We are going to Arizona State with the same mindset we’ve always had — to hit sets and see where it takes us. – Utah co-head coach Tom Farden
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s gymnastics team did exactly what it wanted to in last weekend’s win over UCLA — have fun, relax and hit all 24 routines. It’s a simple philosophy to go by, but it’s what the Red Rocks have been pressing all season because this group of gymnasts is at its best when it is having fun and relaxed.
“The times we have struggled this season have been when we get tight and don’t just do our gymnastics,” said Utah co-head coach Tom Farden. “We have been trying some new things out at practice to help us with this.”
One of the things is yoga.
“A lot of us on the team have our minds going everywhere, trying to think too much about being perfect,” said senior Baely Rowe. “I’ve loved that we have done yoga to help us find a rhythm with our breathing and some calmness.”
That calmness certainly helped heading into the much-hyped meet against rival and then No. 4 UCLA, which included a national television audience, sold out crowd and bragging rights between the Pac-12 conference’s two powerhouses. The result was Utah’s best score of the season in the 197.875-197.5 win.
So how does a team prepare for a completely different scenario this weekend — you’ve got it, the same way.
“We are going to Arizona State with the same mindset we’ve always had — to hit sets and see where it takes us,” said Farden. “It’s a homecoming for Kari (Lee) and MyKayla (Skinner) so we expect a big Utah contingency in the stands, and hopefully more strong results.”
Utah (8-1, 3-1 Pac-12) hasn’t lost to Arizona State (2-7, 0-4 Pac-12) since 2003 and has 20 straight victories over the unranked Sun Devils. Saturday's road meet is one of two remaining for Utah as the Red Rocks close out the regular-season with ASU (Pac-12, 5 p.m.), Stanford and then away at No. 7 Georgia.
Regional qualifying score (RQS)
This week’s rankings are the first to include the RQS. The RQS is comprised of a team’s six best scores, three of which must be road scores, with the highest score dropped and the remaining five scores averaged. Even with the new scoring formula, Utah remained at No. 5. Ranking ahead of Utah is No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 2 LSU, No. 3 Florida and No. 4 Alabama.
Rankings and streaks
The freshman Skinner remained the No. 2 all-arounder in the country, and undefeated in the event with her second-best score of the season, 39.675, against UCLA. She was honored for the score by being named Pac-12 Gymnast of the Week for the fifth time. Skinner is also undefeated on vault, where she ranks No. 7, along with No. 10 on beam and No. 4 on floor. Baely Rowe is ranked sixth on beam.
Utah, as a team, is ranked the highest on vault at No. 4, followed by No. 5 on beam and floor and No. 7 on bars.
Across the state
Utah State is ranked 24th. It is the first time the Aggies have been ranked in the top 25 this late in the season since they were ranked 25th in February of 2007. BYU is 34th.