After another successful Red Rocks Preview, University of Utah gymnastics started the regular season off against Boise State. The Red Rocks are looking strong this season, ranking No. 4 in the WCGA Preseason Poll.
After unfurling banners for 2023 Final 4, 2023 Pac-12 Champions and 2023 Pac-12 Regular Season Champions, the Red Rocks got the 2024 season started on vault.
Jaylene Gilstrap started the night for the Red Rocks on vault with a 9.700, while the Boise State Broncos moved to bars. Freshman Camie Winger came in with a 9.775 before Ella Zirbes, another freshman, came in with a 9.750 of her own. Temple transfer Ashley Glynn notched a 9.850 before Makenna Smith scored a team-high 9.900. Jaedyn Rucker finished the rotation off with a 9.875 to give the Red Rocks 49.150 through the first rotation.
Smith got the Red Rocks started on bars, scoring a 9.850. Alani Sabado recorded a 9.850 of her own and Zirbes only scored 9.550. Amelie Morgan made her first appearance of the night with a 9.775. Grace McCallum came in with a team-high 9.925 before Maile O’Keefe matched it to finish the rotation before alternates performed.
Through two rotations, the Red Rocks scored 98.475, a 1.675 lead over the Broncos.
Heading onto beam, the Red Rocks looked to expand their lead in their strongest event. Smith started first with a 9.700 before Gilstrap tallied a 9.775. Abby Paulson and McCallum both scored 9.875 before O’Keefe came in as the anchor. O’Keefe tallied a perfect 10, the 11th of her career. The Red Rocks widened the lead, totaling 147.850 and holding a lead of 2.100.
Moving to floor, the Red Rocks held a comfortable lead, and the meet was all but over. Smith once again got the Red Rocks started, the only all-around competitor for Utah. Smith tallied a 9.875, scoring 39.325 in all-around competition.
Paulson added a 9.825 before Gilstrap tallied 9.875. Rucker scored a 9.850 after much deliberation from the judges. McCallum scored a 9.900 before O’Keefe finished the night with a team-high 9.950. The Red Rocks finished the night off with a 197.300, trumping Boise State’s 194.325.
With her first opportunity, this was Head Coach Carly Dockendorf‘s first win as the head of this program.
The Red Rocks now head to the Maverik Center to compete in the ESPN Events Invitational. The invitational is ESPN’s first-ever invitational, and the Red Rocks will face No. 3 LSU, No. 5 UCLA and No. 1 Oklahoma. All four teams reached the NCAA Championship semi-finals last year, and all but UCLA reached the final. The invitational will take place on Jan. 13 at 2:00 p.m. MST.
