After a tough loss at Cal, the No. 5 Utah Red Rocks (10-4, 6-1 Pac-12) hit the road again, facing Arizona. The loss at California was Utah’s second meet loss of the year after losing in the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad earlier this year.
Starting on bars, Makenna Smith got things started with 9.850, followed by an uncharacteristic 9.125 from Alani Sabado which was later dropped. Ella Zirbes came in with a huge 9.925 before Maile O’Keefe notched 9.875. Grace McCallum came in with a perfect 10, the fourth of her career and Camie Winger scored 9.875 at the anchor spot, giving the Red Rocks 49.525 on bars and a strong 49.525-49.150 lead.
Moving to vault, Winger started things off with 9.850, followed by 9.900 from Zirbes. Ashley Glynn came in with 9.825 and Smith tallied a 9.850. Jaedyn Rucker came in with a big 9.925, and McCallum rounded out the rotation with 9.825. The Red Rocks finished with 49.350 on vault, expanding their lead because Arizona saw four gymnasts fall from the bars to earn just 47.950. Only three Wildcat gymnasts scored over 9.500 on the rotation and Utah’s lead expanded to 98.875-97.100.
Moving into the second half of the meet, Smith started on floor with a powerful 9.850. Zirbes notched 9.875 and Abby Paulson delivered a beautiful 9.925. Jaylene Gilstrap came in with a huge 9.950, followed by Rucker with 9.875. McCallum closed the rotation out with 9.950, giving the Red Rocks 49.575 on floor. With just beam to go, the meet was all but over. With a 148.450-146.350 lead, the Red Rocks moved to the beam.
Winger started with a strong 9.825, soon matched by Smith. Smith ended the night with 39.375 in all-around competition. Elizabeth Gantner made her first appearance of the night, scoring 9.850. McCallum came in with 9.900, giving her 39.675 for the all-around win. Paulson delivered 9.875 and O’Keefe nearly had another perfect 10, with one judge scoring a 10 and the other a 9.95 to give her a 9.975 to round out the night.
The Red Rocks scored 49.425 on beam, finishing with a respectable 197.875. Arizona was unable to keep up, scoring just 195.725. The team now returns home, facing Utah State and Stanford in a tri-meet on March 15 at 7:00 p.m. MDT. The meet will be senior night, as the Red Rocks wrap up the regular season before the Pac-12 Championships on March 23.
