Red Rocks Dominate Best Of Utah Meet In Season Opener
Jan 7, 2022, 9:27 PM
(Courtesy of Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Red Rocks started their 2022 season with a win in the Best of Utah meet at Maverik Center on Friday night.
It’s the third straight Best of Utah win for the Red Rocks as they posted a score of 197.100. Utah State finished second with a 195.875. BYU ended the meet in third place with a score of 195.225. Southern Utah was in fourth with a 195.000.
Two Summer Olympic Gymnasts made their collegiate debut for Utah, including Grace McCallum and Kara Eaker. Eaker was scratched from the lineup due to an injury she suffered in the middle of the meet.
Rebecca Wells of Utah State won the all-around with a 39.125 score.
Final scores from Maverik Center! #L2L pic.twitter.com/UmkdqZHu8m
— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) January 8, 2022
First Rotation
Utah was on beam to start the meet and won the rotation with a 49.375 score as a team. Cristal Isa was the standout with a 9.90 score, followed by 9.875 from Amelie Morgan, Grace McCallum and Kara Eaker.
Southern Utah was on the bars and finished second in the rotation with a 49.125. Shylen Murakami and Hannah Nipp led the way with a 9.850. Caitlin Kho added a 9.825, while both Nikki Thomas and Mayson Bentley recorded a 9.80.
On vault, Utah State finished third in the rotation with a team score of 48.825. Eve Jackson recorded a 9.80 to lead the Aggies. Trinity Brown and Brie Clark each picked up a score of 9.775.
BYU finished fourth in the rotation on the floor with a 48.775. Brittney Vitkauskas had a 9.875 to lead the Cougars. Sophie Dudley and Abby Beeston added a 9.80.
BACK 2⃣ BACK 9.875s for Amelie Morgan and Grace McCallum on beam to start their college careers!
Proud beam coach right here ⏬ pic.twitter.com/S1c7aRtmZF
— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) January 8, 2022
Second Rotation
Utah won the second rotation on the floor with a 49.175. Abby Paulson led the way with 9.875, while McCallum finished with a 9.850. Jaedyn Rucker and Sydney Soloski each added a score of 9.825.
Utah State once again finished second in the rotation, this time on bars with a score of 48.850. Brianna Brooks led the Aggies with a 9.850, while Rebecca Wells and Eve Jackson each had a 9.775.
BYU ended the rotation on vault in third place with a 48.575. Sydney Benson and Elease Rollins had a 9.80 to lead the way. Haley Pitou added a score of 9.75 and Sophie Dudley had a 9.725.
Southern Utah brought up the rear on beam with a 48.350. Shylen Murakami led the Thunderbirds with a 9.85. Hannah Nipp chipped in a 9.775, while Rachel Smith and Emma Wissman each had a 9.70.
Cheesin' cuz it is gym szn 😀
Grace scores a 9.85 on floor, and Jaedyn and Syd add in 9.825s! pic.twitter.com/jKny4Or6vB
— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) January 8, 2022
Third Rotation
Utah finished the third rotation on the vault and posted a 49.325. Grace McCallum and Jaedyn Rucker each had impressive performances with a 9.90. Cammy Hall added a 9.875, while Alexia Burch finished with a score of 9.85.
Utah State was on the beam and finished second in the rotation with a score of 49.100. Sofi Sullivan and Kielyn McCright each recorded a 9.850. Brianna Brooks had a 9.825, while Rebecca Wells posted a 9.80.
BYU was on the bars for their third rotation and recorded a score of 49.000. Abby Beeston, Haley Pitou and Anna Bramblett each led the way with a 9.825. Lindsey Hunter finished with a 9.775.
Southern Utah ended the third rotation on floor with a score of 48.575. Kayla Horton led the Thunderbirds with a 9.775. Aubri Schwartze posted a score of 9.750, along with a 9.70 from Hannah Nipp and Rachel Smith.
Here for the stick AND the celebration! Go crazy Cammy!! That's a 9.875 🙌
💻 https://t.co/4gBD1cY79l pic.twitter.com/NIap9To4rY
— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) January 8, 2022
Fourth Rotation
Utah once again won the rotation. They were on bars and had a score of 49.225. Maile O’Keefe and Cristal Isa both had a 9.875. Abby Pauslon posted a 9.850, while Amelie Morgan added a 9.825.
Utah State was on floor and posted a score of 49.100. Brie Clark nearly had a perfect routine but settled for a 9.925. Ariel Toomey had a 9.850, Trinity Brown finished with a 9.825 and Rebecca Wells added a score of 9.80.
Southern Utah was in third in the rotation on vault with a 48.950. Kayla Horton and Morgan Alfaro had a 9.825 to lead SUU. Rachel Smith posted a 9.80, while both Ellie Cacciola and Stephanie Tervort recorded a 9.750.
BYU was on the beam and had a score of 48.875. Eliza Millar led the Cougars with a 9.875. Elease Rollins chipped in a 9.850, while Abby Beeston dropped a score of 9.775.
That's a 9.875 for Cris on bars and a 10.0 for her smile (if they judged that)!!
💻 https://t.co/eIDnM231me pic.twitter.com/vjWHwSP1cV
— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) January 8, 2022
Next up, Utah will host the 2021 National Runner-Up Oklahoma on Friday, January 14 at 7:30 p.m. MT on ESPN2.
Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for KSLSports.com, Co-Host of Faith, Family and Football podcast with Clark Phillips III and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports.