No. 4 Red Rocks score season high in first road test, win over Washington

SEATTLE — The first true road meet of the season didn't prove to be a daunting task for the fourth-ranked Red Rocks Saturday afternoon.

The Red Rocks made easy work on the road to beat the Washington Gym Dawgs 197.775-196.425. Most important for the team, though, it was a season-high team score that came on the road to help with the all-important NQS.

The meet itself wasn't perfect for the reigning three-time Pac-12 champions, but it was a clean road test for a gymnastics team still working out some lineup rotations as the season hits the midway point.

"I'm really proud of the team tonight," Red Rocks head coach Carly Dockendorf said. "First road meet and for us to be able to adapt to being here, I thought the team did an excellent job. We had some outstanding individual performances tonight."

Highlighting the day was freshman Ella Zirbes, who made her collegiate debut on floor Saturday afternoon. The freshman from Stillwater, Minnesota, had performed several times on vault and bars this season, but was tasked with her first opportunity on floor in the second spot.

And what a debut it was.

Zirbes showcased a beautiful floor routine that highlighted her tumbling skills while also featuring a finesse for the event that makes her a contender to be a permanent fixture on floor. In the end, Zirbes finished with a 9.925 as her teammates surrounding her at the center of the floor mat to celebrate the routine.

It was the capstone to a strong performance from the freshman Saturday, who scored a 9.850 on bars and a 9.875 on vault to open up the afternoon meet.

"It was really cool to see Ella rock her bar routine and then come out and just do a beautiful floor routine," Dockendorf said.

The 9.925 score from Zirbes was the beginning of a four-gymnast stretch with scores over 9.90 for the Red Rocks, including a 9.90 from the Taylor Swift-loving Abby Paulson, a 9.925 from Jaylene Gilstrap and a 9.950 from Grace McCallum.

For the first time this season, Gilstrap reverted back to her 2022 floor routine, which lends itself more to her clean and fluid lines rather than a more rushed-tempo routine. The change paid dividends and the senior recorded a season-high on the event.

"We tried a different kind of style of dance — a little more dynamic, a little more serious — and I think that it didn't really showcase her true artistry," Dockendorf said. "She is just such a gorgeous dancer, and I think when she moves a little more fluid, it shows how beautiful she really is in her movement quality. ... The routine she had this year was good, but I think it was holding her back from really maximizing her floor score."

The Red Rocks opened up the road meet with confidence, scoring a season-high 49.525 on uneven bars. Makenna Smith, who has been consistently one of the team's best leadoff gymnasts, opened up the meet with a 9.90 score, and the Red Rocks meant business.

Two gymnasts later, Amelie Morgan kept the momentum going with a 9.925 that was followed by two more 9.925 scores by Maile O'Keefe and Grace McCallum, who was back in the all-around competition for the first time since the second meet of the season.

"I think the whole team was ready to travel," Morgan said, speaking to every meet this season being in the state of Utah. "We were ready for something different, and I think that kind of gave us some fire coming into this meet.

"We knew we were gonna have to adapt to some new equipment — obviously, we've been at home a lot — and there definitely was some lessons learned today, and it was nice that we got this opportunity to kind of adapt to a different environment, but I think we did a great job and we're excited to go on the road again."

The biggest lesson came on vault where the gymnasts struggled to stick landings and get consistent scores for a lineup that has the potential to have all gymnasts throw a 10.0 routine. But Saturday was not that day.

The Red Rocks failed to score anyone over a 9.875 as the team hovered in the 9.80 score range. In total, the team finished with a team low 49.200 to the day.

Team scores

No. 4 Utah:

• Bars: 49.525
• Vault: 98.725 (49.200)
• Floor: 148.300 (49.575)
• Beam: 197.775 (49.475)

Washington:

• Vault: 48.875
• Bars: 98.025 (49.150)
• Beam: 147.100 (49.075)
• Floor: 196.425 (49.325)

Red Rocks scores

1st Rotation: Bars (49.525)

• Makenna Smith: 9.900
• Alani Sabado: 9.825
• Amelie Morgan: 9.925
• Ella Zirbes: 9.850
• Maile O'Keefe: 9.925
• Grace McCallum: 9.925

2nd Rotation: Vault (49.200)

• Jaylene Gilstrap: 9.800
• Ella Zirbes: 9.875
• Ashley Glynn: 9.750
• Makenna Smith: 9.850
• Jaedyn Rucker: 9.875
• Grace McCallum: 9.800

3rd Rotation: Floor (49.575)

• Makenna Smith: 9.875
• Ella Zirbes: 9.925
• Abby Paulson: 9.900
• Jaylene Gilstrap: 9.925
• Grace McCallum: 9.950
• Jaedyn Rucker: 9.825

4th Rotation: Beam (49.475)

• Amelie Morgan: 9.950
• Makenna Smith: 9.825
• Liz Gantner: 9.875
• Grace McCallum: 9.875
• Abby Paulson: 9.950
• Maile O'Keefe: 9.800

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