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
Saturday, April 16
Cleveland, Ohio
4:00 PM
University of Utah
vs
NCAA Championship Team Finals
Ute Gymnasts Finish Fifth At NCAA Championships
4/16/2011 12:00 AM | Gymnastics
April 16, 2011
CLEVELAND -
The little engine that could didn't quite make it to the podium at the NCAA Gymnastics Championships, but the Utes did hit 24-of-24 routines in placing fifth. Alabama won the title with a 197.650, ahead of UCLA (197.375), Oklahoma (197.250), Nebraska (196.725), Utah (196.500) and Michigan (196.425).
The Super Six mirrored Utah's season in that the Utes mixed in a few spectacular routines--such as Gael Mackie's meet-closing 9.925 on the bars--with lots of blue collar routines. Despite a roster with six freshmen and just two healthy seniors, Utah did not count a fall for the entire season.
"I'm just really proud of this team," said coach Greg Marsden. "It's been such a fun ride. To go through an entire season without a fall is almost unheard of, including going 24-of-24 under this kind of pressure tonight."
About a fifth-place finish for a program that has won 10 national titles and finished as the NCAA runner-up seven times, Marsden had this to say: "The coaches are competitive, our gymnasts are competitive. Are we content with fifth place and does it feel good? No, but it should. If you had told me that with six freshmen and Kyndal (Robarts) going out, that at the end of the season we would be here at the Super Six and finish one place higher than we did a year ago with a veteran team, I wouldn't have believed it. When you look at it with that perspective, it was a great year."
He reserved special praise for seniors Mackie and Jacquelyn Johnson. "I am so happy for Gael and Jacq. They both went through tough times early in their careers. If they hadn't stepped up and been at their best this year, we wouldn't be here. And they both had great championships."
All six of the duo's scores counted toward Utah's Super Six total, with Mackie scoring a 9.8 on vault, 9.825 on beam and 9.925 on bars, and Johnson adding a 9.725 on beam, 9.775 on bars and 9.775 on floor.
After his senior farewell, Marsden was already looking ahead. "Our freshmen have been through the whole thing now. They know what it takes to get on the podium. I told them they have to start getting ready for next year tomorrow."
As usual, Utah gave nothing away during the competition and was ready to step in if others hit a rough patch. Starting on what is considered the most difficult event to open a meet--the balance beam--the Utes turned in a solid 49.025--their best beam score of the entire postseason. First-team All-American Mary Beth Lofgren earned the best mark, a 9.85, while Mackie and Corrie Lothrop both scored 9.825s.
Utah went to its first bye while UCLA and Michigan joined the competition. After every team had completed one rotation, the standings were: Alabama 49.575, Michigan 49.375, UCLA 49.350, Nebraska 49.300, Oklahoma 49.175 and Utah 49.025.
Back in action, Utah scored a 49.050 on floor, losing a chance at a big score when closer Stephanie McAllister landed her last pass low. Lothrop and Nansy Damianova led the way with back-to-back 9.85 scores. After every team was through with two rotations, here were the standings: Alabama and UCLA 98.850, Oklahoma 98.525, Nebraska 98.175, Utah 98.075 and Michigan 97.900.
On vault, Utah maintained its slim edge over Michigan with a 49.200. With Johnson out due to a quadriceps' pull she suffered the night before, Marsden turned to freshman Victoria Shanley, who responded with a career-tying 9.875. Shanley's mark from the second position held up as Utah's best score on the event.
From vault, the Utes went to their final bye of the night. Scores after all teams had completed three events: Alabama 148.200, UCLA 148.175, Oklahoma 147.825, Nebraska 147.375, Utah 147.275 and Michigan 147.125. Two teams finished competition while Utah was away: Oklahoma (197.175) and Nebraska (196.725).
Michigan made a run at Utah on the last rotation, actually passing the Utes before McAllister (9.90) and Mackie (9.925) unloaded monster bar sets. Mackie's score tied her career high.
The 2011 NCAA Gymnastics Championships conclude tomorrow with the individual event championships starting at 1 p.m. ET (11 a.m. MT). Newly minted 2011 All-Americans McAllister and Lofgren will represent Utah on the vault and beam, respectively.
McAllister finished with two All-America awards, taking first-team honors on vault with a 9.90 and second-team honors in the all-around. The junior is now a three-time All-American, having won second-team honors on bars last year. Lofgren, a freshman, is a first-team All-American on the beam.
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