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
Monday, February 1
Salt Lake City
6:00 PM
University of Utah
197.150
vs
194.850
Arizona
Season-high 197.150 Leads Utah Gymnasts Past Arizona
2/1/2016 12:00 AM | Gymnastics
Feb. 1, 2016
SALT LAKE CITY -
The No. 7 Utah gymnastics team demonstrated dynamic depth and resilience in a 197.150-194.850 win over No. 20 Arizona before a Monday night crowd of 13,162 in the Huntsman Center. Competing without injured All-American Kari Lee, the young Utes put together their best meet of the season to improve to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the Pac-12.
Lee, Utah's only all-arounder for the first three meets, was lost for the season after tearing her Achilles last Tuesday in practice. But that didn't stop the sophomore from contributing to the win.
"Kari gave us a pep talk before the meet," said freshman Sabrina Schwab, who scored season highs on bars (9.875) and floor (9.95). "She told us to live in the moment because you never know when it will be taken away from you."
With Lee's loss came an unexpected 'find' with the discovery of two all-around stars in the making. Making their first career all-around appearances were Breanna Hughes and Samantha Partyka, who finished one-two in the all-around scoring a 39.525 and 39.300, respectively.
Hughes also won bars (9.925) and beam (9.85), while making her first appearance on beam since 2014. Partyka won the floor exercise with a 9.975, receiving a 10.0 from one judge to the delight of the smaller-than-usual, yet vocal crowd. Also picking up wins for the Utes were Kailah Delaney on vault (9.85) and Baely Rowe, who tied for first on beam with a 9.85.
While Utah ended up winning handily, the Wildcats kept it close for two events, including a virtual draw after the first round, which Utah won 49.075 on vault to Arizona's 49.000 on bars.
Utah expanded the lead when it moved to bars, where a 9.925 from Hughes and 9.90s from Kassandra Lopez and Rowe helped result in a 49.425 score. After two rotations, Utah led 98.500-97.950.
Beam was solid if not spectacular with Hughes and Rowe scoring 9.85s and Lopez a 9.80. The chance for a bigger score went off the beam with anchor Maddy Stover, who was 17-of-17 in career beam routines heading into the competition.
The real story of the meet was how it ended. For the first time of the season, the Utes nailed their floor set, scoring an eye-popping 49.625. It was their best score on any event this season. A revamped lineup that pushed the high-scoring trio of Schwab (9.95), Hughes (9.925) and Partyka to the back was one reason. But the front half of the new lineup was almost as good, with freshman MaKenna Merrell opening the set with a season-best 9.85, Tiffani Lewis tying her career-high with a 9.875 and Delaney setting a career-high with a 9.90.
"We finally hit on all cylinders," said co-head coach Tom Farden, who laughed, "Just in the nick of time."
He was referring to Utah's next opponent-No. 4 UCLA on the road on Saturday.
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