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 1
Fayetteville, Ark.
3:00 PM
University of Utah
197.150
at
NCAA Regional
Ute Gymnasts Win NCAA Regional
4/1/2017 7:20 PM | Gymnastics
Utes are headed to the NCAA Championships
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.—The streak has survived for another year. The Utah gymnastics team is headed to the national championships for an unprecedented 42nd-consecutive year after edging No. 9 Denver, 197.150-197.050 in a hotly contested contest that came down to the final routine. On a bye during the last rotation, the Utes could only sit and watch while Denver, Auburn and Arkansas chased after their score.
In second to Denver by 0.125 at the meet's midpoint, the Utes exploded for a 49.450 on floor to edge ahead of the Pioneers by a tenth of a point after three rotations. That tenth would stand as the final margin of victory for Utah and prevent DU from claiming its first win in the series. Also pressing the Utes to the finish line were Auburn and Arkansas, who both had season highs in tying for third with 196.600 scores. Cal (196.300) and Central Michigan (195.675) completed the standings.
Their one-two finish earned both Utah and Denver a berth in the NCAA Championships, which will be held in St. Louis, Mo., on Apr. 14-15.
Utah's win—its 30th regional title—came with a few unusual twists. With all-arounder Kari Lee hobbled by a sprained ankle and able to compete only on bars, Utah co-head coaches Tom Farden and Megan Marsden turned to little-used sophomores Shannon McNatt and Erika Muhaw to fill in on beam and vault.
McNatt, competing for her first time on beam and just her fifth routine total in two years—became the first Ute gymnast ever to win a regional title in her event debut. McNatt's routine as Utah's sixth competitor on beam, set off a wild celebration by her teammates heading into their first bye of the day, two events into the competition
"We were so proud of Shannon," said junior Maddy Stover, who led off Utah's beam set with a solid 9.825 performance. "She has persevered for two years not getting to compete much and she never quit. When she stuck that dismount, we were almost brought to tears."
No surprise, but also finding her way to the top of the podium was Utah freshman phenom MyKayla Skinner, who won the all-around (39.525), vault (9.90) and floor (9.95). With her triple win, Skinner moved into third place on Utah's all-time single-season win charts with 40 victories. She has won all but one all-around and vault competition this season.
Skinner led three Utah all-arounders in the top five with senior Baely Rowe taking third with a 39.425 and sophomore MaKenna Merrell (39.225) finishing fifth in her return to the all-around lineup. Merrell also did a spectacular job in replacing Lee, scoring a 9.90 on floor.
Her coaches credited Lee for some of her replacements' success. "We were thankful Kari could go out and land that bar dismount on a sore ankle," said Marsden. "It catapulted us into beam and I thought it increased the confidence in the others—in particular Shannon (McNatt) and Erika (Muhaw), who probably were thinking, 'if Kari can do that, I can do it.'"
Lee scored a 9.90 in her only routine of the night and tied for third place on bars. She was Utah's top scorer on its first event with Skinner adding a 9.875. By the time all six teams had completed one rotation, the standings were Auburn 49.375, Utah 49.275, Denver 49.225, Arkansas 49.075, California 49.000 and Central Michigan 48.850.
While McNatt stole the show on Utah's next event, all six competitors got through their routines without any big mistakes, in what would turn into a 24-of-24 night for the Utes in hit routines. The Utes went into their first bye leading the pack with a 98.450, only to see Denver overtake them while they were away Once every team had completed two rotations, here were the scores: Denver 98.575, Utah 98.450, Auburn 98.375, Cal 97.975 and Central Michigan 97.850.
Utah took its first lead of the day on round three after scoring a 49.450 on floor behind Skinner's 9.95 and 9.90s from Merrell and Rowe. But there was no breathing room, with Utah's 147.900 just a tenth of a point ahead of Denver (147.800). After three rotations, it was still a four-team race with these tallies: Utah 147.900, Denver 147.800, Auburn 147.525, Arkansas 147.475, Cal 147.200 and Central Michigan 146.550.
Utah finished its day on vault where "huge trajectory and distance," according to Farden was enough to prove the difference in the end.
In second to Denver by 0.125 at the meet's midpoint, the Utes exploded for a 49.450 on floor to edge ahead of the Pioneers by a tenth of a point after three rotations. That tenth would stand as the final margin of victory for Utah and prevent DU from claiming its first win in the series. Also pressing the Utes to the finish line were Auburn and Arkansas, who both had season highs in tying for third with 196.600 scores. Cal (196.300) and Central Michigan (195.675) completed the standings.
Their one-two finish earned both Utah and Denver a berth in the NCAA Championships, which will be held in St. Louis, Mo., on Apr. 14-15.
Utah's win—its 30th regional title—came with a few unusual twists. With all-arounder Kari Lee hobbled by a sprained ankle and able to compete only on bars, Utah co-head coaches Tom Farden and Megan Marsden turned to little-used sophomores Shannon McNatt and Erika Muhaw to fill in on beam and vault.
McNatt, competing for her first time on beam and just her fifth routine total in two years—became the first Ute gymnast ever to win a regional title in her event debut. McNatt's routine as Utah's sixth competitor on beam, set off a wild celebration by her teammates heading into their first bye of the day, two events into the competition
"We were so proud of Shannon," said junior Maddy Stover, who led off Utah's beam set with a solid 9.825 performance. "She has persevered for two years not getting to compete much and she never quit. When she stuck that dismount, we were almost brought to tears."
No surprise, but also finding her way to the top of the podium was Utah freshman phenom MyKayla Skinner, who won the all-around (39.525), vault (9.90) and floor (9.95). With her triple win, Skinner moved into third place on Utah's all-time single-season win charts with 40 victories. She has won all but one all-around and vault competition this season.
Skinner led three Utah all-arounders in the top five with senior Baely Rowe taking third with a 39.425 and sophomore MaKenna Merrell (39.225) finishing fifth in her return to the all-around lineup. Merrell also did a spectacular job in replacing Lee, scoring a 9.90 on floor.
Her coaches credited Lee for some of her replacements' success. "We were thankful Kari could go out and land that bar dismount on a sore ankle," said Marsden. "It catapulted us into beam and I thought it increased the confidence in the others—in particular Shannon (McNatt) and Erika (Muhaw), who probably were thinking, 'if Kari can do that, I can do it.'"
Lee scored a 9.90 in her only routine of the night and tied for third place on bars. She was Utah's top scorer on its first event with Skinner adding a 9.875. By the time all six teams had completed one rotation, the standings were Auburn 49.375, Utah 49.275, Denver 49.225, Arkansas 49.075, California 49.000 and Central Michigan 48.850.
While McNatt stole the show on Utah's next event, all six competitors got through their routines without any big mistakes, in what would turn into a 24-of-24 night for the Utes in hit routines. The Utes went into their first bye leading the pack with a 98.450, only to see Denver overtake them while they were away Once every team had completed two rotations, here were the scores: Denver 98.575, Utah 98.450, Auburn 98.375, Cal 97.975 and Central Michigan 97.850.
Utah took its first lead of the day on round three after scoring a 49.450 on floor behind Skinner's 9.95 and 9.90s from Merrell and Rowe. But there was no breathing room, with Utah's 147.900 just a tenth of a point ahead of Denver (147.800). After three rotations, it was still a four-team race with these tallies: Utah 147.900, Denver 147.800, Auburn 147.525, Arkansas 147.475, Cal 147.200 and Central Michigan 146.550.
Utah finished its day on vault where "huge trajectory and distance," according to Farden was enough to prove the difference in the end.
Players Mentioned
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
Fan Fest 2025 Coaches and Players Interviews: Gymnastics
Sunday, August 17
Seven New Inductees to Join Utah Athletics Hall of Fame in October 2025
Monday, July 28
Utah Gymnastic's Grace McCallum call out from University of Utah President Randall
Thursday, May 08
Utah Gymnastics Post-Meet Press Conference 4.5.25 | NCAA Regional Semifinal
Sunday, April 06