Cougars picked to tie for third in preseason coaches' poll

PROVO, Utah — With the 2016-17 gymnastics season three weeks away, BYU has been picked to tie for third place in the annual Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference preseason coaches’ poll.

Two-time defending conference champion Boise State has been selected in first place in the annual preseason coaches’ poll as voted upon by the league’s head coaches. The Broncos garnered nine points and three first-place votes, followed by Southern Utah with seven points and one first place vote. Utah State and BYU rounded out the poll and tied for third with four points apiece.

BYU returns 10 gymnasts from last season, including junior Mackenzie Douglas, who earned second-team all-MRGC honors on vault, bars and floor. The Cougars also return junior Jill Van Mierlo, the 2015 MRGC Freshman of the Year. In addition to the returners, BYU also welcomes eight incoming freshmen. Head coach Guard Young is entering his second year, leading the Cougars to an NCAA Regional appearance in his first season in 2016. The team’s season preview can be read here. 

Junior Sandra Collantes, a 2016 second-team All-American on floor, is one of 10 returners for Boise State that captured the MRGC title for the second year in a row in 2016. The Broncos’ roster also includes the reigning MRGC Freshman of the Year in sophomore Shani Remme and seven all-MRGC honorees.

Southern Utah will be led by eight seniors in 2017, including 2016 NCAA National qualifier Dani Ramirez. Ramirez is one of three Thunderbirds returning with all-MRGC honors in 2016, earning first-team accolades on vault and beam and in the all-around.

Utah State returns eight letterwinners from a team that qualified for its third straight NCAA Regional last season, including a pair of all-MRGC honorees in seniors Bailey McIntire and Hayley Sanzotti. McIntire earned first-team all-MRGC honors on bars and beam and second-team honors on vault. Sanzotti earned second-team all-MRGC honors on beam.

BYU opens its season in an away quad-meet against No. 23 Penn State, Bowling Green and Temple on Saturday, Jan. 7, before hosting in-state rival No. 6 Utah on Friday, Jan. 13, at 7 p.m. MST, at the Marriott Center. The 2017 MRGC Championships will be hosted by Utah State on March 18.