History of BYU Gymnastics

Program Origins & Early Foundation (1960s)

Women’s gymnastics at Brigham Young University began in the early 1960s within the Women’s Physical Education Department. Using simple equipment—such as a vaulting horse adapted from a men's side horse, a balance beam made from a 16-foot beam, and adjusted men's parallel bars—instructors Cyntha Hirst and Lu Wallace established the sport at BYU. Lacking English instructional materials, Wallace famously utilized a Japanese gymnastics textbook to teach uneven bars and balance beam skills.

In the fall of 1964, Wallace organized and coached the first competitive group of BYU students, holding practice sessions late in the evening at the Women’s Gym on University Avenue. That same year, BYU hosted the state's first girls' gymnastics meet. In 1965, practices moved to the newly opened Stephen L. Richards Building. Led by standout gymnast Diane Shean-Wright, BYU won the first intercollegiate district competition. Under Wallace’s leadership, the Cougars dominated the Intermountain Conference for College Women in Physical Education (ICCWPE), winning consecutive titles from 1965 through 1972.

Hosting Nationals & The Title IX Transition (1970s)

In 1970, BYU hosted the DGWS National Women’s Gymnastics Championship in Provo. To prepare for the competition, the university purchased its first regulation 42’ x 42' floor exercise mat. At this event, Patty Timothy became the first female gymnast to represent BYU at a national championship, placing tied for 10th in Class II floor exercise. The meet was widely recognized for its hospitality, which included personal hostesses for visiting teams and an early-morning Easter Bunny visit.

Following the passage of Title IX in 1972, collegiate gymnastics shifted toward higher-caliber single-team competition.

Key 1970s Milestones:

• First Division I National Competitor (1973): Sondra Young-Jones became the first BYU female gymnast to compete at the Division I National Championship, finishing 53rd in the all-around.
• First Athletic Financial Aid (1974): Carol Johnson and Pamela Hoffbuhr became the first female gymnasts at BYU to receive athletic financial aid talent awards.
• Inaugural International Tour (1976): BYU became the first women's intercollegiate team to tour and compete internationally, traveling to Mexico City with the men's team under coaches Lu Wallace, Brad Cattermole, and Von Johnson.

Facilities & The Move to the NCAA

In late 1982, women’s intercollegiate athletics transitioned under the governance of the NCAA. BYU was placed in Region VII, competing alongside programs such as Utah, Arizona State, and Nebraska.

• First NCAA National Qualifier (1984): Mary Lou (Young) McClellan became the first BYU female gymnast to compete at an NCAA National Championship, placing second among at-large qualifiers and 19th overall.
• Facility Upgrades & Fieldhouse Fire: Practice operations moved to Gym 131 in the Richards Building, while home meets were held on the main floor of the Smith Fieldhouse. In 1985, a new gymnastics facility was designed in the Fieldhouse by Wayne Young and Rod Hill. In late 1987, during minor finishing work, an accidental blowtorch fire damaged the new training facility, temporarily forcing practice back to the Fieldhouse main floor.

The Brad Cattermole Era & National Elite Status (1988–1990s)

In April 1988, Brad Cattermole—who had taken over as interim head coach earlier that year—was officially named head coach. Assisted by his wife, Dawn Cattermole, he set out to build BYU into a national power.

• Return to NCAA Nationals (1991): BYU placed 3rd at regionals to qualify as a team for the NCAA National Championship for the first time, finishing 8th overall nationally. They returned to Nationals in 1992, placing 12th.
• Record Attendance (1995): On February 3, 1995, a record crowd of 10,334 spectators attended a home tri-meet against Utah and Georgia at the Marriott Center.
• The "Magnificent Seven" Team (1995): Roster injuries left BYU with only seven active gymnasts, yet the squad placed 10th nationally at the NCAA Championship in Athens, Georgia.
• 1998 Home Upset Victory: On March 21, 1998, BYU earned a victory over rival No. 7 Utah in the Marriott Center with a team score of 196.050 to 195.975, sealed by senior Angela Anderson’s 9.95 floor routine.