BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Utah gymnastics will begin the 2022 season ranked fourth in the nation following the results of the WCGA Preseason Poll, which was announced Friday morning. It is the second year in a row Utah has been voted fourth in the preseason poll and fifth-straight season the Utes have landed in the top-five.
Utah finished with the third-most first place votes in the poll, collecting eight first place votes to finish with 2,306 points. Reigning national champions Michigan totaled 37 first place votes and 2,405 points to claim the top spot in the preseason rankings. Just edging the Utes for second and third place were Florida (2,319; 16 first place votes) and Oklahoma (2,317; 6). Rounding out the top-five teams was LSU (2,179; 1).
The Red Rocks will face nine teams ranked in the top-25, which includes five opponents ranked inside the top-10. Utah takes on third-ranked Oklahoma as the home opener on Friday, Jan. 14, and will face ninth-ranked Minnesota on senior night at the Huntsman Center on Friday, March 4. Rounding out opponents in the top-10, the Utes will travel to No. 5 LSU, No. 7 California, and No. 8 UCLA this season.
Along with No. 3 Oklahoma and No. 9 Minnesota, Utah is set to host No. 12 Arizona State and No. 17 Oregon State this season, which marks four of five home meets coming against top-20 opponents this season. Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased atÂ
UtahTickets.com to ensure a spot at all five home meets this season. Single meet tickets are also availableÂ
here.
The fourth-ranked Utes will be in action tonight at the Red Rocks Preview. The instraquad will begin at 7 p.m. MT at the Jon M. Huntsman Center and doors will open at 5:30 p.m. MT with free admission.
Utah will officially begin the 2022 season at the Rio Tinto Best of Utah on Friday, Jan. 7, at the Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah. The quad meet between No. 4 Utah, No. 19 BYU, Utah State and No. 25 Southern Utah will begin at 7 p.m. MT and will be televised on BYUtv.
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2021 WCGA Preseason Poll
1. Michigan (2405 pts; 37 first place)
2. Florida (2319 points) (16 first place votes)
3. Oklahoma (2317 points) (6 first place votes)
4. Utah (2306 points) (8 first place votes)
5. LSU (2179 points) (1 first place votes)
6. Alabama (2027 points)
7. California (2020 points) (1 first place votes)
8. UCLA (1887 points)
9. Minnesota (1803 points)
10. Denver (1763 points)
11. Arkansas (1700 points)
12. Arizona State (1666 points)
13. Kentucky (1571 points)
14. Auburn (1460 points)
15. Georgia (1384 points)
16. Missouri (1334 points)
17. Oregon State (1316 points)
18. Iowa (1308 points)
19. BYU (1208 points)
20. Iowa State (1005 points)
21. North Carolina State (981 points)
22. Ohio State (957 points)
23. Illinois (919 points)
24. Boise State (908 points)
25. Southern Utah (864 points)
*- italicized designates 2022 opponent