Red Rocks Lead the Way to Final Four

Thursday, April 17

Fort Worth, TX

7:00 PM

University of Utah

NCAA Championship Semifinal

Photo by: Misty-Jade Carlson

4/17/2025 11:24 PM | Gymnastics

Utah Gymnastics persists in tight meet to earn top score of the NCAA Semifinal round

FORT WORTH, TX — The Red Rocks are heading to the Final Four on Saturday, April 19 after a back-and-forth battle in the NCAA Semifinals came down to the fourth rotation.

Session two of the semifinal round proved to be a true competition with Utah, UCLA, LSU, and Michigan State switching spots after each rotation in the meet. Ultimately, the Red Rocks persisted and earned the highest score of the semifinals despite starting the competition in last place.

"What an honor to be here," said head coach Carly Dockendorf. "It takes so much just to get to national championships, and we definitely don't take it for granted. I'm just so proud of this team tonight."

SEE YA SATURDAY! ?? pic.twitter.com/CGc3ykoFuu
— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) April 18, 202

The Red Rocks came in fourth place after rotation one on beam, scoring a 49.2125. UCLA led the pack with a 49.5250 floor, Michigan State in second with a 49.3875 on vault, and LSU in third with a 49.3250 on bars.

Makenna Smith got the ball rolling on beam with a 9.85, while Grace McCallum was good for a 9.8125. Freshman Avery Neff stole the show with a 9.9125, and Ana Padurariu rounded out the event with a 9.8875.

A & A ??#RedRocks | #DROP pic.twitter.com/TgNScA0D5X
— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) April 18, 2025

Utah jumped to second place after the next rotation, posting a 49.5625 on floor for a 98.7750 total score. Michigan State took the lead with a 98.8375 after completing bars while UCLA fell to third with a 98.7625 after going on vault, and LSU took fourth with a 98.650 after its turn on beam.

Ashley Glynn set the foundation with a 9.8375. Neff then added a 9.875 before the scores took off with Ella Zirbes posting a 9.90, Jaylene Gilstrap a 9.925, Smith a 9.9125, and McCallum finishing up the rotation with a 9.95.

The Ella we know & love#RedRocks | @ellazirbess pic.twitter.com/a62PrStqdm
— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) April 18, 2025

Utah slid down to third after three rotations, posting a 49.3375 on vault to earn a total score of 148.1125 in a tight race for the top two spots to advance to Saturday. UCLA surged up to first after bars for a 148.1875, LSU shot to second after floor with a total score of 148.1500, and Michigan State fell down to fourth after beam with a 148.000.

Gilstrap, Neff, and Smith all posted 9.85s, while Smith and Zoe Johnson earned 9.8375s. McCallum earned the big score sticking her vault for a 9.95.

THAT'S OUR AMAZING GRACE??#RedRocks | @grace_mccallum2 pic.twitter.com/MzJNlTCNFM
— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) April 18, 2025

Heading into the fourth and final rotation, the Red Rocks had to dig deep to produce a 49.650 for the meet winning score of 197.7625 to advance to Saturday's NCAA Final. UCLA stamped their ticket for Saturday just behind Utah with a 197.7375 after wrapping up on beam, while LSU came in third (197.5250) after finishing on vault, and Michigan State took fourth (197.3625) ending on floor.

"We've been in that position before where it comes down to a tenth in the last rotation," said Dockendorf. "These women have worked so hard on bars this year. They are so consistent over there. I didn't have any doubt that they were going to go do what they've been practicing. They have been putting in the work every single day."

LET'S GO BIG MAK! ?? #RedRocks | @maksmith04 pic.twitter.com/ydd8xrJa8I
— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) April 18, 2025

Smith wasted zero time building team confidence going 9.9125 in the lead-off position. Glynn added a solid 9.80 before the backend of the lineup took off with Neff going 9.925, Morgan 9.9125, Zirbes 9.9375, and McCallum putting a bow on the night with a 9.9625.

"It takes a lot to be here, and be a part of this team, and to stand in front of 15,000 fans week, after week, and carrying on the tradition of qualifying to every single National Championship" said Dockendorf. "They have just embraced it, and done it with such pride and bravery. I'm so proud of them."

5TH STRAIGHT FINAL FOUR! ??#RedRocks pic.twitter.com/i2dBRbggUh
— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) April 18, 2025

REGIONAL SEMIFINAL I STANDINGS

Oklahoma- 197.5500
Missouri- 197.3000
Florida- 197.2000
Alabama- 196.8250

REGIONAL SEMIFINAL II STANDINGS

Utah- 197.7625
UCLA- 197.7375
LSU- 197.5250
Michigan State- 197.3625

UP NEXT
The Red Rocks will have a day off to recoup before the NCAA Final on Saturday, April 19. Fans can catch the meet on ABC at 2 p.m. MT.

UTAH EVENT-BY-EVENT RESULTS

Beam – 49.2125

Amelie Morgan – 9.75
Makenna Smith – 9.85
Grace McCallum – 9.8125
Avery Neff- 9.9125
Camie Winger – 8.975
Ana Padurariu – 9.8875

Floor – 49.5625 (98.7750)

Ashley Glynn – 9.8375
Ella Zirbes – 9.90
Avery Neff– 9.875
Jaylene Gilstrap – 9.925
Makenna Smith – 9.9125
Grace McCallum – 9.95

Vault – 49.3375 (148.1125)

Jaylene Gilstrap – 9.85
Grace McCallum – 9.95
Avery Neff – 9.85
Ashley Glynn – 9.8375
Makenna Smith – 9.85
Zoe Johnson – 9.8375

Bars – 49.650 (197.7625)

Makenna Smith – 9.9125
Ashley Glynn – 9.80
Avery Neff – 9.925
Amelie Morgan – 9.9125
Ella Zirbes – 9.9375
Grace McCallum – 9.9625

All-Around
Grace McCallum– 39.675 (1^st place overall)

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