SALT LAKE CITY — Gymnastics is a four-event sport, but there’s something special about ending a home meet on floor. It’s high energy, crowd-driven and a favorite of many gymnasts. Fifth-ranked Utah is no exception, boasting the nation’s biggest crowd that erupts the loudest after each Red Rock floor routine.
Utah fans have watched a different set of routines this season with the addition of Meredith Paulicivic to the coaching staff. Paulicivic is the first built-in choreographer Utah has had.
Paulicivic, who has compiled a 21-year coaching resume, has come full circle with the Utah assistant job. She competed for Utah from 1991-94, a tenure that included two NCAA championships.
“It is different coming back to Utah with a family,” said Paulicivic. “There have been so many changes to campus since the Olympics. What is the same is the program, and what it’s about to be a Utah gymnast and how we treat the gymnasts.”
Paulicivic hit the ground running after she took the job, watching video of each returning gymnasts’ floor. She was able to zero in on each athlete’s strength, developing choreography around these strengths while also carrying over the tradition of each gymnast flashing a U with her fingers during her routine.
“It was fun when Meredith came in because she gave us characters,” said Breanna Hughes. “It was a way for her to help us connect to the routines.”
Each Utah gymnast has a character or storyline. Hughes is an Egyptian princess who possesses a big heart. Fans have watched Hughes, who had never been a regular in the floor lineup until 2016, dive into the character and record nine scores above 9.9, including a 10.0 and 9.975.
Sabrina Schwab’s floor may be the most personal of all of the stories as it references her moving on from UCLA, dropping her scholarship and finding a new home at Utah.
“Sabrina’s is a story of a love she lost regarding gymnastics,” said Paulicivic. “When she came to Utah, she realized she loves it more than she thought she would. She ends by bringing the U to her heart.”
Baely Rowe’s is about waking up in a cell in a Planet of the Apes type scenario. MaKenna Merrell is a tango dancer who loses her partner and struggles to find her way before realizing she’s fine as a soloist.
Tiffani Lewis and Samantha Partyka round out the group, all of whom have scored career-bests on the floor this year. Lewis is a military leader finding balance between keeping moments light and being firm. Partyka represents a politician trying to be prim and proper while fighting a wild side that comes out in the end.
“One of the reasons we hired Meredith was she could be a daily choreographer in the gym for our program,” said co-head coach Megan Marsden. “We’ve never had that.
“To her credit, she’s come in, put together great choreography and given the girls these characters that they have really bought into.”
Utah finished the season ranked fourth in the nation on floor with a 49.485 average. It’s an impressive feat considering it struggled in its first three meets, scoring below 49.0 twice. Part of the struggle was adjustments to new routines, but more was around timing, training and failure to stick landings.
Marsden admits floor is always the last event to come around. But once Utah found its groove, it really found its groove.
Paulicivic is obviously happy things have clicked, knowing she’s carrying over a long-running tradition of success. She also knows she has big shoes to fill with Greg Marsden, her former coach who is now retired, no longer leading floor.
Paulicivic works with co-head coach Tom Farden on floor to develop tumbling passes. She shares ideas around choreography with Farden and Marsden, and credits the pair for being open to new ideas.
Up next, Utah competes in the NCAA semifinals April 15, with floor being its final event.