PROVO — BYU gymnastics returns to the Marriott Center as the Cougars face Utah State in the first of a series of home meets tonight at 7.
"Survival time is over," said BYU coach Brad Cattermole. "We're now approaching the 'perfection' part of the season."
Both teams are coming off strong outings last weekend. Utah State (5-4) defeated Southern Utah in the Smith Spectrum 196.00-195.70, the Aggies' highest score of the season and fifth-best in school history. BYU, 3-3 and ranked 25th, scored 196.125 in taking second in the Cat Classic at Missouri, its second-best score of the season.
"Utah State doesn't get the respect they deserve," Cattermole said. "They stay focused, they perform well and they don't give up. We'll have to have a good meet to do well."
The Cougars are led by senior Kari Lords, who ranks second in the country on the beam and 22nd in the all-around. The BYU lineup will also include all-arounder Jaime Mabray and the Claveau twins, Genevieve and Marie-Helene. Brogan Jocobsen may sit out because of a calf muscle she strained prior to the Cat Classic last week.
For coach Ray Corn's Aggies, freshman Alex Martin won the all-around and bars competitions against Southern Utah with career-bests in every event, except vault, on the way to a 39.35. She had 9.925 on bars, the fifth-best score in school history, plus 9.90 on floor and 9.85 on beam. Freshman Gretchen Goerlitz scored 38.975 last week, and Liesel Kohler had 9.925 on floor.
The meet will be televised on KBYU-Ch.11, and on BYU Television, which is available nationally on Dish Network and DirecTV.