By Stacie Searle
The BYU gymnastics team is anticipating a large crowd as they face the Kentucky Wildcats for the second time this season, Friday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. in the Marriott Center, ending its four consecutive road competitions.
“It will be nice to be home,” said senior Candace Slater. “They are doing a lot of good things for us to get a good crowd. It”s just really exciting after being gone for so long to finally be home in front of the home crowd.”
In an effort to attract a large crowd, the night has been dedicated to entertainment for students and children.
“It”s disco night, so come in costume,” said Emily Deans, director of Olympic Sport Marketing at BYU. “There will be costume contests, and contests for best dance and that kind of stuff. It should be a lot of fun.”
It”s also Cosmo”s Kid”s Club Night. Club members will be given a pre-meet pizza party.
Coach Brad Cattermole said there has been a lot of interest in the meet and the team is looking forward to competing in the Marriott Center.
“[Competing] in the Marriott Center is always fun, and we always do well there,” Slater said.
The Cougars struggled on bars and beam when they faced the Wildcats Jan. 31, in Lexington, Ky. The Cougars lost the meet, receiving their lowest season score of 192.475.
“It was hard in Kentucky, but we have changed a lot of things,” Slater said. “They are a good team so it should be a competitive meet.”
Cattermole said the team has been working on its preparation and keeping its energy.
The Cougar changes were evident at last week”s match in Logan against Utah State. The Cougars scored in the 195-range for the third time this season. The Cougars fell to the Aggies, 195.925 to 195.625.
Scoring a 9.875 on bars, senior Brooke Haskett took third. Junior Trisha Ashton dominated the vault and beam, capturing first place on both with a score of 9.875 on vault and a season high 9.925 on beam.
“Kentucky is a good team,” Cattermole said. “They”re one of the better teams in the country.”
Last week the Wildcats scored 195.525, its highest team score of the season, at Beard-Eaves Coliseum in Auburn, Ala.
The Wildcats posted a team score of 49.050 on the floor and a 48.825 on the beam, both season highs.
BYU scored its season high on beam and floor when they hosted Boise State Jan. 25, BYU posted a 49.150 on beam and a 49.175 on floor.
“It should be a fun meet,” Cattermole said. “We”re excited to be back home and compete in our own arena.”
