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, February 1
Salt Lake City, UT
7:00 PM
University of Utah
197.075
vs
195.400
Arizona
Ute Gymnasts Pummel Arizona 197.050-195.400
2/1/2019 10:22 PM | Gymnastics
SALT LAKE CITY—The No. 4 Utah gymnasts continued their torrid start to the season, defeating No. 23 Arizona 197.075-195.400 before a capacity crowd of 15,558 in the Huntsman Center. The record-setting start to a season now stands at five-straight meets at a 197.000 or better. Utah improved to 5-0 and 3-0 in the Pac-12 with the win while Arizona dropped to 3-4, 1-2 Pac-12.
The Utes' scoring streak looked in peril after a subpar night on the balance beam left them in need of a 49.450 on their final event to reach a 197. Add to that, NCAA floor champion MyKayla Skinner was sitting out of her specialty to rest a sore ankle. Not to worry. The Utes ripped off a series of season and career highs for a 49.525.
Utes won every event title and the all-around with Alexia Burch scoring a career-high 9.90 on vault for her first event title, MaKenna Merrell-Giles and Skinner tying for first on bars—each with 9.90 scores—Kari Lee winning beam with a 9.925, Adrienne Randall taking floor with a career-high 9.95 and Merrell-Giles edging Lee for all-around honors, 39.500-39.475.
Utah's musical lineups continued with Skinner just one of the changes necessitated by injuries. All-America all-arounder Missy Reinstadtler was limited to bars for the second straight week with a sore foot and freshman Cristal Isa, who had competed on three events for the Utes, is out for several weeks with a sprained elbow.
Skinner, the all-around winner in the first four meets, sat out of the all-around competition for just the second time in her career. She applauded her teammates on their sizzling floor set, telling them, "You guys deserve to shine,
adding, "It made me really proud watching them do so well."
Said Merrell-Giles, "I've never been on a team where there is the depth to change the lineups so much."
Utah got off to a great start on vault and bars, running up a 98.625-97.200 lead over the visiting Wildcats. When the first five vaulters put up a 49.325 score, the coaches decided not to use their sixth vault. Utah co-head coach and bar coach Tom Farden was also pleased with his event, which scored a 49.300.
Beam was another story. Burch got things off to a shaky start with a fall and Shannon McNatt—obviously rattled by her teammate's mishap—mustered only a 9.600. Merrell-Giles (9.825), Lee (9.925) and Randall (9.825) all performed nice routines, but Skinner's uncharacteristic wobbles resulted in a 9.75. While the meet was well in hand heading into floor, another 197.0 was not.
"What's frustrating is we're not seeing this in practice," said Farden of the beam problems. "We're competing at 75-percent of our potential. We salvaged the beam set and that was an unbelievable floor set."
Macey Roberts got it going, leading off and tying her season high with a 9.875. Lee mirrored her results on the next routine. Burch turned in a season-best 9.825 and Randall (9.95), Soloski (9.90) and Merrell-Giles (9.925) ended the night with a bang.
The Utes are home again next Saturday, hosting No. 18 California in "Character Day" at 1 p.m. in the Huntsman Center.
The Utes' scoring streak looked in peril after a subpar night on the balance beam left them in need of a 49.450 on their final event to reach a 197. Add to that, NCAA floor champion MyKayla Skinner was sitting out of her specialty to rest a sore ankle. Not to worry. The Utes ripped off a series of season and career highs for a 49.525.
Utes won every event title and the all-around with Alexia Burch scoring a career-high 9.90 on vault for her first event title, MaKenna Merrell-Giles and Skinner tying for first on bars—each with 9.90 scores—Kari Lee winning beam with a 9.925, Adrienne Randall taking floor with a career-high 9.95 and Merrell-Giles edging Lee for all-around honors, 39.500-39.475.
Utah's musical lineups continued with Skinner just one of the changes necessitated by injuries. All-America all-arounder Missy Reinstadtler was limited to bars for the second straight week with a sore foot and freshman Cristal Isa, who had competed on three events for the Utes, is out for several weeks with a sprained elbow.
Skinner, the all-around winner in the first four meets, sat out of the all-around competition for just the second time in her career. She applauded her teammates on their sizzling floor set, telling them, "You guys deserve to shine,
adding, "It made me really proud watching them do so well."
Said Merrell-Giles, "I've never been on a team where there is the depth to change the lineups so much."
Utah got off to a great start on vault and bars, running up a 98.625-97.200 lead over the visiting Wildcats. When the first five vaulters put up a 49.325 score, the coaches decided not to use their sixth vault. Utah co-head coach and bar coach Tom Farden was also pleased with his event, which scored a 49.300.
Beam was another story. Burch got things off to a shaky start with a fall and Shannon McNatt—obviously rattled by her teammate's mishap—mustered only a 9.600. Merrell-Giles (9.825), Lee (9.925) and Randall (9.825) all performed nice routines, but Skinner's uncharacteristic wobbles resulted in a 9.75. While the meet was well in hand heading into floor, another 197.0 was not.
"What's frustrating is we're not seeing this in practice," said Farden of the beam problems. "We're competing at 75-percent of our potential. We salvaged the beam set and that was an unbelievable floor set."
Macey Roberts got it going, leading off and tying her season high with a 9.875. Lee mirrored her results on the next routine. Burch turned in a season-best 9.825 and Randall (9.95), Soloski (9.90) and Merrell-Giles (9.925) ended the night with a bang.
The Utes are home again next Saturday, hosting No. 18 California in "Character Day" at 1 p.m. in the Huntsman Center.
Players Mentioned
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ 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