Back-to-Back Meets for BYU
PROVO -- The No. 22 BYU gymnastics team will face perhaps its toughest test of the season this weekend when it will have back-to-back meets Friday night and Saturday afternoon. The Cougars will face nationally ranked teams Utah and Arkansas along with perennial-foes Southern Utah and Boise State during the weekend.
Friday night BYU will travel to the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City for a quadrangular meet with No. 3 Utah, No. 13 Arkansas and Southern Utah. Saturday the Cougars will be back at home for an afternoon matinee with Boise State.
"We are looking at sticking our routines," BYU coach Brad Cattermole said. "We want to hit our routines the best we can. The girls are working very hard and making improvements."
BYU is coming off its best meet of the season in its last meet against Utah State. The Cougars recorded a 195.475, their highest team score since the 2005 NCAA Regionals. Ten gymnasts tied or set career highs against the Aggies. Dayna Smart scored a 39.375 in the all-around, including a 9.900 on beam. Junior Alethea Boon tied career highs on vault at 9.900 and beam with a 9.875. Seniors Kacie Capra-Callens and Lisa Willis also recorded strong outings on bars and beam, respectively.
Perennial national-power and No. 3-ranked Utah will welcome the Cougars in what could be the toughest meet in the nation this weekend with three top-25 teams competing. The Utes are coming off a 195.875 outing at Minnesota and are led by Nicolle Ford, Kristina Baskett, Ashley Postell and Nina Kim. Arkansas scored a 195.575 last week against co-No. 13 LSU and is led by senior Cassie Drew and junior Emily Peacock. The Thunderbirds, meanwhile, recorded a 190.575 in a quad meet hosted by Cal State Fullerton and are led by senior Leah Sakhitab.
BYU will welcome Boise State Saturday for the second of two meets this season between the two teams. The Broncos are coming off a 191.125 outing against Sacramento State in which freshman DeAvera Todd recorded a 9.950 on vault. They are led by Todd and sophomore Taylor Jacob.
"The level of competition this weekend is a bit higher," Cattermole said. "We look forward to competing against strong teams. Good routines against great competition will boost your scores."
Friday's meet is set to begin at 7 p.m. in the Huntsman Center. Saturday's meet with Boise State will begin at 12 p.m. in the Smith Fieldhouse. Admission will be free to the public as part of National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Live Stats for both meets will be available on the BYU women's gymnastics homepage on www.byucougars.com.