With fifth straight league title in hand, Boise State gymnasts ‘not finished’ yet
The Boise State gymnastics team was devastated to lose senior Shani Remme to a season-ending injury in late February.
But Remme’s injury did not alter the 13th-ranked Broncos’ expectations.
Wearing their “Do It For Shani” warmup T-shirts, the Broncos secured their fifth straight Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference Championship on Friday night at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah.
Boise State recorded a 196.950 to finish more than a full point ahead of No. 24 Southern Utah (195.900). No. 15 BYU (195.750) took third and Utah State (193.800) was fourth.
“I couldn’t have dreamed about a five-peat three years ago,” Boise State co-head coach Tina Bird said in a press release. “When you work hard and stay humble, this is the result. I’m proud of every single member of this team, but our season isn’t over yet. This was only one of our goals — we’re going to enjoy it, but we’re not finished.”
Remme was a two-time MRGC Gymnast of the Year and set Boise State’s career record for all-around (21) and beam (23) victories. She tore the ACL in her left knee at Denver on Feb. 24.
When Remme was no longer able to carry the torch, her teammates stepped up in her place.
Boise State junior Courtney McGregor won the all-around title with a 39.475, and senior Sarah Means came in second with a 39.375. Freshman Alexis Stokes won the bars championship with a 9.950, and junior Isabella Amado shared the title on beam with a 9.900.
Only four athletic teams in Boise State history have won five consecutive conference championships. Before gymnastics, the football team was the last to do so with five WAC titles from 2002 to 2006.
Boise State will now await their 2019 NCAA Regional Championships destination, which will be announced Monday. Regionals run April 4-6 at four locations — Corvallis, Oregon; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Athens, Georgia; and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
