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SALT LAKE CITY — Wobbles on beam caught up to Utah gymnastics Friday. The fourth-ranked team lost for the first time this season in Friday night’s GymQuarters Invitational quad meet to fifth-ranked LSU.
“We had every intention of running the table (this season), but it wasn’t our day,” Utah co-head coach Tom Farden said.
Falling short of LSU (197.250), Utah (197.075) placed second in the meet, beating No. 15 Missouri (196.475) and Stanford (195.85). Utah’s score marked the first time in school history the team has started with seven 197-plus scores.
Kari Lee (9.90), MaKenna Merrell-Giles (9.85) and MyKayla Skinner (9.85) earned the beam team’s top scores, but they had to count a 9.75 and 9.70 to give Utah a 49.05 on the event. Although the Red Rocks struggled, LSU worked its way to a season-high 49.475 on floor. The difference swapped the two national powers in the standings heading into the fourth rotation. Utah would outscore LSU in the last round but couldn’t make up enough ground to retake the lead in the end.
“Fifty percent of the lineup did their jobs and the other three performers had significant errors,” Farden said of the beam lineup. “I told the team afterwards that we have to simply find a solution on that event.”
Though the team didn’t win, three Utah gymnasts won individual event titles. Lee won her third-straight title on beam, while Skinner tied for first on floor in her comeback to the lineup. Missy Reinstadtler tied for first on bars.
Utah got off to a solid start, earning 49.375 on vault. Merrell-Giles led the team with a beautiful 9.925, followed by Skinner and Macey Roberts’ 9.90s. After one rotation, the standings were Utah (49.375), LSU (49.275), Stanford (49.25) and Missouri (49.0).
Things continued to swing in a positive direction when the Red Rocks took to bars. The team locked in another 9.925 thanks to Reinstadtler’s stunning effort. She was the only one to break the 9.90 mark as Skinner earned 9.875 and Merrell-Giles and Hunter Dula posted 9.85s. Utah’s 49.275 bars score was enough to keep it in the lead at the meet’s midway point — Utah (98.65), LSU (98.525), Missouri (98.20), Stanford (98.10).
“We had some incredible vaults and tied LSU on bars, which is a great event for them. Then we opened the door on beam,” Farden said.
Utah fought for a comeback on floor as Skinner impressed with Utah’s third 9.925 of the night and Sydney Soloski posted a 9.90. The Red Rocks’ effort wasn’t enough without help from LSU.
Next for Utah is a quick turnaround to compete against Stanford again on Monday at 3 p.m. MST.
