Boise State’s Muhlenhaupt continues her pursuit of a perfect 10 in loss to rival BYU
The Boise State gymnastics team won individual titles in all four events in Friday’s home opener, but it wasn’t enough as rival BYU escaped with a 196.1-194.45 victory to remain undefeated in the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference.
Senior Isabella Amado (beam) and juniors Emily Muhlenhaupt (bars), Tatum Bruden (floor) and Gabriella Bouza (vault) either tied for or claimed outright titles, but the Cougars (6-2, 5-0 MRGC) built a big lead early with four athletes scoring at least 9.8 on bars and the Broncos (2-3, 0-1) couldn’t close the gap.
“They were aggressive, which I appreciate. We just need more time in the gym,” Boise State coach Tina Bird said. “This week, we had a short turnaround. I was proud of them for what they did tonight, but I know we can do much better.”
Muhlenhaupt continued her pursuit of history at ExtraMile Arena as she took home the meet’s highest score on bars with a 9.925. It’s the fourth time this season that she recorded a score higher than 9.9, but she hasn’t quite been able to become the first Boise State gymnast to score a perfect 10 in the event.
“It has to be a good time and I have to do what I know I can do and really stick that landing,” Muhlenhaupt said. “It’s about having confidence and trusting in yourself and the hard work you’ve put in, in the gym every day. You just continue to work hard and you’ll get there one day.”
On Sunday in San Jose, California, Muhlenhaupt scored a 9.975, which tied the Broncos’ program record and earned the Castle Rock, Colorado, native her second MRGC Specialist of the Week honor of the season. She ranks No. 3 in the nation with an average score of 9.942.
“Week after week, she’s amazing and pretty flawless. One of these days, she’s going to do it,” Bird said. “She’s a natural bar worker, and this year she’s focused and really worked on her consistency.”
Amado paced the Broncos on the beam, scoring a near-perfect 9.9. She also notched a 9.775 on the floor.
“That kid can do beam anywhere and anyhow,” Bird said. “We count on her, and I think we’re going to see big things out of her in that event.”
On the floor, Bruden led the Broncos with a 9.85, while Bouza tied her career high in the vault with a 9.85. After not having vaulted in a meet for two years, Boise State’s Tessa Otaufi set her career high with a 9.775, while teammate Maddi Nilson tied hers with a 9.75.
BYU’s Abby Minor tied Bruden’s 9.85 on the floor, while the Cougars’ Jordan Matthews and Sadie Miner tied Bouza’s 9.85 in the vault and Haley Pitou finished with the night’s second-highest score on the bars with a 9.9. Sadie Miner led the Cougars on the beam with a 9.85, while Abby finished with a 9.825.
The Broncos were without leading all-arounder Courtney McGregor, who will miss the rest of the season after rupturing an Achilles tendon in the season opener at UCLA. She was in the arena Friday night, though, rolling around on a scooter to keep weight off her surgically repaired left foot and doing her best to cheer the team on. Her teammates say she remains one of their top motivating factors.
“She’s our team captain and she’s really meant to be in that spot,” Muhlenhaupt said.
Boise State is back in action Feb. 7 at Utah State.
