While Utah may appear poised to dominate this meet, the competition could be closer than expected.
No. 4 Utah enters as the favorite after securing its first regular-season title in the Big 12. A win tonight would mark the Red Rocks’ fifth consecutive conference championship, following four straight Pac-12 titles. Utah leads the conference with eight gymnasts named to the All-Big 12 team, and standout freshman Avery Neff earned a spot on the inaugural All-Freshman team—an impressive feat after overcoming what was initially thought to be a season-ending injury.
Despite Utah’s frontrunner status, the rest of the field won’t go down without a fight. Denver has rebounded from early-season struggles on beam and gained momentum behind the emergence of Madison Ulrich as a steady all-arounder. If Utah falters, the Pioneers have the potential to capitalize. Arizona and Arizona State, both in their first seasons in the Big 12, have fought hard to earn their spots at this meet. The Wildcats’ dynamic duo of Abigayle Martin and Alysen Fears helped lead them to their first undefeated home season since 2004, while the Sun Devils are peaking at the right time, fueled by Jada Mangahas’ return from injury. If all four teams hit, this could turn into a thrilling battle to the finish.
Rotation 1: UU vault, DU bars, AZ beam, ASU floor
Zirbes (UU): Y 1.5, some loose knees in the air, took a controlled step forward on the landing. 9.850
Casali (DU): Maloney to bail to handstand, some looseness in the handstand on the low bar, good final handstand, DLO dismount with a scoot back. 9.725
Fears (AZ): BHS LOSO, balance check after the layout. Side aerial looked good. Split jump stag jump looked good, RO 1.5 dismount with a hop forward on the landing. 9.750
Purler (ASU): double pike to open, slide backwards on the landing. Second pass looked good, traveled backwards a bit on the jump out of it, good final pass!
McCallum (UU): Y 1.5, really high and lots of power off the table, hop backwards in place on the landing.
Ulrich (DU): Maloney to Pak, looked like her feet brushed the floor on the catch so she lost some form out of it, solid dismount, but it will be a sizable deduction.
Clark (ASU): Slotting in here, double tuck to open, hop backwards on the landing. Back 1.5 front layout, good rise on the second skill, leaps looked really underrotated from this angle. Double pike, not a ton of power out of it, landed with a low chest.
Neff (UU): Y 1.5, really nice block off the table, had to step forward on the landing.
Rock (AZ): BHS LOSO, really steady on that series. Switch leap tuck jump, the first leap didn’t quite look 180 degrees. Cat leap front toss with a bit of an adjustment on the landing. RO 1.5 dismount with a small hop forward.
Rorich (DU): blind to straddle Jaeger, lost a little momentum after the catch, had to muscle through it. DLO dismount with a hop. Good comeback after Ulrich’s lower than normal score.
Glynn (UU): Y 1.5, great form in the air, good block, pretty sizable hop forward.
Mangahas (ASU): full-in was GORGEOUS, little lean after the landing. Front through to double tuck final pass was good, leaps were pretty as well.
Mueller (AZ): BHS LOSO, lean after the layout. Gets her momentum back on the leap series throughout, RO 1.5 dismount with a small hop forward.
Cooley (DU): Ray release, really good height, bail to handstand looked slightly short on the low bar, DLO dismount with a stick.
M. Smith (UU): Omelianchik, nice straight arms on the block, good pike position off the table, tiny hop forward on the landing.
K. Smith (ASU): First pass was reallyyyyy close to being OOB, but I think she kept it in. Back 1.5 front layout second pass looked good, double tuck was underrotated, tried to cover it with the lunge.
Deets (AZ): BHS LOSO, really solid series to start. Really nice height on her switch side. Spot on on her front toss. Switch leap to gainer full dismount with a slide back on the landing.
Hebinck (DU): Ricna to Pak, has to add a swing after the Pak after losing some momentum on her catch, DLO dismount with a hop back.
Martin (AZ): Really pretty stag jump in the beginning of her series. BHS LOSO looks good as did the front aerial, making some small adjustments throughout. BHS gainer full dismount, low chest but kept her feet still.
Gregoire (ASU): full-in to open, nice control on the step out of it. Switch side straddle full, little short in her split position. FHS Rudi layout step out to end her routine. Sun Devils doing really well on floor to start.
Zoe Johnson fell on her vault for Utah, but it should have the lead after one. Mundell just hit the cleanest routine on bars for the Pioneers in this rotation.
E. White (ASU): FHS front double full, lack of control out of it but she tried to jump out of it to cover it up. Switch ring switch half, maybe a bit under 180 in the switch half. Back 1.5 front layout, nailed the landing on the front layout and had the rise out of it. Very nicely done!
After 1: UU 49.325, AZ 49.175, ASU 49.000, DU 48.900
There weren’t many sticks across the board, but Utah’s difficulty on vault has given it a tenth and a half advantage heading into rotation 2. Arizona was good on beam, but some wobbles kept its scores a little lower than the Wildcats would’ve liked. The Sun Devils were able to sneak into third by a tenth over Denver after the Pioneers had some struggles on bars.
Also, in case you missed it, West Virginia has unofficially locked in a spot for regionals, meaning the Big 12 will have six out of seven teams represented at regionals competition!
Rotation 2: ASU vault, UU bars, DU beam, AZ floor
Lichtman (ASU): Y full, big pop on the table, really straight legs, hopped on the landing.
M. Smith (UU): Pak salto to open was really nice, Van Leeuwen was good, but her final handstand looked a little short. Toe on front pike half dismount with a stick.
Cooley (DU): BHS LOSO series looked good, switch leap switch half beat jump, some hesitation before the switch half, so we’ll have to see if the judges credit it or not. BHS gainer full dismount with a stick.
Glynn (UU): Maloney to bail to handstand, really tight position on the low bar, blind full to double tuck dismount, came in short and had to take a step forward.
Gallen (DU): BHS LOSO, balance check after the layout. Leaps looked solid throught, got the gainer pike dismount off the end. 2/2 so far!
Fears (AZ): Coming after LaRusso’s 9.850. 2.5 twist to open, really nicely done! Nice amplitude and extension on her leaps throughout. Back 1.5 front full, landed a little leg-locked, but managed to stay on her feet.
Iwai (DU): BHS LOSO LOSO series, spot on. Following a 9.750 from Gallen. Cartwheel to gainer full dismount with a stick! 9.900
Neff (UU): clear hip to Geinger to immediate overshoot, kept those skills connected and goes right back to the high bar. full twisting DLO dismount with a hop forward, insane that she’s back to that dismount already.
Derr (AZ): Bit out of control on the landing of the first pass. Leaps were good, nice amplitude off the floor. FLO front full pass, nice rise on the front full, good comeback after a bit of a wild landing on that first pass.
Morgan (UU): Maloney to Bhardwaj, little loose form on the twist in the air, but hangs on. Back up to the high bar, stalder front tuck half dismount with the tiniest foot movement on the landing.
Martin (AZ): Nice pretty double pike to open, good control on the landing. Front layout front full combo pass was spot on. Switch ring tour jete half, split positions were right at 180. Double tuck to close, Wildcats keeping pace with Utah.
Mangahas (ASU): Y full, lots of amplitude off the table with a tiny hop back.
Zirbes (UU): blind to straddle Jaeger, the toe point in the air was spectacular, to immediate overshoot. Full twisting double tuck dismount with a hop back. Utah keeping clean on the bar, but haven’t found a ton of sticks on the landing.
Strom (AZ): Rudi LOSO to open, she got a lot of height on the layout step out! Some control issues with the leap series, but kept herself in bounds. Back 1.5 front full, didn’t quite get her feet where they needed to be and fought to keep upright. Good save, but Wildcats will want to drop this score.
McCallum (UU): Anchoring the lineup with only one score 9.900 plus. Stalder to Maloney to Pak salto, really good control on all of those release. Van Leeuwen was good back to the high bar, full twisting double tuck dismount with a step forward on the landing.
Mueller (AZ): Trying to drop a 9.725. Double pike to open, angle didn’t do her any favors when it came to the landing. Back 1.5 front layout combo pass was solid. Loving the choreography! Double tuck to close, bit of a low chest on the landing, but overall, good routine!
After Two: UU 98.700, AZ 98.300, DU 98.025, ASU 97.825
Utah expands its lead over Arizona, but Denver moves into third over Arizona State despite a lower than expected beam rotation. Arizona does a solid job on floor to help keep pace with the Red Rocks at the halfway point. I still feel like this could go either way but we shall see.
Rotation 3: AZ vault, ASU bars, UU beam, DU floor
LaRusso (AZ): Y full, great height and distance, big stick on the landing. Maybe that will be the momentum changer the Wildcats need to pull the upset?
Morgan (UU): Triple series was spot on. Switch half beat jump, good 180 position on the switch. Front gainer full dismount with a step.
Rorich (DU): Front through to double tuck, bit of a larger step back on the landing. Leaps were good, needing a bit more on the rotation. Double pike to close.
Mueller (AZ): Y full, big height, but a big hop back on the landing.
Gregoire (ASU): Half pirouette to Geinger, unique combination! Little short on the handstand that follows, DLO, bit pikey on the landing but got the stick.
WInger (UU): BHS LOSO LOSO, bit of a stutter step after the second layout but recovers well. Switch leap split jump, lacked a little 180 on the split jump. BHS gainer full, good rise on the gainer, with a solid landing.
Martin (AZ): Y full, not as much distance, pikes down a tiny bit to get the landing, leans a bit to keep her feet on the mat.
M. Smith (UU): BHS LOSO, off on the layout and comes off the beam. Front aerial split jump straddle quarter, good split on the jump. Gainer pike off the end. Red Rocks will want to drop that score.
K. Smith (ASU): blind to straddle Jaeger, nice arms on the catch. Bail to handstand was pretty, nice final handstand, DLO dismount, some knee bend with a hop.
Strom (AZ): Y full, great distance on the landing. Huge stick! Wildcats will want to keep sticking these landings with Utah having one fall on beam to close that gap.
McCallum (UU): Goes for the wolf turns, just a little off so just opts for the one set of turns. BHS LOSO, solid. Leaps were solid, keeping her cool after Smith’s fall. Tucked gainer full off the end of the beam with a stick.
Iwai hits a solid floor routine, Pioneers staying in the hunt.
Neff (UU): Side aerial BHS series spot on, Cat leap side aerial Shushunova, really pretty series. I love how they’ve adjusted this to help her post injury. BHS gainer full dismount with a hop back.
S. Clark (ASU): blind to straddle Jaeger, really straight arms on that catch. Pak salto to low bar was good, handstand on top of the high bar looked a tiny bit short, DLO dismount with a stick.
Padurariu (UU): A hit erases Smith’s fall. Front aerial BHS with a balance check afterwards. Leap series was really pretty, gainer pike dismount off the end with a solid stick. Smith’s fall will be dropped.
Ulrich (DU): Really pretty DLO to open, some low chest on that landing. Switch side straddle full was really good. Needing a hit, she’s had a rough meet so far unfortunately. Double tuck to close, didn’t quite get as much height as she normally does.
After 3: UU 148.300, AZ 147.400, DU 147.175, ASU 146.850
Utah gave a little with Makenna Smith’s fall on beam, but the Red Rocks are able to extend their lead to almost a full point heading into the final rotation. Arizona and Denver are neck and neck for that second spot after the Wildcats found a few sticks on vault.
Utah needs a 48.975 on floor to secure the No. 4 seed for postseason. Should be a doable number, but never say never.
Rotation 4: DU vault, AZ bars, ASU beam, UU floor
Brusch (DU): Y full, really good block off the table, stick on the landing. Very good opening routine for the Pioneers after an overall rough meet.
Lee (ASU): Sissone immediately into full turn, really pretty. BHS BHS LOSO, slight lean to save it but keeps it on the beam. Another balance check on the leaps, RO 1.5 dismount with a stick.
Glynn (UU): FHS front double full, dances out of it. Beautiful extension on that leap series! Back 1.5 to front full final pass, really nice rise on the second element.
Mabanta (DU): Another y full, more height than Brusch’s in the air with another stick!
Krohnfeldt (AZ): Maloney to bail to handstand, nice tight form in the handstand on the low bar, DLO dismount with a solid stick! Of course the sticks are going to be flying in the final rotation because why not.
Lichtman (ASU): BHS LOSO spot on. Switch leap straddle quarter, good rise off the beam on the straddle. Front aerial, normally connects it to the beat jump, but had some balance issues. RO 1.5 dismount with a small shuffle of the feet.
Ulrich (DU): FHS pike half, nice power off the table, good pike position in the air, hop back on the landing.
Derr (AZ): Ray, caught it really close but got her momentum back. Transition to low bar good, nice handstand on the high bar, DLO dismount, arm swing on the landing, kept her feet still.
K. Smith (ASU): BHS LOSO, spot on. Standing LOSO to beat jump, I love the uniqueness of skills that the Sun Devils bring to competition. RO 1.5 dismount with a stick.
Neff (UU): Double twist punch front to open, interesting pass but I don’t hate it. Fun choreography throughout this routine! Back 1.5 front full, lots of twisting throughout this routine but she’s spot on every time.
Reidenbach (DU): Y 1.5, good height and distance off the table, had the stick but took a tiny hop at the last second!
Clark (ASU): Balance check after the full turn. BHS BHS LOSO, solid. Split jump straddle quarter, nice extension on those leaps. Front aerial to what looks like a straight jump? Front gainer full with a stick to close.
Gilstrap (UU): FLO Rudi, some control issues out of the Rudi. Beautiful extension on the leaps as she dances out of them. FLO front full to close it out, Utah feeling it with two routines to go!
Casali (DU): Y 1.5, form again was really good, and again, Denver had the landing, but hops backwards out of it at the last second.
White (ASU): BHS LOSO solid. Pretty full turn on releve. Front aerial to beat jump, nice flow in those connections. Split jump stag jump, little wobble afterwards. BHS 1.5 with a hop forward on the landing.
M. Smith (UU): Front double full to punch front, little off center with some loose knees but got the stick on the punch front. Pretty leap series, just needs a hit final landing. FHS Rudi LOSO, beautiful rise on the layout.
Seaga (ASU): BHS LOSO, lean to the side after the layout. Switch leap switch side, bit of a backwards wobble on the switch side. Side aerial with a leg lift out of it. Split jump straddle quarter, much better on that leap connection. Gainer pike off the end dismount with a stick. This was a solid meet for the Sun Devils and gives them something to build on heading into regionals.
Utah will move into the No. 4 seed with a 197.725 before McCallum’s floor.
McCallum (UU): Full-in to open, spot on with a really pretty position in the chest. Front tuck through to double tuck, big step backwards out of it. Big amplitude on the leap series as Utah will secure its first Big 12 championship!
FINAL: Utah 197.775, Arizona 196.675, Denver 196.400, ASU 195.975
It was a hard fought meet, but the Red Rocks pull out the victory and secure the No. 4 seed for postseason. Arizona comes in as the runner-up, defeating Denver for the second time this season, while Arizona State’s score puts them into fifth place behind BYU’s 196.275 from session one.
VT: McCallum (UU), Glynn (UU), Brusch (DU), Mabanta (DU) – 9.900
UB: M. Smith (UU) – 9.925
BB: Neff (UU), Padurariu (UU) – 9.950
FX: M. Smith (UU) – 9.925
AA: McCallum (UU) – 39.550
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