WVU Gymnastics Falls to No. 12 Utah and No. 24 BYU in Tri-Meet

Mountaineers struggle on balance beam but show promise on vault and floor exercise

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The West Virginia University (WVU) gymnastics team faced a tough challenge on the road, competing against No. 12 University of Utah and No. 24 Brigham Young University (BYU) in a tri-meet on Saturday, March 7th. Despite showcasing some strong routines, the Mountaineers ultimately fell short against their highly ranked opponents, finishing with a final score of 195.3.

Why it matters

This meet highlighted the competitive landscape of NCAA gymnastics, as WVU went up against two nationally ranked teams. While the Mountaineers were unable to secure a victory, the meet provided valuable experience and an opportunity to identify areas for improvement as they continue their season.

The details

WVU opened the meet on uneven bars, with Jurnee Lane leading the team with a 9.775. However, Utah's dominance on vault quickly established a lead for the Utes. On balance beam, consistency proved challenging for the Mountaineers, though Amber Lowe scored a team-high 9.875. In the floor exercise, Jurnee Lane and Emerson Smith both scored 9.8, but Utah's strong performance on beam allowed them to extend their advantage. WVU finished the meet on vault, with Sophia Rice tying the meet-high score of 9.875, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit.

  • The tri-meet took place on Saturday, March 7th, 2026.
  • WVU will compete against North Carolina State University on Friday, March 13th, 2026 at 6 p.m. in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The players

Jurnee Lane

A member of the WVU gymnastics team who led the Mountaineers on uneven bars with a score of 9.775 and also scored 9.8 on floor exercise.

Amber Lowe

A WVU gymnast who achieved a team-high score of 9.875 on balance beam.

Sophia Rice

A WVU gymnast who tied the meet-high score of 9.875 on vault.

University of Utah

The No. 12 ranked gymnastics team that won the tri-meet with a score of 197.65.

Brigham Young University (BYU)

The No. 24 ranked gymnastics team that finished second in the tri-meet with a score of 196.55.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

WVU Gymnastics will continue their season with a meet against North Carolina State University on Friday, March 13th, at 6 p.m. in Raleigh, North Carolina. The meet will be broadcast on the ACC Network.

The takeaway

While the Mountaineers were unable to secure a victory against the highly ranked Utah and BYU teams, the meet provided valuable experience and an opportunity to identify areas for improvement as they continue their season. The team's strong performances on vault and floor exercise, as well as the individual standout performances, suggest that the Mountaineers have the potential to compete at a high level.