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No. 15 BYU gymnasts to host No. 5 UCLA, Utah State at the Marriott Center

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah State's Leighton Varnadore on the bars at the Best of Utah NCAA Gymnastics Meet in West Valley City on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah State's Leighton Varnadore on the bars at the Best of Utah NCAA Gymnastics Meet in West Valley City on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020.

By  Lya Wodraska | Special to The Tribune
 | Jan. 16, 2020, 1:16 p.m.
| Updated: 4:43 p.m.

BYU’s 15th-ranked gymnastics team has tested itself against some tough competition already this season, beating then ranked N. 15 Nebraska in the season opener and losing to No. 4 Utah in the Best of Utah meet. This weekend offers yet another challenge as the fifth-ranked UCLA Bruins travel to Provo for a 6 p.m. Saturday meet with the Cougars and Utah State in the Marriott Center.

The Bruins have been one of the nation’s top programs in recent years, winning the national title in 2018 and finishing third behind Oklahoma and LSU last year.

The meet marks the first time since 1996 the Cougars have competed against UCLA, which is led by 2012 Olympic gold medalist Kyla Ross and 2016 silver medalist Madison Kocian.

The Bruins, who have a new coach in Chris Waller after Valorie Kondos Field retired last year, opened the season with a 196.575 and scored a 196.8 in the second meet.

The Cougars opened the season with a 195.75-195.6 win over the Huskers, then posted a 195.575 to take second behind Utah (197.0) in the Best of Utah. the Aggies were fourth with a 194.15.

The Cougars are on an 8-meet winning streak against the Aggies.

The next time the Bruins will be in Utah will be fore the Pac-12 Championships on March 21 at the Maverik Center. The Utes, who are off this weekend, travel to UCLA on Feb. 23.


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By Lya Wodraska | Special to The Tribune