Broncos Finish Runner-Up at MRGC Championships

Saturday, March 19

Boise, Idaho

6 p.m. MT

Boise State

196.550

197.025

Utah State

3/19/2022 10:07:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics

BOISE, Idaho - The 24th-ranked Boise State gymnastics team scored a 196.550 and finished runner-up at the 2022 Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference Championships at ExtraMile Arena, Saturday night.

No. 25 Utah State scored a 197.025 to capture its first MRGC Championship in program history, becoming the third member institution to win the title alongside the Broncos and BYU. Behind Boise State was Southern Utah (196.500) and the 21st-ranked Cougars (196.375).

"What a night," said head coach Tina Bird. "We fought hard and came up a little short. I'm proud of the team for some great performances and really sticking together through the whole meet."

The Broncos entered the night with a NQS on bars of 49.420, which ranked tied for eighth nationally and is the highest in school history. The bars rotation dazzled yet again in the second rotation of the evening, posting a 49.475, the highest of any team on the night. Leading the way was Emily Muhlenhaupt, who scored 9.950 to capture her second-straight MRGC bars championship. Emily Lopez joined in with a 9.925, while Courtney Blackson and Alexis Stokes added a pair of 9.875s. The team score tied the highest-ever by a Bronco bars team in a conference-championship meet (2019).

In the first event of the night the 25th-ranked Boise State vault rotation scored a 48.925. Leading the way was Courtney Blackson (9.850) and Emily Lopez (9.825). On beam the Broncos were given a 9.900 from their leading beam-worker Adriana Popp, while freshman Emma Loyim set a career high with 9.850 to help lift Boise State to a 49.125. Boise State put together a 49.025 on floor behind 9.850-performances from Elaina McGovern and Adriana Popp, but in the end it was not enough to knock off the Aggies.

Next up for Boise State is the 2022 NCAA Gymnastics Championship Selection Show, scheduled for 10 a.m. MT, Tuesday (March 22). The Broncos entered tonight's meet ranked No. 24 nationally with an NQS of 196.445, and have been selected for the NCAA Regional Championships in each of the last 13 seasons.

ALL-MRGC AWARDS
The MRGC announced all-conference awards following the conclusion of the championship meet, Saturday. Five Broncos picked up all-league accolades, including fifth-year senior Emily Muhlenhaupt, who was named MRGC Bars Specialist of the Year for the third-straight year and first-team all-conference on bars for the fourth-consecutive season.

Sophomore Emily Lopez earned first-team All-MRGC honors on bars for the second time in as many seasons, and senior Alexis Stokes was named second-team all-conference on bars, her first MRGC accolade since 2019.

Junior Adriana Popp was named first-team All-MRGC on beam, her first postseason accolade in the event, her second-career all-league honor (floor, second-team All-MRGC; 2021) and the first such honor for a Bronco since 2019 (Alex Esmerian and Sarah Means).

Freshman Alyssa Vulaj was named All-MRGC First Team on vault, the first such honor for a Bronco since Gabriela Cavinta in 2020.

Assistant coach Ivan Alexov was named the league's Assistant Coach of the Year in the second season of the award. Alexov is the lead coach for the Broncos on bars, which currently has the highest NQS in program history, and vault. "Ivan is so deserving of his assistant coach of the year award," said Bird. "I am so happy that he got recognized by his peers."

VAULT
Alyssa Vulaj (First Team)

BARS
Emily Muhlenhaupt (Bars Specialist of the Year; First Team)
Emily Lopez (First Team)
Alexis Stokes (Second Team)

BEAM
Adriana Popp (First Team)

ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR
Ivan Alexov