Career highs don't push BYU over SUU

PROVO, Utah – BYU gymnastics came up short in a rematch with SUU on Friday in the Smith Fieldhouse. 

The Cougars scored a 194.975 to the Thunderbirds 195.500, while BYU lost the meet, the score will help replace an earlier 193.075 when it comes to regional seeding.

“The reality is we’re looking for scores more than we are wins and this 194.9 will replace a 193 something-or-another,” BYU gymnastics head coach Brad Cattermole said.

Seven career or season highs gave BYU an early lead through two rotations on the uneven bars and vault. As a team, the Cougars tied their season high with a 49.050 on the vault. Jordan Schult and Sin To tied their career highs with a 9.80 and a 9.75, respectively. Makenzie Johnson set a new career high with a 9.90 and was the meet’s high scorer on the vault and in the all-around. KayCee Gassaway also set a season high with a 9.8.

“On vault, we still have to learn to hold still a little better, but we stuck more landings tonight than we have in our last couple meets,” Cattermole said.

On the bars, Gassaway and Taylor Harward tied their career highs with a 9.875 and 9.725, respectively. Jill Van Mierlo also tied her season high with a 9.80. The Cougars tied their season high on the bars which they set against SUU in January with a 48.950.

“We’re not making big mistakes, but we still need to tighten up and cover the little mistakes,” Cattermole said. “That’s the difference between being 195 and 196.”

Emily Vidmar began the third rotation with a 9.85 on the beam which tied her career high and put the Cougars in a good spot.  

“You’re the first one up and the only thing you’ve got to do is hit and she hit and did a very good job,” Cattermole said.

Slips and falls led to BYU’s worst team score on the beam in a month at 47.975 and was responsible for almost all of the final tally.

“There’s no team out there that breathes a sigh of relief until beam is over,” Cattermole said. “No matter what you think it’s still 4 inches wide. If you’re a tiny bit off and you’re down. I was watching at the end of the beam and she was pretty well on the beam and then she was off the beam.”

On the floor, Jordan Schult tied her career high with a 9.825 and the Cougars attempted to make up what they had lost on the beam, but the Thunderbirds solid scores on the beam kept BYU from making up the difference. 

“On floor we did really well at the end,” Cattermole said. “That was a plus to come back and score 49. That’s a good comeback. They weren’t giving away scores tonight. You had to do something good to get a score on floor.”

The Cougars travel to Denver to take on the Pioneers on Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. MST.