BYU gymnastics: Cougars start season strong at Cancun Classic

CANCUN, Mexico (Jan. 4, 2013) – The BYU women’s gymnastics season got off to a terrific start at the Cancun Gymnastics Classic, scoring a 194.475, behind No. 10 Michigan, 196.575, but topping No. 9 Oregon State, 193.600, in the first meet of the 2013 season.

The team produced well in all four rotations with several standouts making their mark in the season’s first meet. Michigan took the early lead after the first rotation and BYU and Oregon State held steady in second and third throughout each rotation with a strong showing from the Wolverines to lead throughout the meet.

Several newcomers got the season started with the first event, the vault. Freshmen Eliane Kulczyk and Madeline Nilsson scored a 9.600 and 9.775, respectively, and fellow freshman Makenzie Johnson started the year off with a 9.500. Junior Raquel Willman and senior Haylee Rollins scored well with a 9.675 and senior Sarah Wensel notched a score of 9.700.

Willman stuck the landing on the bars to come away with a 9.850 while Rollins posted a 9.800. Several other Cougars showed well during the rotation on the bars with Wensel scoring a 9.750 and junior Megan Bain and Nilsson scoring a 9.650. Sophomore Marguerite Lindstrom rounded out BYU’s scores with a 9.525.

On the beam, Bain turned in another solid performance, this time with a score of 9.875. Willman was right there too with a 9.800 and sophomore Ashley Follett made her mark with a 9.775.

Wensel and Bain led the way on the floor rotation, scoring a 9.750 for Wensel and a 9.700 for Bain. Kulczyk matched Bain with a 9.700 of her own to highlight the freshman again.

The Cancun Classic was a good foundation to build on as the Cougars return home to the Smith Fieldhouse to host Utah State on Jan. 12. The meet will be broadcast live on BYUtv.

Check BYUcougars.com for complete results and scores from the Cancun Classic.

Kenny is a BYU graduate, currently working as a football media relations assistant and gymnastics SID at BYU. Contact him at cougarpr@byu.edu and follow him on twitter @KContheflipside