The University of Utah gymnasts returned to campus in late August for the start of the 2020-21 school year. Coming back with unfinished business from the 2020 season, the Red Rocks have returned with 10 members of last year's Pac-12 championship team while welcoming four freshman to the team. Able to train while following all COVID-19 protocols, Utah gymnastics has set goals for this season and is back in the gym prepping for a return to competition.
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Team Building/Life Skills Retreat
Working on team chemistry outside of the gym, the Utes spent a day around campus to further get to know one another and develop life skills. Highlighting the day was a scavenger hunt around the University of Utah campus. The gymnasts split into teams and were tasked with different activities in order to reach the final destination. Upon arrival to the final stop, the Red Rocks received a final clue to eventually lead them to their 2020 Pac-12 rings.
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It's Ring Season
The Ute returners received their Pac-12 rings for winning the inaugural regular season championship in 2020. Found at the end of the team building session, the rings officially capped off the 2020 season where Utah finished 11-0 overall and 7-0 in conference play. The second undefeated regular season all-time included an extremely competitive Pac-12 slate for the Utes in the conference's first season naming a regular season champion. Utah knocked off the top half of the Pac-12 all on the road. The Utes beat No. 3 UCLA in Los Angeles, No. 12 California in Berkeley and No. 13 Washington in Seattle during the historic run.
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To The Trophy Case
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Eyes On 2021
Turning the page, the Utah gymnastics team has turned its attention to the upcoming season and will officially begin practices on Sept. 25. Utah returns four All-Americans from a year ago –
Cristal Isa (bars, beam),
Maile O'Keefe (beam),
Abby Paulson (beam), and
Sydney Soloski (floor) – and 20-of-24 routines. Gaining significant experience during last year's season, the returners are working to pick off where they left off. Ute freshman Jaylene Gilstrap, Deanne Soza, Lucy Stanhope and Alani Sabado have joined the program and are looking to make contributions on all events.
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The team recently voted on captains for the 2021 season. The three seniors – Soloski,
Alexia Burch and
Emilie LeBlanc – were voted as the team captains. Soloski will enter her second season as a team captain, while Burch and LeBlanc join forces for this season. Soloski earned her second All-American honor of her career last season on floor, while also being named to the All-Pac-12 first team on the apparatus. Burch started on vault and beam in every meet a year ago where she earned career-highs on 9.95 on both events. Burch was named to the All-Pac-12 first team for her efforts on vault. Rounding out the captains, LeBlanc made an immediate impact for the Utes on beam and bars as a transfer student. LeBlanc posted a season-best 9.90 on bars at UCLA and 9.90 on beam against Arizona State last season, while hitting 18-18 routines.
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OUR VISION
PHOTO DAY!
Red Rock fans are used to seeing the Jon M. Huntsman Center full of lights and action, but on Sept. 19, the Huntsman Center went dark for the 2021 photo shoot. The Utes had planned to continue their epic tour of Utah for the 2021 campaign after previously holding shoots at the Salt Flats (2018), in downtown Salt Lake City (2019), and on the snow-covered mountain of SnowBasin (2020), and will look to return to that tour in 2022.
Get a behind the scenes look of the Red Rocks' 2021 photo shoot here.
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SEASON TICKET RENEWALS
Renew your season tickets now to see the 2021 Red Rocks in action. Be a part of the action and join Utah gymnastics at the Jon M. Huntsman Center for a thrilling home schedule. The Utes plan to welcome four teams that finished in the top-11 of the nation in 2020. Competing in front of the nation's highest attended women's sport program this season will be No. 3 UCLA, No. 9 California, No. 10 Minnesota, and No. 11 Washington, along with Arizona.
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Fans looking to renew their Utah gymnastics season tickets for 2021, inquire about payment plans, or place a request to move or add seats, please log on to utahtickets.com or call/text the ticket office at 801-581-8849. The season ticket renewal deadline is Oct. 14.
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