BYU women's gymnastics lost 194.425–194.700 in a close home meet to Boise State on Saturday.
Freshman Makenzie Johnson scored a career high on vault with an 9.825 in the first event of the night. The team's best vaulter, Madeline Nilsson, did not compete this meet due to injury. Freshman Eliane Kulczyk stepped up to score a 9.825. Boise State also had two scores of 9.825 and just barely topped the overall BYU score on vault.
Sarah Yandow Wensel on the bars in BYU's gymnastics meet against Boise State on Saturday. (Photo by Elliott Miller)
Three Boise State gymnasts scored in the 9.800s on the uneven bars, setting up a tough rotation for BYU. Sophomore Marguerite Lindstrom scored a career high on the uneven bars with a 9.750 for the Cougars. Kulcyzk also scored a career high on this event with a 9.775. Haylee Rollins scored a 9.775 and Megan Bain scored a 9.800. Despite the career highs, two falls on the uneven bars left the Cougars trailing the Broncos at the end of the second rotation.
'We ended up making a few mistakes that cost us, but that's because we don't want to play it safe,' Head Coach Brad Cattermole said. 'You've got to take the big shots, we just came up a bit short.'
Raquel Willman scored the high score on beam with a 9.750. Bain and Johnson followed closely behind with a score of 9.725. The Cougars were able to avoid falls on this event, improving from the first meets of the season. BYU scored higher than Boise State, closing the gap between the two teams.
Boise State scored two 9.850s on floor and Willman and Kulcyzk answered with a 9.800, a career-high score for Kulcyzk.
'I feel like I had more fun this meet,' Kulcyzk said, 'We're all sad that Maddie got injured, but I was telling her I'm going to do it for you. I know she would've liked to compete, and if someone is going to compete for her, they should just hit it.'
The Cougars were able to outscore the Broncos on the last event, but it was not enough to come out on top in the meet.
'I'm not disappointed,' Cattermole said.
BYU will travel to Boise State next week for another meet against the Broncos where the Cougars hope to come out on top the second time around.
The Cougars and Broncos compete Saturday at 7 p.m. in Boise.