Utah is gearing up for its first Big 12 conference dual, as it hosts Iowa State, which is led by second-year head coach Ashley Miles Greig. Miles Greig might be familiar with the Huntsman Center from her days as a sports commentator, but this will be the first time she leads a team in front of one of the rowdiest arenas in college gymnastics. The Cyclones are coming off 195.100 total last week, which is nearly a full point of improvement from its season opener against LSU. This squad is lacking depth, especially on vault, where it only competed five up the past two weeks rather than six. This means every bent arm, toe point, and hop will matter for the Cyclones as they face the top-ranked team in the Big 12.
Utah is coming off a fourth-place finish against three of the nation’s best teams, and surprisingly beam was the event that took the Utes out of contention for the win. Head coach Carly Dockendorf is still trying to find the routines to replace beam queens Maile O’Keefe and Abby Paulson, but star freshman Avery Neff is one who has stepped up to the plate. Neff posted team-highs on vault, bars, and floor in one of the most competitive meets in her career thus far. Utah walks in as the favorite in today’s matchup, and it would take a big day from Iowa State to outdo Dockendorf’s star-studded squad.
Rotation 1: Utah VT, Iowa State UB
Zirbes (UTAH): Peforms her usual Yurchenko 1.5 and takes a step forward. Likely some deductions on her bent knees and amplitude, but the pre-flight form was great. 9.800.
Thomas (ISU): Slight leg separation on the blind change, but does a nice straddled jaeger out of it. Solid transition down to the low bar. Double layout dismount and lands with her feet too far in front of her and takes a big uncontrolled step out of it. 9.600.
McCallum (UTAH): Goes for the Yurchenko 1.5! Solid form in the air and opens it up early, but doesn’t look so sure of that landing. She took a big step to the side. 9.750.
Loyim (ISU): Starts with a well done piked jaegar but has a leg separation. Big leg separation on the Pak down to the low bar. Under rotates her double layout dismount and takes a big step forward. 9.675.
Winger (UTAH): Sticks her Yurchenko 1.5! She doesn’t get the biggest pop off of the table, but she made it work and has great air awareness on that landing. 10.0/9.825 split? 9.875.
Bergstrom-Te Slaa (ISU): Caught with her fingertips on the piked jaeger. Goes for a kip to cast handstand and her hand completely slipped and she comes off the bars. Remounts and transitions to the low bar with Bail. Giant full + double tuck and was really close to the bar, but finds the landing well. 9.175.
Neff (UTAH): Huge block and you can hear it when she hits the table. Yurchenko 1.5 with a small hop forward. 9.900
Wills (ISU): Toe on + Maloney + Pak, nicely done but had some flexed feet. Nice half pirouette on the low bar and transitions back up to the high bar. Double layout dismount and takes a step forward. 9.700.
Smith (UTAH): Omelianchik with a big hop forward. It was clean in the air. 9.850.
Sgarbosa (ISU): Maloney to immediate clear hip to handstand! Caught a little close on the Pak but covers well. First stick for the Cyclone as the Canadian elite finds the landing on her double layout. 9.775.
Glynn (UTAH): Almost sticks on a Yurchenko 1.5! She lifted her right foot ever so slightly but put it right back in place. This vault has been rock solid this year. 9.875.
Goldstein (ISU): Short on the first clear hip to handstand, and baulks on the Shaposhnikova. Might be an equipment issue? Coach is adjusting the bar setting. Looks like she is getting a restart.
Remounts and goes for the Shaposhnikova and its completely off. Another fall for the Cyclones. Remounts at the high bar and does a solid Pak salto. Double layout dismount and is way short on rotation, falling forward to her knees. 8.025 with a 9.500 start value.
After 1: Utah 49.300, Iowa State 47.925
Utah showcased six 10.0 start value vaults for the first time this season for a 49.300 season-high event total, with Olympic silver medalist Grace McCallum bringing back her Yurchenko 1.5. Although her score was dropped, the vault gives McCallum something to build on moving forward.
Iowa State struggled on bars, but Frederique Sgarbosa’s 9.775 was the highlight. The Cyclones have had trouble on this event this season but the 47.925 is a season-low for them.
Rotation 2: Iowa State VT, Utah UB
Wills (ISU): Clean Yurchenko full but blocks a little high on the table, so doesn’t get great amplitude and height. 9.700.
Smith (UTAH): Gorgeous Pak salto to start. Short on the low bar handstand, and has a slight foot separation on the Maloney half. Sticks the dismount but low chest position. 9.825.
Sgarbosa (ISU): She does a really good Yurchenko full! Really nice height and flares it out at the end, but takes a sizable hop back. 9.800
Raposo (UTAH): Starts off with a Chow and struggles on the Pak but makes it work. Leg separation on the Maloney half. Nice open position on the double layout dismount, but takes a couple tiny hops back. 9.775.
Loyim (ISU): Another nicely done Yurchenko full but takes a sizable hop back. Some bents arms on the table. 9.675.
Glynn (UTAH): Nice first handstand. Perfect handstand on the Bail. Stalder + double tuck and that is stuck. She showed off every single one of those handstands and its the best routine I’ve seen from her. 9.900.
Adams (ISU): Yurchenko full with a lot of power! Opens up at the perfect time but is slightly piked, causing her to take a hop back. It was really good though. 9.800.
Neff (UTAH): Clear hip + geinger + overshoot, had a slight leg separation on the geiner. Dismounts with a flared out full twisting double layout dismount and takes a step back. 9.850.
Bergstrom-Te Slaa (ISU): The blocks on these Yurchenko fulls are great! She took just a small hop back. 9.825.
Morgan (UTAH): Starts with a clean Maloney + Pak, nicely done and a change from her usual Bhardwaj. Clean Maloney half to get back up to the high bar. Stalder hetch dismount with front half and takes just a small step. 9.825
Hardin (ISU): Omelianchik and takes a huge hop forward. Good height and distance. 9.725.
McCallum (UTAH): Starts off with a very clean Chow + Pak. Maybe some flexed feet. She performs a nicely done Maloney half to get back up to the high bar. Really nice stick on her full twisting double tuck dismount. 9.975.
Winger (UTH): Exhibition routine here. A bit short on her first hand stand, but goes for well performed Maloney + Pak. Really nice half pirouette on the low bar. Sticks her half in half out dismount.
After 2: Utah 98.675, Iowa State 96.775
Utah built on its first rotation to score a 49.375 event total, led by McCallum’s near perfect 9.975. Winger’s exhibition outscored Raposo’s event-low 9.775, meaning the sophomore could be on the verge of breaking into the lineup.
Iowa State put up six vaults for the first time this season and the vaults were great. I saw a lot of amplitude off the table from most of the lineup, and I’m looking forward to seeing when freshman Haylee Hardin can control that landing and find the stick on the Cyclones’ only 10.0 start value.
Rotation 3: Utah BB, Iowa State FX
Padurariu (UTAH): Solid double wolf turn to start, no problem there. Effortless front aerial + BHS. Split jump + sheep jump – her trademark. Dismounts with gainer pike off the end and scoots her feet back. Great leadoff routine for the Utes. 9.875.
Guinee (ISU): Standing LOSO at the corner to start – I’m guessing she is a front tumbler. Front double twist to start and takes a slightly large step. Switch half + wolf jump full + wolf jump full and lacks a bit of control on those. Front layout + front full and it was well done. 9.750.
Winger (UTAH): Forward roll onto the beam. BHS + LOSO + LOSO and it was solid. Maybe some flexed feet but she was right one. Switch leap + split jump, nicely done. Tried to be perfect on that full turn but wobbled just a bit. BHS + gainer full off the side and sticks the landing. 9.900.
Manterna (ISU): Sticks her front tuck through to double back cold! Switch straddle + straddle jump, lacking some flexibility there. RO + double pike and is a bit short on rotation and takes a step forward. 9.525.
Smith (UTAH): Starts off a back dive mount. Shows off her control on the full turn, staying on releve extra long. BHS + LOSO and its perfect. Front aerial and wobbles. Redoes it and connect a split jump + straddle 1/4 out of it. She needed that for her connection bonus. Gainer pike off the end, opens up at the perfect time and finds the stick. 9.700.
Schell (ISU): Rudi + stag jump and makes the jump work, but doesn’t get the best height on it. Switch straddle 1/2 + straddle jump, maybe some precision deductions there. Dismounts with a back 1.5 + front layout and that was nicely done. Solid routine overall. 9.725.
Neff (UTAH): Expressive dance to start off her routine. Side aerial + BHS and completely covered up any sign of misalignment. Gorgeous side aerial to two feet. Inward full turn and its nicely done. Flared out gainer full off the end and sticks the landing. What a balance of difficulty and precision. She’s already a star. 9.925.
Loyim (ISU): Starts off with a huge open double tuck, but takes a big step forward. Some flexed feet on her wolf jump full. Switch straddle + straddle jump and it is nicely done. Back 1.5 + front layout and is off on the punch, causing her to bend her knees in that second salto to make it to her feet. 9.800.
Morgan (UTAH): Starts off with a perfect BHS + BHS + LOSO. Sissone + switch half with some flexed feet. Confident full turn. Gainer front full off the side and circles her arms to fight for the stuck landing. 9.800.
Hardin (ISU): HUGE double layout to start! Tour jete half + Popa, nicely around but maybe short of the split. Second pass is a back 1.5 + front layout and it was floaty. Dismounts with a huge double pike with a big slide back. That was some special tumbling. 9.875.
McCallum (UTAH): Back dive mount. Triple wolf turn and follows with another double wolf turn. She is good at those wolf turns. BHS + LOSO and was a bit off but made it work. Nicely done switch leap + split leap. Gainer tuck full off the end and sticks the landing. Biggest deduction was that unsure acro series. 9.850.
Adams (ISU): Only needs a few steps to go for a big front double full – maybe a bit underrotated causing her to take slightly uncontrolled step forward. Tour jete half + Popa and it was nicely done. Standing back to fulfill her back tumbling requirement. Front layout + Rudi and that was great. 9.850.
Gantner (UTAH): Exhibition routine. BHS + LOSO and its perfect. Switch half + straddle jump, a bit short of 180 there. Good full turn. RO + back 1.5 and takes a step forward. Solid routine. 9.700.
After 3: Utah 148.025, Iowa State 145.775
Neff posted Utah’s best beam routine with a career-high 9.925 and the Utes recovered after an off week on the event. It’s 49.350 is a 0.275 improvement from last week but it still short of their event season high.
Iowa State hit the 49.000 barrier on floor for the first time this season, led by freshman Haylee Hardin’s 9.875. Hardin showed off some huge tumbling and her potential is sky-high.
Rotation 4: Iowa State BB, Utah FX
O’Brochta (ISU): Shows off her back flexibility with a tik-tok to get her routine started. Falls off on her BHS + LOSO + LOSO. Staddle jump half + split jump half both done on the side of the beam. Nice height on the gainer pike dismount and sticks the landing. 9.175.
Zirbes (UTAH): Super clean front double twist to start and shows off a controlled step. Switch half + Popa and hits 180. She loses her breath again and completely pauses on the dance, sitting on the ground with her head down. She did a similar thing last week, too. She walks to the corner and finishes with a back 1.5 + front full, landing it well. Hope she is okay. 9.725.
Adams (ISU): Solid BHS + LOSO to start the routine. Switch leap + switch leap, looked a bit off but fought through. Side aerial Cat leap + front aerial and its nicely done. Gainer full off the side and its nicely done. Good routine following up the fall from O’Brochta. 9.825.
Glynn (UTAH): Front double full to start. Nice position on her switch ring. Dismounts with a nicely done back 1.5 + front layout. 9.850.
Loyim (ISU): Well done switch leap + switch leap. Front aerial + straight jump and nearly loses her flow. Slight hesitation on the full turn. BHS + LOSO at near the end of the routine and its well done. Final skill is switch straddle. Dismounts with a gainer full off of the side and takes a hop back. 9.675.
Smith (UTAH): Front double full + front tuck – I love that pass. Cat leap full + L hop full which is very unique. RO + back layout intentionally to her stomach, really cool choreography. Rudi + LOSO dismount and its good. 9.900.
Sgarbosa (ISU): Single wolf turn to start. BHS + gainer side aerial, unique and well done combo. Switch leap + straddle jump and has to drop her shoulder a bit. Slight balance check on the low beam choreography. Cat leap + side somi and hesitates a bit. Nice stick on the back 1.5 dismount. 9.675.
Neff (UTAH): Front full + front double and takes a slightly uncontrolled step forward, but who cares. That was awesome. RO + back 2.5 and opens up perfectly, taking a controlled step forward. Switch straddle + wolf full, but didnt fully make it around. Dismounts with a Rudi and tries to go for a LOSO but looks like she injured something! She immediately grabbed onto her foot when landed. She was just carried out of the arena. 9.350.
Thomas (ISU): Nicely connected front toss + BHS. Switch leap + straddle 1/4 with some flexed feet and short split position. Unique entry into her full turn. Sticks her back 1.5 dismount. 9.800.
Gilstrap (UTAH): Front layout + Rudi and takes a big step back. Switch half + tour jete, really pretty. BHS + LOSO before she goes for her second and final pass. Front layout + front full and could have stuck it cold, but instead show off her control with a small step forward. 9.900.
Bergstrom-Te Slaa (ISU): Confident full turn to start the routine off. Cat leap + front toss + BHS and it was well done. Switch leap + switch leap and looks off to one side but walks out of it and disguises it well. Isolated split jump before she sticks her front tuck full off the end. 9.875.
McCallum (UTAH): Starts with a full twisting double back with an excellent landing. Second pass is a front tuck through to double tuck, landed that a tiny bit short. Precise double wolf turn. Finishes it off with a switch leap + tour jete half. 9.900.
Goldstein (ISU): Exhibition routine here and starts it with a nice full turn. BHS + LOSO and leans to one side, but covers well.Switch leap and lifts her leg up in the air. Beat jump + split jump 3/4. Clean front aerial. Back 1.5 dismount and takes a step forward. 9.500.
Johnson (UTAH): Exhibition routine for the freshman! Opens up with a double layout, lands a bit short and is completely out of of bounds. Second pass is a double pike, overcooked it and falls on her bottom. Dismounts with front full + front pike and steps out of bounds. Not the routine she wanted, but it won’t affect Utah’s event total. 9.050.
Raposo (UTAH): Another exhibition for Utah. Nicely executed pike jump before her first pass. She starts with a front tuck through to double back and is a bit short. Side pass is a back 1.5 + front tuck. Switch straddle + Popa, would love to see her clean those up. Underrotates her double pike dismount, landing with a low chest and takes a step forward. Not sure this composition will score well or if its working well for her. 9.625.
FINAL: Utah 197.300, Iowa State 194.850
While Utah might have won the meet tonight, freshman Avery Neff’s apparent injury is quite devastating. Neff’s freshman campaign might have just come to close, but I hope that is not the case. Wishing her a speedy recovery. Otherwise, it was Utah’s best night of the year and its first time scoring above a 197.000 this season.
Iowa State replicated about what they’ve done in the first two meets of the season and once again struggled on their lowest ranked event, bars. Freshman Haylee Hardin was a highlight for the Cyclones with her 9.875 career-high on floor. She will be contributing heavily on the power events for Iowa State this year.
VT: Avery Neff (Utah) 9.900
UB: Grace McCallum (Utah) 9.975
BB: Avery Neff (Utah) 9.925
FX: Makenna Smith, Jaylene Gilstrap, Grace McCallum (Utah) 9.900
AA: Grace McCallum (Utah) 39.475
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Live blog by Aaron Doyle
