Johnson, Cougars edge Aggies on the road

LOGAN, Utah – Junior Makenzie Johnson finished with a career-high 39.450 as an all-arounder to help BYU gymnastics edge Utah State 196.375–196.350 on the road Friday night.

"It was a fun meet," BYU gymnastics coach Brad Cattermole said. "That will push us into the conference championship with some confidence. I think we just got tired of making silly mistakes and we decided to go and play. When we do that, we're good."

The Cougars tied or recorded team season highs on vault, floor and beam to record their season-high 196.375. 

The first rotation on bars, BYU finished with a 48.950 trailing Utah State’s 49.225. Jill Van Mierlo led the team with a 9.850, while Johnson followed with a 9.800. KayCee Gassaway and Brittni Wilde each recorded a 9.775.

Johnson and Mikaela Jones finished with career highs on vault with a 9.925 and 9.875, respectively. Gassaway also earned a season-high 9.875, while Jordan Schult landed a 9.775. The Cougars’ total score of 49.175 tied a team season high on vault.

On floor exercise, Johnson tied her season-high 9.900 and Gassaway tied a career-high 9.875 to help BYU tie a team season-high 49.225. Van Mierlo and Emily Vidmar recorded a 9.825 each with Schult earning a 9.800. After the third rotation, the Cougars took a 147.350-147.075 lead over the Aggies.

BYU finished its final rotation on beam with a team season-high 49.025. Schult finished with a team and personal-best 9.875 with Vidmar tying her career-best 9.850. Johnson earned a 9.825 and Van Mierlo recorded a 9.775 on the night.

Johnson’s career-high 39.450 in the all around was also a meet high. Van Mierlo finished with a 39.175 in the all around to help BYU register its third win of the season.

The Cougars head to the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference Championship next Saturday, March 21. The meet will begin at 6 p.m. MDT at the Magness Arena in Denver.