Senior gymnasts prepare for final season

PROVO, Utah – With the start of the 2020 season approaching, head coach Guard Young watches three of his gymnasts prepare for their final season at BYU. Consistently in lineups, seniors Shannon Evans, Briana Pearson and Angel Zhong prepare to say goodbye with a strong final campaign together. 

“They have three years of great experience underneath them,” Young said. “They’ve been big contributors on their events and they’re definitely going to leave a hole that we’re going to have to try and fill next year.”

SHANNON EVANS

Before committing to BYU, All-American senior Evans explored several options. However, the feeling she felt in Provo resonated with her. 

“I definitely always felt at home whenever I came here,” Evans said. “Whenever I went on recruiting trips at other places, it just wasn’t my vibe.” 

Young was hired to coach the Cougars in May 2015, and the program has excelled with Young and Evans in Provo.

“At the time, the BYU gymnastics program wasn’t at the top at all, I wanted to make a difference at BYU and come here and change the culture and invest in what the new coaches were coaching.”

Not only were the coaches impacting her, but Young claims the younger gymnasts follow her lead.

“Shannon has a fun personality and people love watching her,” Young said. “Not only does she compete in every event, but she wants to go last in every event. She’s anchoring the team.”

During her time at BYU, Evans made a name for herself, earning MRGC Freshman of the Year in 2017. Most recently, she earned the title of MRGC Gymnast of the Year. 

While adjusting to being a student athlete, Evans believes the pros far outweigh the busy schedule. 

“The best part is having a built-in family that I get to see every single day for hours,” Evans said. “You have a set-apart time of your day where you get to be with the people that you love. You have coaches that are invested in your life.”

For the upcoming season, Evans hopes to be more aware of her landings and earn a 10 on bars. 

“Nobody at BYU has ever gotten a 10 on bars,” Evans said. “I would love to break the ice for upcoming gymnasts. It needs to be done.”

On top of this, she will retire her famous Super Mario Brothers floor routine from last season, replacing it with another sentimental routine.

“I just got a new floor routine. No more Mario, but you’re going to love the new one. I’m really excited about this new floor routine. It has a lot of symbolism in it for me as a gymnast.”

Following this year, Evans plans to pursue the nursing program at Utah Valley University, hoping to specialize in labor and delivery. 

“I’m really excited about that and I feel like it will be a big challenge for me and gymnastics has challenged me,” Evans said. “I feel that as soon as gymnastics is over, replacing it with something else that will really challenge me is going to be good in a totally different aspect.”

However, Evans hopes to stick around campus by being a volunteer coach at some point.

“Being a nurse has been a goal for me for a long time so I’m putting that first,” Evans said. “But, I would say that being a collegiate coach is one of my all-time goals so I won’t be saying goodbye forever.”

BRIANA PEARSON

Pearson made the move from California to Provo based off her love for gymnastics and her desire to attend BYU’s Marriott School of Business. However, her freshman year proved to be difficult for her. 

“My freshman year to now is a night and day difference,” Pearson said. “When we first got here, we all three felt the struggle and it was hard for us.”

Now upperclassmen and leaders on the team, the three seniors made it a goal to improve the team’s unity. 

“We’ve made it a big deal to make sure that everyone feels welcomed when they get here,” Pearson said. “We place more value in the friendships rather than getting things done. Every girl on the team is my friend.”

During her time as a Cougar for the last three years, she competed in the floor lineup for every meet. One particular memory sticks out as a highlight for Pearson: winning floor at the 2018 MRGC conference.

“It made it all worth it,” Pearson said. “It made me realize that I had a purpose and a reason. Looking back on it, it gave me the confidence. It was a turning point.”

For the upcoming season, she hopes to make an appearance on vault, a goal she has worked toward for the last four years. 

“It’s kind of funny because I’ve always been really bad at vault,” Pearson said. “I’ve been working a lot this summer so hopefully I’ll get to compete it.”

Pearson's ability to work through injuries and fight to maintain her spots in lineups has impressed Young during her BYU career. 

“I call her ‘California cool’ because she doesn’t let things get to her,” Young said. “She’s a success story of someone who has worked her way into other lineups. She’s super tough when injured and most gymnasts would give up.”

After the season wraps up, Pearson hopes to study abroad with a group from the Marriott School of Business and potentially attend graduate school. As for gymnastics, she hopes to stay a part of the team through her support. 

“I’ll keep up with BYU gymnastics because these friendships mean so much to me,” Pearson said. “I’ll watch every meet. I’ve been doing gymnastics for 18 years so it’s hard to think of it ending.”

ANGEL ZHONG

From Langley, Canada, senior Zhong always had BYU in mind when imagining her college gymnastics career. 

“BYU has always been my first choice because I am a member of the Church and I’ve always been intrigued by a school full of members of the Church,” Zhong said. “I was excited to come here.”

As a freshman, Zhong competed on vault in all 13 meets. She consistently improved and last season, earned a career-high score of 9.850 on vault and uneven bars.

Over the past three years, Zhong believes that she discovered herself with the help of her team.

“I’ve always been kind of shy and I came here and everyone is so talented and faithful,” Zhong said. “I felt alone, but being around the team, it has made me feel comfortable with who I am and I show my personality more.”

Meanwhile, Young always saw the positive qualities Zhong displays. 

“Angel is one of the sweetest and nicest girls I have met in my entire life,” Young said. “She’s a go-getter and she never quits.”

On top of building greater confidence, Zhong became mentally stronger. 

“The coaches here emphasize hitting it when it counts and having the right mindset and that has transformed my gymnastics,” Zhong said. “Before, I would get nervous a lot to compete and wouldn’t compete to the best of my ability. The nerves got to me.”

For the upcoming season, Zhong plans to end on a high note. Aside from her new uneven bars routine, she hopes to show improvement in her balance beam scores.

“I’m really excited for this season because I feel like it’s a culmination of all my hard work,” Zhong said. “I feel like it has paid off and I’m really happy with where I am. I’m excited for beam because I feel like I look more confident.”

Even though Zhong graduates this upcoming spring with a degree in Global Supply Chain Management, she hopes to continue her education. 

“I want to get a business MBA,” Zhong said. “Until I can start that, I want to find a supply chain related job so I can gain some further experience.”