By ALYSHA BAXLEY
Hoping to have a better showing this time around, the BYU women’s gymnastics team will face the Utah State Aggies for the second time in two weeks tonight at 7 p.m. in Logan.
The Cougars fell to the No. 19 Aggies Feb. 19 193.925 to 193.2. It was BYU’s first loss to Utah State in almost five years. Head coach Brad Cattermole credits the loss to shaky nerves and the absence of three top all-arounders because of injury. Cattermole said that this time there is no reason BYU should fall to USU if all the women hit their routines.
According to Cattermole, the women who are competing are in top condition and should do well. However, Kelly Parkinson will probably not compete because of a leg injury.
“If she can land her dismount we’ll see if she can compete,” Cattermole said. “But even if she lands it and gets a 9.9, what good does it do us if she hurts her leg more in the process?”
Even without Parkinson, the team does have reason to look forward to high scores with the return of Natalie Broekman. Cattermole said Broekman should be back in the line-up for vault, beam and bars against USU, and will be back on floor in a couple of weeks.
Assistant coach Dawn Cattermole said that with the loss of top athletes due to injuries, the team is having some struggles.
“When you lose your top girls and you have to move up somebody who hasn’t performed as well, then you do your best,” she said. “You can take a No. 10 girl and put her in a higher spot, but she’s still your No. 10 girl.
Dawn Cattermole said the team should beat Utah State with no problem, and that winning on the road will be a sweet victory.
“They came to our house and beat us,” she said. “It would be nice to go to their house and beat them. I know we can beat them, now we just have to do it.”
