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SALT LAKE CITY — The fourth-ranked Utah gymnastics team beat fifth-ranked Michigan 198.25-197.675 in front of a NCAA record 16,019 fans Friday night. Both teams scored season-highs in a competition that was close the entire night, and the Utes' score was the program’s third-best.
“To be here and experience what happened tonight is hard to describe to anybody,” co-head coach Greg Marsden said about the last regular-season meet at the Huntsman Center.
Senior Becky Tutka said she couldn’t believe it when the attendance was announced: “Did they just say 16,000?” she asked Marsden.
The Huntsman Center seats 15,000, but an additional 1,019 fans watched in standing room only. Others were turned away and given general admission tickets to the Pac-12 Gymnastics Championship March 21.
Marsden said Friday’s over-crowding is one of those problems they love to have, although he hates to see people make an effort to come, find a place to park and get all the way to the door to be turned away: “I hope those people come back and give it another try,” he added.
The gymnasts are also stunned by the support they’re receiving.
“It’s an honor. We’re all speechless,” said senior Tory Wilson. "The sheer magnitude of it; we just don’t have the words for it.”
But what’s making people attend Utah’s meets are the consistent performances the team is giving. The Utes and Wolverines entertained the crowd as they combined to hit 48 of 48 routines. Together both teams had 26 scores of at least 9.9.
“Tonight’s the first night we really put all four events together,” Marsden said.
Three Utah seniors placed 1-2-3 in the all-around — Georgia Dabritz (39.7), Wilson (39.65) and Corrie Lothrop (39.575). The Red Rocks scored 49.55 on the vault and bars along with season-highs on beam (49.5) and floor (49.65). Not once did they let Michigan take the lead.
Dabritz earned her second 10.0 on bars this season and fifth career 10.0 on the event, leaving the crowd on their feet with ear-splitting cheers. Wilson scored a 9.925 on vault, tying with Kari Lee and Kailah Delaney for first place in the event.
Last week, Lee and Wilson fell off the beam. Wilson said she used the fall as motivation to come back even stronger. The mindset worked as she started the event earning a 9.85. Lee earned a 10.0 from one judge and a 9.95 from the other giving her a total score of 9.975.
“We haven’t seen a score like that the whole time I’ve been here," Darbitz said. "As a freshman, it shows how strong she is."
Lee’s score was followed by Dabritz (9.9) and Rowe (9.9).
Marsden set the floor lineup so the senior class performed last as a deserving send off. All four placed top scores on the final event of the night — Dabritz and Wilson (9.95), Lothrop and Tutka (9.925) — and received standing ovations.
“When the crowd was standing for us, it was overwhelming," Lothrop said. "I did better controlling my emotions during the premeet presentation than I thought I would, but we all got emotional after our floor routines.”
The Red Rocks, who now has a record of 11-0, travel to the University of Georgia next week to complete their regular season. If they pull off a victory in Athens, Georgia, the Red Rocks will earn the second undefeated season in school history.
