BYU senior captain Kylie Eaquinto has been nominated for the 2026 AAI Award, which recognizes the most outstanding senior gymnast in the country. The award, given by AAI for over three decades, involves nominations from NCAA head coaches across the nation. After this first round of nominations, six student-athletes will be selected as finalists.
Eaquinto is one of 45 gymnasts nominated and is among just five representatives from the Big 12 Conference. She has started for BYU for four years and competed on vault, bars, and floor. Throughout her collegiate career, she qualified three times as an individual for NCAA Regionals and served as team captain for two seasons.
In her freshman year in 2023, Eaquinto received several honors: MRGC Freshman of the Year, MRGC Vault Specialist of the Year, and All-MRGC First Team Vault recognition. She also recorded a career-high score of 9.975 on floor during her sophomore season with one judge awarding a perfect 10.0.
After BYU moved to the Big 12 Conference, Eaquinto earned titles such as Big 12 Event Specialist of the Week and Big 12 Gymnast of the Week. Over her college career, she has achieved first place at meets 25 times—13 on vault, eight on floor, and four on bars. In the current season alone she secured eight podium finishes: twice each on vault and bars and four times on floor.
Academically, Eaquinto studies accounting at BYU—a program noted for its selectivity—and holds a cumulative GPA of 3.92 with a major GPA of 3.83 while competing in three events per meet. She achieved a perfect GPA over six semesters.
Eaquinto is also active in community service through various initiatives associated with both BYU athletics and local organizations. As part of the Student-Athlete Advisory Service Committee (SAAC), she helped plan service projects such as assembling hygiene kits for girls in need and delivering handmade notes to hospital patients.
This past year she collaborated with Hearts Knit Together to organize sewing projects that produced handmade hearts included in care packages for those facing medical difficulties. Additionally, she worked with Sole Hope—a nonprofit supporting Ugandan communities by providing shoes—to further expand outreach efforts.
Within her athletic community at BYU gymnastics, Eaquinto organized blanket-tying activities to support administrative staff who assist with team operations.
“Her consistent dedication to serving others reflects her character, leadership, and commitment to making a positive impact beyond competition.”
The full list of nominees can be found online.
