The Cougars have settled into life in the Big 12 and are ready to keep their momentum from 2024 going. They are without some of their lineup anchors but return a lot of experienced athletes and regain additional depth through newcomers and injury returners. This will be a team to watch in 2025.
2024 Rewind
No. 25 overall | No. 3 at Big 12s | No. 32 in regular season | Regional semi-finals
In its inaugural season in the Big 12, BYU was impressive, finishing third at the conference meet and advancing to the regional semifinals after a tie in the play-in round. This season, the Cougars will want to shoot for a successful enough regular season to allow them to avoid round one of the postseason completely.
Losses & Gains
| Returning | In |
| Fifth-Years Sydney Benson Anna Bramblett-Wilde Seniors Sophie Dudley Melissa Earl Karsyn Foster Mina Margraf-Benson Olivia Matern Eliza Miller-Crossman Heidi Schooley-Meyers Juniors Kylie Eaquinto Sophomores Alilah Alvarado Brynlee Andersen Chloee Hoke Kauri Hunsaker Ava Jorgensen Mya Kirkham Freshmen Jadyn Harsh (RS) Mya Kirkham (RS) Hailey Openshaw (RS) | Freshmen Chiara Andrew Addilyn Glazler Taeva Greenberg Deb Silva Daisy Stephenson Kaetlyn Tenesch Transfers Gracie Long (Iowa State) |
| Out | |
| Graduated Anyssa Alvarado (UB) Lindsey Hunter-Kempler (VT, UB, FX) Allix Mason (VT, UB, BB) Lauren Ono (BB) Retired Rebecca Leach (AA) Jayda Lealaogata (UB) Madison Raesly-Patton (VT, BB) | |
| Injury Update | |
| Incoming freshman Taeva Greenberg suffered a torn ACL earlier this year and has only been seen training bars. Senior Karsyn Foster has yet to compete after transferring from LIU due to a leg injury while redshirt freshman Mya Kirkham looks to be a potential all-around option after a foot injury ended her 2024 season after just one meet. Sophomore Kauri Hunsaker and freshman Daisy Stephenson are out for the 2025 season after suffering torn ACLs this fall. | |
Apparatus Deep Dive
Vault
2024 Event Ranking: No. 32 | NQS: 49.150 | Average: 49.027
| Event Overview: The Cougars have a wide variety of vaults, making their lineup quite unique. However, they have struggled with landings in the past. With a few upgraded vaults in the works, they will need to clean up technique to challenge with other teams in the Big 12. | ||
| Locks: Sydney Benson, Sophie Dudley, Melissa Earl, Ava Jorgensen | ||
| Contenders: Anna Bramblett-Wilde, Kylie Eaquinto, Mya Kirkham | ||
| Wildcards: Chiara Andrew, Addilyn Glazier, Jadyn Harsh, Chloee Hoke, Deb Silva, Kaetlyn Tenesch |
Bars
2024 Event Ranking: No. 24 | NQS: 49.255 | Average: 49.140
| Event Overview: Bars was the Cougars’ best event last season, but they are losing three of their top-scoring routines. They will have to find three worthy replacements quickly to keep the positive momentum on this event going. | ||
| Locks: Alilah Alvarado, Anna Bramblett-Wilde, Kylie Eaquinto | ||
| Contenders: Sydney Benson, Melissa Earl, Ava Jorgensen, Mya Kirkham | ||
| Wildcards: Brynlee Andersen, Chiara Andrew, Addilyn Glazier, Jadyn Harsh, Taeva Greenberg, Deb Silva, Kaetlyn Tenesch |
Beam
2024 Event Ranking: No. 29 | NQS: 49.205 | Average: 49.065
| Event Overview: Sophomore Brynlee Andersen is ready to take over the anchor spot on beam after a stellar freshman season. However, the Cougars will want more consistency in the other five spots to take some of the pressure off. | ||
| Locks: Brynlee Andersen, Mina Margraf-Benson, Eliza Millar-Crossman | ||
| Contenders: Alilah Alvarado, Sophie Dudley, Heidi Schooley-Myers | ||
| Wildcards: Chiara Andrew, Chloee Hoke, Ava Jorgensen, Mya Kirkham, Gracie Long, Hailey Openshaw, Deb Silva, Kaetlyn Tenesch |
Floor
2024 Event Ranking: No. 37 | NQS: 49.295 | Average: 49.123
| Event Overview: Floor is typically a showstopper for BYU, yet it was its lowest ranked event in 2024. The event has the most returning routines, though, and should have additional options from newcomers to help improve its ranking in 2025. | ||
| Locks: Sydney Benson, Sophie Dudley, Kylie Eaquinto | ||
| Contenders: Ava Jorgensen, Olivia Matern, Eliza Millar-Crossman, Heidi Schooley-Meyers | ||
| Wildcards: Chiara Andrew, Addilyn Glazier, Chloee Hoke, Mya Kirkham, Gracie Long, Mina Margraf-Benson, Hailey Openshaw, Deb Silva |
Records Watch
Team: 198.025 | AA: 39.700 | VT: 49.625/10.000 | UB: 49.475/9.975 | BB: 49.675/10.000 | FX: 49.675/10.000
The last time a BYU gymnast scored a 10.0 on beam was in 2003; Brynlee Andersen was a quarter of a tenth away from doing so last season. Her technique is so good on this event that it’s really a question of when rather than if. Similarly, Kylie Eaquinto was close to a 10.0 on floor. She could be the next BYU gymnast to reach the mark.
The Big Picture
BYU made a splash in its first year in the Big 12, but it’s ready for more. While the Cougars have a history of athletes not always being competition ready compared to their level 10 days, this year could be different. The returners are bringing their A-game while the freshmen are pushing themselves to be in lineups. A direct path to the regional semifinals if not more is far from out of the question.
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Article by Savanna Wellman
