SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s gymnastics team is coming off its first loss of the season, with No. 12 Oregon State upsetting the fifth-ranked Red Rocks 196.550-196.525 last weekend. That loss, paired with Utah’s toughest meet of the season taking place this Saturday against No. 4 UCLA, has Utah’s co-head coach Tom Farden trying to problem-solve.
“We have a reoccurring theme of not coming out of the gate strong, and then trying to build scores as the meet goes on,” said Farden. “We have been on the road already so I can’t pinpoint what happened (at Oregon State). I still think they are trying a little too hard, and get ahead of themselves a little bit. We need to get them to relax and just do their gymnastics, and then we’ll be better off.”
Utah has the talent and potential to compete with any team, having had a breakout meet last month when it hit for a 197.625. But the team hasn't improved on that score since.
A major reason has been Utah’s past two bars efforts. Utah has struggled in both meets, having to count a fall earlier in the month and then only sticking one landing in last week’s loss. Bars currently ranks No. 9 in the country, compared to Utah’s other events that are in the top 5.
“It is kind of problem when you stick one event’s landings and then not another’s,” said Farden. “Comparatively we weren’t sticking any beam landings early on and last week we had our best beam set of the season. We focused on beam sticks and now the bars sticks have gone away. We’ll continue to address these issues and fine tune things for second half of the season.
"This team is a gutty and gritty team. They don't have quit in their repertoire and will continue working hard."
Meet notes
Not only with this weekend feature a battle between the two powerhouses in Utah and UCLA, but it will also feature two of the country’s best all-arounders in Red Rock MyKayla Skinner and Bruin Madison Kocian. Skinner has won six all-around titles (one tie) this season, while Kocian has four victories under her belt.
Skinner’s season-high of 39.775 tops Kocian’s 39.625, but Kocian holds the only 10.0 between the former U.S. national team members. She earned the perfect mark last week on bars — the event she won a silver medal on at the Rio Olympics.
Kocian is part of the Bruins’ Olympic duo, with teammate Kyla Ross (London) representing the other half. Skinner was an alternate for the Rio squad.
“This meet with be a real treat for the Utah gymnastics fan base,” said Farden. “This fan base is so educated and appreciative of the artistry that goes into gymnastics and how hard the athletes work to get to this level. One night with all three on the same floor is a unique opportunity.”
UCLA comes into the meet as hot as any team in the country, having hit the nation’s highest score in 198.125 last week to beat Stanford. Saturday’s 8 p.m. meet will be televised live on ESPNU.
Weekly Rankings
Six Pac-12 teams remain in the rankings. UCLA and Utah are followed by No. 12 Oregon State, No. 14 Washington, No. 18 Cal and No. 25 Arizona. Southern Utah ranks No. 13 after a school record 196.725 last week.