WEST VALLEY CITY — It was a night to remember for the Utah Red Rocks.
Just three days after a dominant victory over Iowa State in the Huntsman Center, the team returned to deliver its best performance of the season at the annual “Best of Utah” quad meet at the Maverik Center. The Red Rocks posted a season-high score of 197.950, solidifying their title as the top team in Utah for another year.
Through the first three rotations, the Red Rocks excelled with a season-best 49.525 on each event, and 13 gymnasts earned scores of 9.90 or higher. The only question remaining was whether Utah could surpass the 198 mark, a milestone they were eyeing four meets into the season.
Ella Zirbes set the tone for the final rotation with a 9.875 on vault, and the team followed up with consistent performances from the remaining gymnasts. Makenna Smith concluded the night with a standout 9.950, marking the team’s highest score of the evening, though they ultimately fell short of breaking the 198 barrier. Despite this, their final score of 197.950 matched the season’s highest score, previously set by Oklahoma.
As a result, the Red Rocks were crowned the “Best of Utah” champions for another season, with Southern Utah taking second place at 196.175, followed by Utah State (196.000) and BYU (195.750). Of the five other 9.90-plus scores on the night, Southern Utah’s Ellie Cacciola stood out with a 9.90 on beam and a 9.925 on floor, while her teammate Mia Hampton posted a 9.90 on floor as well.
In the all-around competition, Smith claimed the top spot with a 39.725, edging out teammates Grace McCallum (39.600) and Camie Winger (39.475), as well as Southern Utah’s Niya Randolph (39.275).
“Makenna, when she’s in her element and vibing in her own world, she’s going to have a fantastic night,” said Utah head coach Carly Dockendorf. “She works so hard every day, comes in with a great attitude, and loves to compete. Tonight, she was definitely in a great groove.”
For Smith, the key to her success was taking a step back and enjoying the competition without the pressure. “I wanted to have fun, smile, and not worry about the scores,” she said. “I think I had to stop putting too much pressure on myself in the earlier meets and just enjoy the moment.”
Smith’s performance was a highlight of the night. She started strong in the leadoff spot on bars with a 9.90, then continued to shine with a 9.950 on beam, a 9.925 on floor, and a perfect 9.950 on vault.
“It was a fantastic night,” Dockendorf reflected. “One of the highlights was seeing the team complete four events — we’ve been working on doing that all season. The composure and confidence they showed throughout was incredible.”
McCallum echoed Dockendorf’s sentiments, saying, “This meet was a big confidence booster. We know we can perform our best routines and that we’re heading in the right direction as we look toward the end of the season.”
The Red Rocks will be back in action Friday in Provo for a rematch against BYU.
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