BYU women’s gymnastics triumphs over Southeast Missouri State

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The BYU women’s gymnastics team scored above 195 for the second consecutive meet, winning 195.150-192.350 against Southeast Missouri State.

The Cougars started the meet off strong on the vault. Makenzie Johnson vaulted a 9.850, a career high for the freshman. Freshman Eliane Kulczyk scored a 9.875, tying her career high. Haylee Rollins was close behind with a score of 9.825, topping her season high score.  The Redhawks vaulted only one score in the 9.8 range while all other gymnasts from the team lagged behind the Cougars with scores in the 9.6’s.

BYU gymnast Makenzie Johnson competes on the beam during Friday’s meet against Southeast Missouri State. (Photo by Chris Bunker)

“You just keep playing (and) you just keep trying to improve,” coach Brad Cattermole said. “You try to isolate the little mistakes you’re making and try not to make them next time.”

Megan Bain’s bars routine scored a 9.825 as she fought successfully to stick her landing. Rollins had a perfect landing score of 9.850. Rollins has been a strong competitor on bars this season with a career high of 9.900 on the event. All of BYU’s gymnasts were able to avoid falls on the bars; however, the Redhawks did not. Southeast Missouri had two falls on bars, trailing the Cougars at the end of the first rotation.

The Cougars struggled through their beam routines. Ashley Follett suffered a fall on beam when she was unable to catch herself and Raquel Willman almost fell. However, she ended her routine with a perfect landing and a score of 9.775. Bain smiled after each move on beam, hiding the mistakes and improving the best moves. She also scored a 9.775. Freshman Summer Raymond visibly calmed her nerves during her beam routine to score a 9.800. Johnson scored a 9.850 on the beam, another career high.

“I think I just went into the meet with a different mindset,” Johnson said. “Both of these scores were within my reach, so I just had to remember to keep a positive attitude.”

Southeast Missouri State kept up the energy and challenged the Cougars on floor, though. The highest score for the Redhawks was a 9.750. Rollins of BYU answered with a 9.825, the only gymnast to score above a 9.8 from either team.

Bain scored a 38.800 in the all-around, her career high all-around score and Willman scored a 39.000 in the all-around competition, making her the all-around champion of the night.

Find the complete results of the meet at the official BYU Cougars website.

The Cougars compete next at the Oklahoma Quad Meet in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Friday, Feb. 15. The team returns home to the Smith Fieldhouse to compete against Southern Utah on Feb. 23.

Watch highlights from the Cougars’ victory against the Redhawks at the official BYU women’s gymnastics page.

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