men’s Basketball standout graduate point guard Drake Allen has quickly become one of the team’s most essential players since joining the Aggies in 2024. Despite Allen’s current success, his path to this moment was anything but straightforward. It wound through overlooked high school seasons, junior colleges and multiple transfers — beginning all the way back on a driveway hoop when he was four.

“I’ve always just enjoyed the competition side of it and being active as a kid,” Allen said. “I’d go to school, I’d come home and automatically would just go outside of my front yard and just start playing. It’s always just been an outlet for me.”

Allen’s love for the sport traveled with him from California to Utah, where he would try out to play basketball for Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs during his sophomore year. Allen failed to make the team, a fortuitous failure he said would go on to shape the rest of his career.

“At that point, I had to decide if basketball is something that I still really wanted to do,” Allen said. “I decided to stick with it, keep working at it no matter what happened, trying not to let people tell me what I could and couldn’t do. I just left it up to me and my work.”

Allen went on to do just that, earning himself a spot on the JV team his junior year and the varsity team his senior year.

“A lot of people at this level played varsity earlier in their high school year and their sophomore [or] freshman year, so for me to get cut and then make it that way has just been a little bit different,” Allen said. “It has taught me that people are going to say whatever people are going to say, like ‘You’re not good enough.’ People can say whatever they want, but if you just keep working, then you can always eventually achieve your goals.”

Despite his growth in the game throughout high school and his passion to continue playing, Allen left Westlake without any Division I offers.

“It’s hard when you work so hard at something and you feel like everything’s going great, and then maybe other people don’t see it the same way — or maybe you’re not in the best situation or you don’t have the connections,” Allen said. “That was another point when I had to just decide: Am I going to hang the shoes up and be done or am I going to keep fighting for the dream that I had to play at Division I level?”

Allen’s progress up the professional basketball ladder seemed unlikely when he left for a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after high school. Upon his return in 2020, Allen decided to take a chance and attend an open tryout for Snow College. That chance earned him a walk-on spot.

“That was just another blessing — another opportunity to keep playing,” Allen said. “All I wanted to do was play. It didn’t matter where it was going to be. I knew that if I had the opportunity to play, then I could keep getting better, and I could prove that I was good enough to play.”

His time at Snow was short, but he left after averaging 12.8 points, 6.0 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game his sophomore year and joining the Badgers at the NJCAA tournament for the first time in five decades.

Allen then continued his basketball journey across the state after leaving Snow in 2022. He went on to play for Southern Utah University in the 2022-23 season and Utah Valley University in the 2023-24 season before making his way to Utah State in 2024. He said that each team he played for taught him something different about the game.

“I’ve been able to learn a lot from different coaches, different teammates and just life experiences from where I’ve been,” Allen said. “Now I’m at Utah State, where I can take all those lessons and implement them every day.”

According to Allen, his decision to transfer to USU to play out his final season of eligibility was an easy one.

“My mindset was, ‘I want to play at the best school I can in the best conference that I can just to challenge myself for my final year,’” Allen said. “It’s a dream for a Division I basketball player to play at a place like Utah State.”

Allen quickly fell in love with the Aggie community and the atmosphere in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, saying a college town

by: Claire Ott

full of basketball-loving fans is exactly the environment he was looking for.

“To also play for a school that has such history and culture — it makes it so much easier to come in and work every day when you know that the expectation is high and you’ve got to perform every single day in order to make the people that invest so much in this school, in the culture and the history proud,” Allen said. “I knew that there was a high expectation and the responsibility that came with it, and I knew that’s what I wanted in my final year.”

That responsibility quickly made itself known to Allen — as did the pressure that came along with it. But it was nothing that Allen didn’t think he could handle.

“I’ve always wanted to be at the highest place I could be. I’ve always wanted to be a leader. I’ve always wanted to be someone that can help others get better, and if that’s the pressure that comes with it, then you’ve got to deal with it,” Allen said. “You’ve got to go in every single day — every hour, every minute is a chance to grow, to add something to your game, and I think that’s always been the

mindset I’ve had from the beginning, is every day you got to get better.”

Allen said he leans heavily on his family to help him handle the pressure.

“As you play, your ‘why’ for why you work so hard kind of changes. Early in my career, it was to prove people wrong, and then I met my wife. What I want to do is be able to play basketball for as long as I can, and the main reason is to be able to provide for my family,” Allen said. “I want my wife to be proud, and I know that it wouldn’t be possible without her by my side supporting me, helping me, putting up with my ups and downs.”

Head coach Jerrod Calhoun said Allen’s influence and leadership on the team is clear.

“He’s number one in the country at steal percentage right now, so he means a lot to this basketball team. I’ve said it all along: He’s been our most steady leader. He really defends, he really passes — just a gutsy effort,” Calhoun said on Nov. 21 after the team beat Tulane University 96-75 in the Charleston Classic.

Allen said while he hopes to continue to play basketball into the future, he prefers to take each day one at a time.

“I think I want to play basketball for as long as I can, but I’m also going to be a dad in February,” Allen said. “I’m very excited to see what the future holds.”

Barnes family legacy runs through Olympus and Utah State

Carson Frost

When Jordy Barnes steps onto the court for Utah State, he brings with him a lifetime of basketball experience that began long before college — rooted in one of Utah’s most consistent and successful high school programs.

Barnes, a sophomore guard for the Aggies, grew up immersed in the game. Though his family lived in South Jordan, he identifies with Holladay, the community surrounding Olympus High School, where he attended and where his father Matt Barnes has been the boys’ basketball head coach for nearly three decades.

Barnes’ earliest memories revolve around Olympus gym floors. He spent hours at practices and games, not as a player at first, but as part of the fabric of a program led by his father.

“My dad is the reason I love basketball,” Barnes said. “I grew up going to practice, his games, coaches, dinners, shootaround.”

Despite that environment, Barnes said his father never pushed him to play, instead allowing him to decide his own path.

“He always was the chillest coach dad,” Barnes said. “Once I got to sixth grade, seventh grade, I decided this is all I want to do and quit playing my other sports — and then we really took it serious and spent more time in the gym and really focused on becoming a good basketball player because I had dreams and goals to get to the DI level. He was a huge part of that.”

At Olympus, Barnes became a four-year varsity starter and helped sustain one of the state’s top programs. Under his father’s coaching, Olympus won multiple Class 5A state championships, including the 2023-24 title, marking the school’s fourth championship in nine seasons.

Barnes’ senior year performance reflected his all-around game. He averaged 14.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 10.5 assists and 3.6 steals per game. He also set the Utah high school record with 934 career assists.

His high school experience carried more than wins — it carried atmosphere. Barnes recalls student sections packed into gyms and local rivalries that gave every game energy beyond the scoreboard.

“All our games were mostly packed and sold out,” Barnes said. “Every night, you’re just playing in front of your best friends, and that stuff was really what made it a lot of fun.”

Basketball runs deep in the Barnes family. Matt, who recently had the basketball court at Olympus named after him in recognition of his long tenure, played there as a student and later at Utah State from 1989-91.

He began coaching at Olympus in 1997 after assistant stints at Sky View and his alma mater. In nearly 30 years leading the Titans, he built a program with sustained success and nationallevel competitiveness, including multiple undefeated region seasons and state titles.

Administrators once surprised him on midcourt to celebrate 25 years as head coach, a testament to his standing in the community and consistency with the program.

“My career has been right here,” Matt said. “I love teaching and coaching, and this community has been great. That’s why I’ve stayed.”

Utah State was on Jordy Barnes’s radar early. He committed to the Aggies as a sophomore in high school — a decision informed by family ties and his belief that Logan would be the right place to play and grow.

“When I committed, it was because of the fans and the culture,” Barnes said. “I wanted to stay home, and I knew it was a special place.”

His commitment weathered multiple coaching changes, including the departures of head

coaches Ryan Odom and Danny Sprinkle. When current coach Jerrod Calhoun arrived, Barnes had already signaled his intent to join Utah State.

After earning a scholarship and minutes as a freshman, he said the process is affirmation of his work ethic and the coaching staff’s confidence in him.

“Earning a scholarship from [Calhoun] is just all that I dreamed of, and I’m really appreciative of him and his staff and how they developed me to earn that,” Barnes said. “The confidence they had in me as a freshman to go from a walk on to a scholarship player to playing big minutes in some of our big wins — I couldn’t have done that without Calhoun and all his staff.”

In his first year, Barnes appeared in 33 games, contributing primarily off the bench with his playmaking and floor management. He entered his sophomore season as one of

several returning guards, bringing experience and a willingness to help younger teammates learn the system. A foot injury early in the season slowed his start, but Barnes said his comfort level and strength have improved.

“It’s a different game at this level,” Barnes said. “But having a year of experience makes a big difference.”

Teammates and coaches appreciate Barnes’ understanding of the game. His father, while speaking broadly about his son’s development, emphasized his adaptability and team-first attitude.

“He understands it’s a big boys’ game now,” Matt said. “He works every day to make the team better, whether that’s on the court in games or in practice.”

With Utah State poised for its transition into the Pac-12, Barnes’ role could grow in significance. He said his goal is to help the

Aggies compete at a high level in both the remaining Mountain West schedule and as part of a Power Five conference in the future.

“I love Aggie basketball,” Barnes said. “I love the fans and what it means to play here. I want to help this team win.”

For a guard shaped by years of preparation and a family deeply connected to the game, his focus is consistent: contribute where needed and let winning define success.

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From Spain to Logan: Marina Asensio’s Journey to the Aggies

Utah State Women’s Basketball senior guard Marina Asensio carries herself with the calm confidence of someone who has lived a lot of basketball. Her journey spans continents, leagues, coaching styles and personal evolution. Now, in her final college season, she’s becoming a steady, reliable presence for an Aggie team that looks to her for leadership on and off the court.

Asensio grew up in Sabadell, Spain, where basketball was never just an activity — it was the family language.

“I stick with basketball because of my dad,” Asensio said. “He has been my coach my whole life. My two sisters and my twin used to play, and my younger sister is playing at UTEP [University of Texas at El Paso]. I’m coming from a basketball family, and we’re all so supportive with each other.”

That strong foundation helped carry her across the Atlantic to begin her college career at the University of South Florida before transferring to Western Michigan University. There, she delivered a breakout season, starting all 30 games and averaging 13.6 points, 4.9 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.0 steals, earning All-MAC Honorable Mention. Her season highlight was a career-high 26 points against the University of Akron.

Now at Utah State, Asensio brings that same flair. Her head coach, Wesley Brooks, described her style simply.

“She’s really, really fun to watch,” Brooks said. “She likes to share the ball. She’s an ankle breaker, can cross you over, has a nice stepback, can create space and shoot it. Just a really fun player.”

But none of her growth happened overnight. USU assistant coach Quim Gómez met Asensio through a club in Spain he worked for, creating the connection that would eventually lead him to coach her as a child, and he still recalls her uncommon work ethic.

“Since she was 7 or 8, she wanted to practice, like, every day,” Gómez said. “For someone that young, it’s very rare. She loved the game — that’s why she was always on the court.”

Gómez, now at Utah State, has seen her mature on and off the floor.

“She’s more shy off the court than on it,” Gómez said. “She’s approaching these problems from a different perspective. She’s going to talk to any player, saying, ‘Hey, I’m going to try to help you.’ She’s calmer, and I would say that she’s using a wiser perspective. It’s very good for the team.”

Leadership is a role Asensio said she has embraced fully and is consistently working to develop.

“I want to inspire the young ones to be better, especially as a person,” Asensio said. “Being

a good person makes a good teammate, and that makes a good player.”

Her teammates feel that presence. Coaches feel it, too. Brooks said she has already made a noticeable impact on the team’s culture.

“She’s run practices without coaches,” Brooks said. “She’s brought the girls in for extra workouts, gone over plays and encouraged everyone. She really tries to be a coach on and off the floor.”

But her journey hasn’t been without challenges. The transition to American basketball was an adjustment.

“The first challenge was the culture shock,” Asensio said. “I’m from Spain, so everything — how we communicate, how we live — it’s really different, but I got used to it.”

Adjusting to life in the United States has shaped Asensio beyond basketball. She said playing alongside other international athletes

at each stop in her career has eased the transition and helped her grow personally.

“I’m a whole different person now,” Asensio said. “I deal with situations differently than I used to, so I’m just grateful.”

Asensio said the pace at Utah State was increased compared to what she was used to.

“I’ve never played at that pace,” Asensio said. “It’s a big challenge to learn a new coach and a new system, but I’m excited. I trust him with whatever he says.”

According to Asensio, the biggest surprise has been how much closer she feels to this team compared to past programs. Coming from a basketball family, she was used to structure and discipline, but Asensio said finding genuine connection has been amazing.

“I finally found the balance between basketball and the kind of teammates I wanted to have, which I never had in the past,” Asensio said.

“I’m grateful for the girls and how we care about the team and fight for each other.”

Her goals this season aren’t about stats or individual recognition. They’re about impact.

“I just want to make the team better,” Asensio said. “I want the seniors to enjoy their last season of basketball.”

Brooks said he sees professional opportunities for her after college.

“We want her to have opportunities after she leaves here,” Brooks said. “She’ll be an asset to any professional team.”

Gómez said her potential could rise even further as she continues improving her decision-making and finding a clearer balance between the demands of the game and life away from it.

“If she learns how to separate on the court and off the court, I think that we should consider

her to be playing for the national team in Spain,” Gómez said. “Olympics, World Cup — she can get there.”

For Asensio, the dream is simple and unwavering.

“I want to become the best player I can,” Asensio said. “I want to go play pro back in Spain. That’s my main goal.”

From Spain to Utah, her journey has been defined by work, resilience and a love for the game that started when she was just 8 years old. Now, those she works with recognize the complete picture of a competitor, mentor, leader and player who enhances those around her.

Aaliyah Gayles thrives in her new role at Utah State

Dylan Moore

Utah State guard Aaliyah Gayles is used to being noticed. As a Las Vegas prep star, she was one of the top recruits in the country. As a college player, she is known just as much for her persistence. Gayles said she survived a 2022 shooting that left her with multiple injuries, and after years of rehabilitation and limited minutes, she is trying to build a new chapter in Logan focused on her growth as a player.

Gayles transferred to Utah State University this season after some time at the University of Southern California. She said the move was driven by her desire for a system that fits her strengths.

Gayles said she came looking for a reset with a coaching staff that could help rebuild confidence and return her to the level she knows she can reach.

“There are no distractions here,” Gayles said. “It’s a good place for mental clarity, mental clearness.”

Head coach Wesley Brooks said Gayles’ talent was clear the moment she joined the program. The goal, he said, has been helping her rebuild confidence and rediscover the style of play that once made her one of the most dynamic guards in the nation.

“When she first got here, she was a little reserved,” Brooks said. “As she has become more comfortable, she has started to play with more freedom. It’s about helping her trust her instinct again.”

Brooks said Gayles has the ability to change a game with her pace and ball handling.

“She has elite speed, and when she uses it, the game opens up for her and for her teammates,” Brooks said. “She sees the floor well. She can score at all three levels. When she is aggressive, she is hard to guard.”

For Gayles, the process of returning to her old form has taken time. She said she’s learning how to balance patience with competitiveness.

“My confidence has grown a lot,” Gayles said. “Physically, I feel good. I’m learning to be patient but also to trust that I can attack and move the way I used to.”

According to Gayles, her teammates have played a major role in her adjustment.

“They welcomed me right away,” Gayles said. “We all joke around. We laugh a lot. We’re a family. That makes it easy to play hard for each other.”

Her role at Utah State is different than at her previous schools. Gayles said she is learning to read defenses better and make plays within the system rather than relying on sheer athleticism.

“At USC, I was really fast, and I was young. I didn’t understand the game the same way,” Gayles said. “Now, I’m learning how to use my speed the right way. Coach Brooks has helped me slow down when I need to and go when it’s time to go.”

Brooks said that approach has made Gayles more efficient.

“She has started making the simple play,” Brooks said. “When she gets downhill, she forces defenses to collapse, and that creates opportunities for the whole team.”

While Gayles’ recovery from the shooting will always be part of her story, she said she doesn’t want it to define her.

I’m here. I’m playing. That’s a blessing. I’m focused on what’s ahead,” Gayles said.

One of Gayles’ goals this season is to become a complete guard: someone who can defend, facilitate and score without forcing shots.

“I want to be a better leader,” Gayles said. “I want to be someone the team can trust with the ball when it matters.”

Brooks said he has seen steady goals from Gayles, and he believes she can continue to elevate her play as she settles into the program.

“It’s a process,” Brooks said. “She keeps showing up every day. She keeps getting better. She has a chance to be really special for us.”

For Gayles, the environment at Utah State has helped her enjoy the game again. After years marked by injury, recovery and uncertainty, she said her focus now is simple.

“I just want to hoop,” Gayles said. “I want to have fun playing basketball again. That’s what I came here for.”

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How Nyla Morabito excels despite the odds

Bailey Daniels

After an open-heart surgery at 8 months old, doctors warned Nyla Morabito’s parents to prepare for a lifetime of limitations full of hospital visits. Talk about pacemakers, transplants and two more open heart surgeries plagued the family’s mind. Despite such hardship at a young age, once Morabito began to recover, she was full of energy.

In order to keep her heart healthy, her parents looked for something for her to channel her vitality into. Doctor’s orders stated any sport needed to be individual, no contact, no blows to the chest and no pushing. This is how Asia Morabito, Nyla’s mother, settled on gymnastics.

Asia started taking her daughter to a Wednesday night open gym in Welland, their hometown in Ontario, Canada. What began as a weekly activity for Morabito’s health gradually blossomed into something more, beginning when the owner of the club recommended putting her in classes for the winter season.

Morabito recalled her earliest memory surrounding gymnastics being in that gym.

“We had this competition for the younger girls called ‘Mini Olympics,’” Morabito said. “We got a gold sticker for each event, and I got a gold sticker for all of them. I think that was my first gold sticker. I was really excited.”

One night during practice, Asia was approached by her daughter’s coach, who recommended putting Morabito into their precompetitive group.

“They were like, ‘Listen, she is, in her body and her mind, a gymnast,’” Asia said. “I don’t know how you could see that. She was only 4 at the time.”

For one session, they decided to give the group a try. Morabito was with older girls, but they were the youngest age group that could compete. She ended up excelling and surpassing expectations year after year. Because she got along with her coach so well, she followed her to a new studio in Niagara Falls, a big change from their small town.

Morabito required annual checkups for her heart, and at each appointment, doctors raved about how healthy she was. They told her parents to keep up with exactly what they were doing, especially with her diet and exercise. Her echoes and ultrasounds looked better at each appointment.

“She just kept excelling as time went on. But every year, it’s kind of scary because you never know when you go back to the doctor’s if that’s the time she’ll need the second open heart surgery,” Asia said. “It was difficult at times.”

At a competition when she was in level eight, the director for Gymnastics Canada approached her parents, questioning why she wasn’t in the national program. After trying out for the national team, she was invited to compete at Elite Canada.

Morabito jumped from level eight to the national program and was immediately successful there.

Starting around 8 years old, she found herself visiting other countries without her parents and getting to train with American Olympic gymnasts such as McKayla Maroney and Ragan Smith. At 10 years old, she competed for Canada’s national team in France and Belgium.

“I’m used to traveling and not having my parents or traveling alone with my coaches. I’ve always been more independent in that way,” Morabito said. “Coming from Canada and being on my own for the first time wasn’t a dramatic change for me, but it’s been really fun.”

Her mother shared her sentiments, noting Morabito being far away now doesn’t feel any different than it did when she was younger. Asia mentioned many people were eager to figure out where her daughter would go to school and asked if her parents would try to push her toward a specific college.

“She’s the one that’s gotten herself this far, and we don’t want to be the ones to force her to go somewhere that she doesn’t want to be,” Asia said. “This is her opportunity. This is her choice. Nyla always wanted to come and make a difference by accelerating the program and bringing it to a different level.”

According to Asia, Morabito remains an inspiration not only in gymnastics but also for families who are dealing with similar medical issues. Because her parents were told not to expect a very good quality of life for her, having a healthy and extremely athletically talented daughter was more than they could have hoped for.

During Morabito’s sophomore year from 2024-25, her 9.807 vault average ranked the No. 11 highest in the program’s history. Despite the records Morabito has broken and her continued improvement, Asia said her daughter remains incredibly humble.

Highway 89 entering Logan hosts a billboard for USU spring sports, and Morabito is featured on it, another proud moment for her family.

“Our city is similar to Logan and has a smalltown feel. When Nyla does anything down there, there’s a whole village behind her because they’ve all supported her over the years,” Asia said.

When thinking about her biggest supporters, Morabito said her parents were the first to come to mind. Not only were they the ones who put her in gymnastics as a child, but they’ve continued to be by her side every step of the way.

“Through all of the hard times, whether it was not wanting to continue the sport or having a bad day at gymnastics, they’re always reminding me how talented I am and why I’m doing what I do,” Morabito said. “I’m so grateful to them because now I’m living my dream of being a Division I gymnast and being at an amazing university with the best team and coaches.”

Morabito finds inspiration in her parents, and they are inspired by her in turn. If not found within a year, there is a 90% mortality rate for her condition. It was discovered at 7 months old. Her parents were told that she would need to stay in the ICU for months, but it ended up only being two weeks.

“I always felt that since the day she was born, she was special,” Asia said. “There’s just something about her that she was meant to do something great. Because of her heart surgery, all the odds were against her. Because of that, I think she can do anything that she puts her mind to.”

Even at 10 years old, Morabito was training almost 40 hours a week all on her own accord. Asia recalled a family trip to Marineland of Canada, a zoo and amusement park in Niagara Falls. Having recently learned how to do a cartwheel, Morabito cartwheeled from the exit of the park all the way to the parking lot. That’s when Asia said she realized that gymnastics was truly her daughter’s passion in life.

Near the end of Morabito’s sophomore year, she ruptured her Achilles tendon. That was her first season-ending injury, which she cites as one of the moments that changed her the most as a gymnast. She was able to gain a greater appreciation for the body and gymnastics as a whole.

Kristin White has been USU’s head gymnastics coach since May of 2022. She was there with Morabito through the injury and the difficulties it caused.

“There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes for Nyla, she’s been through a lot more than a lot of people know,” White said. “She’s persevered her entire life. I’m really looking forward to her having another comeback year, especially with the way that her season ended last year.”

Every year on Nov. 23, Morabito’s family celebrates the day she had her open-heart surgery. Her family continues to push her to wear her scar with pride and use it as a reminder of how far she’s come.

At her first competition at 8 years old, while competing with girls five years her senior, Morabito’s parents recalled how small she looked comparatively. Instead of being intimidated, she put her hands on her hips in a Superman-like pose. Aggies who make it to a meet may notice she still stands this way.

“If you put your mind to what you want to achieve, you can do it. Despite my heart surgery, and being eight months postoperation from my Achilles, I’m back 100%,” Morabito said. “Don’t let someone tell you what you can or can’t do. Always push yourself. If you want to do it, you can.”

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.05% better: Utah State Gymnastics looks to build off 2025 Mountain West Championship

Rory McNeill

The 2025 season was one for the record books for Utah State University Women’s Gymnastics. The team won its first-ever Mountain West conference championship and secured a spot in the NCAA tournament. The team’s story is one of perseverance, hard work and shaping a new identity in the process.

The story began at the 2024 Mountain West championship, where the team fell short to Boise State by .05 points. That moment became a new foundation and mindset to build on as they entered the 2025 season.

“Going into 2025, we focused a lot on the PZF [preparation, being zealous in

practice and finishing strong] mentality, which represented .05, which is the smallest deduction in gymnastics that you can have,” said head coach Kristin White. “In 2024, when we hosted the Mountain West championship, that’s what we lost the meet by. That was really the motivation. What can we do every single day to be .05% better? We decided

it was through preparation, being zealous, having fun and finishing.”

This idea became central to every aspect of the team’s identity. PZF is painted across the wall of the team’s practice gym as a reminder of their identity and goals going forward.

“It goes into our practices, preparation and everything about our team. No matter what, there’s always something you can do better, whether it’s gymnastics-wise, mentality-wise or just being there for your teammates. It goes into all of that,” said junior Nyla Morabito. “It’s the same with

our mindset. It was really hard losing that championship my freshman year. We remember how that felt and continue to move forward so we don’t have to feel that again. PZF has helped us stay focused on those goals.”

A focus on unity within the team also helped create their foundation for success. Every member of the team plays a role in leading and motivating one another to be better every day.

“We don’t believe in captains. We believe in giving everyone an opportunity to lead. We’ve got some phenomenal personalities

in our freshman class that are already natural leaders, and so I think that’s been very helpful, but we also have a senior class that’s been with our coaching staff the entire time,” White said. “The goals and visions are the same, and to have them be able to lead the team and, you know, educate the freshmen on what to expect, what comes next and this is how we do it.”

The team sees each individual effort every day through practices and into the meets.

“Everyone on the team has their own role. Some people are more vocal or good at cheering you on. Others can be really

good one-on-one and super motivational,” said sophomore Olivia Orengo. “We have a lot of people who lead by example and come to the gym every day, work hard and finish their assignments. People really follow after them and look up to them.”

The members of the team viewed the “no captain” strategy as a major strength of the team, helping everyone to feel united and focused.

“I feel like, as a team, we were super connected and together. Throughout all the practices and 6 a.m.s, everybody was there for each other,” Orengo said. “Everyone had each other’s back, and that really carried us to the Mountain

West championship. And then just even through, like, injuries and stuff, we felt their support from back home and everything.”

Changes in mentality, structure and focus helped the Aggies achieve the goals they had set for themselves since leaving the 2024 tournament.

“We all knew where our goals were, which were to obviously win a Mountain West championship, qualify back to NCAA regionals and then do a 3.6 GPA in the classroom. We were able to accomplish all those goals,” White said. “Last year, we won our first Mountain West championship. We made it back to NCAA regionals and then we had a record 3.78 yearly GPA for our team. So, we were just really locked in all season, and it paid off.”

Last season’s success helped set the precedent for the team, which is looking to build off its championship season.

“I feel like we’ve gotten stronger, but we’ve also been able to incorporate the endurance side for gymnastics, and so, been really excited about the growth of this team this season,” White said. “I feel like we are the strongest physically we’ve ever been, and mentally, we’re in a great spot too. Very much like last year, our whole team has bought in, and it’s just really fun to get into the gym every single day and have the same goals as all the people in the building and know our hard work is going to pay off.”

Strength has been the focus of the off season for the team. The Aggies hired a new strength and conditioning coach, Richard Burney Jr., who has helped bring them to the next level in terms of their conditioning.

“We’ve been really paying attention to detail. We’ve been getting stronger. We

just started in the weight room with a new strength coach, and that’s been really good for us because we’ve been able to handle more landings, and we’ve become much stronger overall,” said freshman Brylea Johnson. “That’s been a good focus for us, as well as just coming in with a good mindset every day, good intentions. If we feel practice dipping, we can pick it up really well.”

In addition to their physical preparation, the team is continuing to focus on the PZF mentality and helping instill the idea into the newcomers to the team.

“I say our main focus is PZF — just really focusing in on that and keeping that as

like part of our team. That’s become our mantra,” Morabito said. “We are always trying to find that .05 that we can be better.”

The freshman class has also been a bright spot for the team, bringing in new talent that helps push the upperclassmen as well.

“We had such a big freshman class this year, and they came in working super hard in the summer already. They helped us start off the summer as a super hardworking team. I think that they have helped us really stay focused,” Orengo said. “They’ve helped bring us together. Going through hard things together brings teams together. So, I think that’s

really going to carry all the way through the season.”

With a new standard of success being established, the Aggies look to continue their championship mentality and bring home another Mountain West title in 2026. Their path will begin on Jan. 12, where the Aggies will take on Brigham Young University, the University of Utah and Southern Utah University in the Les Olson IT Best of Utah Gymnastics Meet.