Cougars finish in fifth at MRGC Championship

DENVER – BYU gymnastics finished in fifth place with a 194.225 in the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference Championship at Denver Saturday night.

"We competed against a lot of great teams today and we didn't have our best meet, but I'm proud of our team," BYU coach Brad Cattermole said. "Makenzie [Johnson] has been great for us all season and Ashley [Robinson] was awesome on beam tonight. With Jill [Van Mierlo] injured this past week, everyone had to step up. We'll wait and see what the rest of the season holds and see if we make it to regionals." 

Boise State claimed the conference title with a 196.625 with Southern Utah and Denver finishing with a 196.275 and 196.075, respectively. Utah State trailed in fourth place with a 195.125.

Junior Makenzie Johnson earned All-MRGC First Team in the all around and balance beam, and freshman Jill Van Mierlo was named the MRGC Freshman of the Year. 

Johnson finished with a 39.150 as an all-arounder for the third-best score of the meet, while Denver’s Nina McGee finished on top with a 39.600.

BYU started on floor exercise with KayCee Gassaway leading with a 9.800. Johnson and Jordan Schult each recorded a 9.750, and Emily Vidmar followed with a 9.725. Ashley Robinson earned a 9.700 in her first event on floor this season to help the Cougars finish with a 48.725.

On vault, Johnson landed a team-high 9.825 with Schult recording a 9.775. Gassaway and Mikaela Jones earned a 9.750 each, while Sin To landed a 9.725. After the second rotation, the Cougars stood at a 97.550.

In the third rotation, Gassaway and Vidmar led BYU with a 9.800 and 9.750, respectively. Johnson finished with a 9.700 with Brittni Wilde earning a 9.650.

Robinson notched a career-high 9.825 in the final rotation on beam. Johnson led with a team-high 9.875 with Vidmar following with a 9.800. 

The Cougars head to the NCAA Regionals for the third consecutive season on April 4, in Berkeley, California.

MRGC Awards and All-Conference Teams