Cougars record career-highs to edge Thunderbirds

CEDAR CITY, Utah – BYU gymnastics topped Southern Utah in a close battle with a season-high 195.675 to the Thunderbirds’ 195.650 on the road Friday night.

“It was a tight meet and that’s about as close as you can get,” BYU gymnastics head coach Brad Cattermole said. “I felt like we did well in every event and we were consistent. We can still make improvements, but I think we’re moving in the right direction.”

The Cougars’ previous season-high was against Utah State with a 195.300. BYU scored season-highs on the bars and beam with a 48.950 on each event with Eliane Kulczyk leading with a 9.850 on bars and Makenzie Johnson recording a career-high 9.900 on beam.

On bars, Emily Vidmar earned a season-high 9.800 with KayCee Gassaway tying her season-high 9.775. Brielle Wilchuck also recorded a career-high at 9.750.

BYU’s second rotation on vault, Kulczyk led both teams with a season-high 9.850 and Jill Van Mierlo followed at 9.800. Sin To landed a career-high with a 9.750.

On the floor event, Gassaway and Van Mierlo led all gymnasts with a 9.825 each and Vidmar added a 9.800 on the night.

The Cougars finished strong on beam led by Johnson’s season-high 9.900 and Vidmar’s season-high 9.800. Jordan Schult recorded a career-high 9.775 with Ashley Robinson tying her season-high 9.725.

Johnson and Van Mierlo finished with all-around scores of 39.125 and 39.075, respectively.

BYU returns to the Smith Fieldhouse to host Boise State and Denver on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 1 p.m. MST. The meet will be televised live on BYUtv with live stats found on the BYU gymnastics schedule page.