The University of Utah’s women’s gymnastics team, ranked No. 12 nationally, is set to conclude its 2026 home schedule with a tri-meet against West Virginia and No. 24 BYU on Saturday, March 7 at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City. The event will also serve as Senior Day, honoring departing seniors Makenna Smith, Ana Padurariu, Ashley Glynn, and Sarah Krump.
Utah and West Virginia will compete for Big 12 standings during the meet, while BYU will participate as an out-of-conference opponent for both teams.
Head coach Carly Dockendorf is leading the Red Rocks in her third season as head coach and ninth overall with the program. She is joined by twelve returning athletes from last season and four freshmen: Norah Christian, Sage Curtis, Abbi Ryssman, and Bailey Stroud.
Utah has maintained a perfect record in Big 12 competition this season (5-0), including victories over Iowa State, Arizona State University (ASU), Arizona, BYU, and Denver. Their most recent win over Denver secured their second consecutive Big 12 Regular Season Title with a score of 197.200 – 196.100.
Sophomore Avery Neff achieved her fifth straight all-around title against Denver with a score of 39.650 and won both bars and beam events with scores of 9.95 each. Her performance earned her a sixth Big 12 Gymnast of the Week award for the season.
Freshman Sage Curtis recorded a career-high score of 9.925 on floor exercise against Denver after previously achieving scores of 9.90 in consecutive weeks versus BYU and Southern Utah. Curtis received her first Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honor for this performance.
Junior Ella Zirbes returned to all-around competition for the first time since January 30 at ASU, finishing second behind Neff with a total score of 39.375 and winning the floor title with a score of 9.95. Senior Makenna Smith took first place on vault with a score of 9.925.
Earlier this season against BYU, Utah posted its highest team score so far at 198.025—becoming only the fourth program nationally to reach that mark in 2026—and set its second-highest bars score in program history at 49.750.
In addition to athletic achievements, Utah Gymnastics announced a multi-year NIL partnership with local company Redmond earlier this year to provide healthy meals and electrolyte products for athletes as well as funding for future international service trips.
Two former standout gymnasts remain involved with the program: Maile O’Keefe serves as Operations Specialist after setting an all-time perfect-10s record (15), while Olympic silver medalist Grace McCallum has taken on duties as Student Assistant Coach.
Reflecting on her coaching tenure so far Dockendorf said: “In 2024 Dockendorf became the first head coach in NCAA history to lead a team to the Final Four in her first year as head coach, earning the highest finish (3rd-place) by any first-year head coach.”
Looking ahead after Senior Day, Utah will travel to Los Angeles to face No.5 UCLA before preparing for the Big 12 Championship later in March.
Fans can watch Saturday’s meet live on ESPN+ or follow updates through Utah Gymnastics’ social media channels.
