BOISE, Idaho - No. 21 BYU took fourth in the MRGC Championship with a 196.375 on Saturday evening at the ExtraMile Arena. Utah State took first with a score of 197.025, followed by Boise State's 196.550 and Southern Utah's 196.500.
Senior Sadie Miner-Van Tassell took home the highest score on vault in the competition with a career-high 9.950. She also competed in the all-around and scored a 39.000. Miner-Van Tassell was honored as the 2022 MRGC Gymnast of the Year following the conference championship.
BYU started the night with solid routines on the uneven bars. Senior Abby Beeston kicked off the rotation strong with a 9.825. Allix Mason notched a 9.850 after a clean routine and a stuck landing. Bars specialist Anyssa Alvarado had a beautiful performance with a 9.925 as the highest score on the event for the Cougars. This is the seventh time in the 2022 season Alvarado has notched a 9.925 on bars. After two falls on the uneven bars, BYU ended the first rotation in fourth place with a score of 48.750.
For the second rotation, the Cougars went to the balance beam. Sophomore Lauren Ono was up first on beam and scored a 9.850 for BYU. Ono was followed by Mason who notched a career-high score of 9.875 on the apparatus. After Miner-Van Tassell had a scary fall on bars in the prior rotation, she stepped up with composure and poise to score a 9.825 on beam. Elease Rollins notched another 9.875 on beam to finish out the rotation. Despite posting solid scores in the second rotation, BYU finished with a team score of 97.975, keeping them in fourth place.
Showing off their personalities, the Cougars moved to the floor in the third rotation. Beeston scored a 9.800 with her fun floor routine to bring the energy to the arena for BYU. Addy Rieder notched a 9.850, followed by a 9.875 by Miner-Van Tassell. Floor specialist Brittney Vitkauskas finished the third rotation with a 9.900 for the highest BYU score on the apparatus. The Cougars, however, stayed in fourth overall despite a team score of 147.200.
BYU soared on vault in the final rotation of the MRGC Championship. Haley Pitou went first on the vault and notched a 9.800 to open the fourth rotation for the Cougars. Sydney Benson scored a 9.850, followed by a career-high 9.950 by Miner-Van Tassell to finish out the competition for BYU. Despite a solid team performance on the vault, BYU ended the night in fourth place with a final score of 196.375.
After the meet, the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference honored the top gymnasts in each event for the year. They also honored Guard Young as the 2022 MRGC Coach of the Year.
Below is the list of awards given to BYU gymnasts:
Sadie Miner-Van Tassell: 2022 Vault Specialist of the Year
Haley Pitou: All-MRGC Second Team Bars
Anyssa Alvarado: All-MRGC First Team Bars
Sadie Miner-Van Tassell: All-MRGC First Team Bars
Elease Rollins: 2022 Beam Specialist of the Year
Abby Beeston: All-MRGC Second Team Floor
Addy Rieder: All-MRGC Second Team Floor
Sadie Miner-Van Tassell: All-MRGC First Team Floor
Brittney Vitkauskas: All-MRGC First Team Floor
Sadie Miner-Van Tassell: All-MRGC First Team All-Around
Sadie Miner-Van Tassell: 2022 MRGC Gymnast of the Year
Guard Young: 2022 MRGC Coach of the Year
With the conference championships finished, BYU awaits details about regionals.