MRGC Championship

Recap

The Big Storyline: Utah State posted its first 197 of the season to capture its first MRGC title and first conference championship in any conference since 2005. The Aggies posted 49.3-plus scores on three events and came in clutch on bars after counting a fall on the event in their last two meets. It was a different story for BYU, as the Cougars counted a fall on bars. Less than two tenths separated second place Boise State and fourth place BYU—this meet definitely delivered as promised!

Postseason Implications: Assuming the selection committee is logical and doesn’t do what it did to N.C. State last year, all four MRGC teams should avoid play-ins. Southern Utah ended up clinching a regionals spot by way of other teams’ results before the meet started. However, its 196.500 was enough to raise it to No. 27 nationally, just below Utah State. 

Records: Utah State’s 197.025 is its second-highest score in school history. The Aggies’ 49.375 on beam is their best score on the event at a conference championship. BYU’s Sadie Miner-Van Tassell notched a career high 9.950 on vault to take the event title.

Controversies: One judge gave Haley Pitou a 9.500 for a bars fall while the rest were around 9.0. Guess judge four really thought the routine was perfect otherwise?

Conference Awards

• Gymnast of the Year: Sadie Miner-Van Tassell (BYU)
• Vault Specialist of the Year: Sadie Miner-Van Tassell (BYU)
• Bars Specialist of the Year: Emily Muhlenhaupt (Boise State)
• Beam Specialist of the Year: Elease Rollins (BYU)
• Floor Specialist of the Year: Brie Clark (Utah State)
• Newcomer of the Year: Brie Clark (Utah State)
• Coach of the Year: Guard Young (BYU)
• Assistant Coach of the Year: Ivan Alexov (Boise State)

Preview

• No. 21 BYU | 196.640 NQS | 197.225 season high
• No. 24 Boise State | 196.445 NQS | 197.000 season high
• No. 25 Utah State | 196.435 NQS | 196.800 season high
• No. 31 Southern Utah | 196.235 NQS | 197.000 season high

If you can only watch one meet, here’s why it should be this one…

The four MRGC teams all have similar potentials that hover around the 197 mark. Three of the four teams occupy three of the six spots from No. 20 to No. 25, with Southern Utah being the only team currently out of the top 25. The theoretical ability of these teams is very similar, and it will come down to which team can execute the best meet. That’ll make for a particularly exciting meet and one worth watching. BYU enters as the current conference leader, but don’t sleep on host Boise State. At the end of the day, this meet is anyone’s game.

If this is one of many meets you’ll be watching, don’t miss this…

Boise State’s bars lineup is ranked No. 8 nationally and is a treat to watch. Fifth-year Emily Muhlenhaupt highlights the lineup with her exquisite set, but don’t let that overshadow the likes of Alexis Stokes and Emily Lopez. Muhlenhaupt has only gone below 9.9 once this season; she’s still on the 10 hunt. Similarly, bars is Southern Utah’s best event, highlighted by Shylen Murakami. The Thunderbirds had miscues two weeks ago at Penn State, though by and large it’s a good event. Utah State excels on beam. Floor is its second-best event, where the real routine to watch for is Brie Clark; her floor routine may just be the highlight of the meet. BYU is also great on floor; Sadie Miner-Van Tassell and Brittney Vitkauskas are ones to watch in particular. Southern Utah’s start on floor could be indicative of its performance, but the meet won’t be over until it finishes on beam. There’s a reason BYU head coach Guard Young calls competition on that event “beamfense.”

What’s the bigger picture to keep an eye on?

Southern Utah needs a good score. It’s already guaranteed to count a road 195.550, but erasing another 195 would go a long way for its regionals hopes, especially given the fact that it’s not currently guaranteed qualification. Currently sitting at No. 31, Southern Utah is part of a group of teams ranked Nos. 30 to 33 with NQS scores currently separated by 0.025. Further, a good score would help the Thunderbirds’ chances to stay out of a potential play-in. A 196-flat will get Southern Utah’s NQS up to Utah State’s current NQS; if the cards fall right, it could eclipse Utah State for the third-highest ranked team in the conference. The other three teams will look to this as a chance to fine-tune their performances before regionals. None of them can move up into a seeded spot, but all are guaranteed to make regionals.

By the Numbers

Past Champions

• BYU: 2 titles, last won in 2021
• Boise State: 5 titles, last won in 2019
• Utah State: 0 titles (4 titles in former conferences)
• Southern Utah: 0 titles (1 title in former conferences)

Note: The MRGC was formed in 2013

Records Watch

Team: 197.050 | Vault: 49.325 (Boise State, 2021) | Bars: 49.475 (Boise State, 2019) | Beam: 49.475 (Boise State, 2019) | Floor: 49.575 (Boise State, 2017)

Last Time Out

BYU took home its first conference title from a conference championship meet and second overall, narrowly edging out Boise State. In 2020, the Cougars were named regular season conference champions for the first time.