Arizona State Gymnastics delivered a memorable start to Big 12 competition Friday night, upsetting No. 22 BYU 196.050–195.200 at Desert Financial Arena behind season-best performances on beam and floor.
The Sun Devils capitalized late after BYU suffered two falls on beam in the final rotation. Arizona State answered with its strongest floor showing of the season, highlighted by two 9.900 scores, to surge past the Cougars and secure the upset in front of a home crowd celebrating the program’s 50th anniversary.
ASU recorded season highs on beam (49.075) and floor (49.225), with the floor total standing as the team’s best event score of the year. The victory marked head coach Jay Santos’ 21st ranked win in his 10 seasons at the helm — and his first since March 2024.
Senior Kimberly Smith led the charge with the best meet of her career, posting a career-high 39.475 in the all-around. She earned season highs on vault (9.850), beam (9.850), and floor (9.900), capturing event titles on vault, floor, and the all-around. Smith’s leadership proved crucial as the Sun Devils erased a narrow deficit heading into the final rotation.
Junior Halle Gregoire matched Smith with a season-high 9.900 on floor — the first of the year for ASU — tying her career high and sharing the event title. Freshman Delanie Kelly added a career-best 9.875 on floor and made her collegiate bars debut, while freshmen Jessica Rosenberg and sophomore Nina Laurito also made their first collegiate appearances.
After trailing by 0.075 entering the final event, the Sun Devils delivered under pressure, closing the meet with confidence and energy to clinch the Big 12-opening victory.
Arizona State now turns its attention to a road challenge at No. 12 Utah, the defending Big 12 champions, on Friday, Jan. 30.
