LOGAN, Utah – Utah State's gymnastics team is set to kick off the home portion of its 2023 season on Friday, Jan. 7, when it welcomes in-state rival BYU to the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

The Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference dual meet between the Aggies and Cougars will begin at 7 p.m.

"After a disappointing meet last weekend, our team is ready to respond," said first-year Utah State head coach Kristin White. "We hit the ground running this week and were able to work on our mistakes from our last competition. Our athletes are super excited to be home this weekend and are looking forward to having a great crowd. We are ready for some Spectrum Magic on Friday night."

Friday's meet will be streamed at utahstateaggies.com/watch, live scoring will be available online at utahstateaggies.com and Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State gymnastics social media outlets for meet updates. Tickets to the meet can be purchased here.

The Aggies (1-3, 1-2 MRGC) are 221-142 all-time inside the Spectrum, including 38-18 in home openers, a record that takes several multi-team meets into account. Friday will mark the ninth time USU has hosted BYU in a home-opening meet. The two teams have split the previous eight matchups.

Sophomore Dani Kirstine is looking forward to the home opener.

"It will be very exciting," she said. "It's against BYU, so there should be a lot of people there. I am excited, the team is excited and we will be wearing cute leos."

The Aggies will be wearing their Spectrum-colored leos in honor of it being Spectrum Magic Night.

"It's Spectrum Magic Night and I can't wait to feel that magic," White said. "It's going to be our staff's first time in that building with our fans, and just to feel the electricity is going to be amazing. We all know that crowds can help change the outcome of any competition, so I urge all Aggie fans to come out with your family, have a great time, enjoy what our student-athletes are capable of doing in this sport and let's show them the support they deserve and have a magical night."

BYU leads the all-time series with Utah State 87-52-1, including an 0-1 mark this season and a 27-26 advantage in Logan. The Cougars have won three straight at the Spectrum.

Utah State comes into the meet fresh off a 196.600-193.425 loss to No. 21 Southern Utah in front of a raucous crowd of 2,850 on Friday, Jan. 20, at the America First Event Center in Cedar City, Utah.

The Aggies suffered five falls – three on bars and two on beam – and had another gymnast step out of bounds while completing a pass on her floor routine in against the Thunderbirds, but there were some bright spots.

Junior Brianna Brooks placed second on bars with a season-high 9.875, while sophomores Dani Kirstine and Amari Evans tied for fourth and placed seventh, respectively, with career-best scores of 9.800 and 9.725 on the event.

Brooks competed in the all-around for the first time in her collegiate career against SUU, placing second with a 38.800. Besides her 9.875 on bars, the native of Las Vegas, Nevada, tied for fourth on vault (9.775), placed 11th on floor (9.375) and placed seventh on beam (9.775).m,

For more information on the Utah State gymnastics program, follow the Aggies on Twitter at @USUGymnastics, on Facebook at UtahStateGymnastics and on Instagram at USUGymnastics.

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