Fifth-place finish yields highest NCAA regional score in 12 years

SEATTLE — For the first time in 12 years, BYU gymnastics scored above a 195.000 at NCAA Regionals as they finished in fifth place with a 195.025 at the Alaska Airlines Arena Saturday night.

“Our team fought really hard and did what we do in practice,” BYU head coach Guard Young said. “We’re leaving this regional with good momentum and a great trajectory for the program.”

No. 1 Oklahoma (198.075) and No. 13 Washington (196.525) earned the top two team scores and will both advance to the national championship semifinals in St. Louis, Missouri. No. 12 Kentucky (196.200) finished in third, followed by Stanford (195.575) in fourth and Utah State in sixth (194.850).

Junior Mackenzie Douglas and freshman Shannon Hortman both scored above a 9.800 in two events for the Cougars. Douglas earned a 9.850 and 9.825 on vault and floor, respectively, while Hortman posted a 9.850 on floor and 9.800 on bars, respectively. She and Jill van Mierlo tied for 13th in the all-around with scores of 38.625.

BYU began its first rotation on floor and totaled a 48.825 for third place. Hortman led the team with a 9.850, followed by Douglas’ 9.825. Kyleigh Greenlief added a 9.825 as well.

On vault, the Cougars earned a 48.800 in the second rotation. Douglas posted a 9.850, just shy of a career high. Hortman and Angel Zhong contributed scores of 9.775 and 9.750, respectively.

Following its bye in the third rotation, BYU held onto fourth place with a score of 97.625. Oklahoma led the way with score of 99.050 and Washington followed in second with a 98.125. Kentucky finished in third (98.025), Stanford in fifth (97.500) and Utah State in sixth (97.225).

The Cougars posted a 48.625 on bars in the fourth rotation, led by Hortman’s 9.800. Natasha Trejo scored a 9.775 while Brittni Hawes recorded a 9.725.

In the fifth rotation, BYU earned a 48.775 on beam behind Trejo’s 9.825. Three Cougars posted a 9.750, including Briana Pearson, Cheyenne Hill and Hannah Miller. BYU then concluded the meet with a bye in the sixth and final rotation.

This meet marks Young’s second NCAA regional appearance as a head coach and the 26th time the Cougars competed at regionals in the past 28 years.

Every routine performed at regionals will return for the 2018 campaign.