Gymnasts Set New School Record

Denton, Texas (Feb. 28, 2004) -- The Cougars pounced on Texas Women's University and Air Force Saturday in the Kitty Magee Arena, scoring a BYU-record high of 197.550 against TWU's 194.600 and Air Force's 193.675.

"It was a fun meet," said BYU coach Brad Cattermole. "We didn't have to count a fall; it was probably the best meet of the season."

BYU set season highs in all four events, scoring 49.425 on vault, 49.400 on bars, 49.100 on beam and 49.625 on floor.

Along with the team highs, Jaime Mabray brought home a perfect 10.0 on vault. This is the fourth perfect 10.0 in BYU history and the second on vault. Christy McAdams scored the first perfect 10.0 on vault in 1992.

"The girls did a great job tonight and we're really proud of them," he said.

Teammates Kirsten Pauga and Trisha Ashton took second (9.975) and third place (9.950) on vault.

On bars, Kari Lords and Kacie Capra tied for first (9.950) with Brogan Jacobsen tied for third (9.900).

The beam saw Lords and Mabray tied for first on beam (9.875) with Ashton in fourth (9.825).

"We did really well in beam," Cattermole said. "All six girls hit their routines and they were good solid routines."

The floor was the Cougars' strongest event with Jacobsen and Marie-Helene Claveau tied with TWU's Rachel Goddard for first place (9.950). Mabray took fourth (9.925) and teammates Lords and Lisa Willis tied for fifth (9.900).

"Floor was excellent tonight," Cattermole said. "The only bad thing was no one got a 10.0."

In the All-Around, Lords took first place, scoring a 39.500. Mabray took third with a 9.175.

Cattermole said the team really enjoyed the competition and saw excellent gymnastics at the event.

"TWU is the pride of Division II," he said. "TWU and Air Force are good teams. Their kids are really giving it their all."

Now sitting 8-3, the Cougars prepare to challenge Oregon State March 5 at 7 p.m. in the Gill Coliseum.

"The next couple of days are really our last chance to work out and fine tune routines before we hit the competitions hard."

PROVO -- Sweeping three home meets, the Cougars now take to the road to compete against Texas Women's University Saturday at 7:00 p.m. at the Kitty Magee arena in Denton, Texas.

"I have three Texans on the team," said BYU coach Brad Cattermole. "I told them if we could find a good school to compete with, we'd go to Texas."

Though TWU is a Division II school, the Pioneers are the 2003 USAG Collegiate National Champions -- their seventh title.

Denton is familiar ground for senior Trisha Ashton, who attended TWU prior to BYU. Ashton was an asset to the Cougars against Missouri Monday night, setting career highs of 9.925 on both beam and floor.

Fellow Texans, junior Jaime Mabray and freshman Kacie Capra, also showed strong performances against Missouri. Mabray was named Cougar of the Meet, taking first in the all-around, scoring a season high of 39.425. Capra also set career high scores of 9.775 on beam and 9.875 on floor.

Currently sitting 6-3, the Cougars don't have time to relax, Cattermole said. The team still has to fine tune its routines and take advantage of its workout.

"There are still just goofy little mistakes," Cattermole said. "But we're continuing to improve and that's what's great about this team. No one's satisfied -- they're still working harder."

Cattermole said the Cougars are going into the meet with the mentality they need to fight hard and perform. The goal isn't to compete against the other team, but to compete against your potential.

"We've got to get high away scores," Cattermole said. "Rankings don't really matter until you're deciding Regionals. That's when our away scores are going to count."

In its last three meets, BYU ripped through Utah State 196.425-195.250, Boise State 196.725-194.175 and Missouri 196.725-195.525.

The Cougars won't return for a home meet until March 9, for their final home meet against Southern Utah at 7 p.m. in the Smith Fieldhouse.