Members of the U gymnastics team went into their quad meet at Washington knowing they needed a big performance to improve their national ranking, and most importantly, to gain confidence going into the postseason.
Both goals were accomplished and then some Friday, as the Utes turned in the third-best score in team history (197.950), defeating No. 12 Washington (197.550), No. 16 Iowa (196.900), and Illinois Chicago (195.175).
The meet victory improved the Utes’ record to 11-1, and the big score provided the perfect encore to their performance of two weeks ago.
“This was exactly what we wanted to accomplish here,” U coach Greg Marsden said. “Because of health issues, we used a different lineup, and everyone stepped up.”
The best Red Rock performance came from junior All-American Annabeth Eberle, who just missed her career-high score in the all around (39.750), turning in a 39.725. Only Emily Pritchard of Washington had a better night in the all-around with a score of 39.825.
Eberle’s night was highlighted by her second 10.0 vault of the season and a 9.95 floor exercise, which were both good enough for victories in their respective events.
Senior All-American Melissa Vituj was almost as spectacular as Eberle, scoring a 39.700 in the all around with 9.925s across the board. Her 9.925 on the balance beam was good enough for first on the apparatus.
“It was a spectacular return for A.B. (Eberle),” Marsden said. “Mel (Vituj) had another great meet and, along with A.B., we are back to our big one-two punch.”
Not to be outdone by her upperclassman teammates, sophomore Kristen Riffanacht performed brilliantly in three events, scoring a 9.925 on vault, a 9.90 on the balance beam, and 9.875 on the floor exercise. Riffanacht, the consummate team player, led off in two of her three events, which generally accounts for lower scores and a great amount of pressure. Nonetheless, she turned in three great routines that certainly aided the Utes’ high score in more than just a mathematical sense.
“Kristen Riffanacht had a fantastic night on every event,” Marsden said. “That’s about as well as she can do, and when she leads off well, it sets the tone for the entire event.”
That was certainly the case on vault, where Riffanacht’s 9.925 set the tone for the best team vault score in team history (49.65). It was a particularly clutch vault, given the fact that it was the Utes’ last event and they were clinging to a narrow .400-point lead heading in.
Rachel Tidd was also spectacular in Washington, although she didn’t compete in the all-around as she usually does.
Tidd was limited to two events by recurring shin splints, but that didn’t stop her from scoring a 9.900 on vault and a 9.925 on bars.
“It was just a wonderful team effort, and we needed it to beat a very good Washington team,” Marsden said.
A week earlier, Washington had dispatched No. 1 UCLA in the same arena, making the Ute victory that much more impressive.
The Red Rocks’ score of 197.950 should almost certainly improve their national ranking, which went from No. 4 to 6 last week because of their relatively weak road scores.
This strong road showing was just what the Utes needed to jump back into the top 5 and improve their seed for regionals.
The Utes will have two more chances to make slight improvements in their ranking as they face Oregon State and BYU at the Huntsman Center in consecutive weeks.
