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The BYU women's volleyball team celebrates after defeating Utah 3-1 in the second round of the NCAA women's volleyball tournament at the Smith Fieldhouse on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021. (BYU Courtesy Photo)

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BYU's Whittni Orton (left) and Conner Mantz display the hardware after winning individual NCAA cross country championships in Tallahassee, Fla., on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. (BYU Courtesy Photo)

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The BYU women's soccer team, including goalkeeper Cassidy Smith (right), celebrate winning a shootout with Santa Clara in the NCAA semifinals on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. (BYU Courtesy Photo)

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The BYU men's volleyball team huddles before a match against UCLA in the Smith Fieldhouse on February 6, 2021.

BYU Courtesy Photo

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BYU's Andrew Pintar prepares to take a swing during a college baseball game against Arizona State at Miller Park in Provo on Tuesday, April 27, 2021.

BYU Courtesy Photo

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The BYU softball team erupts into cheers near the dugout during a women's college softball game against Southern Utah at Gail Miller Field in Provo on Thursday, April 15, 2021.

BYU Courtesy Photo

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BYU gymnastics team during a tri-meet with Boise State and Air Force at the Smith Fieldhouse on Friday, Feb. 19, 2021.

BYU Courtesy Photo

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First of all, like most men, I struggle with gift giving at Christmas.

Don’t get me wrong: I love giving gifts. It’s just that choosing what gift to give is always a stress-inducing activity. Getting something my wife needs and wants after 30 years if marriage is as big of a challenge as I’ll see during the year.

And then again for her birthday, right?

I kind of feel the same way as I write this story, which is a Christmas wish list for BYU’s Olympic sports. This fall while the football team was tearing it up, the Olympic sports were getting conference titles, NCAA Tournament bids, All-Americans and national titles.

What else could they possibly need?

I’ve got a few ideas …

Women’s soccer

If I had the power to grant the Cougars a national championship for Christmas, I would. Getting to the national title match only to lose to No. 1 Florida State in penalties is such a gut punch. What amazed me was how Jennifer Rockwood and her players handled the loss. There were some tears but plenty of smiles as well for their tremendous accomplishments in 2021. On the Cougars’ Christmas wish list, I hope Rockwood and her coaching staff can somehow find recruits who could eventually replace All-Americans Mikayla Colohan and Cameron Tucker. It was an honor and a pleasure to cover their careers in Provo.

Women’s basketball

19th-ranked BYU has posted a 10-1 record in the preseason, with its only loss in overtime at Oklahoma. Coach Jeff Judkins probably has his most experienced and talented club in his 21 years at the helm. A Christmas wish for the Cougars? How about a trip past the Sweet 16? Judkins has taken his team twice that far but the program has never gone beyond that point. This group has that potential. Judkins said he would take me with him to the NCAA’s, so here’s hoping.

Women’s volleyball

The Cougars (30-2) finished ranked No. 9 in the country but lost some really talented players to graduation. So for Heather Olmstead and her staff, I’m wishing her the best of luck in the transfer portal. Needs? Perhaps an experienced middle blocker or opposite hitter. I certainly can’t wish BYU more Bowers: When fall rolls around, the Cougars roster will have senior setter Whitney, senior libero Morgan and incoming freshman Eden, who somehow got all the height among the sisters (6-foot-2). In truth, there is another Bower — Alex — who is a sophomore setter in high school. Seriously, send a Christmas card to Danny and Caroline for their endless supply of daughters to the BYU program.

Cross Country

Shoot, after Connor Mantz and Whittni Orton both took home national championships in the fall of 2021 — Mantz actually won another one in the spring — I’m not sure there’s much I can offer. Maybe long-term contracts for coaches Ed Eyestone and Diljeet Taylor? There ought to be enough Big 12 money coming to the athletic program in 2023 to trickle down to some national championship coaches and keep them in Provo for a long time to come.

Men’s volleyball

Shawn Olmstead’s needs are many. The amount of experience and talent he lost from last year’s national runner-up team is staggering. I still think there’s plenty of talent in the program, it’s just unproven. I don’t think it’ll take long for Olmstead and his coaching staff to get the Cougars back to the Final Four, so lets just delay that wish until 2023.

Track and field

A top 10 team finish by both men and women would be a nice spring gift, don’t you think? Also, a healthy season for pole vaulter Zach McWhorter and sprinter Jaslyn Gardner so they can continue to set records and win championships. Those guys are fun to watch.

Gymnastics

Guard Young’s team is always competitive, so let’s wish them a trip to regionals and an individual event champion at the NCAA’s.

Baseball

When I talked to BYU coach Mike Littlewood a few months ago, he was well aware of the challenge the Cougars face when the athletic program takes their teams to the Big 12. That is a powerhouse baseball league. BYU has the facilities and the pitching to make them pretty competitive. So I’ll wish the Cougars some magic bats to compete right away in that league. I hear Easton makes some good ones.

Softball

As big a challenge as it is for the baseball team to move to the Big 12, it might be an even tougher acclimation for Gordon Eakin’s softball team. Man, the Big 12 can play ball. The Cougars have dominated the West Coast Conference and will have to step up their game in 2023, so my wish for Eakin is to get a bigger recruiting budget so he can spread the word about how good BYU can be.

Tennis, golf, swimming and diving and other club sports

These sports have had some good success over the years but they operate at a much lower visibility rate than other programs at the school. My wish for them is to get more attention from fans and students for all the hard work being put in by coaches and players. Show up and watch a match, you’ll be glad you did.

Merry Christmas.

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