Utah Gymnastics announced on March 18 that the No. 12-ranked Red Rocks will compete to defend their Big 12 title at the Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah, on Saturday, March 21.
The event is significant as Utah aims to retain its championship status after an undefeated season in Big 12 competition. The championship will be split into two sessions: Arizona State and West Virginia will compete in a duel format at noon Mountain Time, while Utah faces No. 23 Denver, No. 24 Brigham Young University (BYU), and Arizona in a quad meet at 5 p.m. Mountain Time.
Head coach Carly Dockendorf is leading the team for her third season as head coach and ninth overall with Utah Gymnastics. Dockendorf is joined by twelve returning athletes from last season, including senior Makenna Smith and sophomore Avery Neff, along with four freshmen: Norah Christian, Sage Curtis, Abbi Ryssman, and Bailey Stroud. Eight Red Rocks were named to All-Big 12 teams this year: Avery Neff (vault, bars, beam, floor, all-around), Ella Zirbes (vault, bars, floor), Makenna Smith (vault, bars, floor), Abbi Ryssman (bars, beam), Ana Padurariu (bars and beam), Ashley Glynn (vault), Zoe Johnson (vault), and Camie Winger (beam).
Utah finished the regular season undefeated in conference play with a record of six wins against Iowa State, Arizona State University (ASU), Arizona, BYU, Denver, and West Virginia. The team posted its highest road score of the season—197.400—against No. 5 UCLA on senior night. Sophomore Avery Neff achieved her second-highest career all-around score of 39.675 during that meet and earned her seventh Big 12 Gymnast of the Week recognition for her performance.
The Red Rocks also set several program milestones this season: they became the fourth program nationally to surpass a team score of 198 in a meet; set their second-highest program bars score with a season-high of 49.750 against BYU; and tied their fourth highest vault score in program history at Sprouts with a mark of 49.600.
Looking ahead, Utah Gymnastics will learn about its regional placement on Monday morning through ESPNU coverage starting at 10 a.m., as they continue their postseason journey.
