SALT LAKE CITY — When Cristal Isa saluted the judges to signify her readiness to compete on the uneven bars during Utah gymnastics’ season opener against the Kentucky Wildcats on Jan. 3, it was kind of a big deal.
Her last competitive routine had come nearly a calendar year before, on Jan. 26, 2019. Then came a well-chronicled shoulder injury and nearly a year of watching her teammates compete as she rehabbed.
“You know that every time Cristal goes up she is going to get that good score. ... You know that no matter what, she is going to put up something that is going to be really good.” — Utah senior Kim Tessen
Before her setback, Isa had been a standout on bars for Utah, never scoring lower than a 9.850. And there was, of course, the 9.925 she earned for her first ever collegiate routine, which won her Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors and a place in the hearts of Red Rocks’ fans everywhere.
As a result, there was anticipation for her comeback routine. She was great at bars and fans wanted to be reminded why. The comeback did not go as she, nor anyone else envisioned, however. Isa struggled immensely in that first routine back on the competition floor, earning a score of 9.375.
Since that moment, though, she has been arguably Utah’s most consistent gymnast.
Of the 13 routines she has performed since bars against Kentucky, 12 have earned a score of 9.825 or above. Nine of her routines this year have earned a score of 9.875 or better, and five were 9.90 or better. If you eliminate the Kentucky meet altogether, where she also recorded her second-lowest score of the season — a 9.725 on floor exercise — 10 of Isa’s 11 routines this year have earned a score of 9.850 or better.
That consistency has made her a three-time event winner and, according to Road to Nationals, one of Utah’s most valuable gymnasts. Even, in a way, comparable to Utah great MyKayla Skinner.
“You know that every time Cristal goes up she is going to get that good score,” senior Kim Tessen said. “It is like when we had MyKayla in the past. You know that no matter what, she is going to put up something that is going to be really good.”
None of it comes as a surprise to those close to her. Isa’s work ethic is well known — “She is a really hard worker,” said Tessen — which, combined with her infectious good attitude, has made her great.
“It doesn’t surprise me,” Utah head coach Tom Farden said. “Cristal practices like that every day. Every day I watch her do 9.95 (balance) beam and bar routines and an incredible floor routine. And now she is right there on vault. What we see in practice is very typical of what we see in the meets.”
Making her consistent performance this season even more impressive is the fact that she has done so while bouncing about different lineups. It is a challenge she has reveled in.
“It is kind of exciting,” she said. “You are just in a different spot every week and get to learn how each spot feels. Our team is so talented that I don’t really care where I am in the lineup. I’m happy with whatever Tom and the coaches think works. Whatever gives us a higher score. If I can build up the scores, that is what I’ll do.”
That selfless attitude may be the biggest reason for Isa’s success this season. At least, she believes so.
“I used to be more selfish,” she explained. “I used to think, ‘If I do this, then I’ll be cool and popular and people will think I’m good.’ Now it is more about, ‘OK, my team needs this score.’”
She went on to explain that most gymnasts don’t watch their teammates compete during a meet, especially those right before them in the lineup. It is a way to avoid added pressure. Isa has taken to watching every routine, though, and the success of her teammates seems to energize her.
“I just get so excited for everyone and I feel like that energy goes into my gymnastics,” she said. “I’m just enjoying every moment of it and taking the pressure off of myself.”
Her consistent performance has done exactly that for the rest of the Red Rocks, and it may have been the missing element from last year’s team.
“They missed her presence,” Farden said. “She is light-hearted, brings big scores and is a good teammate. Those are things the team definitely missed last year.”
Not this year, though, to everyone’s benefit.
Red Rocks on the air
No. 3 Utah (7-0, 4-0 Pac-12) vs. No. 21 Oregon State (8-3, 3-0)
Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City
Saturday, 1 p.m. MST
TV: Pac-12 Networks
Radio: ESPN700