BYU and USU gymnastics: 195 goal for Cougars vs. Aggies

PROVO — The BYU home fans will be saying goodbye to four senior gymnasts when they take on the Utah State Aggies this afternoon at the Smith Fieldhouse at 4 p.m. It's the Cougars' final home meet of the year, and they're hoping to put up their highest score of the season in a farewell bid.

It will be a quick turnaround for the BYU gymnasts, as they defeated Southern Utah last Friday while posting a 194.550 score, their third highest of the year. But BYU coach Brad Cattermole has high hopes that they can eclipse at least a 195 in their final home meet, and if they all hit every routine, he can even sense a 196.

"In these quick turnarounds, we've typically been better in the second meet than in the first meet," Cattermole said about his hopes for a more crisp evening from his team. "At this point in the game, they can physically do it. It's all mental."

The team has been hitting in practice, and he's hoping the Smith Fieldhouse will bring out the best in his squad. Dayna Smart-Allen, Alethea Boon, Kylee Draper-Marvin and Aimee Walker-Pond will all be competing in their last home meet and will be honored. The season is far from over — nearly a month of away meets await them.

The Aggies are coming off their highest score of the season with a 194.450 over San Jose State last Friday, and they're also coming back on a quick turnaround. They posted season highs in three events, and Heather Heinrich added a career-high 39.000 in the all-around in the same meet.

The Cougars defeated Utah State 193.725-192.425 earlier this season in Logan in a tri-meet with New Hampshire. Both the No. 34 Cougars and the No. 42 Aggies are hoping to keep improving their Regional Qualifying Scores as the year rolls along.

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