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
Friday, January 3
Salt Lake City, UT
7:00 PM
University of Utah
vs
Utah State
Photo by: Davis Kuhn/Utah Athletics
#5 Utah Gymnastics Set to Begin 50th Anniversary Season Celebration Hosting Utah State
12/30/2024 10:48 AM | Gymnastics
Red Rocks begin regular season competition from the Jon M. Huntsman Center on Friday evening
MEET WEEK
Preseason fifth-ranked Utah Gymnastics is set for the 2025 season opener, beginning its 50 years of Utah Gymnastics celebration on Friday, Jan. 3, hosting Utah State in Salt Lake City. The Red Rocks and Aggies will compete in the Jon M. Huntsman Center with introductions set to begin at 6:45 p.m. MT, and the first vault coming at 7 p.m. MT.Â
Utah State will begin on bars and Utah will begin on vault. The meet will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Jim Watson (PxP) and Alisa Mowe (Analyst) providing coverage from the Huntsman Center on the call.
FOR THE FANS
It's going to be a Red Rocks Snow Day! Help us 'White Out the Huntsman' for the season opener in support of Utah Gymnastics. Coordinating pom-poms will be available in each section to add extra energy and excitement for the Utah faithful. The Kid Zone will be lively with a face painter, balloon artists, and different interactive games.
QUICK STICKS
• Utah has posted an overall record of 63-6 in season openers
• Utah is 67-1 at the Huntsman Center during the regular season in the past 12 seasons. Â
• Utah is ranked fifth in the WCGA Preseason Poll. It is the eighth season in a row the Red Rocks are ranked in the top five in the preseason poll.Â
• The Red Rocks return 16 routines from last year's NCAA Championships third-place team, including three NCAA All-America honorees.Â
• The Utes tallied 42 event wins a year ago, earned by Grace McCallum (19), Makenna Smith (7), Jaedyn Rucker (4), Amelie Morgan and Jaylene Gilstrap (3), along with Ashley Glynn, Camie Winger and Ella Zirbes (2).
• The Red Rocks had five gymnasts named to the Big 12 Preseason Team announced Dec. 20, including Grace McCallum (all-around), Ella Zirbes (vault) and Jaylene Gilstrap (floor) earning unanimous selections. Makenna Smith (all-around) and Amelie Morgan (bars) round out the preseason selections for the Utes.
CHALK TALK
• Head coach Carly Dockendorf enters her second season leading the Red Rocks program and her eighth overall with Utah Gymnastics.Â
• During her inaugural season at the helm, Dockendorf became the first first-year head coach in NCAA history to lead their team to the Final Four, earning the highest finish (third-place) by a first-year head coach.
• Utah returns 16-of-24 routines from last year's third-place finish at the NCAA Championship.
• Utah's roster contains five All-Americans: Grace McCallum (8x), Makenna Smith (4x), Ella Zirbes (2x) and Jaylene Gilstrap.
• Makenna Smith looks to keep building off of her sophomore season, coming off a season that saw her hit 61 routines. The Albuquerque native earned NCAA All-America honors in the all-around and vault, and second team on bars. Â
• Utah won the last four Pac-12 Championship meets.Â
• Utah adds two new faces to the coaching staff this season, with the addition of Mike Hunger bringing over 50 years of experience to lead the vault squad and assist on floor.Â
• Utah Gymnastics legend Maile O'Keefe returns to the Red Rocks as a Student Assistant Coach, coming off one of the most decorated collegiate gymnastics careers, including four NCAA individual titles (Bars, Floor – 2021; All-Around, Beam – 2023). O'Keefe collected 19 All-America awards (7 regular season, 12 NCAA) while competing for the Red Rocks.
• Utah has amassed 110 perfect 10.0 scores with 80 of those performances coming at home in the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
TOP 10 OPENING DAY SCORES
1. 197.675 vs. UCLA – 2005
2. 197.350 at UCLA – 2004
3. 197.300 vs. Boise State – 2024
4. 197.275 vs LSU – 2023
5. 197.175 vs. Penn State – 2019
6. 197.100 at Best of Utah – 2022
7. 197.000 vs. BYU – 2018
8. 196.900 at Best of Utah – 2021
9. 196.900 vs. BYU – 2015
10. 196.750 at UCLA – 2003
SCOUTING UTAH STATE
2025 Preseason Ranking: -
Head Coach: Kristin White
•  Utah State's gymnastics team was picked to finish second in the Mountain West in the annual preseason coaches' poll. The Aggies received one first-place vote in the conference poll, finishing behind 2024 MW Champion Boise State, which was picked first as the Broncos garnered three first-place votes and 30 points.
• Utah State returns 14 gymnasts from last year's squad, including Brianna Brooks who was named the NCAA North Central Region (Region 2) Gymnast of the Year for the second-straight season in 2024 and earned second-team all-Mountain West honors on both bars and in the all-around.
• Brooks was the lone Aggie to compete at the 2024 NCAA Regional Championships and tied for first on bars with a season-high-tying 9.900 at the California Regional.
AMAZING GRACE
•  Grace McCallum returned to top form in 2024, bouncing back from an injury suffered midway through the 2023 season. McCallum collected 19 event wins earning WCGA regular season All-America honors on bars and floor.Â
•  She was the epitome of consistency for the Red Rocks, scoring a 9.9+ in 13 of 16 bar routines in 2024, scoring her third perfect 10.0 of her career on the apparatus on the road at Arizona.Â
• Scored a 9.900 or better in each event of the NCAA Final, including a 9.9375 on beam
• Posted a career-best 39.825 in the all-around against Stanford and Utah State, highlighted by a pair of 9.975 scores on both bars and floor.
• Hit 134-143 routines
RED ROCKS RUN DEEP
• Utah returns eight contributing pieces to the squad in 2025 including four All-Americans from the 2024 season, Jaylene Gilstrap (NCAA-FX), Grace McCallum       (RS-UB, FX), Makenna Smith (NCAA-AA, VT, UB) and Ella Zirbes (NCAA-UB, VT).
• Zirbes established herself as a standout newcomer during her first season, competing on floor five times and scoring above a 9.875 every time. She also made starts on vault and bars every meet for the Red Rocks.
•  Smith has hit 108 consecutive routines dating back to her freshman season at Utah.  She would hit a monumental career-high 9.950 vault at the Gainesville Regional Final to help propel the Red Rocks to their 48th consecutive NCAA Championship appearance.
•  Amelie Morgan collected her first wins as a Ute in 2024, finishing the season with three total (two bars, one beam). Morgan added her first weekly award, earning Pac-12 Specialist of the Week (1/23/24). She recorded a 9.90 or better in 7-of-11 beam routines, while performing from the leadoff spot in all but two competitions.Â
NEW KIDS TO THE ROCKS
• Utah welcomes five new faces to the Red Rocks squad this year, with the addition of Zoe Johnson, Avery Neff, Clara Raposo and Poppy Stickler; along with UCLA transfer Ana Padurariu.
• The four freshmen bring in national and international championship-caliber routines, as Neff was hailed as the No. 1 recruit in the nation, and Raposo and Stickler competing on the international stage for their home countries of Canada and Wales.
• A South Jordan native, Neff recorded seven national titles during her club days, claiming the 2024 Level 10 crown on floor, adding runner-up finishes on vault, beam, and in the all-around.
• Johnson earned a Level 10 runner-up finish on vault at the 2024 championships. She added 2024 Region 8 Championship titles in the all-around and on vault and bars.Â
• Raposo is a five-time Canadian National Team Member. She served as an alternate for Team Canada at the 2023 World Championships and Pan American Games. She was the 2024 Elite Canada bars champion, claiming runner-up honors in the all-around.
UP NEXT
Utah will make its first road trip of the season, traveling to the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., to compete in the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad. The preseason fifth-ranked Red Rocks will take on #1 Oklahoma, #2 LSU, and #4 California at 2 p.m. MT on Saturday, Jan. 11.
Fans can purchase season tickets here to see all five home meets this season.
OFFICIAL MOBILE APP OF UTAH ATHLETICS – UTAH 360
The official mobile app of Utah Athletics is Utah 360. Download it today to unlock a refreshed game-day experience that offers access to news and information, schedules, rosters, stats and behind-the-scenes videos, and allows fans to buy and manage game tickets and order concessions straight from their mobile device. The app is available in both the Apple Store (download) and Google Play (download). Add it today, access your game tickets and download them to your smartphone's wallet to make yourself game-day ready.
Preseason fifth-ranked Utah Gymnastics is set for the 2025 season opener, beginning its 50 years of Utah Gymnastics celebration on Friday, Jan. 3, hosting Utah State in Salt Lake City. The Red Rocks and Aggies will compete in the Jon M. Huntsman Center with introductions set to begin at 6:45 p.m. MT, and the first vault coming at 7 p.m. MT.Â
Utah State will begin on bars and Utah will begin on vault. The meet will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Jim Watson (PxP) and Alisa Mowe (Analyst) providing coverage from the Huntsman Center on the call.
FOR THE FANS
It's going to be a Red Rocks Snow Day! Help us 'White Out the Huntsman' for the season opener in support of Utah Gymnastics. Coordinating pom-poms will be available in each section to add extra energy and excitement for the Utah faithful. The Kid Zone will be lively with a face painter, balloon artists, and different interactive games.
QUICK STICKS
• Utah has posted an overall record of 63-6 in season openers
• Utah is 67-1 at the Huntsman Center during the regular season in the past 12 seasons. Â
• Utah is ranked fifth in the WCGA Preseason Poll. It is the eighth season in a row the Red Rocks are ranked in the top five in the preseason poll.Â
• The Red Rocks return 16 routines from last year's NCAA Championships third-place team, including three NCAA All-America honorees.Â
• The Utes tallied 42 event wins a year ago, earned by Grace McCallum (19), Makenna Smith (7), Jaedyn Rucker (4), Amelie Morgan and Jaylene Gilstrap (3), along with Ashley Glynn, Camie Winger and Ella Zirbes (2).
• The Red Rocks had five gymnasts named to the Big 12 Preseason Team announced Dec. 20, including Grace McCallum (all-around), Ella Zirbes (vault) and Jaylene Gilstrap (floor) earning unanimous selections. Makenna Smith (all-around) and Amelie Morgan (bars) round out the preseason selections for the Utes.
CHALK TALK
• Head coach Carly Dockendorf enters her second season leading the Red Rocks program and her eighth overall with Utah Gymnastics.Â
• During her inaugural season at the helm, Dockendorf became the first first-year head coach in NCAA history to lead their team to the Final Four, earning the highest finish (third-place) by a first-year head coach.
• Utah returns 16-of-24 routines from last year's third-place finish at the NCAA Championship.
• Utah's roster contains five All-Americans: Grace McCallum (8x), Makenna Smith (4x), Ella Zirbes (2x) and Jaylene Gilstrap.
• Makenna Smith looks to keep building off of her sophomore season, coming off a season that saw her hit 61 routines. The Albuquerque native earned NCAA All-America honors in the all-around and vault, and second team on bars. Â
• Utah won the last four Pac-12 Championship meets.Â
• Utah adds two new faces to the coaching staff this season, with the addition of Mike Hunger bringing over 50 years of experience to lead the vault squad and assist on floor.Â
• Utah Gymnastics legend Maile O'Keefe returns to the Red Rocks as a Student Assistant Coach, coming off one of the most decorated collegiate gymnastics careers, including four NCAA individual titles (Bars, Floor – 2021; All-Around, Beam – 2023). O'Keefe collected 19 All-America awards (7 regular season, 12 NCAA) while competing for the Red Rocks.
• Utah has amassed 110 perfect 10.0 scores with 80 of those performances coming at home in the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
TOP 10 OPENING DAY SCORES
1. 197.675 vs. UCLA – 2005
2. 197.350 at UCLA – 2004
3. 197.300 vs. Boise State – 2024
4. 197.275 vs LSU – 2023
5. 197.175 vs. Penn State – 2019
6. 197.100 at Best of Utah – 2022
7. 197.000 vs. BYU – 2018
8. 196.900 at Best of Utah – 2021
9. 196.900 vs. BYU – 2015
10. 196.750 at UCLA – 2003
SCOUTING UTAH STATE
2025 Preseason Ranking: -
Head Coach: Kristin White
•  Utah State's gymnastics team was picked to finish second in the Mountain West in the annual preseason coaches' poll. The Aggies received one first-place vote in the conference poll, finishing behind 2024 MW Champion Boise State, which was picked first as the Broncos garnered three first-place votes and 30 points.
• Utah State returns 14 gymnasts from last year's squad, including Brianna Brooks who was named the NCAA North Central Region (Region 2) Gymnast of the Year for the second-straight season in 2024 and earned second-team all-Mountain West honors on both bars and in the all-around.
• Brooks was the lone Aggie to compete at the 2024 NCAA Regional Championships and tied for first on bars with a season-high-tying 9.900 at the California Regional.
AMAZING GRACE
•  Grace McCallum returned to top form in 2024, bouncing back from an injury suffered midway through the 2023 season. McCallum collected 19 event wins earning WCGA regular season All-America honors on bars and floor.Â
•  She was the epitome of consistency for the Red Rocks, scoring a 9.9+ in 13 of 16 bar routines in 2024, scoring her third perfect 10.0 of her career on the apparatus on the road at Arizona.Â
• Scored a 9.900 or better in each event of the NCAA Final, including a 9.9375 on beam
• Posted a career-best 39.825 in the all-around against Stanford and Utah State, highlighted by a pair of 9.975 scores on both bars and floor.
• Hit 134-143 routines
RED ROCKS RUN DEEP
• Utah returns eight contributing pieces to the squad in 2025 including four All-Americans from the 2024 season, Jaylene Gilstrap (NCAA-FX), Grace McCallum       (RS-UB, FX), Makenna Smith (NCAA-AA, VT, UB) and Ella Zirbes (NCAA-UB, VT).
• Zirbes established herself as a standout newcomer during her first season, competing on floor five times and scoring above a 9.875 every time. She also made starts on vault and bars every meet for the Red Rocks.
•  Smith has hit 108 consecutive routines dating back to her freshman season at Utah.  She would hit a monumental career-high 9.950 vault at the Gainesville Regional Final to help propel the Red Rocks to their 48th consecutive NCAA Championship appearance.
•  Amelie Morgan collected her first wins as a Ute in 2024, finishing the season with three total (two bars, one beam). Morgan added her first weekly award, earning Pac-12 Specialist of the Week (1/23/24). She recorded a 9.90 or better in 7-of-11 beam routines, while performing from the leadoff spot in all but two competitions.Â
NEW KIDS TO THE ROCKS
• Utah welcomes five new faces to the Red Rocks squad this year, with the addition of Zoe Johnson, Avery Neff, Clara Raposo and Poppy Stickler; along with UCLA transfer Ana Padurariu.
• The four freshmen bring in national and international championship-caliber routines, as Neff was hailed as the No. 1 recruit in the nation, and Raposo and Stickler competing on the international stage for their home countries of Canada and Wales.
• A South Jordan native, Neff recorded seven national titles during her club days, claiming the 2024 Level 10 crown on floor, adding runner-up finishes on vault, beam, and in the all-around.
• Johnson earned a Level 10 runner-up finish on vault at the 2024 championships. She added 2024 Region 8 Championship titles in the all-around and on vault and bars.Â
• Raposo is a five-time Canadian National Team Member. She served as an alternate for Team Canada at the 2023 World Championships and Pan American Games. She was the 2024 Elite Canada bars champion, claiming runner-up honors in the all-around.
UP NEXT
Utah will make its first road trip of the season, traveling to the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., to compete in the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad. The preseason fifth-ranked Red Rocks will take on #1 Oklahoma, #2 LSU, and #4 California at 2 p.m. MT on Saturday, Jan. 11.
Fans can purchase season tickets here to see all five home meets this season.
OFFICIAL MOBILE APP OF UTAH ATHLETICS – UTAH 360
The official mobile app of Utah Athletics is Utah 360. Download it today to unlock a refreshed game-day experience that offers access to news and information, schedules, rosters, stats and behind-the-scenes videos, and allows fans to buy and manage game tickets and order concessions straight from their mobile device. The app is available in both the Apple Store (download) and Google Play (download). Add it today, access your game tickets and download them to your smartphone's wallet to make yourself game-day ready.
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