These two Utah teams face off again after meeting just last week at the Maverik Center’s Best of Utah meet. The Utes solidified their dominance, tying for the nation-high score of 197.950, even without standout freshman Avery Neff. Neff suffered severe sprains in both ankles just two days before the meet and is out indefinitely, with no clear recovery timeline. Her absence leaves significant gaps across all four events. Head coach Carly Dockendorf is working to reconfigure the lineups, and we saw several new faces step up at the Best of Utah. Despite some debate over the accuracy of the judging, Utah remains a powerhouse team.
BYU, currently ranked No. 46, is at its lowest national ranking since 2009. The Cougars have yet to break 196.000 in 2025 but showed promise last week. After a slow start to the season, with scores declining in the first three meets and a disappointing 193.375 in their loss to Southern Utah, BYU rebounded with a 195.750. Sophomore Brynlee Andersen led the charge with a 9.925 on beam, an event where she holds a career-high of 9.975. She’s definitely a gymnast to keep an eye on this weekend as BYU looks to continue improving.
This should be a compelling rematch between these in-state rivals!
Rotation 1: BYU VT, Utah UB
Aaron has a meeting running long, so Tara here until he gets back!
Dudley (BYU): yfull with a normal hop back and another tiny hop back, slightly loose in the air. 9.7
Smith (Utah): great first hs. Pak, nice. handstand on low within 10. van leeuwen with tiny leg sep. Little short on her last hs. Holds onto the stick on her toe on pike half with a lean back. 9.7
Harsh (BYU): yhalf, which is new for her this year. Would like more height, but good form and a tiny hop to the left. 9.7
Padurariu (Utah): hits her first hs. Maloney to bail hs, nice. Great final hs. ftdt, lands with a low chest and a step back. Great to see her competing again this year! 9.8
Kirkham (BYU): yfull, preflight leg sep. Lands short with a step forward and low chest. I don’t think her knees touched, but it was awfully close. 9.525, they’re gonna want that to be the drop.
Glynn (Utah): milks her first hs. Maloney to bail, hit. slightly short final hs. Sticks her double tuck to finish, albeit staggered landing. 9.775
Jorgensen (BYU): full on pike, low chest on the landing and a hop back. It’s so hard to get good height on those entries and that’s one thing that could be better here. 9.75
Morgan (Utah): toe Maloney to bhardwaj, some foot and leg form. van leuween, crossed feet. Lands staggered on her dismount and takes a small step to bring her feet together. 9.85
Eaquinto (BYU): yfull, great in the air overall but ends up taking a hop forward. 9.775
Zirbes (Utah): nice opening hs. straddled jaeger caught close to bail, loose back. ftdt stuck. Makes it through with a solid routine. Really love her toe point on her jaeger. 9.875
Silva (BYU): yfull, really good in the air with good dynamics and a small hop back. Just a little bit of soft knees in the air. Should be one of their top scores of the rotation. 9.85
McCallum (Utah): hs to shap to pak. Van leeuwen. Her usual foot and leg form. She’s working so fast. ftdt, holds on to the landing. 9.925
Hoke (BYU, exh): yfull, crunched her elbows on the table and couldn’t get a good block, which results in a short landing with hop step forward. 9.6
Kennedy (Utah, exh): nice first hs. straddled jaeger, hit. pak, tiny bit of leg sep that the judges may not be able to see. short final hs. ftdt, slightly low chest and steps her legs together. That’s a solid routine to have in your back pocket. 9.675
After 1: Utah 49.250, BYU 48.775
Utah built on each routine throughout the lineup, accented by McCallum’s anchor 9.925—the only routine to go over 9.9 so far. It wasn’t BYU’s best set of vaults and the Cougars will look to move past that as the meet progresses.
Rotation 2: Utah VT, BYU UB
Zirbes (Utah): y1.5, tiny leg sep on the entry and bent knees coming into the landing. Slide to the side. Yes, McKell, we could see that knee in real time. 9.825
Jorgensen (BYU): tiny arch in her first hs but covers it well. Solid ray. She did some form of bail to the low bar but it went straight in and out of my brain. dlo, step back. 9.725
McCallum (Utah): y1.5 with a large step forward and another tiny step forward. Little bit of bent arm on the table and some foot form. 9.675
Alvarado (BYU): toe on Maloney to bail, slight leg sep throughout. wobbles on the low bar. Short final hs. DLO with two tiny hops and a small step back. 9.65
Winger (Utah): y1.5, small hop forward. The tiniest bit of knees in the air. Probably the best one so far. 9.875
Kirkham (BYU): short first hs into her Maloney to bail, loose form. Hit her final hs. DLO, small hop back. 9.65
Smith (Utah): STUCK Omelianchik. Overall nice in the air. That should be a big score. 9.9
Eaquinto (BYU): good toe hand into Maloney to pak, really lovely. pirouette nice. Hit final hs. dlo, the tiniest step back. Best bar routine from BYU so far. 9.8
Glynn (Utah): y1.5, good height, off center with a large step forward and to the side. 9.8
Bramblett-Wilde (BYU): nice first hs. big ray to bail, I think she was off on her catch and it messed up her timing to the low bar and she just completely missed her hand. Comes up short on her DLO and puts her hand down. 8.35
Morgan (Utah): y1.5, short with a small hop back. 9.8
Glazier (BYU): good first hs. straddled jaeger, slightly bent catch. Bail hs good. Slightly short final hs. DLO, step forward. That’s exactly what BYU needed after the fall. 9.725
After 2: Utah 98.450, BYU 97.325
It wasn’t either team’s best rotation. Utah couldn’t find the landings on vault, apart from a couple, including Smith’s stuck Omelianchik that easily highlights the rotation. BYU was able to drop Bramblett-Wilde’s 8.350, but still has lots to improve on in the coming meets.
Aaron’s back and taking over!
Rotation 3: BYU BB, Utah FX
Dudley (BYU): Starts off with a solid BHS + LOSO. Switch leap + straddle 1/4 and dips her chest down a bit. Slight hesitation on the full turn. Stayed patient on the cat leap + side aerial and it was nicely done. Big hop on the back 1.5 dismount. 9.675.
Smith (Utah): Front double twist + front tuck and it was effortless. Split ring jump + cat leap full + L hop full, very unique. Rudi + LOSO and it was great. She is a rock solid on this event. 9.850.
Millar-Crossman (BYU): Begins with a BHS + LOSO with great control. Slightly off center on the full turn but makes it work. Cat leap + switch half. Beat jump + straddle 1/2, nicely done. Running front full off the end and takes a small hop forward. 9.800.
Winger (Utah): Really fun and unique choreography before her first pass. Starts with the back 1.5 + front full and keeps it controlled and in bounds. Nicely executed leaps. Dismounts with a back 2.5, some messy foot form and takes a slightly large step. 9.800.
Hoke (BYU): Solid BHS + LOSO to start off the routine. Covers up any issues on the full turn. Split jump + straddle half. Nice side aerial even though her heel is completely off the beam! Back 1.5 dismount and takes a hop forward. 9.775.
Glynn (Utah): Starts off with one of her best front double fulls she has done this season. Switch ring + switch side + Popa, nicely done. Back 1.5 + front layout and takes a controlled step forward. I want to see her go a little higher on that second salto, but it was well landed. 9.800.
Margraf-Benson (BYU): Front aerial + back tuck and was sure of that connection. Well done. Cat leap + front toss, slightly slow connection. Gorgeous switch leap + split jump. Front full dismount and sticks that landing. Really unique skills from Margraf-Benson! 9.825.
Gilstrap (Utah): Front layout + Rudi and sticks that cold. Lovely height on the second salto. Switch half + tour jete + tour jete half. Nicely done. RO + LOSO and front foot moved just a tad. Dismounts with a front layout + front full and takes a controlled step forward. 9.800.
Andersen (BYU): Really long but well done BHS + LOSO. Beat jump + straddle 1/2. Confident full turn and kicks it out at the perfect moment. Cat leap + side aerial and that was good. BHS + gainer full off the side and sticks. Well done! 9.900.
McCallum (Utah): Begins with her usual full twisting double tuck and it is well landed. Second pass is a front tuck through to double back. Her chest was high and she took a controlled step back. Precise double wolf turn. Well executed switch leap + tour jete 1/2. That should be Utah’s highest floor score yet. 9.900.
Alvarado (BYU): Really pretty full turn to start the routine. Nice height on the BHS + LOSO. Cat leap + side aerial? Landed on the side of the beam like a side somi and brought her chest down. Switch leap + back pike swing down, wow! That was cool. Landed off center on the back 1.5 and takes a big step forward but the height was great. 9.625.
Krump (Utah): Starts with a Rudi, maybe a slight pike down but the landing was controlled. Switch leap + switch straddle 1/2, didn’t quite make that around. Front layout + front full + front pike, that was good! Whip half + front full and takes a controlled step forward. Nicely done and big improvement from last weekend. 9.825.
Eaquinto (BYU): Exhibition routine here. Starts with a BHS, lands on one foot and goes into a gainer side aerial. Nicely done. Switch half + beat jump. BHS + gainer full with a pike down. 9.750.
Johnson (Utah): Exhibition routine here. Starts with a huge double layout, looks like she landed out of bounds and takes another step. There is some pike down on that double layoutl Tour jete half + Popa + Popa, and those were great! Front full + front layout and that was nice! 9.600.
After 3: Utah 147.625, BYU 146.300
Neither team has a disaster this rotation, but it wasn’t their bests either. Grace McCallum was the only one to breach a 9.900, while the rest of the rotation scored 9.850 or lower. Krump is proving to be reliable as the Utes figure out their lineups with Neff. BYU could have used a higher score from Alvarado in the anchor spot, but there was no falls. Andersen’s 9.900 was the highlight for the Cougars.
Rotation 4: Utah BB, BYU FX
Padurariu (Utah): Really solid double wolf turn to start. Front aerial + BHS, a little slow on that connection but didnt wobble. Well done split jump + sheep jump. Gainer pike off the end and takes a scoot back. 9.825.
Millar-Crossman (BYU): First pass is a really clean double tuck. Switch straddle 1/2 + Popa and it was clean. A bit off center on the front layout + front full but it was well landed. 9.775.
Winger (Utah): Starts with a clean BHS + LOSO + LOSO, well done. Switch leap + split jump and is keeping good rhythm so far. Goregous full turn! Kicks it out at the perfect time. BHS + gainer full off the side and she sticks it. Winger has proven herself as a beamer. 9.875.
Silva (BYU): Nice height on the Rudi to start her routine. Her second pass is a HUGE double tuck. Massive height on that. Tour jete half + wolf full, short on 180 degrees there. Dismounts with a back 1.5 + front full, didn’t get the best punch on the second salto and it was low. She makes it work though, landing with a well controlled step. 9.775.
Smith (BYU): Starts with candle mount. Like Winger, kicks her foot out at the perfect time on her full turn. BHS + LOSO and its perfect. Front aerial + split jump + straddle 1/4 and connects it well. Big height on the gainer pike off the end and sticks the landing cold. 9.875.
Dudley (BYU): Nice set on her double pike! Well controlled landing as well. Switch straddle + wolf jump full, lacks a bit of amplitude on that. Front full + front layout and the second salto was floaty! Dismounts with a double tuck and it’s well landed! Huge height on all her skills, I am impressed. 9.775.
Morgan (Utah): Shows off her flexibility to start the routine. BHS + BHS + LOSO and nails it. Sissone and wobbles. Goes for a switch leap + switch half and gets her rhythm back. Slightly off on her full turn. Dismounts with a front gainer full off the side and sticks the landing. Nice job controlling her slight mishaps. 9.825.
Schooley-Meyers (BYU): Starts off with her back 1.5 + front layout and the height was nice. Switch ring + switch straddle 1/2 and that was good. Huge double tuck to dismount and takes a controlled step back. Well done. 9.825.
McCallum (Utah): Another candle mount from the Utes. Triple wolf turn, and does a double turn after it. Those are great. BHS + LOSO and it was well done. Switch leap + split leap. Dismounts with a gainer tuck full off the end and sticks the landing. 9.925.
Eaquinto (BYU): Huge double pike! Takes a step back and that front foot moves, though. Switch ring 1/2 + wolf jump full, maybe a bit short on the ring position. Dismounts with a back 1.5 + front layout and it was well done. 9.825.
Gantner (Utah): Solid BHS + LOSO to start the routine off. Switch half + straddle jump, a bit slow on that connection. Confident full turn. Goes for a back 1.5 dismount and circles her arms around to find for a stuck landing. 9.825.
Andersen (BYU): Starts with an isolated switch ring half. First tumbling pass is a Rudi + straddle jump, with nice amplitude on the leap. Switch ring + switch half, nicely done. Back 1.5 + front layout and it was well landed. Maybe a tiny bit low on the second salto. 9.825.
Gilstrap (Utah): Exhibition routine here. Solid full turn to start. BHS + LOSO and it was nicely done. Split jump + split ring + beat jump, gorgeous split positions there. Gainer pike dismount off the end and takes. a step back. 9.825.
Matern (BYU): First pass is a front double full and takes a forward step to the side. Second pass is a back 1.5 + front layout and floats that second salto. Switch ring + L hop full – that ring position was questionable. Dismounts with a Rudi and lands it well.
FINAL: Utah 196.975, BYU 195.325
Utah just barely missed out another 197.000 score and dipped by nearly a point from its last meet. It looks like the Utes are still finding their groove without Neff, but this by no means was a bad showing. It is still early in the season and gives the team something to work on moving forward. BYU also regressed from its last meet, but the judging was a bit tight on floor. The Cougars have some big tumbling, especially from senior Sophie Dudley. Her set on her back tumbling is huge, and her double layout could be swapped any time now.
VT: Makenna Smith (Utah) 9.900
UB: Grace McCallum (Utah) 9.925
BB: Grace McCallum (Utah) 9.925
FX: Grace McCallum (Utah) 9.900
AA: Makenna Smith, Grace McCallum (Utah) 39.425
READ THIS NEXT: NCAA Gymnastics Coaches Navigate Evolving Family Leave Policies
Live blog by Tara Graeve and Aaron Doyle
