AMES, Iowa — The BYU gymnastics team concluded its season with its best vault score of the year but found itself on the short end against tough competition and judging to bring the Cougars' season to a close at the North Central Regional Saturday night at the Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa.
The North Central Region was likely the toughest region in the country, with all six competing teams ranked in the Top 25.
The Cougars and the rest of the squads faced tough judging throughout the competition. Arizona State took home first-place honors (196.675) followed by Iowa State (195.675), Arizona (195.400), Denver (195.250), Minnesota (194.675) and BYU (192.125).
"It was a tough way to end the season," BYU coach Brad Cattermole said. "We're a much better team than what we showed."
BYU started off with a bye in its first rotation before taking to the bars, which was a thorn in the Cougars' side as they had to count two falls on the event. Kylee Draper led the way at 9.675.
They were able to bounce back a little bit on beam with a better showing despite counting a rare fall from Dayna Smart. Kandis Kelly led the way at 9.775 with Kacie Capra adding a 9.725 and Lisa Willis 9.700.
The Cougars had a bye before hitting the floor. Capra posted a team-best 9.800, while Willis also had a strong performance at 9.725 and Draper added a 9.675.
BYU broke through on vault to end the night. The Cougars tied their season-high 49.000 on the event as every gymnast turned in a strong performance and two recorded career and season highs.
Capra recorded her third-highest score of the season at 9.625 to start things off before Sierra Jacobs landed a career-high 9.850. Brittany Fischer then vaulted to the second-best score of her career at 9.725. Hayley Jensen then pitched in a 9.750 before Alethea Boon notched a season-high 49.000. Smart rounded things off with her second-highest score of the season.
"The girls did very well on vault," Cattermole said. "I was pleased to see them go out and end things on a strong note."
Arizona State's Ashley Kelly took home first-place honors in a deep and talented group of all-arounders at 39.525. ISU's Erin Delthoff was second at 39.400. Capra was BYU's lone all-around competitor at 38.000.
For the Cougars, it marked the final meet of her career for senior Jennifer Harvey-Matthews. Matthews, a walk-on three years ago, exhibitioned on bars for three years before making the bars line-up in their fourth meet this season. Her strong performances from then on helped BYU to their seventh-consecutive Regionals appearance this year.
The Cougars return every Regionals competitor except Matthews next season while hoping to get Aimee Walker Pond and Haleigh Schofield healthy. Cattermole will count on that experience to make a strong push for an appearance at Nationals next season.
"This season was a good experience builder for our young team," Cattermole said. "It gave them experience and showed them what they need to do to be successful next year. We'll reload and go at it strong next season."
SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY: SUU's Sheena Shaw narrowly missed a trip to the NCAA Championships as the senior from Payson, Utah, finished seventh in the all-around at the North Central Regional. Shaw scored 39.050, just behind sixth-place Jade Kvach of Iowa State but 0.20 behind the second at-large qualifier from the region, Laura Johnson (39.250) of Minnesota who finished fifth. Karin Wurm of Arizona claimed the region's other at-large bid by tying for third with Arizona State's April Boon at 39.300.
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY: Jessica Parenti and Meagan Lewis finished 14th and 15th respectively in the all-around at the North Central NCAA regionals for the Aggies. Parenti finished with a 38.775, her highest in her three appearances at regionals, while Lewis finished with a 38.725.
Lewis and Parenti tied for 22nd on vault with a 9.775 and finished on bars tied for 27th with a 9.600. Lewis pulled ahead on beam, finishing tied for 31st with a 9.700. Parenti was close behind with a 9.650, finishing 35th.
Parenti, however, out scored Lewis on floor with a 9.750 (24th) while Lewis scored a 9.650 (tied for 34th).