Completed Event: Gymnastics versus NCAA Championship Final on April 19, 2025 , , 4th of 4 (197.2375)
Final Score
Gymnastics
4th of 4 (197.2375)
vs NCAA Championship Final
Friday, March 12
Salt Lake City
7:00 PM
University of Utah
vs
Oregon State, Penn State, SUU
Utah Gymnasts Beat Nationally-Ranked Field
3/12/2010 12:00 AM | Gymnastics
March 12, 2010
SALT LAKE CITY -
In what undoubtedly ranks as the most competitive regular season multi-team meet in Utah gymnastics history, the No. 9 Utes scored a season-high 196.975 to hold off No. 8 Oregon State (196.650), No. 21 Southern Utah (196.025) and No. 18 Penn State(195.700). A Huntsman Center crowd of 14,411 was treated to three teams turning in postseason-caliber performances in a meet that went down to the final rotation.
Daria Bijak won the all-around with a career-high 39.575 and scored a career-high 9.95 to win the bars. Another double winner for Utah was Annie DiLuzio, who tied for first on vault with a 9.925 and sealed Utah's win with a 9.95 on floor. Kyndal Robarts tied for first on beam with a 9.90.
"On three events we were extremely aggressive," said co-coach Megan Marsden. "We had a couple of aggressive routines on the balance beam, but others that were tentative, plus a fall. What I like is that we almost scored a 197 and we still have room to improve."
Bijak didn't see much to improve on after nailing her unique-to-college gymnastics' vault. "I've wanted my whole career to stick that vault in front of this Huntsman Center crowd," said the senior. "Now, I can retire," she laughed.
She was one of several who helped Utah jump out to a quick lead on the vault. Utah's 49.325 tied its season-best set back on Jan. 22 against Georgia, and featured season or career highs by Bijak (9.90), Katelyn Mohr (9.75 in her first college vault to score) and McAllister (9.85). DiLuzio's 9.925 barely missed her season high of 9.95 scored last week. After the first rotation, it was Utah 49.325, Oregon State 49.075, Penn State 49.075 and SUU 48.625.
In round two, a fall in the middle of the bar lineup didn't stop the Utes from scoring a season-best 49.250. Utah started with Robarts scoring a 9.80 and Johnson a 9.775, before Cortni Beers suffered her first fall of the season. McAllister set things straight with a career-best 9.85, followed by a 9.875 by Deetscreek. Bijak brought a roar from the crowd with a gorgeous routine that received a career-best 9.95. In exhibition, Gael Mackie showed she is back from an ankle injury, scoring a 9.85. Utah's two-event score was a 98.575, good enough to stay ahead of Penn State (98.175), Oregon State (98.075) and SUU (97.925).
Beam got a little scary when DiLuzio fell and scored a 9.10 at No. 3 after a 9.725 by McAllister and a 9.70 by Beers. But Bijak (9.80), Deetscreek (9.975) and Robarts (9.90) kept the Utes in the game. A 49.00 moved Utah's three-event score to 147.575, still good first place, but only by two tenths of a point. Close on the Utes' heels were all three teams: Oregon State with a 147.375, Penn State (147.025) and SUU (146.925).
With OSU on its way to a 49.275 on the vault, the Utes needed a big floor score to maintain the lead. And they got it. Their 49.40 was just off their season-high 49.425 set last week and the back end of the lineup really put on a show with Bijak scoring a 9.90, Robarts a 9.90 and DiLuzio bringing down the house--and the opposition--with a 9.95.
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MVP Daria Bijak:
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