Top 10 BYU Olympic Sports Stories of 2024: A glorious summer and fall for the Cougars
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- The BYU women’s cross country team celebrates winning the Big 12 Conference title at Cottonwood Creek Golf Course in Waco, Texas, on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024.
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- BYU senior Jon Stanley, center, watches a video during Senior Night alongside his brother Wil, left, at the Smith Fieldhouse on Saturday, March 30, 2024.
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- Former BYU runner Kenneth Rooks reacts crossing the finish line to win the silver medal in the men’s 3000 meters steeplechase final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France.
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- Former BYU runner Kenneth Rooks poses with the American flag after winning the silver medal in the men’s 3000 meters steeplechase final, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France.
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- BYU seniors Kaylee Smiler, left, and Lauren Gustin embrace near the end of a Senior Night victory against Houston at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.
It seems as if college sports has been taken over by endless talk of name, image and likeness and how much money players are being paid.
If you’re tired of those discussions, this story is for you.
BYU’s Olympic sports (for the purposes of this story, everything but football and men’s basketball) are thriving in the Big 12. In fact, in the fall Learfield Directors’ Cup standings, the Cougars are seventh in the entire country. Some of the Olympic athletes have found success in the NIL realm but for the most part, they are competing for the love of the sport and an opportunity for a great education.
Here’s a look at some of the top stories for BYU Olympic sports in 2024.
10. Playing the field
In track, BYU is known more in the distance races but at the 2024 NCAA meet, the field events stood out. Junior Danny Bryant finished third in the shot put, setting a new school record (65 feet, 8.25 inches) in the process. In addition, senior Cameron Bates was eighth in the javelin and Dallin Shurts eighth in the discus, both earning All-American status.
9. Transition year for BYU women’s volleyball
For the first time since 2011, the BYU women’s volleyball team did not finish in the AVCA Top 25, though the Cougars did qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the 13th straight season. A lot of youngers earned important playing time and did have some bright moments, like upsetting No. 11 Kansas in four sets at Lawrence during Big 12 play. The addition of an extremely talented freshman class should boost the Cougars back into the thick of things in 2025.
8. The Jon Stanley effect
The BYU men’s volleyball team was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the MPSF Tournament with a five-set loss to USC but had a good year, finishing 16-9. The end of the season also brought an end to Stanley’s career as one of the more popular players in the history of the program. It wasn’t his play on the court, though he was excellent, but more his welcoming attitude and friendly, outgoing personality that kept fans coming back to the Smith Fieldhouse. There’s never been another player like him.
7. Two-sport star inducted into BYU Sports Hall of Fame
When it comes to women’s sports, Jennifer Hamson should receive strong consideration as the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). She led the women’s volleyball team to the 2014 NCAA Finals, the only time BYU has ever advanced that far. She also led the women’s basketball team to the 2014 Sweet 16, where they lost to eventual champion UConn. At 6-foot-7, Hamson was a soft-spoken but dominating presence in both sports.
6. Schneemann makes MLB debut for Cleveland
Former Cougar shortstop Daniel Schneemann was promoted the major leagues on June 2, 2024. In his debut, Schneemann hit a two-run double on the first pitch he saw against the Washington Nationals. Schneemann first played for the rookie league Arizona Indians, then the Single-A Lake County Captains, then the Double-A Akron RubberDucks, then the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, then back to Akron before getting called up to the big leagues, where he hit .218 with five home runs and 22 RBI.
5. Brockbank inducted into Utah Golf Hall of Fame
Bruce Brockbank has long been a mainstay with BYU golf, having been associated with the program as a player or a coach since 1985. His induction into the Utah Golf Hall of Fame is well earned as he joins former BYU golfers Johnny Miller, Mike Reid, Mike Weir, Jimmy Blair and Steve Schneiter, as well as legendary coach Karl Tucker.
4. BYU women’s soccer makes NCAA Tournament for seventh year in a row
The group Jennifer Rockwood put on the pitch in 2025 was the youngest she’d ever coached in more than 30 years at the helm, but the Cougars overcame that youth and some key injuries to still find a way into the NCAA Tournament. With Ellie Walbruch returning from injury and virtually the entire lineup coming back, there’s no reason to think the Cougars can’t be even better in 2025.
3. Gustin becomes all-time BYU women’s basketball rebounder
Gustin’s career came to a close in 2024 but she definitely left her mark. Her 1,694 rebounds in the most in BYU history, breaking the 44-year-old record held by Tina Gunn Robison. Gustin was four-time All-Conference and a two-time honorable mention All-American as well.
2. BYU athletes at the Olympics
The Paris Olympics brought the world together in competition and BYU was well represented.
Former Cougar Kenneth Rooks earned a silver medal in the steeplechase and Stephanie Rovetti, a former BYU basketball player, was part of the bronze medal US team in Rugby Sevens. Former Cougars Conner Mantz and Clayton Young did their school and their country proud by finishing eighth and ninth, respectively, as the top US finishers in the Olympic Marathon. Former BYU legend Jimmer Fredette qualified in the 3×3 basketball tournament but an injury forced him out of the competition. In all, nine former BYU athletes suited up for the Olympics last summer.
1. Cross country sweeps NCAA titles
Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 was a day Cougar fans will never forget as both the men’s and women’s teams claimed NCAA titles in cross country, the first time the same school captured both championships in 20 years. The women, the event’s No. 1 seed, started off the day winning the team championship for the sixth time. The men followed with a sizzling start and held off the competition to win the NCAA title for the second time.
