After winning the Pac-12 title for the second consecutive season and finishing second at Nationals, the Utah gymnastics team heads into this season without its four fearless seniors and will need both its experienced and new gymnasts to step up.
While some people are viewing this season as a growing year for the Red Rocks, who boast one of the most successful gymnastics programs in the country, co-head coach Megan Marsden thinks differently and said the team will not miss a beat.
“Obviously last year’s team had an incredible season, so it’s certainly a difficult one to follow,” Marsden said. “At the same time we have four new freshmen who are very eager to be a part of the team and want to leave their mark.”
It’s those freshmen who will need to bring their best to the floor. As a senior, Breanna Hughes feels more of a responsibility to show them the ropes, both inside and outside the gym. Not a whole lot has changed with the new members, and while they cannot necessarily replace the previous personas, they can help restore some of that talent.
“We lost four personalities and four really good leaders,” Hughes said. “Now we have four new people coming in, so it’s different in how people are in the gym, but not in a bad way.”
The new gymnasts are working on adjusting to the team, and vice versa. Hughes enjoys watching the different relationships develop and said it’s one of the most rewarding experiences.
“It’s interesting to see how everyone’s adapting and who is stepping into what roles,” Hughes said. “[I like seeing] how the team dynamics are forming.”
Right before school starts, the entire team goes through strength and conditioning tests to see where everyone is physically, but the girls find a way to make it interesting and, according to Marsden, make a competition out of it, which helps team chemistry.
Along with the four seniors, the Red Rocks also lost years of experience in former head coach, Marsden’s husband, Greg Marsden. But Marsden and newly-promoted co-head coach Tom Farden have worked side-by-side with pioneers of collegiate gymnastics for years and expect the transition to be relatively smooth.
The freshmen are working on transitioning to a new level, and while Marsden does not necessarily expect the freshmen to shatter records, she expects them to work hard.
“It’s difficult sometimes [for new members] to be able to reflect the same score [as previous members],” Marsden said. “It’s a new game, and they will need to figure it out.”
Marsden is particularly excited about local gymnast Makenna Merrell, considering the team did not have anyone local last season. Merrell comes from Pleasant Grove and adds a lot of power, something the Utes have been looking to add to their rotation.
A new addition on the coaching side is Meredith Paulicivic, who is a former All-American Red Rock herself. Paulicivic will serve as assistant coach to Marsden and Farden, but one of her main jobs will be to choreograph routines for the athletes. According to Marsden, the team has never had a choreographer before, and this new position will give more value to their routines.
“I can’t even describe how much better things will be in terms of that regard, and I’m so looking forward to having her expertise in the gym,” Marsden said.
Although the team is young, Marsden knows all her gymnasts will be eager to represent the university in a fashion similar to years before.
“They are ready to carry on some lofty expectations and traditions for Utah gymnastics,” Marsden said.
With the high finish last year, Hughes is not feeling as much pressure as some would think; rather, it gives her more of an incentive to return to that peak.
“If we work hard and do everything we did last year we can have similar results this year,” Hughes said. “Just keep working towards that end goal and it gives us a lot of confidence.”
Marsden sees this confidence in her team and is sure they can accomplish more in the upcoming year.
“In the gym, we are going to be as strong as we ever have been,” Marsden said. “I think we will have a shot to be in the Super Six with a chance to win it all.”
@kbrenneisen