USU Meet Notes | BYU Meet Notes
LOGAN, Utah – Utah State's gymnastics team opens its 2019 home and Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference slate against in-state rival BYU on Friday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m., at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
The dual meet featuring the Aggies (1-2, 0-0 MRGC) and the sixth-ranked Cougars (0-1, 0-0 MRGC) will be streamed live on the Mountain West Network as a USU Athletics Production. Additionally, live stats will be available online at utahstateaggies.com and meet updates will be provided through the team's social media outlets.
"This team loves to compete against BYU, so those competitive juices will be flowing," said second-year Utah State head coach
Amy Smith. "It should be a great meet."
Friday's meet against the Cougars is Daddy-Daughter Date Night, where you can purchase two tickets, two drinks, two hot dogs (or soft pretzels) and a Utah State magnetic picture for just $12. As part of Youth Gymnastics Night at the Spectrum, face painters and balloon twisters will also be on hand, as well as a post-meet autograph session.
In its last five home-opening meets, Utah State is a perfect 7-0, including a 193.200-192.900 victory over BYU that began the unbeaten streak on Jan. 24, 2014.
"I am super excited to be back in the Spectrum on Friday," said junior
MaKayla Bullitt, who was recently put on scholarship. "We are always excited to compete against BYU, because they bring out our competitive side. We are excited to build off of last week and I think we are going to do great things."
Friday is the first of three contests this season between Utah State and BYU. The two teams will also face each other in Provo, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 25, and again at the MRGC Championships on Friday, March 22, also in Provo.
The Aggies are 48-76-1 all-time against the Cougars, including 25-23 at home, 10-32-1 on the road and 13-21 at a neutral site. BYU has won four straight in the series, including all three meetings in 2018. Prior to the Cougars' recent run of fortune, Utah State had won three in a row and seven of eight.
Utah State opened the season last Saturday at a quad meet hosted by Pittsburgh, falling to then-No. 22 West Virginia and the Panthers, while defeating Eastern Michigan. The Mountaineers won the meet with a 195.500, Pitt finished second with a 194.750 and the Aggies recorded a 194.600, the highest season-opening score in program history. The Eagles rounded out the field with a 192.700.
"The girls are beside themselves to be competing at home," Smith said. "We love being in the Spectrum, in front of our fans. We are beyond excited."
No. 6 BYU earned its highest season-opening meet score in program history after recording a 196.475 against in-state rival Utah, which is currently ranked fourth in the nation, on Jan. 11, at the Marriott Center in Provo. The Red Rocks won the dual meet with a stellar 197.250.
Fans can follow the Aggie gymnastics program at twitter.com/USUGymnastics, on Facebook at Utah State Gymnastics, and on Instagram at USUGymnastics. Fans can also follow the USU athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on Facebook at UtahStateAthletics.
