PROVO, Utah – The No. 14 BYU gymnastics team defeated No. 25 Southern Utah with an overall score of 196.550 on senior night at the Smith Fieldhouse.
“Honoring our seniors is always a special, special time,” BYU head coach Guard Young said. “Our confidence is definitely high. We did have some mistakes, but the next girls picked it right up. I was really happy with our response when things didn’t go our way.”
All-American Shannon Evans scored a 39.475 to take first place in the all-around. The team captain set a career high on the vault with a score of 9.950 while also tying her personal-best 9.950 on her floor routine.
The Cougars opened up the meet on vault with Evans receiving a 9.950. Senior Cheyenne Hill broke her personal best on senior night with a score of 9.875. Abbey Miner also scored a 9.875 for BYU with Avery Bennett and Angel Zhong both earning a 9.800. Haley Pitou rounded out the first rotation with a 9.775 and the Cougars posted a total score of 49.300 to lead the Thunderbirds’ score of 49.075.
In the second rotation, Helody Cyrenne led BYU on the uneven bars with a score of 9.875. Abby Boden and Zhong scored 9.850 apiece while Pitou earned a 9.825 and Evans received a 9.800 to give the Cougars five gymnasts that scored 9.800 or better. Senior Natasha Marsh finished the rotation with a 9.600. BYU scored 49.200 to lead Southern Utah overall 98.500 to 98.025.
On beam, Abbey Miner received a team-high 9.850 and was followed by a season-high 9.825 from Hill. Evans earned a 9.775 and Zhong scored a 9.700. Boden and Marsh received scores of 9.650 and 8.450, respectively, with the Cougars totaling 48.800 points. At the end of three rotations, BYU continued its lead over Southern Utah 147.300 to 146.975.
Evans tied her career high on her floor routine earning a 9.950 from the judges. Abbey Miner scored a 9.900 and Sadie Miner received a 9.825. Brittney Vitkauskas earned a 9.800, Boden scored a 9.775 and Briana Pearson received a 9.100 to finish the final rotation with the Cougars receiving a total score of 49.250. BYU claimed the victory over Southern Utah 196.550 to 195.975.
BYU will host the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference Championships at 6 p.m. MDT in the Marriott Center on Friday, March 22. The meet will be televised on BYUtv and tickets can be purchased on the BYU gymnastics schedule page.
BYU Coach Guard Young on seniors Cheyenne Hill and Natasha Marsh
“I love their work ethic. I’m a worker. That’s how I was as a gymnast and that’s how I am as a coach. That’s what those girls do. They just work every day in the gym and that is the key to success. I’m going to really miss their leadership and work ethic a lot.”