Utah’s Makenna Smith celebrates after performing her floor exercise during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. Smith earned a 9.900 on the floor. Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
By Melissa Yack

Gymnastics fans in Utah really are spoiled with the Best of Utah meet, and Monday night’s iteration didn’t disappoint with great routines across each event by all four in-state collegiate teams.

In the end, Utah won again, this time with its best score (197.3) of the 2026 season. Utah State finished second with a 195.825, followed by BYU (195.725) and Southern Utah (195.675).

For the Red Rocks, it was the bounce back effort they needed after struggling and taking fourth in the Sprouts Collegiate Quad meet on Saturday. That loss featured several uncharacteristic mistakes by Utah, outside of vault, including three falls on beam, missing landings and some breaks in skills.

“We really took a reflection off how we did the other day, and really leaned into what Utah gymnastics is,” said Utah’s Makenna Smith. “We remembered all the things that we’ve worked for all season and all preseason, and just let that shine tonight.”

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Utah’s Avery Neff performs her floor routine during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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The Utah Red Rocks celebrate winning the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah’s Ashley Glynn performs her floor routine during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah State’s Anabelle Dewey holds the finishing pose of her floor exercise during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah’s Clara Raposo competes on the uneven bars during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah’s Makenna Smith celebrates after performing her floor exercise during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. Smith earned a 9.900 on the floor. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah’s Makenna Smith competes in the floor exercise during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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The Utah Red Rocks cheer on Avery Neff during her floor exercise during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah’s Zoe Johnson prepares to compete her floor exercise during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU’s Scarlett Sonnenberg celebrates with teammates after performing her floor routine during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU’s Alilah Alvarado competes on the balance beam during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Sammy’s Buddy kids wave to the crowd and aknowledge the camera as they walk out onto the floor after team introductions during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utahs Abbi Ryssman competes on the uneven bars during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU’s Scarlett Sonnenberg’s teammates cheer as she performs her floor routine during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Souther Utah University’s Mia Hampton performs her floor exercise during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Southern Utah University’s Mia Hampton celebrates after sticking her vault during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah’s Makenna Smith performs her balance beam routine during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah State’s Sydney Jelen celebrates after competing on the uneven bars during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU’s Deb Silva salutes while competing the vault during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU’s Scarlett Sonnenberg performs her floor routine during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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A moment of silence is held for former Maverik Center General Manager Kevin Bruder during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. Bruder was a massive advocate for collegiate gymnastics meets being held at the Maverik Center before he died in May. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah’s Sarah Krump competes her floor exercise during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah’s Camie Winger performs her balance beam routine during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah’s Elizabeth Gantner dismounts the beam during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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A judge holds up a score card for Makenna Smith’s floor exercise during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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The Utah Red Rocks cheer after Abby Russian’s balance beam routine during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Southern Utah University’s Carilia Martinez performs a tumbling pass during her floor exercise during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah’s Sarah Krump sticks out her tongue as she competes her floor exercise during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah’s Avery Neff salutes after sticking her vault during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah’s Abby Ryssman performs her balance beam routine during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU’s Scarlett Sonnenberg competes on the balance beam during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah State’s Olivia Orengo competes her floor exercise routine during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Southern Utah University’s Marisa de Groot competes on the balance beam during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah’s Avery Neff performs her balance beam routine during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah’s Camie Winger, left, is encouraged by head coach Carly Dockendorf, right, before performing her balance beam routine during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah State’s Isabella Vater competes on the uneven bars during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Southern Utah University gymnasts cheer on a teammate during the floor exercise during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah’s Jimmy Pratt celebrates after Abbi Ryssman stuck her uneven bars routine during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU’s Kylie Eaquinto salutes after sticking her vault during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah State’s Isabella Vater performs her floor exercise during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Carilia Martinez holds her finishing pose during her floor exercise during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah State’s Isabella Vater competes her floor exercise routine during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU’s Audrey Thomas competes on the uneven bars during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU’s Scarlett Sonnenberg falls off the balance beam during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU’s Scarlett Sonnenberg performs her floor routine during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Sammy’s Buddy kids walk out onto the floor after team introductions during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU’s Alilah Alvarado competes on the uneven bars during the “Best of Utah” gymnastics meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

Although the turnaround was a quick one from Saturday’s meet to Monday’s, it likely benefited Utah to not have too much time to dwell on the loss and rather to just get back out there and let it rip.

Utah still has room to grow with its consistency – it really didn’t have a stellar leadoff across the four routines including falls on floor and vault. The difference, though, in the win versus the loss was the response the Red Rocks had to hiccups across the meet.

Abbi Ryssman was outstanding on beam, winning the event with a 9.9 after falling Saturday. The freshman admitted she got a little shaky with her confidence in Saturday’s meet and had to remind herself about her approach.

“I think going into this meet, I just really trusted what I was doing in the gym,” said Ryssman.

She also was lights out on bars with a 9.925, as were her teammates Ana Padurariu and Bailey Stroud, who hit the same mark. But it was Ella Zirbes (9.95) who pushed Utah to its best event effort of the season with a 49.625.

“Bars was definitely the highlight, but also for vault to go out and do another good set was really important for us,” said Utah coach Carly Dockendorf.

Utah’s vaulters shined again with a 49.375 followed by floor at 49.225 and then beam with a 49.075. Zirbes won floor (9.925) along with bars while Smith earned the vault (9.95) and all-around titles (39.475).

The pieces are definitely there for Utah. Now it’s time for the coaches to find where they fit. They made quite a few lineup adjustments Monday that boosted event scores. They’ll have nearly two more weeks to keep tinkering with the best way to maximize Utah’s depth before the Red Rocks next meet.

Utah State

Utah State had a great meet as well, hitting for the second-highest opening-meet score in program history in 195.825. The Aggies were about as consistent as you could ask for across the four events to earn second for only the second time in the seven-year history of the Best of Utah meet.

Junior Sydney Jelen recorded a career-high 9.85 on bars, while Olivia Orengo tied for third in the all-around with a 39.15.

BYU

The Cougars had some ups and downs in Monday’s meet. They started off strong on floor with Brynlee Andersen-Broekman and Scarlett Sonnenberg recording 9.85s. Vault was solid again for the Cougars, but then bars was a bit off after being the best event in Friday’s win over Oregon State.

Most impressive for the Cougs was their finish on beam, after facing a fall in the leadoff position for a second-straight meet.

“Don’t want to start any event off with a mistake because then you are five up, five count,” said BYU coach Guard Young. “It does shake the lineup because girls get tighter because of that. But wow, I mean I guess we’re getting pretty good at that, and hopefully we can start reversing that a little bit and not put coach through that so much.”

Young is another coach with depth across lineups that the Cougars are still trying to figure out with their group early in the season.

SUU

The Flippin’ Birds were best on vault with a 49.05 and had good showings by their all-arounders Mia Hampton (39.15) and Niya Randolph (39.125). Hampton tied for third in the all-around.

Berlin Hall had a great floor effort that resulted in a 9.875 while Alex Routsis produced the same score on bars.

Meet notes

“I just can’t praise the Maverik Center and the four schools in Utah enough,” said BYU’s Young. “They’re great schools, and to have this culminating event, this does not happen in other places. We are so lucky and we want to keep this event going.

The event is getting more difficult to schedule with teams in various conferences, but the programs are committed to keeping it going as it is a team and fan favorite.

Prior to the meet, the group honored Kevin Bruder, the Maverick Center CEO who passed away in May. Bruder was a key supporter and driver of gymnastics at the arena.

Event winners

All-Around — Makenna Smith (Utah); 39.475

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Comments

Vault — Makenna Smith (Utah); 9.95

Bars — Ella Zirbes (Utah); 9.95

Beam — Abbi Ryssman (Utah); 9.9

Floor — Ella Zirbes (Utah); 9.925

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