Red Rocks ready for Nationals

(Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)


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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah gymnastics team left for Birmingham, Ala., Wednesday with one goal in mind.

“This year we’ve imagined ourselves winning a national championship,” says senior Hailee Hansen. “With the potential of this team, we can definitely get that championship this year.”

The Red Rocks are making their 39th consecutive appearance at nationals and are the only program to qualify for all 33 NCAA Championships.

“It’s going to be a tough competition but we’re ready,” says sophomore Kailah Delaney.

They have won 10 National Championships but haven’t won it all since 1995. Last year they missed the Super Six for the first time since 1999.


It's going to be a tough competition but we're ready.

–Kailah Delaney


“Our team captains felt like when they sat and watched Super Six last year that we deserved to be in there had we been able to hit our routines,” recalls Megan Marsden, co-head coach. “I think it’s been their mission all year-long to have that opportunity again.”

The Red Rocks enter Nationals ranked No. 5 in the country after winning a Pac-12 championship and a NCAA regional. They face a difficult semifinal where they will be joined by Alabama, Florida and UCLA. Only three of those four teams can advance to the Super Six.

“We’ve set our goals really high for ourselves,” says junior All-American Georgia Dabritz.

“The team chemistry is great and we’ve all worked really hard,” says Delaney. “We’re all so committed to this. This is our goal and so I think this team is ready to show everyone what we can do.”

Utah will compete in the evening semifinal on Friday, April 18 at 6 p.m. MT. The Super Six will take place Saturday at 5 p.m. MT. Individual event finals are scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. MT.

Friday’s action will be broadcast live on ncaa.com while Saturday and Sunday’s events will be broadcast online on ESPN 3.

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