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, February 23
Salt Lake City, UT
1:30 PM
University of Utah
197.625
vs
198.025
UCLA
https://youtu.be/23xBhI_FYeg
Photo by: Russ Isabella
No. 4 Utes Edged by No. 2 UCLA 198.025-197.625
2/23/2019 5:05 PM | Gymnastics
SALT LAKE CITY—The No. 4 Utah gymnasts posted their best score of the season but fell 198.025-197.625 to No. 2 UCLA before capacity crowd of 15,558 in the Huntsman Center. The Bruins avenged last season's Pauley Pavilion loss to the Utes with today's win, improving to 10-0 overall (6-0 Pac-12) while handing Utah (9-2, 5-1 Pac-12) its first conference loss.
The best beam effort of the season kept Utah in the hunt entering the final rotation. Trailing the defending NCAA champion Bruins by just two tenths of a point (148.475-148.22) going into the floor exercise, Utah's chance to win slipped away when it had to count a 9.775 score.
Still, Utah co-head coach Tom Farden found plenty to like in his team's performance. "This was a big step in the right direction. We are all disappointed we didn't win, but we had four solid events and it was our most complete meet of the season. I am super proud of these kids, competing in three tough meets in eight days and three time zones."
Speaking of zones, Ute junior MyKayla Skinner was in one and the crowd registered its disappointment with a chorus of boos after her beam (9.95) and floor (9.925) scores failed to result in a 10.0. Even so, she tied for first on two events and finished second in the all-around to UCLA's Kyla Ross with a season-high 39.750. MaKenna Merrell-Giles tied for first on vault (9.95) and Sydney Soloski tied for the floor title (9.925). Merrell-Giles (39.400) and Kari Lee (39.350) finished 3-4 in the all-around.
Utah's biggest improvement came on the balance beam where all six Utes solidly hit their routines for the first time this season. Along with Skinner's beautifully executed 9.925 routine, sophomore Alexia Burch (9.875) had by far her best routine of the season and freshman Adrienne Randall tied her season high with a 9.875.
"Beam was like a boot camp (in practice this week)," joked Merrell-Giles, prompting Farden to say, "Call me Sgt. Farden." Farden explained that he assisted co-head coach Megan Marsden in coaching beam this week to give the team "a new face."
UCLA led from start to finish, but couldn't shake the determined Utes until the very end. The first rotation had Utah behind by a single tenth (49.550-49.450). Vault would be Utah's lone event win and featured a 9.95 from Merrell-Giles, a 9.925 from Skinner and a 9.90 from Kim Tessen.
Paced by a 9.95 from Skinner, Utah posted its third-best score of the season on bars and trailed by 0.125 (98.975-98.850) at the midway point.
After staying on the Bruins' heels through the balance beam, Utah posted four floor scores of 9.875 or better (including a season-high 9.90 from Lee and 9.925s from Soloski and Skinner). The other two events weren't as successful, with Randall deducted on her tumbling passes and Merrell-Giles stepping out of bounds.
Asked about it afterwards, Merrell-Giles—who has competed in the all-around all three meets over the last eight days—responded with a laugh. "Whoops! That's all I have to say."
She is one of four Ute seniors (Lee, Shannon McNatt and Macey Roberts are the others) who will compete for the last time in the Huntsman Center next Saturday against No. 8 Michigan.
The best beam effort of the season kept Utah in the hunt entering the final rotation. Trailing the defending NCAA champion Bruins by just two tenths of a point (148.475-148.22) going into the floor exercise, Utah's chance to win slipped away when it had to count a 9.775 score.
Still, Utah co-head coach Tom Farden found plenty to like in his team's performance. "This was a big step in the right direction. We are all disappointed we didn't win, but we had four solid events and it was our most complete meet of the season. I am super proud of these kids, competing in three tough meets in eight days and three time zones."
Speaking of zones, Ute junior MyKayla Skinner was in one and the crowd registered its disappointment with a chorus of boos after her beam (9.95) and floor (9.925) scores failed to result in a 10.0. Even so, she tied for first on two events and finished second in the all-around to UCLA's Kyla Ross with a season-high 39.750. MaKenna Merrell-Giles tied for first on vault (9.95) and Sydney Soloski tied for the floor title (9.925). Merrell-Giles (39.400) and Kari Lee (39.350) finished 3-4 in the all-around.
Utah's biggest improvement came on the balance beam where all six Utes solidly hit their routines for the first time this season. Along with Skinner's beautifully executed 9.925 routine, sophomore Alexia Burch (9.875) had by far her best routine of the season and freshman Adrienne Randall tied her season high with a 9.875.
"Beam was like a boot camp (in practice this week)," joked Merrell-Giles, prompting Farden to say, "Call me Sgt. Farden." Farden explained that he assisted co-head coach Megan Marsden in coaching beam this week to give the team "a new face."
UCLA led from start to finish, but couldn't shake the determined Utes until the very end. The first rotation had Utah behind by a single tenth (49.550-49.450). Vault would be Utah's lone event win and featured a 9.95 from Merrell-Giles, a 9.925 from Skinner and a 9.90 from Kim Tessen.
Paced by a 9.95 from Skinner, Utah posted its third-best score of the season on bars and trailed by 0.125 (98.975-98.850) at the midway point.
After staying on the Bruins' heels through the balance beam, Utah posted four floor scores of 9.875 or better (including a season-high 9.90 from Lee and 9.925s from Soloski and Skinner). The other two events weren't as successful, with Randall deducted on her tumbling passes and Merrell-Giles stepping out of bounds.
Asked about it afterwards, Merrell-Giles—who has competed in the all-around all three meets over the last eight days—responded with a laugh. "Whoops! That's all I have to say."
She is one of four Ute seniors (Lee, Shannon McNatt and Macey Roberts are the others) who will compete for the last time in the Huntsman Center next Saturday against No. 8 Michigan.
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