SALT LAKE CITY – Three BYU gymnasts competed as individuals at the NCAA Regional Gymnastics Championships held in Salt Lake City at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on Saturday night. Sophomore Raquel Willman competed in the all-around, receiving a 38.200. Senior Natalie Eyre Pickard competed on the vault and balance beam while fellow senior Krysten Koval competed on the floor.

The meet included teams from Utah, Arizona State, Iowa State, Minnesota, Nebraska and San Jose State. There were several gymnasts who competed individually from Utah State, Air Force Academy and Southern Utah.

The gymnasts collectively decided to wear their pink leotards in honor of late BYU athletic trainer, Gaye Merrill. Willman started the night of with a solid 9.700 on bars. In the next rotation, she scored a 9.675 on beam. After an energized performance, Willman stumbled on her last pass, which resulted in a 9.100 on floor. To finish the night off strong, Willman scored a 9.725 on vault, her highest score of the evening.

Koval scored a 9.750 on floor, her lone event of the night. Eyre Pickard began the night with the highest score of any BYU gymnast with a 9.800 on vault. She followed that up with a 9.650 on bars. 

"It is definitely more difficult to compete in this meet without a team," said BYU head coach Brad Cattermole. "The girls don't see it as an individual sport, they see it as a team sport and want to be here with their team. Coming up here and doing it by yourself is a tougher way to go. I felt like the girls did really well. They put it all out there and tried as hard as they could. I was very proud of them."

The University of Utah won the meet with a team score of 196.825. Placing second was the University of Nebraska with a score of 196.525. Both teams will advance to the NCAA National Gymnastics Championships in Duluth, Georgia, April 20-22.

PROVO, Utah – Three BYU gymnasts have qualified as individuals for the NCAA Salt Lake City Regional competition. Sophomore Raquel Willman qualified at the number one spot for the all-around. Senior Natalie Eyre Pickard qualified on vault and uneven bars. Fellow senior Krysten Koval qualified on floor and as the balance beam alternate. The competition will take place April 7, 2012 at 6 p.m. MDT at the Jon M. Huntsman Center.

Willman has competed all-around in every meet for BYU. She had a season high score of 39.275 against SUU and USU, which won the all-around title for the meet. Eyre-Pickard has been very consistent throughout the season, scoring 9.875 three times this season on both vault and uneven bars. Koval had a career-high score of 9.900 on floor during her last meet of the regular season. She also scored a 9.950 on beam and a 9.900 twice during the season.

“I’m very excited that I’ve qualified, although I really wish my whole team could be on the floor with me,” Koval said. “My goals for this meet are to perform at my absolute best so I can go out on a high note. I want to represent my team and BYU in the best possible way.”