Utah Utes gymnasts cheer after competing in the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Deseret News
By Deseret News
The Deseret News is the longest-running news organization in Utah and the state's oldest continuously operating business.

The Utah gymnastics team held its annual Red Rocks Preview Friday night at the Jon M. Huntsman Center as it prepares for its 2026 season.

The free event gave gymnasts a chance to perform their routines in front of a crowd before real scoring starts in the season and gave fans a chance to see the 2026 team in action for the first time.

Notably in attendance was Kyle Whittingham, who stepped down as Utah’s head football coach on Friday after 21 seasons. He and men’s basketball head coach Alex Jensen (who was also in attendance) had been named “guest judges” for the event prior to his stepping down Friday afternoon.

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The Red Rocks will officially open their 2026 season January 2 in a meet against Minnesota and Iowa at the Huntsman Center.

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Utah Utes football coach Kyle Whittingham attends Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes football coach Kyle Whittingham attends Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes cheerleaders cheer during the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Ella Zirbes warms up before the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Zoe Johnson warms up on the bars during the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes gymnasts prepare to compete in the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Ashley Glynn warms up before the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Bailey Stroud, left, celebrates with student assistant coach Maile O'Keefe, right, after she competed on the vault during the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks student manager Maya Schroeder, left, high-fives Utah Utes Bailey Stroud, right, after she competed on the vault during the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes football coach Kyle Whittingham attends the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks assistant coach Jimmy Pratt coaches the team before the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Bailey Stroud, right, celebrates with teammates after she competed on the vault during the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Norah Christian, right, competes on the bars during the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes men’s basketball coach Alex Jensen, center, watches the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Camie Winger competes on the bars during the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks student manager Maya Schroeder high-fives Utah Utes gymnasts during the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Makenna Smith, right, celebrates with teammates during the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Ana Padurariu reacts after competing on the bars during the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Ana Padurariu reacts after competing on the bars during the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Avery Neff, right, celebrates after competing on the bars during the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Ella Zirbes competes on the floor during the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks head coach Carly Dockendorf, right, celebrates during the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Makenna Smith competes on the beam during the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Bailey Stroud competes on the floor during the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Sarah Krump competes on the floor during the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Zoe Johnson competes on the beam during the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Avery Neff competes on the beam during the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Ashley Glynn competes on the floor during the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Fans cheer as the Utah Utes gymnasts compete in the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Camie Winger competes on the floor during the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Clara Raposo competes on the beam during the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Avery Neff competes on the floor during the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Avery Neff competes on the floor during the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Sage Curtis competes on the floor during the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Bailey Stroud competes on the beam during the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Makenna Smith competes on the floor during the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Makenna Smith competes on the floor during the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Avery Neff, center, celebrates after winning the fan poll after the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes gymnasts cheer after competing in the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Red Rocks head coach Carly Dockendorf, center, talks to gymnast Avery Neff, left, after the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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People line up for autographs from Utah Utes gymnasts after the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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The Red Rocks gymnasts and coaches huddle after the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Rookie White, 9, from Herriman, receives autographs from Utah Utes gymnasts after the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes gymnast Avery Neff autographs posters for fans after the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Anjali Napa, 7, from Salt Lake City, center, receives autographs from Utah Utes gymnasts after the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah Utes gymnast Avery Neff, center left, and teammates autograph posters for fans after the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Ryleigh Wendel, 5, from Riverton, center, receives autographs from Utah Utes gymnasts after the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Demi Nuttall, 3, from West Jordan, center, receives autographs from Utah Utes gymnasts after the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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