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Utah State's gymnastics team hosts its annual Blue and White meet on Friday at 7 p.m. in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. The event is free and open to the public.

"I'm looking forward to having the team be in front of an audience because it gets them in meet mode," said third-year head coach Nadalie Walsh. "Being able to go out and compete in front of people — even if it is just against ourselves — is going to ignite the fire and get them more pumped up for the season."

The Aggies will be divided into two squads. Four gymnasts from each team will compete head-to-head on three events — vault, bars and floor. Seven gymnasts from each side will go head-to-head on the beam.

"I want to see them relaxed and enjoying themselves," Walsh said. "… I want them to be confident knowing that they are prepared and ready."

Celebrity judges will include former Aggie gymnast Sarah Condie (Gray) and her husband Chris, head men's basketball coach Tim Duryea and his wife Angie, head women's basketball coach Jerry Finkbeiner and his wife Reva, and athletic director John Hartwell. The judges will give the gymnasts a score of 1 to 10 and a final team winner will be declared at the conclusion of the meet.

The blue team will feature seniors McKinzey Martinez and Michelle Yasukochi, juniors Bailey McIntire and Katie Brown, sophomores Melanie Oster and Keri Peel and freshmen Emily Briones and Sarah Patterson.

The white squad consists of seniors Jillian Chappel, JoAnna Cuba and Destiny Ezell, juniors Charly Belliston and Hayley Sanzotti, sophomores Miranda Hone and Briel Muhlestein and freshman Natalie Rainbolt.

The Aggies officially open their season on Jan. 8 against Centenary. Three of their first four meets are also at the Spectrum. They play host to Kent State on Jan. 15 and Southern Utah on Jan. 29.

— Steve Luhm