Natalie Orr | Posted: 26 Jan 2021 | Updated: 8 Feb 2021

No. 12 BYU travels to face No. 21 Utah State
No. 12 ranking

PROVO, Utah - On the road again, No. 12 BYU gymnastics prepares to face No. 21 Utah State in Logan, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m. MST in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. 

Heading into the meet, the Cougars hold their highest ranking since the 2019 season. A highlight includes the BYU bar swingers ranking No. 5 in the nation. 

Friday's meet is the rivals’ second matchup of 2021, with two other meets planned later in the season.  

The Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference rivals first battled this season in West Valley City, Utah, on Jan. 9 at the second annual Rio Tinto Best of Utah NCAA Gymnastics Meet. BYU placed second (195.700.) in the event behind No. 4 Utah (196.900) while Utah State earned third (194.350), topping Southern Utah (194.325).

Last season, the two schools faced three separate times. In fact, BYU held a six-meet winning streak until the final matchup on March 6, 2020. On Utah State’s home turf, the Aggies broke the streak, winning 196.600-196.450. 

Meet Information

  • When: Friday, January 29
  • Time: 7 p.m. MST 
  • Location: Dee Glen Smith Spectrum
  • Live Stream: https://utahstateaggies.com/watch/
  • Stats: http://sidearmstats.com/utahstate/gymnastics/20210129.html

THE COUGARS. Hitting the road for every meet thus far, BYU faced Boise State on Saturday, Jan. 26, walking away with a narrow loss of 196.325-196.250. However, the Cougars matched their season-high score, established in Tempe, Arizona, the week prior. On Monday, the MRGC honored senior Abbey Miner-Alder as the Vault Specialist of the Week for the third consecutive week. She was also awarded with Co-Floor Specialist of the Week. 

THE AGGIES. At their home opener on Friday, Jan. 22, Utah State earned its highest home-opening score in school history in its loss to Southern Utah, 196.650-196.225. This score helped the Aggies jump three spots in the national rankings. Additionally, the team boasts a No. 15 rating on the uneven bars and a No. 23 ranking on vault. Standout performers include senior Autumn DeHarde, who is tied for fifth nationally on beam, and sophomore Maia Fishwick, who is tied for No. 17 nationally on bars.