For the first time this season, Utah did not improve on its team score from the week prior.
That didn’t stop the Red Rocks from getting their fourth win of the season in front of the fifth largest crowd in collegiate gymnastics history, however.
With in-state teams BYU and Southern Utah in the house, 15,080 fans showed up Friday night when Utah hosted the Cougars, the Thunderbirds and the Texas women’s team in the Red Rocks’ only quad meet of the year. Utah finished with a score of 196.850, two full points clear of the No. 2 SUU Thunderbirds.
“(The crowd) was just amazing,” said Utah senior Kristina Baskett. “Just to see everyone out there supporting us. And that’s one of the things that kept us motivated and going.”
Baskett, who came off her worst meet of the season last weekend against Oregon State, led the way for Utah, setting a season high with an all-around score of 39.650. Baskett scored at least a 9.9 on every event, highlighted by a 9.925 on both vault and bars.
“I didn’t have (the Oregon State meet) in my mind at all,” Baskett said. “I just tried to do what I have been doing in practice and I felt calm and collected.”
“Kris is in a really good place this year,” said Utah head coach Greg Marsden. “It wasn’t easy for her last week, she really had to work to get through the meet. (Friday) was easy for her.”
Utah junior Annie DiLuzio continued to shine Friday night, especially on floor, where she is No. 3 in the country. DiLuzio set a career high on Friday, leading the way for the Red Rocks on the floor with a 9.95.
“I go into each meet one routine at a time and one pass at a time,” DiLuzio said. “I’m building confidence in my routines and I think it’s going pretty good.”
Senior Nina Kim also had her best meet of the season, finishing second in the all-around with a score of 39.50. Although Utah had the meet well in hand early on, Kim understands there’s never a night off when you’re the No. 1 team in the country.
“It doesn’t matter what team we’re competing against,” Kim said. “We just try to be a little bit better than the week before or the competition before.”
For the first time this season, the Red Rocks had four gymnasts competing in the all-around competition. Besides Baskett, Kim and junior Jamie Deetscreek, Marsden added junior Daria Bijak to the all-around lineup, having her compete on the vault for the first time this year.
“We had been using three all year,” Marsden said. “And Daria has been doing everything except vault, but we have been trying not to overuse her because she competed at the Olympics over the summer and this was the first time she felt comfortable competing in vault so we put her in to give her that opportunity.”
The lineup change will probably be the first of many this week for the Red Rocks. By Friday, they will have competed in three meets during the course of one week.
“I’ll probably try to rest Annie and get some other people in,” Marsden said. “So I’m going to try to get Jacq (Johnson) and Cortni (Beers) in on bars. We’re really going to need Gael (Mackie) on beam for us because she’s beautiful in that event.”
With their first meet as the No. 1 team in the country behind them, the Red Rocks have a long week ahead, first traveling up to Logan tonight to take on the Utah State Aggies, then to Lincoln, Neb., for a meet with the No. 12 Corn Huskers on Friday.
“(Being ranked number one) is exciting,” Marsden said. “But it doesn’t mean a whole lot. I mean, ask the Alabama football team what being ranked number one for five weeks in a row means at the end of the year if you’re not your best in the end.”
Lucas IsleyKristina Baskett scored a 9.900 on the floor and beam on her way to a 39.650 all-around win Friday night. The Red Rocks will travel to Logan tonight to face Utah State.