No. 12 BYU prepares for MRGC Championships on Saturday

PROVO, Utah – No. 12 BYU prepares to battle for the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference crown at the 2021 MRGC Championships on Saturday, March 20, in Logan, Utah. 

The Cougars will face No. 19 Boise State, No. 20 Southern Utah and No. 21 Utah State. Among the four institutions, BYU is No. 1 in the MRGC and No. 1 on each apparatus. 

Last season, the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancelation of the annual meet. The 2020 conference champion was determined by the final regular-season NQS recorded by the members of the conference. BYU held a final NQS of 196.500, followed by Southern Utah (196.165), Utah State (195.915) and Boise State (195.790.)

The MRGC awarded BYU the 2020 title, a first for the team since the conference began in 2016. 

Meet Information

• When: Saturday, March 20
• Time: 6 p.m. MST
• Location: Dee Glen Smith Spectrum
• Live Stream: https://utahstateaggies.com/watch/
• Live Stats: http://sidearmstats.com/utahstate/gymnastics/20210320.html

THE COUGARS. On Senior Night this past Thursday, BYU notched its highest score of the season, a 197.300. This is also the highest team tally since 2004. The Cougars continue to improve each meet, solidifying a new season-high score on beam, a 49.400. Senior Abbey Miner-Alder competed in the all-around and snagged a new career-high score of 49.525. For Week 10, the MRGC honored Alder earned as Gymnast of the Week and Abby Boden-Stainton as Beam Specialist of the Week. 

THE AGGIES. On Friday, Utah State battled No. 6 University of Utah and celebrated its fifth-best road score in program history, a 196.500. Nationally, the team is ranked No. 15 on beam and No. 19 on vault. This season, the Aggies broke a new school record, scoring a 49.000 or higher on beam for eight-straight meets. Utah State boasts senior Autumn DeHarde, who is first in the conference overall. 

THE BRONCOS. On Friday, Boise State traveled to Arizona to face ASU. In an upset, the Broncos achieved a 196.750-196.700 win over the Sun Devils. Additionally, Boise State put up a 49.475 on floor, the team’s 10th-highest score in program history. A standout performer is senior Emily Muhlenhaupt, who earned her 15th-career victory on bars.

THE THUNDERBIRDS. On Saturday, Southern Utah trumped the University of Arizona (196.000) and Air Force (193.175) in a tri-meet, achieving a 196.150. On vault, the Thunderbirds put up their second-highest score of the season, a 49.200. Morgan Alfaro posted a 9.900 on the apparatus, winning her the title for the night and MRGC Vault Specialist of the Week.