Two Cougars record career highs as BYU falls to Utes

PROVO, Utah - In its home opener, BYU gymnastics fell to Utah by a score of 196.900 to 194.175 on Friday night at the Marriott Center.

“The crowd was magnificent, the Marriott Center felt full and the crowds were loud, for both Utah and BYU,” BYU head coach Guard Young said. “We need to get back in the gym and focus on pressure sets and situations. So, when we are back at this stage again, hopefully we can handle it a little bit better.”

Despite the loss, two Cougars recorded career highs, Shannon Hortman on the vault, uneven bars and floor with scores of 9.850, 9.825 and 9.750, respectively, and Briana Pearson on the floor with 9.700.

Hortman claimed fourth place in the all-around with a 39.050, and Jill van Mierlo was close behind in fifth with 38.975.

The opening rotation featured the Cougars on vault with the Utes taking on the uneven bars. Hortman took the highest mark and logged a career high of 9.850. Mackenzie Douglas was second with a 9.800, and Lauren Love and van Mierlo both scored 9.700s. BYU ended their time on the vault with a final score of 48.700, just behind Utah’s 49.125 on the uneven bars.

In their highest-scoring event of the night, the Cougars competed on the uneven bars in the second rotation and finished with a 48.875. Hortman and Jessie Westergard took the highest marks for the Cougars with 9.825s, Hortman recording yet another new career high. Brittni Hawes logged a solid 9.775, with van Meirlo producing a 9.750.  

At the end of the second rotation, Utah led BYU by a score of 98.425 to 97.575.

The third rotation featured the Cougars finishing with 47.875 on the beam while the Utes, who performed on floor, produced a 49.275. Van Meirlo claimed the highest score for BYU, a 9.775, and Natasha Trejo, Hannah Miller and Hortman were close behind her with 9.725, 9.650 and 9.625, respectively. A huge rotation for Utah, however, kept BYU in second, 147.700 to 145.450.  

On floor, BYU finished with a mark of 48.725. Douglas scored the highest for the Cougars with a 9.775, and Hortman finished close behind her, scoring a 9.750. Pearson recorded a career high of 9.700, and Trejo finished with the same mark.

The meet concluded with Utah taking the victory with a total score of 196.900 to BYU’s 194.175.

BYU will remain in Provo to take on Utah State on Friday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. MST at the Smith Fieldhouse. The meet will be broadcast on BYUtv.