Five Red Rocks Named to Big 12 Preseason Team

IRVING, Tex. – Five Utah gymnasts have been named to the Big 12 Preseason Team, the conference announced on Friday afternoon. Of the five selections, the Red Rocks earned three unanimous picks, including Grace McCallum (all-around), Ella Zirbes (vault) and Jaylene Gilstrap (floor). Makenna Smith (all-around) and Amelie Morgan (bars) round out the preseason selections for the Utes.

An eight-time All-American, McCallum tallied 19 event wins last season (8 bars, 6 floor, 3 all-around, one on vault and beam). Throughout her comeback season in 2024, McCallum hit 55 of 57 routines, collecting WCGA Regular Season All-America honors on bars and floor. Competing in the all-around in nine meets, McCallum recorded her career-high 39.8250 in the final regular season competition against Stanford and Utah State. McCallum scored her first perfect 10 on floor in Utah's first meeting against Stanford on February 23, as the team eclipsed the 198 mark for the first time of the season. On the road at Arizona, McCallum put together a perfect bar routine, scoring the third 10.0 score of her career. At the NCAA Finals she scored a 9.900 or better in each event, posting a 9.9375 on beam.

Collecting first-team All-America honors in the all-around at the 2024 NCAA Championships, Smith posted her career high in the event, scoring a 39.6375 at the final competition of the season. Smith hit all 61 of her routines a year ago, earning team MVP. She tallied seven event wins, with four coming in the all-around, scoring over 39.500 six times. Adding to her postseason awards, Smith achieved second-team All-America honors on bars, scoring 9.90 or better six times on the apparatus and hitting a season-high 9.975. Smith closed out her competition in the Pac-12 securing her third and final All-Pac-12 award, earning first-team honors in the all-around.

Making her Red Rocks debut in 2024, Zirbes tallied a pair of NCAA All-America honors with first-team status on vault and second-team accolades on bars. Zirbes scored a 9.9125 at the NCAA Championships, earning a fifth-place finish. She established a career high of 9.925 on both vault and bars, before hitting her best score of the year on floor with a 9.950. Zirbes hit 34 of 38 routines and recorded the lone win of her first year on vault with a 9.875 at Washington, adding Pac-12 Newcomer of the Week honors to her resume.

Morgan tallied the first event win of her Red Rocks career in 2024, finishing the season with three total victories (two bars, one beam). She matched her career-high bars score at the Gainesville Regional in the second round, scoring a 9.950. Morgan hit 26 of 27 routines, and collected Pac-12 Specialist of the Week honor.

After earning her first NCAA All-America honors, Gilstrap rounds out the individual event selections for the Red Rocks, as a unanimous pick on floor. She closed out the 2024 campaign with the Gainesville Regional Floor title, after earning All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention. Gilstrap competed on floor in every competition for the Utes a year ago. She tallied six consecutive scores of 9.950 leading up to the NCAA Final, collecting three event wins in total on the season. Throughout the season, Gilstrap scored a 9.90 or better on floor in 12-of-16 competitions.

The preseason fifth-ranked Utah gymnastics program opens the 2025 campaign against Utah State on Friday, Jan. 3, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. The home opener will begin with introductions at 6:45 p.m. MT in Salt Lake City. The matchup can be viewed on ESPN+ with Jim Watson and Alisa Mowe covering the action. Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at UtahTickets.com.

All-Around
Alysen Fears, Arizona
Jada Mangahas, Arizona State*
Rosie Casali, Denver
Madison Ulrich, Denver*
Grace McCallum, Utah*
Makenna Smith, Utah

Vault
Alysen Fears, Arizona
Elizabeth LaRusso, Arizona
Rosie Casali, Denver
Noelle Adams, Iowa State
Josie Bergstrom-Te Slaa, Iowa State
Ella Zirbes, Utah*

Bars
Alysen Fears, Arizona
Anna Bramblett-Wilde, BYU
Rylie Mundell, Denver*
Madison Ulrich, Denver*
Amelie Morgan, Utah
Ella Zirbes, Utah

Beam
Elena Deets, Arizona*
Sarah Clark, Arizona State
Emily White, Arizona State*
Brynlee Andersen, BYU*
Momoko Iwai, Denver
Bella Mabanta, Denver*

Floor
Emily Mueller, Arizona
Emily White, Arizona State
Sophie Dudley, BYU
Rosie Casali, Denver*
Madison Ulrich, Denver
Noelle Adams, Iowa State
Jaylene Gilstrap, Utah*

* Unanimous selection

Upcoming Events

Recent Results

Players Mentioned

Jaylene Gilstrap

Grace McCallum

Amelie Morgan

Makenna Smith

Ella Zirbes

Completed Event: Gymnastics versus NCAA Championship Final on April 19, 2025 , , 4th of 4 (197.2375)

Completed Event: Gymnastics versus NCAA Championship Semifinal on April 17, 2025 , , 1st of 4 (197.7625)

Completed Event: Gymnastics versus NCAA on April 5, 2025 , , 1st of 4 (197.825)

Completed Event: Gymnastics versus NCAA on April 3, 2025 , , Tied 1st of 4 (197.650)

Completed Event: Gymnastics versus Big 12 Championships on March 22, 2025 , , 1st of 7 (197.775)

Completed Event: Gymnastics versus UCLA on March 15, 2025 , Win , 198.100, to, 197.425

Completed Event: Gymnastics at Washington on March 8, 2025 , Win , 197.225, to, 195.875

Completed Event: Gymnastics versus Denver on February 21, 2025 , Win , 198.075, to, 197.525

Completed Event: Gymnastics at #24 Arizona State on February 14, 2025 , Win , 196.600, to, 196.475