No. 21 Cougars take 1st at quad meet

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The No. 21 BYU gymnastics team scored a 196.425 to take first place over Air Force, Springfield and Seattle Pacific on Saturday night at Cadet West Gym.

"It was a good meet for us," BYU head coach Guard Young said. "The energy was there and the girls were loose and really supportive of each other. Everyone is performing the way they train every day in the gym."

Air Force came in second place with a 194.775, Seattle Pacific placed third with a score of 190.500 and Springfield scored a 185.775 to round out the meet.

The Cougars started the meet on beam and had three gymnasts score a 9.825 or better. Helody Cyrenne led the way with a career-best 9.875 while Abby Boden and Natasha Marsh received a 9.825 apiece. Cheyenne Hill scored a 9.750, Abbey Miner earned a 9.725 and Shannon Evans finished the rotation with a 9.700. BYU posted a 49.00 in the first rotation to take an early lead.

In the second rotation, Evans led the way with a 9.925 for a season high on her floor routine and was followed by Miner's career-high 9.900. Boden earned a 9.825 while Brittney Vitkauskas and Briana Pearson scored a 9.775 apiece. Rebekah Bean joined the rotation, receiving a 9.700. BYU posted a 49.200 to bring the score to 98.200.

On vault, BYU scored a season-high 49.100 as Miner, Haley Pitou and Bean each scored a 9.850, career bests for all three, to take the meet title. Angel Zhong and Avery Bennett earned 9.775 scores while Evans received a 9.750. Zhong's score was also a season high. After three rounds, the Cougars held the lead with a 147.300.

On the parallel bars for the final rotation, BYU earned a season-best 49.125 as Cyrenne performed a career-best performance with a 9.950. Pitou scored a season-high 9.850 and Marsh followed with a 9.825. Evans and Boden received a 9.750 while Zhong scored a 9.725.

At the close of the meet, Evans earned the all-around title after combining for a 39.125.

The Cougars return home as they host No. 9 Boise State on Friday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m. MST in a Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference matchup.