CEDAR CITY, Utah — Behind a season-high performance, No. 23 BYU gymnastics topped Southern Utah, 196.975–196.000, on Friday night at America First Event Center.
Along with a new season-high overall score, the Cougars posted season highs on vault (49.150), floor (49.300) and beam (49.375). The beam score of 49.375 is BYU’s highest event score so far this season.
BYU gymnasts claimed the top spot on the podium on bars, beam and floor. Alilah Alvarado led the meet on bars with a 9.875, Brynlee Andersen-Broekman posted a meet-high 9.925 on beam and Deb Silva topped the field on floor with a 9.900.
True freshman Scarlett Sonnenberg recorded two career highs, scoring 9.850 on both vault and beam.
Senior Kylie Eaquinto tallied three scores of 9.800 or higher, posting a 9.825 on vault, 9.800 on bars and 9.850 on floor.
The Cougars got off to a strong start on bars, sticking four of six routines and tying a season-high team score of 49.150. Mya Kirkham opened with a 9.800, followed by Addilyn Glazier’s season-high 9.825, matched by Deb Silva and Ava Jorgensen. Senior Kylie Eaquinto notched a 9.800 before junior Alilah Alvarado closed the rotation with a team-high 9.875.
After a solid opening rotation, BYU took an early lead over SUU 49.150-48.775.
BYU kicked off its second rotation on vault with freshman Daisy Stephenson tying her career-high 9.800. Freshman Scarlett Sonnenberg followed with a new career-high 9.850 on her Yurchenko one-and-a-half. Silva added a 9.800 before Jorgensen’s stuck landing earned a season-high 9.875. Eaquinto closed the rotation with a 9.825 on her Yurchenko full. The Cougars matched their first-rotation total of 49.150, setting a new season-high team vault score.
BYU extended its lead to 98.300–97.875 at the halfway point, despite a strong bars rotation from SUU.
Carrying momentum from the first half of the meet, BYU took the floor in the third rotation. Sonnenberg and Chloee Hoke opened with a pair of 9.800s, followed by a career-high 9.875 from Stephenson. Brynlee Andersen-Broekman added another 9.875 before Silva matched her career high on floor with a 9.900. Eaquinto scored a 9.850 in her final routine of the evening as BYU posted a season-high 49.300 on floor.
Heading into the final rotation, the Cougars held a 147.600–146.850 lead over SUU and were on pace for a season high.
Earning her second career high of the night, Sonnenberg opened the final rotation with a 9.850 on beam. After a fall from Hazel Smith, Ava Jorgensen and Alilah Alvarado posted career-high 9.875s. Hoke scored a season-high 9.850 before Andersen-Broekman closed out the competition with a 9.925, giving BYU its highest beam score of the season with a 49.325.
The Cougars bested their previous season high by 0.675, earning a 196.975 to take home the road win.
Up Next:
BYU wraps up its Utah road slate next week with a rivalry showdown at No. 15 Utah on Friday, Feb. 13. The competition is scheduled for 7 p.m. MT on ESPN+.