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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah gymnastics is gearing up for yet another run for the NCAA championship, something it’s never missed in its existence. This time, though, its regional acts as a reunion.
The Red Rocks moved up one place in the national rankings to No. 4 after winning the Pac-12 championship Saturday. They landed the top seed at the Fayetteville Regional. Joining Utah are No. 9 Denver, No. 16 California, No. 21 Auburn, Arkansas and Central Michigan.
“I think this is the toughest regional of the bunch,” said Auburn head coach Jeff Graba. “Every team needs to bring its A-game and can’t make any mistakes.”
Graba is no stranger to Utah gymnastics. He was the team’s assistant coach from 2006-10. During his time with the Red Rocks, the team finished as the NCAA runner-up three times and placed third once. The three-time SEC Coach of the Year acted as Utah’s bars coach and tutored Kristina Baskett to a 2006 NCAA uneven bars title as a freshman.
“I am who I am because of Utah,” said Graba.
He admits the school is still close to his heart and enjoys the idea of competing against his former team, although his focus is on Auburn advancing from regional.
“I hope Utah and Auburn both make it out of this regional,” said Graba.
While Graba was coaching the Red Rocks, current Utah co-head coach Tom Farden spent 2010 as Arkansas’ assistant coach. The Razorbacks placed 11th at the 2010 NCAA championships. They finished second in the NCAA West Regional and recorded five of the top eight overall team scores in program history. Farden also helped Arkansas defeat eight top 25 opponents.
“I have the utmost respect for Arkansas and head coach Mark Cook,” said Farden.
As tight-knit and small as the gymnastics world is, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Graba and Farden are longtime friends. They are from Minnesota and know each other’s family.
“I love Jeff,” said Farden. “I know his family well, and his brother and I worked together for a period of time. We go way back.”
As Graba was leaving Utah for Auburn, then Utah head coach Greg Marsden was in search of a new assistant. Farden believes it was Graba who helped him get the Utah job.
“Greg was looking for an assistant. Jeff and I had run-ins. I think he had a part in it,” Farden said.
Both coaches are successful in their new positions. Farden is coming off his first Pac-12 championship as head coach. Graba snapped Auburn’s 117-meet losing streak to Alabama last season and led his team to defeat Georgia in Athens, Georgia, for the first time in program history.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing him,” said Farden, who is also excited to return to Arkansas.
“It’ll be good for me,” Farden added. “I’m looking forward to it and have the utmost respect for the program.”
But until next week’s meet, the teams are planning and preparing for postseason — in and outside of the gym.
“Right now, I’m helping plan which of my favorite restaurants we’ll go to,” said Farden.
