The BYU gymnastics team finished tonight’s meet with a win against Washington, 196.125 to 194.200.
This being the last home meet of the season before the championship, seniors Raquel Willman Hatch, Jordan Hayden and Haylee Rollins were recognized for their accomplishments at BYU.
Hatch finished her college gymnastics career with a solid year, setting personal-bests on bars (9.950), vault (9.875), floor (9.900) and in her all-around competition (39.425). Hayden competed in all of the past three meets and set a career-high 9.700 this year. Rollins was only able to compete in three events this year because of a knee injury in January, but head coach Brad Cattermole was pleased with her efforts this season.
“Haley has been hurt a bit, but when she was healthy she was the star of the show,” Cattermole said. “She was our best bar worker, our best floor worker and one of our best vaulters.”
BYU out-scored Washington in every event of the meet, making this the second-highest scoring meet of the season. Hatch took the lead in tonight’s match, winning the all-around gymnast of the meet honor with a 39.350. The second-highest all-around score was taken by sophomore Makenzie Johnson, who left the meet with an overall score of 39.275.
Hatch led uneven bars with a 9.925, followed by sophomore Elaine Kulczyk, who tied her season and career high of 9.850. The Cougars led the meet in bars 49.050-48.750.
Hatch also took the lead on the beam with a 9.850, adding to the 48.950 final score for BYU. Floor was led by Kulczyk with a 9.900, a career and season best. Hayden improved her season-best score on the floor with a 9.725, adding to a final score of 49.075-48.250 for the Cougars.
BYU has one more tri-meet against Arizona, Texas Women’s and Bridgeport before the MRGC championship. The championship will be held at the Provo Marriott Center on March 22.
“They’re all good teams,” Cattermole said. “Everybody’s had good scores, and in that kind of meet everybody gets up and hit when they have to, and the one that hits is going to be the one that wins.”
The tri-match will be held March 15 at 4:00 p.m. (MDT) in Tucson, Ariz.
