PROVO, Utah – BYU senior captain Kylie Eaquinto has been nominated for the 2026 AAI Award, presented to the nation’s most outstanding senior gymnast.
AAI has been awarding this honor for more than 30 years. NCAA head coaches were asked to submit a nomination for the candidate or candidates of their choice. After the initial nominations, the field will be narrowed to the top six student-athletes.
Eaquinto is amongst 45 gymnasts nominated for the AAI Award, including one of just five from the Big 12 Conference.
The Orem, Utah native has been a four-year starter for BYU, making a significant impact on vault, bars and floor throughout her collegiate career. A three-time NCAA Regional Individual qualifier, Eaquinto has also served as a team captain for the Cougars during the past two seasons, leading with strength, resilience, and a tireless work ethic.
As a true freshman in 2023, Eaquinto quickly established herself as one of the conference’s premier athletes, earning MRGC Freshman of the Year, MRGC Vault Specialist of the Year, and All-MRGC First Team Vault honors. Her competitive consistency has translated to sustained success, including standout performances on floor, where she recorded a career-high 9.975 during her sophomore season, highlighted by a perfect 10.0 from one judge.
Since BYU’s transition to the Big 12 Conference, Eaquinto has continued to excel at the highest level, earning both Big 12 Event Specialist of the Week and Big 12 Gymnast of the Week honors. Across her collegiate career, she has stood atop the podium 25 times, including 13 meet-high finishes on vault, eight on floor, and four on bars. During the current season alone, Eaquinto has recorded eight podium finishes, earning meet-high honors twice on vault, twice on bars, and four on floor.
In the classroom, Eaquinto has demonstrated the same discipline and excellence that define her competitive career. An accounting major at BYU, one of the university’s most rigorous and selective academic programs, she has compiled a 3.92 cumulative GPA and a 3.83 GPA within her major while competing as a three-event gymnast. Throughout her collegiate career, Eaquinto has earned six semesters with a perfect 4.0 GPA, consistently balancing the demands of an elite athletic schedule with the academic intensity of her field of study.
Eaquinto has been deeply committed to service throughout her collegiate career, actively giving back to both the local community and those who support the BYU gymnastics program. As a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Service Committee (SAAC), she played an integral role in planning, setting up, and executing service initiatives, including assembling hygiene kits for girls in need and participating in hospital outreach efforts, where she delivered handmade notes and hearts to patients.
This past year, Eaquinto took initiative by partnering with Hearts Knit Together to help develop a meaningful service project for the team’s retreat. She and her teammates sewed handmade hearts to be included in care packages for individuals facing medical challenges. Additionally, she participated in a service collaboration with Sole Hope, a nonprofit organization serving communities in Uganda by providing shoes for children and families in need.
Eaquinto has also prioritized service within her own athletic community, helping organize blanket-tying projects to support the administrative and support staff who play a vital role in the success of the gymnastics program. Her consistent dedication to serving others reflects her character, leadership, and commitment to making a positive impact beyond competition.
Find the full list of nominees here.