BYU prepares for Rio Tinto Best of Utah meet on Saturday

PROVO, Utah – The BYU gymnastics team will attend the first-ever Rio Tinto Best of Utah NCAA Gymnastics meet this Saturday, Jan. 11, at 7 p.m. MST at the Maverik Center, facing local rivals Utah, Utah State and Southern Utah.

BYU @ Best of Utah Meet Notes

This meet will be the first of a multi-year partnership with Rio Tinto and the Maverik Center and will take place for the next five seasons. Additionally, this marks the second time the schools will compete all together, the first time being in 1993. 

The gymnasts will compete on a raised podium floor, a new aspect for several of head coach Guard Young’s gymnasts. 

“It’s a treat for gymnastics fans,” Young said. “Being up on a podium actually heightens the event. I’m a gymnastics fan first, so I’m just going to sit back and enjoy it and see how these girls handle being on a podium.” 

Meet Information

• Saturday, Jan. 11, at 7 p.m. MST, Maverik Center

• Live Stats: http://sidearmstats.com/utah/w-gym/

• Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/vpheqw5

THE COUGARS. BYU received a preseason WCGA ranking of No. 23. In the season opener on Monday, the Cougars took down No. 15 Nebraska, snagging the first win of the season 195.750-195.600. This win ended a four-meet losing streak against the Huskers since BYU’s last series win in 1998.

THE THUNDERBIRDS. At the MRGC Championships in 2019, SUU finished second place, ending the season with a No. 24 ranking. This season, the team received a preseason ranking of No. 26 from the WCGA’s Preseason Poll to follow just behind other nationally ranked MRGC contenders No. 18 Boise State and No. 23 BYU. The Thunderbirds will kick off their season on Thursday, Jan. 9 against No. 15 Nebraska. 

THE UTES. Currently sitting at No. 5, Utah started the season with a 196.425-195.350 win against No. 12 Kentucky on Friday, Jan. 3. A standout performer, senior Kim Tessen, picked up wins on all three of her events–vault, uneven bars and floor. 

THE AGGIES. Utah State came off the 2019 season with a 5-13 overall record. In the preseason polls, the team earned a No. 41 ranking in the country. The Aggies will be on the road the entire month of January and will make their season debut at the Best of Utah meet. On Saturday, Jan. 18, the Aggies will compete in the Marriott Center against BYU and UCLA.