BOISE, Idaho (Feb. 1, 2013) – In a rematch against Boise State the BYU women’s gymnastics team scored a season-best 195.125 but fell to the Broncos for a second consecutive week.
“All said and done it wasn’t half bad. That’s the direction we want to be moving in,” head coach Brad Cattermole said. “Anytime you get above a 195 that doesn’t hurt.”
Boise State edged BYU with a 196.325, also a season high for the Broncos. The Cougars topped 195 for the first time this season and posted their best score since midway through the 2012 season.
BYU had four gymnasts score above a 9.800 on the bars, including 9.825’s from veterans Raquel Willman and Megan Bain. Senior Haylee Rollins notched a 9.800 and Sarah Yandow Wensel tied a career best with a 9.800 of her own.
On the vault, the Cougars’ freshman Eliane Kulczyk scored a 9.850 to lead the team. Kulczyk scored a 9.825 to tie for the team lead last week also. Fellow freshman Makenzie Johnson scored a 9.800 to match Rollins’ 9.800.
Rollins led the team on the floor, scoring a 9.850. Bain scored a 9.825 and Kulczyk chipped in with a 9.800.
Heading into the final event the Cougars trailed but had an opportunity for a comeback on the beam. BYU got three 9.825 performances from Johnson, Willman and freshman Emily Vidmar but it wasn’t enough as the Cougars couldn’t gain quite enough ground.
“Emily [Vidmar] did an absolutely great balance beam routine to help us,” Cattermole said. “We also had three or four girls stick landings on bars and vaulted well too. We hit when we had to so I think we are moving in the right direction.”
Willman scored a 39.150 to finish second in the all-around competition, her best score this season.
“Raquel [Willman] scored one of her best in the all-around and broke 39 so that’s good,” Cattermole said. “She’s only going to improve as well.”
Boise State scored the two highest scores in each event at the meet en route to their most solid performance of the year.
Up next, BYU returns to the Smith Fieldhouse to host Southeast Missouri State on Friday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. The meet will be broadcast live on BYUtv.