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PROVO — The Utah gymnastics team traveled 35 minutes south to meet instate rival BYU for its first road meet of the season. What would happen in the Marriott Center in front of nearly 4,000 fans, many of them in red cheering for Utah, made it seem like the Red Rocks competed at home.
Freshman MyKayla Skinner won all four events and the all-around (career-best 39.600), helping No. 5 Utah (2-0) annihilate BYU (2-2) 196.900-194.175.
“MyKayla improved her all-around score on the road, which is tremendous. We have a unique situation in that her teammates make her better and she makes them better,” Utah co-head coach Tom Farden said.
The Utes started slow on bars, missing some handstands and showing some nerves. The first two scores were in the 9.70s, but Skinner (9.875), Tiffani Lewis (9.850), Sabrina Schwab (9.825) and Baely Rowe (9.80) finished with 9.80 or higher to take a strong 49.125-48.700 lead after the first rotation.
“I thought we could have done a lot better on bars,” said Farden. “The one thing I liked about this meet was that we built on scores. That’s a sign of an emotionally strong team.”
Next for the Red Rocks was vault where they posted scores of 9.825 or higher, thanks to fantastic landings. Merrell and Skinner tied with 9.90s to lead the way and Utah continued its margin of victory, 98.425-97.575.
“Merrell stuck her vault like a lawn dart,” said Farden.
Utah’s third rotation was floor. Rowe took to the mat first and uncharacteristically fell on one of her tumbling passes. Her score was dropped as it was the lowest in the lineup, not affecting the Utes’ running score. But despite the oops, the Red Rocks stayed strong and finished with 9.825s, 9.90 and Skinner’s crowd-pleasing 9.950.
“It felt pretty good,” said Skinner of her routine. “I was just waiting for the score.”
With a victory in sight, the Utes took to beam ahead 147.700-145.450 over the Cougars. The last rotation was even sweeter for the team as all six gymnasts performed walk-through routines. In the third spot, Skinner earned 9.875 — making for her first career beam win — but the trifecta of Maddy Stover, Kari Lee and Rowe solidified the strong set with 9.850s.
Next on the Red Rocks’ schedule is a quad-home meet featuring Boise State, Denver and Illinois-Chicago Friday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. MT at the Huntsman Center.
