WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah – The BYU women’s gymnastics team took home a third-place finish with a final score of 195.725 at the Les Olsen IT Best of Utah meet Monday night at the Maverik Center.
Utah won its seventh-straight Best of Utah competition with a 197.300, followed by Utah State with a 195.825 and BYU with a 195.725. SUU rounded out the group with a 195.675.
Junior Ava Jorgensen competed in the all-around for the first time of her career tonight, scoring a 39.025.
BYU improved upon three of its four event totals from its first meet, with a 49.000 on both beam and floor, and a 48.975 on floor.
The Cougars brought energy in their opening rotation on floor at the Best of Utah. Brynlee Andersen-Broekman opened with a season-high 9.850, followed by a career-high 9.825 from junior Chloee Hoke. Making her first appearance at the Best of Utah, freshman Scarlett Sonnenberg scored a 9.850 to bring BYU’s floor total to a season-high 49.000.
After the first rotation, the Utes led with a 49.075, followed by the Cougars at 49.000. The Thunderbirds and Aggies were tied for third at 48.900.
BYU moved to vault for the second rotation.
The Cougars scored a pair of 9.8’s from Daisy Stephenson and Deb Silva before Sonnenberg scored a career-high 9.825. Kylie Eaquinto anchored the Cougars with a 9.8, giving BYU a vault score of 48.975.
The Utes extended their lead in the second rotation, posting a total score of 98.300. BYU followed with a 47.975, with the Aggies close behind at 47.900. The Thunderbirds rounded out the group with a 47.650.
In her second-career bars routine, Silva scored a 9.8 for the Cougs. A 9.775 from Eaquinto and a pair of 9.75’s from Mya Kirkham and Ava Jorgensen brought BYU’s total bars score to 48.750.
With two vault scores above a 9.9, Utah pulled ahead with a team score of 147.675 to hold onto first heading into the final rotation. Utah State pulled ahead of BYU, taking the second place spot with a 146.825. The Cougars followed close behind with a 146.725, and SUU came in with a 146.625.
BYU’s final event of the night was the balance beam.
After a fall in the lead off spot, the final five Cougs hit their routines to earn a 49.000 on beam. In just her second collegiate competition, freshman Hazel Smith scored a 9.8. Jorgensen and Hoke added a pair of 9.8’s before Andersen-Broekman closed out the competition with a 9.850.
The Cougars return to the Marriott Center on Friday, Jan. 16 to face Boise State. The meet is scheduled for 7 p.m. MT and will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Spencer Linton and Rebekah Ripley on the call.