No. 1 no more
It seems a bit counter-intuitive, but after posting a nation-high 197.525 on Friday, the Red Rocks dropped to No. 2 in the national rankings.
It ended their three-week run as the top-ranked team in the country.
In collegiate gymnastics, for the first five weeks of the season, teams are ranked solely on average meet score, but that changes in week six.
For the final seven weeks of the season, teams are ranked by their regional qualifying score (RQS). That score is figured by taking a team’s six best scores (three of which must be on the road), dropping the highest score and averaging the remaining five scores.
“I wish our ranking system made a little more sense to the general public,” said head coach Greg Marsden. “It is a system that us in the sport understand, but it is very hard to explain.”
While consistency is a quality that all teams strive for, it was actually Utah’s consistency that hurt the team in the RQS rankings. Each team’s three lowest scores are thrown out in the RQS ranking system and for most teams that drastically improves their average. But Utah did not benefit from this the way other teams did because the Red Rocks don’t have any drastically low scores.
Red Rocks climb individual rankings
Although Utah dropped in the team rankings this week, the individuals on the team continue to shine. Senior Kristina Baskett is ranked second in the nation in three different rankings8212;vault (averaging 9.925), bars (9.920) and the all-around (39.540 RQS). Baskett also ranks sixth in the country on floor (9.880).
Fellow senior Nina Kim has quickly emerged as the Red Rocks’ top performer on beam, averaging 9.885 on the event. As of three weeks ago, Kim had yet to break 9.900 on the event, but since has scored a 9.900 and back-to-back 9.925s, her career high.
Kim said she has been more confident on the event lately.
“In the beginning, you’re always a little more nervous, but once you get used to the environment, you tell yourself, “You have been through this seven times already,’ so that definitely helps,” Kim said.
Kim also ranks seventh in the all-around, averaging 39.385, thanks mostly in part to back-to-back 39.500s against BYU and Nebraska as well as a 39.455 against Michigan on Friday.
Junior Daria Bijak is ranked No. 4 in the country on bars (9.890), while fellow junior Annie DiLuzio is tied with Baskett and ranked sixth in the country on floor (9.880). Sophomore Gael Mackie cracked the top 10 this week, coming in at No. 9 on the bars with a 9.880.
Season might be over for Rizzo
Although junior Beth Rizzo has progressed with each passing week, she is still a long way off from being competition-ready. Even with the upcoming bye week and Utah’s next meet not coming until March 6, Rizzo will not be ready to go when Utah hosts Arizona State.
Marsden said missing the rest of the season is a strong possibility.
If Rizzo does become ready for competition before the end of the season, then Marsden is left with the tough choice of inserting her into a lineup that is already flourishing. Up to this point in the season, Utah’s lineup has been good enough to get the team to the No. 1 spot for the first time in five years. The chemistry of the team could be greatly affected by the move so late in the season.
“One, we don’t know when (Rizzo) will be 100 percent,” Marsden said. “And two, at that point do you take that chance at mixing things up?”
Lennie MahlerJamie Deetscreek brings her vaulting talent to the No. 2 Red Rocks. The team fell out of the top spot despite posting the highest score in the nation on Friday.