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TUCSON, Ariz. — It came down to the wire, but the No. 2 seed Utah gymnastics team fell short to top-seeded UCLA to defend its Pac-12 championship title.
UCLA posted 197.50, followed by Utah (197.35), California (196.95), and Washington (196.75). In the afternoon session, Oregon State finished with a 196.575, followed by Arizona State (196.425), Stanford (196.35), and Arizona (195.825).
“Hats off to UCLA,” Utah co-head coach Tom Farden said. “They were stellar on their final two events.”
MyKayla Skinner defended her all-around (39.675) and floor (9.95) titles as she tied for first on both events. In her two-year career, she’s won five Pac-12 titles — two in the all-around, two on floor, and one on vault. Skinner also earned Utah’s sixth all-around title in seven years. MaKenna Merrell-Giles became the conference vault champion with a 9.95.
“I am really proud of MyKayla. She is an incredible gymnast,” Farden said. “And how about MaKenna winning vault? It was a beauty.”
Coming into the conference championship, Utah’s goal was to hit all of its routines. That goal disintegrated in its first event. Utah stuck four landings in five of its routines to count on bars. The first three gymnasts scored two 9.85s and a 9.90. Judges gave Kari Lee a 9.775, which the team looked to drop. However, in the fifth position, Kim Tessen fell as she missed her release.
The Red Rocks relied on Skinner to come in with a clutch routine. She did so with ease, earning the team’s high score on the apparatus with a 9.925. It boosted Utah to a 49.30 total and second place after the first rotation.
Utah’s effort came behind California (49.40). UCLA (49.275) and Washington (49.175) followed.
The Red Rocks faced similar adversity in the second rotation. On beam, Alexia Burch returned to the lineup after tending a sore knee. She fell out of her front aerial, resulting in a 9.15.
With three gymnasts to go, Utah was under pressure again. Lee gave the team a sigh of relief with a 9.875, followed by Missy Reinstadtler’s 9.825 and Skinner’s 9.90. The team posted a respectable 49.25 to move into first place at the meet’s midway point — Utah (98.55), California (98.475), UCLA (98.425), Washington (98.325).
“One of our goals today was to hit 24 routines and we didn’t do that,” Farden said. “It hurt us with score building and in the rhythm of the meet.”
Utah entered the third rotation going to floor, one of its best events. The team looked to extend its lead, but instead a subpar floor set developed. The team’s highest scores came from Skinner (9.95) and Reinstadtler (9.90). The rest of the lineup didn’t meet its typical scores, totaling 49.325, which hurt as UCLA exploded to a 49.60 on beam.
With one event to go, UCLA snatched the lead with 148.025. Utah trailed with 147.875, followed by California’s 147.775 and Washington’s 147.50.
Holding on to second place became a necessity for Utah as it took to vault with California and Washington close behind. The Red Rocks made it happen, scoring the best vault score (49.475) of the championship.
“Going into that final event, we finally let our gymnastics fly,” Farden said.
Four of Utah’s five vault scores to count were at least 9.90s, coming from Tiffani Lewis, Tessen, Skinner and Merrell-Giles. It was a little too late as UCLA rallied a 49.475 on floor to secure the championship.
Next for Utah is regional competition, which it hosts in the Huntsman Center on Saturday, April 7.
