No. 4 Utah defeats No. 16 Stanford in record-breaking meet


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SALT LAKE CITY — Fourth-ranked Utah gymnastics entertained a crowd of 15,202 with a dominating 198.050-195.900 win against 16th-ranked Stanford. Saturday’s win was the fourth-highest score in the program’s history and keeps the Utes undefeated — 9-0 overall and 5-0 in the Pac-12.

The night’s crowd was the seventh largest to watch the Red Rocks and the 12th time the Huntsman Center filled its capacity at 15,000 for the sport.

Co-head coach Greg Marsden said he knew the meet sold out after looking at the box office numbers Friday. “It’s a big part of this program and why some of these people are here,” he said.

The gymnasts also took notice. Freshman Kari Lee called night “indescribable” while senior Tory Wilson gave the fans credit for pushing the team to new heights. The Utes scored season highs on vault (49.650), bars (49.600) and beam (49.350).

“It’s extra special. You could feel them,” Wilson said of the fans. Wilson won the all-around with a season-tying 39.55.

But Wilson wasn’t the only Ute to claim a victory. In fact, Utah swept Stanford with wins in every event.

Kailah Delaney won vault with a 9.975, tying a personal record. One judge gave her a 10 and another a 9.95. Georgia Dabritz came in second on the event, earning a 9.95. She received a 9.90 and a 10 from the judge who docked Delaney.

Dabritz made up for her near perfect score on vault in the Utes’ next event. The senior, who is feeling under the weather, earned her second 10.0 on the bars this season.

“It never gets old. It’s such an accomplishment because not everyone can say they’ve achieved that. Each time I go out there, I have the same approach, but when I get that 10 it’s still really exciting,” said Dabritz.

Wilson (9.925), Kassandra Lopez (9.925) and Corrie Lothrop (9.95) also had remarkable bar routines, scoring career-highs. The quad helped lead Utah to a 99.250-98.425 lead halfway through the meet.

Lee’s 9.95 beam routine was a “peak performance” according to Marsden. The freshman agreed and said before her routine she felt confident and calm.

“I always feel confident, but this was of a different kind,” she added. Her score ties the team record and her personal best.

The season-best scores carried into the last rotation. Lothrop (9.925), Wilson (9.9) and Becky Tutka (9.9) tied their personal records.

“All season we’ve been building and our end goal is to keep building until post season. We’re definitely on the right track,” said Wilson.

However Marsden feels that the Red Rocks didn’t compete well on the floor. He noted that he thought last week’s floor performance at Washington was better and the team needs to stay consistent on the event.

“I’m still waiting for the night when we put all four events together one through six. I wish we finished it out a little stronger on floor. We could have knocked it out of the park,” he said.

Utah’s next home meets are sure to draw big crowds. The Red Rocks host sixth-ranked Michigan Mar. 6 for senior night and the Pac-12 Championships Mar. 21.

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