MULTI-TALENTED Becky Tutka, the lead-off on beam for the Utes, brings energy and fun to the team

For the past two seasons, Utah fans have been treated to the exuberant performances of Becky Tutka.
She was a floor specialist as a freshman and was possibly one of the best lead-off floor performers in the country. She never competed on another event during her first year at the U, but that has changed during her sophomore campaign.
Tutka has been the lead-off gymnast for the Utes on beam much of the season, and she made her vault debut in a pressure-filled situation at the Regional Qualifier in Tuscaloosa, Ala. As the lead-off gymnast for the Utes’ final event of the competition, she earned a 9.85 that spurred Utah to the highest vault score of the six participating teams.
“Becky has just had a steady climb through the season with her vaulting,” said co-head coach Megan Marsden. “It seems like she’s got a really good feel for where the floor is for a potential stick.”
Tutka worked extremely hard to progress beyond being a single-event specialist. On top of working her way into the beam and vault rotations, she has improved her floor routine enough to put her at the back of the lineup. To get into the vault lineup last weekend, she had to completely change her technique because she wasn’t getting enough pop off the horse.
Leading up to her first career vault in Utah’s most important meet this year, nerves were a factor. But Tutka said her experience in being the lead-off gymnast on floor and beam has helped her deal with those jitters.
“I practiced going first last year on floor, and that helped me to be able to go to one of the harder events, beam, and be first, and it carried over to vault this last week,” Tutka said. “I get really nervous before the meet, and I just try to shake it out. Thank God I did, because I got up there, and I felt pretty calm.”
She said the only event she doesn’t get nervous for is floor, where she was recently named a second-team All-American and notched 9.975, a career high, earlier in the year. Marsden said Tutka finishes the Utes’ floor lineup “with a bang” because of her high-energy style, and she deserves to be at the back of the lineup because of her tumbling — which is some of the most complex of anyone on the team.
But Tutka sees her contribution to the team as being much more than solid numbers in competition.
“I bring a light energy,” she said. “I’m super energetic at meets and usually pretty funny. I try to crack jokes and just keep things light and fun. It’s kind of hard sometimes, but I’m always doing something silly so everyone can make fun of me — I love being the butt of a joke. I don’t care as long as everyone is laughing and smiling.”
Though Tutka’s enthusiasm is excellent for her floor routine, Marsden said it can cause problems on beam, where gymnasts usually want to remain calm and focused. Tutka said she just needs to keep working, and she has faith she can help the team advance past its national semifinal meet.
“We are going to leave it all on the floor,” she said. “We definitely want redemption, and we want to show everyone that we are a good beam team. We’re all prepared for it.”