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Show Friday, March 30,20079 The Utah Statesman Sports • GYMNASTICS From page 8 the attitude that we're not going there to take second place. We're going there to win," Corn said. "If the ladies remain as focused as they did at Boise State, then we have the ability to do so." Felley agrees with her coach and said it is the goal for everyone to compete well so the team can come home with a championship ring. "I want to hit the routines the way that I know how to do, so that I can make my team proud. All tics. It's going to be a close, contested meet. It is going to be the team that makes absolutely no mistakes that will be the winner," Corn said. "I hope that my team is prepared, that they have got the attitude that we're not going down there to take second. "We're going to be focused. We're going to give it everything we got to stay on the equipment and win the thing," he said. 'Samabry@cc.usu.edu of us are going in hoping that we can win," Felley said. The teams that will be competing in the meet are Boise State, Cal State Fullerton, Sacramento State, San Jose State and Southern Utah (the host team). Although the Aggies have been ranked No. 1 in the league for 12 of the 13 weeks of competition, Corn said he knows it will take a perfect outing to win. "Everybody right now is doing their best gymnas- APARTM ENTS n Bent $425 Onsite Laundromat • Close to USBRBZBus Stop • S Forest Gate East (school year) $1395 to $2350 • Forest Gate West (school year) $, livery referral earns you a ticket for ;i raffle to win items such as I X D TV'S, Portable DVD players and other great items, livery referral also earns you money off your rent. 460 N 400 E Logan, UT 84321 BEST I N THE WEST From page 8 So, if a team chooses three point riders who all take first, the team score would be 21. At each show, the host school provides the horses, so there is no need to haul horses. Instead, the team just brings their clothes, which, for the Western category, include Western shirts, scarves and chaps. Having horses provided by the host can be a problem, because Gagnon said a lot of the horses in their region are ranch horses that are only broke to work, not to show. And, because of a random draw that determines a rider's horse, Gagnon said they've ridden everything from ranch horses to draft horses and Amish cart horses. But having to draw an unfamiliar horse doesn't bother Gagnon. In fact, he said it is one of the good things about equestrian competitions, because it puts everyone on a level playing field and makes the competition less about the horse and more about the rider. "The horse is just a fragment of the show. Everything is all about you, essentially," he said. Although he hasn't ever drawn a horrible horse, Gagnon said he's seen people from other teams get bucked off of their horses. As a bit of a joke, the team voted to see who had the worst luck. One of the girls on this year's team won because she got the most ornery horses, he said. All joking aside, the team is an important part of the equestrian experience, Gagnon said. "We all come from so many different backgrounds," he said. "We're all at so many different levels of riding. We've all experienced different things in our training. Just coming together and sharing that with each other is big and it helps us out too. "We help each other out a lot. We hang out a lot together, in and out of the ring. We're just a big family-" This family has 22 members, but only 15 actively compete, Gagnon said. The Equestrian Club, which is associated with the animal, dairy and veterinary sciences department, has been around for about six years and operates on money from ASUSU and club fund- Utah State f • UNIVERSITY . • * - . " • • ' , , • " ' ,-.'l,",-~ "'•-> *-- _ • r *• • • .•". . ; ; j " ' ' - - " ORCHESTRA • iC- Sergio Denial, Director 1 "Concerto- Evening BRANDONLflfl tCMAIKOVKKV first Piano Csnatto SHANK BOWUiS JESSICA ROBfeftfcR MWfltoflfcV Thifd Plato Cofiteffti memtu Friday, March 30, 2007, 7:30 PM Photo county the USU Equestrian Club SAMMY SHIELDS competes in the Team Advanced Horsemanship class at the Western Semifinal coompetition. She placed second, earning eight points for the Aggies. raising efforts, he said. The equestrian show season starts in September, and the team competes in 10 shows, including one that is held at USU in October. Gagnon said a passion for becoming a better rider and horseman is the most important thing about being in the Equestrian Club. "(The main draw of the sport) is the passion for horses, as well as the drive to be a better rider," he said. "The way the shows are judged, it's not the horse. So you can't blame that. It's all about the rider." The club does recruitment every fall and spring, and anyone who misses their horses or wants to learn how to ride can email Gagnon at mjgagnon@ cc.usu.edu. -dabaker@cc.usu.edu Kent Concert Mall at the Chase Fine Arts Center Admission $5 • students with valid ID Free Get her what she wants, so you can get what you want. Une £)iamono Saileru Onoaoemeni U\in 45 North Main, Logan (Next lo the Persian Peacock) 435 753-4870 30% off to USU Students Free men's ring with engagement ring purchase. '•» Hfi Hike, Kayak, Raft, Caiim, Pliotoijranliy, Enjoy Life Hotels a Restaurants iinmfiiiu^^iffiiiiiBnmm "'""av. MM *• 1000 - 200 ......,,. Taygart Student Center |