SALT LAKE CITY — No. 5 Utah gymnastics is ready to swing into the season this weekend.

There’s the usual hype at the beginning of the season, but what has the Red Rocks excited this time around is its added depth, MyKayla Skinner’s upgraded difficulty, and its new marketing look.

Freshmen add depth

Three gymnasts from last year’s team left the program due to graduation. While the Red Rocks lost four routines from those seniors, they gained four freshmen, and the team feels as though it gained more routines than it lost.

“We’ve increased a little bit of depth from last year’s squad,” Utah co-head coach Megan Marsden said.

The new squad is loaded with talent as it’s filled with Junior Olympians. Crystal Isa, a two-time Junior Olympic bars national champion, should have an immediate impact in the bars lineup. She could also make an appearance in Utah’s all-around lineup this season.

Adrienne Randall tied with Isa for fourth in the 2018 Junior Olympics all-around title and earned gold on beam where she’s slated to shine for Utah.

Hunter Dula qualified for the Junior Olympics three times and placed fourth on bars last season, while Cammy Hall also qualified last year. Before suffering a season-ending injury in November, Hall was expected to start on both vault and floor.

“(Junior Olympics) are really a great training ground for college gymnastics,” Marsden said. “Some of the expectations in J.O. are very similar to what we try to do in college.”

While the Red Rocks’ freshmen may not immediately compete on every event, Marsden said they will be “splattered in places.”

“We’ll be looking for them to show some of their experience that they have winning at the J.O. level.”

More difficulty? No problem

As if Utah’s superstar gymnast wasn’t doing enough difficult tricks while maintaining her reputation as one of the country’s best collegiate gymnasts, MyKayla Skinner is adding upgrades to her routines this season.

“MyKayla has a major release on bars,” Marsden said. “It has big amplitude, and I think it helps bring that event to a level of her other three events.”

Skinner is undeniably consistent, hitting all 110 of her routines in her first two seasons despite the incredible level of difficulty. Bars is the only event that Skinner has stayed the most conservative with skill selection. Marsden said the junior could have done more difficult skills in her first two seasons on bars, but they required more handstands, which Skinner wanted to perfect.

“I think that our fans will enjoy seeing (her bars routine).”

SLC Edition

Utah is promoting this season as the SLC Edition — showcasing downtown Salt Lake City in its promotional videos and photography. Last season the Red Rocks took to the Salt Flats to put together stunning, soothing visuals. In a 360-degree spin, they took to the streets of downtown Salt Lake City for an edgier vibe this season. Their photoshoot took place in a colorful, graffiti-filled alley. Shots of the gymnasts dancing downtown was also caught on film, displaying the capital, TRAX light rail system, and the cityscape.

“We felt like that was the opposite, and here in Utah you get both,” Marsden said, comparing last season’s campaign to this year. “You get a big city, but also the pristine beauty around us.”

Naturally, Utah wanted to bring the city into the Huntsman Center with a new leotard that the gymnasts will debut in its season opener on Friday.

Both coaches and gymnasts are excited about the new addition. They’re one-of-a-kind with Salt Lake City’s skyline along snow-capped mountains that feature a red U like the foothills above campus. To mimic snow, there are pearls in place of the usual rhinestones that are on Utah’s leotards.

“As people see the athlete competing on the jumbotron or up close, they’ll see that there are different kinds of jewels on this leotard,” Marsden said. “I’m excited about this leotard representing our whole campaign this year.”

Utah vaults into its season against Penn State on Saturday, Jan. 5 at 4 p.m. MST.

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