Friday, December 9
Salt Lake City, UT
6:45 PM
University of Utah
vs
Red Rocks Preview
Utah Gymnastics Rolls Through Red Rocks Preview, Turns Attention Toward Home Opener
12/9/2022 9:58 PM | Gymnastics
SALT LAKE CITY – The 2023 Utah Gymnastics team hit the Huntsman Center floor for the first time on Friday night, competing new skills and routines before the season officially kicks off after the new year.
"We saw a lot of good things for still having several weeks to go before our first meet," said head coach Tom Farden. "It gave us a good barometer of where we need to tweak some lineup changes. We threw a lot of new skills tonight as well and so it's a matter of throwing the right skills, the right combinations, and new passes. It was good for us coaches to see what they are like in an arena, on new equipment, and in front of a few thousand fans."
"It felt really good to be back in front of a crowd and have everyone cheering for you," said sophomore Grace McCallum. "It is a completely different atmosphere than in the gym and it just gives you the extra adrenaline rush that you need to get through those routines. It was really fun to be back."
Utah started the meet with a slew of Yurchenko fulls as the team's Yurchenko 1.5s won't debut until the season opener. The highlight of the rotation came from freshman Makenna Smith, who vaulted her Yurchenko half on front pike and stuck her first-ever vault in the Huntsman Center. The lineup also featured the return of Jillian Hoffman, who had last year's season cut short after tearing her Achilles. In all, Utah is set to have at least six 10.0 start-value vaults available by the season opener.
On bars, Utah got it going early with back-to-back sticks and solid routines from Amelie Morgan and Abby Brenner. McCallum, the reigning Pac-12 uneven bars champion, glided through her routine with ease as the standout routine of the rotation. Morgan debuted a toe front half dismount, while Maile O'Keefe debuted a new transition on bars as well.
The top beam team from a year ago looked in full form ahead of the 2023 season as routines from Morgan, McCallum, Abby Paulson, Kara Eaker and O'Keefe showed solid performances. Seeing action and adding depth to the lineup was Jaylene Gilstrap, Lucy Stanhope and Smith as well. With the exception of Cristal Isa, all returners on beam changed their dismounts.
The Red Rocks Preview ended with the debut of exciting floor routines from eight Utes. The new choreography and depth in the rotation will yet again make the floor lineup once of Utah's strengths. Jaedyn Rucker debuted her new first pass, which is a double arabian, and O'Keefe returned to a three-pass routine for this season.
For a full look at tonight's list of competitors and event lineups, click here.
The third-ranked Utah gymnasts open the 2023 campaign against sixth-ranked LSU on Friday, Jan. 6, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. The home opener will begin with introductions at 6:45 p.m. MT in Salt Lake City. Utah fans will be striping the arena, so click here to see which section will be wearing red or white. The top-six matchup will be nationally televised on ESPN2. For season tickets, click here.
"We saw a lot of good things for still having several weeks to go before our first meet," said head coach Tom Farden. "It gave us a good barometer of where we need to tweak some lineup changes. We threw a lot of new skills tonight as well and so it's a matter of throwing the right skills, the right combinations, and new passes. It was good for us coaches to see what they are like in an arena, on new equipment, and in front of a few thousand fans."
"It felt really good to be back in front of a crowd and have everyone cheering for you," said sophomore Grace McCallum. "It is a completely different atmosphere than in the gym and it just gives you the extra adrenaline rush that you need to get through those routines. It was really fun to be back."
Utah started the meet with a slew of Yurchenko fulls as the team's Yurchenko 1.5s won't debut until the season opener. The highlight of the rotation came from freshman Makenna Smith, who vaulted her Yurchenko half on front pike and stuck her first-ever vault in the Huntsman Center. The lineup also featured the return of Jillian Hoffman, who had last year's season cut short after tearing her Achilles. In all, Utah is set to have at least six 10.0 start-value vaults available by the season opener.
Welcome to the Huntsman Center, Makenna Smith ??
— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) December 10, 2022
?? https://t.co/qNJ64XYY5u pic.twitter.com/UXtmQisft6
On bars, Utah got it going early with back-to-back sticks and solid routines from Amelie Morgan and Abby Brenner. McCallum, the reigning Pac-12 uneven bars champion, glided through her routine with ease as the standout routine of the rotation. Morgan debuted a toe front half dismount, while Maile O'Keefe debuted a new transition on bars as well.
Our reigning Pac-12 Bars champ making it look easy out here ??
— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) December 10, 2022
Beautiful on bars as always is Grace McCallum!
?? https://t.co/qNJ64XYY5u pic.twitter.com/49Qe0niOM9
The top beam team from a year ago looked in full form ahead of the 2023 season as routines from Morgan, McCallum, Abby Paulson, Kara Eaker and O'Keefe showed solid performances. Seeing action and adding depth to the lineup was Jaylene Gilstrap, Lucy Stanhope and Smith as well. With the exception of Cristal Isa, all returners on beam changed their dismounts.
The Red Rocks Preview ended with the debut of exciting floor routines from eight Utes. The new choreography and depth in the rotation will yet again make the floor lineup once of Utah's strengths. Jaedyn Rucker debuted her new first pass, which is a double arabian, and O'Keefe returned to a three-pass routine for this season.
For a full look at tonight's list of competitors and event lineups, click here.
The third-ranked Utah gymnasts open the 2023 campaign against sixth-ranked LSU on Friday, Jan. 6, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. The home opener will begin with introductions at 6:45 p.m. MT in Salt Lake City. Utah fans will be striping the arena, so click here to see which section will be wearing red or white. The top-six matchup will be nationally televised on ESPN2. For season tickets, click here.
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