Fobes boosts UNH past Brown, Temple

Austyn Fobes placed first in vault and all-around to propel the University of New Hampshire gymnastics team to its highest score of the season (195.650) and a tri-meet victory against Brown and Temple on Saturday afternoon at Lundholm Gymnasium. 

The Wildcats, who were competing in their first tri-meet of the season, improved to 4-1 by topping the Bears (191.750) and the Owls (190.225). 

Brown slipped to 3-2 and Temple fell to 0-9.

UNH started strong on vault with a season-best 48.875, including a sweep of the meet’s top four scores. Fobes notched first place with a 9.825, while Hannah Barile and Jillian Hudson finished in a second-place tie with matching scores of 9.800, which represented a personal best for Barile and a season high for Hudson. Erika Rudiger matched her career-high mark with a 9.775 to earn a share of fourth place.

Jen Aucoin ignited New Hampshire’s uneven bar lineup with a first-place and personal-best 9.875. Fobes secured second place with a 9.850, and Jannelle Minichiello set a career best with a 9.800 to equal Rudiger for third place. UNH amassed a 49.025 on bars for its highest score of the meet and top bar mark of the season.

The Wildcats made it three straight season-high scores in the third rotation by compiling a 48.900 on balance beam. Kayla Gray led the way with a 9.875, which matched her season high and registered first place. Aucoin set a personal best with a 9.800, which resulted in a share of third place with Erin Machado, who tied her career high in the process.

UNH made it a four-event sweep by totaling a 48.850 on floor exercise. Machado starred with a 9.825 for the top spot, followed by a second-place 9.800 from Rudiger, who was awarded the meet’s Katie Baldwin Expression Award for her efforts, and a 9.775 from Fobes, who finished third.

Fobes won the all-around gold with a 39.175, followed by Temple’s Jean Alban (38.150) and Brown’s Michelle Shnayder (37.875).

The Wildcats take on George Washington and Yale in a tri-meet Sunday, Feb. 3, at 1 p.m. in Lundholm Gymnasium.