The No. 4 ranked Red Rocks beat No. 19 ranked Arizona Wildcats 197.675 to 196.125, Friday night at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City.
Utah celebrated alumni night — as well as a 50th celebration for Utah gymnastics — in front of 13,115 fans, including 87 alumni members.
“I’m extremely proud of the team tonight,” said head coach Carly Dockendorf. “It was so much fun to have the arena full of fans and our alumni. It was a really special night, and I felt like our team really did elevate across the board.”
The Red Rocks opened the first rotation with a 49.225 score on the vault. Grace McCallum scored the first 9.900 score in the second position. Makenna Smith scored a career high 9.975 to win her 11th event this season. Utah led Arizona 49.275 to 49.150 after the first rotation.
The atmosphere in the Huntsman was amped with Alumni Night and the celebration of 50 years with Utah Gymnastics. McCallum was happy to add her part to that Red Rocks legacy.
“I think it was just something so special to be a part of and we’re just kind of putting our small piece of that into the legacy,” McCallum said. “It’s really an honor to compete on the same floor that all these girls before us competed on.”
Utah scored a 49.350 on the bars in the second rotation. The Red Rocks came into the meet ranked third in the nation on the bars, averaging 49.350. Avery Neff made her first appearance since a Jan. 17 injury where she severely sprained both of her ankles. Neff scored a 9.825 and was happy to be back for the Red Rocks.
“It was awesome. I thought that my season was over,” Neff said. “I progressed fast and it was just the best feeling to just get out there and do what I love.”
Utah scored three consecutive scores of 9.9+ to close out the second rotation. Both Amelie Morgan and McCallum scored 9.90. Ella Zirbes won the event for the Red Rocks with a score of 9.95. Utah led Arizona 98.600 to 98.125 after the second rotation.
“It really took the entire team to do what we did tonight, whether they were competing or they weren’t competing, everybody really brought their best,” Dockendorf said. “To see Ella hit that bar routine, that’s what she does in practice every single day, and then to go and do her floor routine smiling throughout, was such a special moment.”
Utah scored 49.475 on the beam to open the third rotation. Big 12 Newcomer of the Week Ana Padurariu led off with a 9.800, followed by a Camie Winger score of 9.85. Smith and McCallum tied for the event win with a 9.925. Anchor Elizabeth Gantner scored a career-high 9.90 for the Red Rocks. Utah led Arizona 148.100 to 147.200 after three rotations.
The Red Rocks scored a season-high 49.575 on the floor. Ashley Glynn opened up with a career-high 9.900 for the Red Rocks. After two scores of 9.875 by both Zirbes and Winger, Smith scored a 9.95, tying her career high. Jaylene Gilstrap and McCallum both scored a 9.925 to finish the fourth rotation for the Red Rocks.
Coach Dockendorf credits the season-high to the night and the crowd at the Huntsman.
“I think that we were just having a lot of fun out there. I thought they did a much better job showing off their presentation, and their finishes on their landings,” Dockendorf said. “The energy you could feel the alumni standing behind them and just everyone cheering them on in the Huntsman. It just gave us the whole extra boost to have our best floor performance so far this year.”
McCallum won the all-around with a score of 39.650, and Smith scored an all-around of 39.625 which was good for second place overall.
The No. 4 Red Rocks will face No. 26 Arizona State, Friday, Feb. 14 in Tempe Arizona at 7 p.m. MT.
