PROVO, Utah – For the 2020 season, Gymnastics head coach Guard Young leads the largest gymnastics team in the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference. This extended roster has several benefits, not only for Young, but for his athletes.
BYU features 24 gymnasts on its roster. For comparison, conference rival, Boise State University, features 15 gymnasts.
Each season, the team receives 12 full-ride scholarships. Therefore, the remaining 12 joined the No. 21 team under a walk-on status. This expanded roster requires Young and his assistants to be strategic in their coaching.
“We all get the same amount of coaches so we get spread a little thinner,” Young said. “We have to be more productive as coaches and smart about when groups come in. I feel like the girls are training bigger, not smaller.”
With an innovative practice schedule, Young feels that the pros of having a large roster outweigh the cons.
“We have kids that get sick or injured and we have protocols,” Young said. “It allows us to do what is best for the kid and we aren’t rushed to get them back if they aren’t ready to come back. We have that depth to allow another girl to come in.”
For this purpose, Young recruits several walk-ons in order to have specialists on each event. This gives the team several options, along with greater depth.
“A huge benefit is our internal competition,” Young said. “It’s extremely difficult to make our lineup and that’s what you want. We’re getting to the point where our 7,8 and 9th options are almost as good as our six competing girls.”
One of the team’s walk-ons, junior Avery Bennett, accepted a position knowing she wouldn’t receive compensation in the form of a scholarship.
“I just wanted to be here,” Bennett said. “I wanted to do gymnastics and I didn’t feel like I needed to be paid because it’s a good opportunity to be on the team.”
This passion for the sport requires Bennett and other walk-ons to devote at least 20 hours a week, the equivalent of a part-time job.
“We get 20 hours in the gym and then have treatments done and massages,” Bennett said. “Sometimes we do things outside the gym, like signing autographs or team activities.”
Another walk-on, sophomore Ashley Kernan, agreed that compensation isn’t the reason she pursued college gymnastics.
“When I came for my official visit, I knew this was the college to come to,” Kernan said. “I feel like I’m just as much part of the team and can contribute just as much as someone who is on scholarship.”
Young wishes he could offer scholarships to all of his athletes, but is grateful for their contribution regardless.
“It’s a time demand and I just love my walk ons,” Young said. “The sacrifice that they give up to do a sport that they love is admirable and it’s a passion of theirs.”
BYU, sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, offers student-athletes an environment where they can develop and thrive on and off the field of competition.
“I think the honor code that BYU has is a really neat thing,” Young said. “We’re one of the safest universities in the country. It keeps our kids safe and focused on school and gymnastics.”
Several of the team members associate with other faiths. An example is senior Briana Pearson, who committed to the Cougars as a senior in high school knowing little of the school sponsor's religion.
“Guard saw me at a competition and asked, “Have you heard of BYU and would you consider it?” Pearson said. “Honestly, I didn’t know much about it.”
Upon looking into BYU, Pearson noticed the prestigious nature of the Marriott School of Business. This led her to commit. Additionally, the religious aspect of the university did not steer Pearson away.
“I’ve always been Catholic and my family goes to church every Sunday,” Pearson said. “When I first came, I was surprised that some of the beliefs here are similar to mine.”
Season tickets to come see the Cougars will be available starting on Wednesday, Nov. 13. Tickets can be purchased at BYUTickets.com.