BYU notches first win of the season

PROVO, Utah--In its first win of the season, all four events and the all-around were claimed by four different BYU gymnasts as the team finished with 194.900, just ahead of Utah State's 194.300 Friday evening at the Smith Fieldhouse.

 

Senior Raquel Willman Hatch took the top honor in the all-around with a score of 39.225. Makenzie Johnson also took top scores in the uneven bars and the floor routine.

 

"We were finally back to doing the floor like BYU usually does floor," BYU head coach Brad Cattermole said. "The last couple of meets we just haven't performed up to our capability and tonight we did." 

 

On the vault, BYU tied its season high score with 49.150 to beat Utah State’s 48.825. Sophomore Eliane Kulczyk set a new career high with a score of 9.925, which was also the top score in the event. Johnson and Madeline Nilsson both tied their career highs, scoring 9.875 and 9.800, respectively. Hatch also tied her season high in the event with a 9.825.

 

The Cougars' 48.475 score on the bars was topped by the Aggies' 48.675. Highlighting the event was Johnson, who posted a 9.825, and junior Megan Bain Tidwell with 9.800.

 

When BYU took to the balance beam, sophomore Emily Vidmar posted the high score of 9.850, which also happened to be her highest ever for this event. Hatch contributed a 9.800, tying her season high, as the team scored a 47.975, barely edging Utah State's 47.950.

 

Utah State entered the last event with a 146.350-145.600 advantage over BYU. But on the floor routine, BYU set a team season high score of 49.300, led by Johnson who obtained a 9.925 to set a new career high of her own and helped secure the win. Hatch also added a 9.900 score while Jordan Schult, Tidwell and Kulczyk all set season highs, each receiving a 9.825. 

 

BYU is on the road next week for a meet against Arizona State Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. MST.