BYU's Mabray Wins All-Around, Utes Take Team Title

SALT LAKE -- Opening their 2003 season minus an All-American and competing against long-time rival University of Utah, the BYU women's gymnastics team fought hard and came together as a team. Despite losing to the Utes 196.8 to 194.7 Friday night in the Huntsman Center, the Cougars managed to break some individual career bests.

Most notable was sophomore Jaime Mabray, who set or tied personal bests in all four events to win the all-around title. Mabray's all around score of 39.650 nearly broke BYU's individual all-around record of 39.7, set by All-American Kelly Evanson. Her score is the third highest score BYU has ever received.

Utah's Melissa Vituj placed second in the all-around with a score of 39.625, a personal best. She also won the floor exercise while teammate Annabeth Eberle won on bars. On her way to the all-around title, Mabray won both the vault and beam competitions while placing second on floor and bars.

"Jaime really fought through the whole thing," BYU head coach Brad Cattermole said. "She doesn't always have the highest level of difficulty, but she does what she can perfectly."

Other outstanding performances came from Brooke Haskett, who came in third on the floor exercise and nailed her bar routine, and Kari Lords who scored a 9.850 on the beam.

Coach Brad Cattermole was extremely pleased with the team's performance. "I am thrilled with the way that we performed tonight. We are really coming together and moving in the right direction."

BYU's first home meet is next Saturday at 7 p.m. against Boise State.

Team Results
Utah 196.800
BYU 194.700
Individual Results
All-Around
1. Jaime Mabray (BYU) 39.650 
2. Melissa Vituj (Utah) 39.625 
3. Annabeth Eberle (Utah) 39.250 
4. Kim Allan (Utah) 39.125 
5. Veronique Leclerc (Utah) 38.750 
6. Lindsay Butterfield (BYU) 37.950 
Vault: (Utah 49.150; BYU 48.875)
1. Jaime Mabray (BYU) 9.925 
2. (3 way tie) Kristen Riffanach, Melissa Vituj, and Annabeth Eberle (Utah) 9.875 
Other BYU scores:
Meghan Donahue: 9.80
Megan Pessoa: 9.775
Trisha Ashton: 9.70
Lindsay Butterfield: 9.675
Lena Johnson 9.20
Uneven Bars: (Utah 49.325; BYU 48.525)
1. (Utah) Annabeth Eberle: 9.950
2. (tie) Jaime Mabray (BYU) and Veronique Leclerc (Utah) 9.875
Other BYU scores:
Brooke Haskett 9.850
Kari Lords: 9.825
Lisa Willis: 9.725
Lindsay Butterfield: 9.250
Brogan Jacobson: 9.050
Balance Beam: (Utah 49.350; BYU 48.775)
1. (tie) Jaime Mabray (BYU) and  Melissa Vituj (Utah) 9.950
3. Kim Allen (Utah) 9.90
Other BYU scores:
Kari Lords: 9.850
Kirsten Pauga: 9.725
Brooke Haskett: 9.675
Trisha Ashton: 9.575
Lindsay Butterfield: 9.350
Floor Exercise: (Utah 48.975; BYU 48.525)
1. Melissa Vituj (Utah) 9.95
2. Jaime Mabray (BYU) 9.90
3. Brooke Haskett (BYU) 9.85
Other BYU scores:
Brooke Haskett: 9.85
Candace Slater: 9.825
Lindsay Butterfield: 9.675
Kari Lords: 9.275
Kirsten Pauga: 9.125

PROVO -- The BYU women's gymnastics team heads to Salt Lake City this Friday as they compete in their season opener against the University of Utah.

The Cougars field a team that has the talent to qualify for the NCAA Championships at the seasons' end. Last year BYU fell short at the NCAA regional meet and is ready to compete against Utah, who took fourth at the NCAA National Championships in 2002.

"Utah is probably the hardest team in the country to start out against," BYU head coach Brad Cattermole said. "Utah won't make early season mistakes, so we can't make early season mistakes."

Losing four top-of-the-line seniors last year has put pressure on the team to step up its performances. All four seniors were top scorers for the team last season, but the team isn't completely disadvantaged from the loss.

"We have a young and talented team," Cattermole said. "We don't have the big all-around starters that we did last year. We are working on stepping up our performances."