Broncos Take Third at MRGC Championships

Saturday, March 18

Cedar City, Utah

6 p.m. MT

Boise State

BYU

3/18/2023 9:15:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics

CEDAR CITY, Utah – The Boise State gymnastics team scored a 196.000 and finished third at the 2023 Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference Championships at America First Event Center, Saturday night.

Southern Utah, ranked 21st nationally, scored a 196.875 to secure its first MRGC championship in program history, becoming the fourth and final member institution to win the title. BYU finished runner-up (196.575) and Utah State rounded out the standings (195.825).

The Broncos achieved their highest event scores during the second (floor) and third (vault) rotations. The Blue and Orange posted a 49.150 on floor and a 49.175 on vault, tying its eighth-highest vault score in conference championships history.

Junior Courtney Blackson posted team-leading marks on both events, earning a 9.875 on floor and a 9.900 on vault. She shared the vault title with the Thunderbirds' Ellie Cacciola and tied for third on floor with the Cougars' Rebekah Bean Ripley.

Sophomores Emma Loyim and Alyssa Vulaj notched 9.850 on floor, and freshman Brantley Lucas' performance earned her a mark of 9.800.

On vault, three Broncos eclipsed the 9.800 threshold in addition to Blackson. Vulaj and junior Emily Lopez earned scores of 9.850 and senior Adriana Popp registered a 9.825.

All-MRGC Awards

The MRGC announced all-conference awards following the championship meet, Saturday. Four Boise State gymnasts accounted for eight honors, including junior Emily Lopez who was tabbed the Bars Specialist of the Year and Co-Vault Specialist of the Year. Lopez was named first-team all-league on bars for the third-straight year and achieved her first first-team recognition on vault.

Junior Courtney Blackson captured first-team accolades on both bars and floor and was named to the second team on vault. She is the first Bronco to earn a spot on the floor first team since Sandra Collantes in 2018.

Senior Adriana Popp was named All-MRGC second team on vault and beam, and sophomore Emma Loyim joined Popp on the beam second team.

All-conference awards were based on National Qualifying Scores (NQS) before the conference championships. Specialists of the Year had the highest NQS on that respective event.

Vault
Emily Lopez (First Team; Co-Vault Specialist of the Year)
Courtney Blackson (Second Team)
Adriana Popp (Second Team)

Bars
Emily Lopez (First Team; Bars Specialist of the Year)
Courtney Blackson (First Team)

Beam
Emma Loyim (Second Team)
Adriana Popp (Second Team)

Floor
Courtney Blackson (First Team)

Quotables

"We had a lot of great performances this evening, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough to bring home a win." -head coach Tina Bird

Top Broncos

Junior Courtney Blackson's 9.900 on vault was the highest score by any Boise State gymnast Saturday night.
Freshman Sydney Kho's 9.750 on vault was a career best.
Sophomore Elaina McGovern matched her career-best performance with a 9.800 on bars.
Senior Erin Morden earned a career-best 9.825 on bars, marking the first time she has cracked the 9.800 threshold.
Sophomore Alyssa Vulaj kicked off the Broncos' floor lineup with a 9.850, tying her career high.

Notables

Boise State's 49.175 on vault tied the team's eighth-highest vault score in conference championships history.
Junior Courtney Blackson's victory on vault marked the sixth of her career and her second at a conference championship (2021).
Blackson's 9.900 on vault tied the eighth-highest vault score by a Bronco in conference championships history.
Blackson tied for third place on floor (9.875). She recorded the highest score of Boise State's floor team.

What's Next

Boise State turns its attention to the 2023 NCAA Gymnastics Championship Selection Show, scheduled for 10 a.m. MT, Monday (March 20) on NCAA.com. The Broncos entered tonight's championship ranked 35th nationally with a NQS of 196.225, and have been selected for the NCAA Regional Championships in each of the last 14 seasons.