The University of Utah gymnastics team has advanced to the NCAA Championship after another storybook comeback. The Red Rocks scored a 197.7625 to take first place in the meet.
Utah, along with UCLA, will join Oklahoma and Missouri in the Final Four for the NCAA Championship Saturday afternoon in Fort Worth, Texas.
“What an honor to be here,” head coach Carly Dockendorf said. “It takes so much just to get to national championships, and we definitely don’t take it for granted. I’m just so proud of this team tonight.”
The Red Rocks scored a 49.2125 in the first rotation on the beam, which put them in an early hole. Makenna Smith scored a 9.85 to open the rotation. Avery Neff earned an All-American Second Team spot with a 9.9125 for Utah. Anchor Ana Padurariu scored a 9.8875. Utah finished in fourth place after the first rotation, trailing UCLA in first with a 49.5250, Michigan State in second with a 49.3875 and LSU in third with a 49.3250.
Utah came alive on the floor in the second rotation, scoring a 49.5625 to catapult them into second place after two rotations. Ella Zirbes scored a 9.90, followed by a Neff 9.875. The Red Rocks closed out the rotation with three straight 9.9+ scores with Jaylene Gilstrap at 9.925, Smith at 9.9125 and Grace McCallum at 9.95.
This would be the first of four separate All-American selections for McCallum, earning Floor First Team with a 9.95. Both Gilstrap and Smith would earn Floor Second Team.
Utah moved into second place after posting a 49.5625 on floor for a 98.7750 total score. Michigan State moved to first with a 98.8375 after completing bars. UCLA fell to third with a 98.7625 and LSU took fourth with a 98.650.
The Red Rocks scored a 49.3375 on vault in the third rotation. McCallum got a stick for the first time this season and scored a 9.95, earning another Vault First Team All-American. Gilstrap, Neff and Smith all scored 9.85s. Utah would fall into third place after the third rotation with a 148.1125. The standings shuffled around, with UCLA in first with a 148.1875, LSU moving into second with a total score of 148.1500 and Michigan State falling down to fourth with 148.000.
“We’ve been in that position before where it comes down to a tenth in the last rotation,” Dockendorf said. “These women have worked so hard on bars this year. They are so consistent over there. I didn’t have any doubt that they were going to go do what they’ve been practicing. They have been putting in the work every single day.”
Utah scored a massive 49.650 in the fourth and final rotation on the bars. Smith set the tone from the beginning, scoring a 9.9125. Ashley Glynn scored a 9.80 and then Red Rocks closed the meet out. Stick after stick, Utah dominated with four consecutive 9.91+ scores. Neff 9.925, Amelie Morgan 9.9125, Zirbes 9.9375 and McCallum 9.9625. McCallum earned her third and fourth First Team selections with both Uneven Bars and All-Around with a 39.675.
Utah would complete the comeback from fourth place and finish first with a winning score of 197.7625 to advance to Saturday’s NCAA Championship. UCLA joined Utah in the Final Four with a score of 197.7375; LSU came in third (197.5250) and Michigan State took fourth (197.3625).
“It takes a lot to be here and be a part of this team and to stand in front of 15,000 fans week after week and carry on the tradition of qualifying to every single national championship,” Dockendorf said. “They have just embraced it and done it with such pride and bravery. I’m so proud of them.”
