PROVO -- Led by all-around winner Kelly Parkinson, BYU opened its 2001 gymnastics season with a 194.275 - 191.475 victory over 17th ranked Iowa State Friday in front of 1,256 fans at the Marriott Center.

Parkinson led the 15th-ranked Cougars with an all-around score of 39.325 while teammate Jeni Thomas Lopez finished third overall at 38.025. Iowa State's Tanya Sissy Huey placed second in the all-around with a 39.125 score. Parkinson, BYU's returning All-American, had a strong first meet as she won the vault (9.875), placed second on the uneven bars (9.850) and floor (9.850) and finished third on the balance beam (9.750).

"We didn't have (injured senior all-arounder) Kim (Little) tonight but on bars which hurt us but I thought the freshmen did a good job," BYU coach Brad Cattermole said. "Kelly had a nice meet."

The Cougars started strong on vault, where an NCAA rule change this year only allows competitors one vault instead of two. BYU didn't seem to mind, taking the top three scores on the event with freshman Brogan Jacobsen and senior Angie Hickman tying for second with a 9.775 behind Parkinson. BYU's Brooke Craig tied Iowa State's Stephanie Sweitzer for honors on balance beam with a 9.775 tally. Iowa State's Huey won the other two events with a 9.875 on floor and a 9.875 on the uneven bars.

After scoring a 48.700 on vault, BYU earned a 48.750 on bars before having to count two falls on beam for a 47.700 score. The Cougars rebounded in the floor exercise, putting up the best score of the meet with a 49.125. After floor winner Huey, BYU placed all six gymnasts before the next Iowa State score.

The Cougars next meet is Feb. 20 at Air Force.

Meet Score:
BYU, 194.275
Iowa State, 191.475
Vault
BYU, 48.700
Iowa State, 48.275
1) Kelly Parkinson, BYU, 9.875
2) Brogan Jacobsen, BYU, 9.775
   Angela Hickman, BYU, 9.775
Other BYU vault scores:
T5)  Kari Dye, 9.675
9)   Jeni Thomas Lopez, 9.600
T10) Trisha Driggs, 9.575
Bars
BYU, 48.750
Iowa State, 47.950
1) Tanya Sissy Huey, Iowa State, 9.875
2) Kelly Parkinson, BYU, 9.850
Other BYU bars scores:
T3) Brogan Jacobsen, 9.800
    Kim Little, 9.800
T6) Brooke Craig, 9.650
    Lindsay Lines, 9.650
10) Jeni Thomas Lopez, 9.375
Beam
BYU, 47.700
Iowa State, 47.425
T1) Brooke Craig, BYU, 9.775
    Stephanie Sweitzer, Iowa State, 9.775
Other BYU beam scores:
3)  Kelly Parkinson, 9.750
6)  Trisha Driggs, 9.650
7)  Karen Nielsen Froerer, 9.300
8)  Jeni Thomas Lopez, 9.225
11) Kari Dye, 9.00 
 
Floor
BYU, 49.125
Iowa State, 47.825
1) Tanya Sissy Huey, Iowa State, 9.875
2) Kelly Parkinson, BYU, 9.850
Other BYU floor scores:
T3) Jeni Thomas Lopez, 9.825
    Brooke Craig, 9.825
    Candice Cosgrave, 9.825
6)  Kari Dye, 9.800
7)  Angie Hickman, 9.725
All-Around
1) Kelly Parkinson, BYU, 39.325
2) Tanya Sissy Huey, Iowa State, 39.125
3) Jeni Thomas Lopez, BYU, 38.025
4) Shelly Kringen, Iowa State, 37.625

BYU will open the 2001 gymnastics season with a home meet against Iowa State on Friday night at the Marriott Center.

The Cougars are ranked No. 15 in the preseason polls and Iowa State is ranked No. 17.

BYU last met up with the Cyclones when the Cougars traveled to Ames, Iowa last January. BYU scored a 49.050 on the floor to help them to an overall score of 194.175. Iowa State had an overall score of 193.975.

Last year the Cougars had a strong showing on the balance beam, nailing all six routines to help them to the victory.

BYU returns several experienced gymnasts in senior Kim Little and junior Kelly Parkinson, but Friday will also be a testing ground for several newcomers, including transfer Trisha Driggs and freshman Brogan Jacobsen.