Two Meets in Four Days Await BYU Gymnasts

PROVO -- After spending the last two weeks at home, the BYU women’s gymnastics team now faces a busy two weeks on the road. The fun begins on Friday night at Boise State and continues on Monday at the University of Denver. Both meets begin at 7 p.m.

“Our goal right now is to finish healthy and strong,” said BYU gymnastics coach Brad Cattermole. “We’ve had a tough year, but no one is complaining or giving up. We’re ready to get out there and compete and do our best.”

The Cougar line-up has been absolutely decimated by injuries this year. Six BYU gymnasts have suffered season-ending injuries during the course of the year, including team co-captains McKell Poulson-Merkley and Megan Donehue and top freshman Krysten Koval. As a result, the Cougars are down to competing just five gymnasts on both the vault and the uneven bars.

But BYU has been able to find a silver lining as several gymnasts have had the chance to step up and lead the team. Sophomore Madeleine Johnson became the most recent Cougar to make the most of her opportunity as she posted career highs on the bars and floor last week, pacing BYU on both events. Johnson also competed in the all-around for the first time in her career, leading the Cougars with a score of 38.350.

BYU has faced both Denver and Boise State this season. The Cougars and Pioneers squared off in the first meet of the year, the Cancun Classic in Cancun, Mexico with BYU finishing fourth and Denver third. The Cougars hosted the Broncos on Feb. 20 in quad meet action in the Marriott Center, outscoring Boise State 192.575-191.950.