Cougars travel to face Boise State at Gem State Invitational

PROVO, Utah – After setting a new season high last week, the BYU women’s gymnastics team will travel to Boise for a rematch against No. 10 Boise State in the 2016 Gem State Invitational Friday night.

“Boise is one of the strongest teams in our conference and I feel like we’re staying with them minus our falls,” BYU head coach Guard Young said. “If we're going to be close to beating them then we’ll have to have a perfect night. We have to hit our routines and stick our landings. I’m looking for a team that can put it all together Friday night.”

The Cougars and Broncos met last week in a tri-meet with UC Davis at the Smith Fieldhouse where the Broncos came out victorious over the Cougars, 196.425-195.475. BYU came in second while UC Davis finished in third. Senior Makenzie Johnson Halliday tied BSU’s Shani Remme for first in the all-around and as the MRGC Gymnast of the Week. Halliday also won the individual title on beam and set season highs on all four events.

This will be the second time the team has competed against the Broncos this year, but will not be the last as they are set to go back to Boise in March for the MRGC Championship.

Halliday will compete on all-around, while sophomore Jill Van Mierlo will sit out due to injuries. Walk-ons Jessie Westergard, Brittni Wilde, Taylor Harward and Kyleigh Greenlief will fill in for Van Mierlo on the four different events. 

The meet will begin at 7:30 p.m. MST in Boise at the Century Link arena.