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- Utah's Red Rocks scored a season-high 197.950, winning the "Best of Utah" title.
- Makenna Smith led the team with a 39.725 all-around score, excelling in all events.
- Southern Utah, Utah State, and BYU followed in second, third, and fourth place, respectively.
WEST VALLEY CITY — It was simply the Red Rocks' night.
Just three days after a win over Iowa State in the Huntsman Center, Utah answered with its best performance of the season in the annual Best of Utah quad meet at the Maverik Center.
Through three rotations, the Red Rocks scored a season-high 49.525 on each event and had 13 scored gymnasts with a 9.90 score or higher. The only thing left in the meet was to see if Utah could eclipse the 198 mark four meets into the season.
Ella Zirbes led off the final rotation on vault with a 9.875 to set a good mark for the final event, but the Red Rocks got a 9.850 from four of their last five gymnasts, with Makenna Smith topping the scores with the team's final 9.950 of the night in the fourth spot.
In the end, though, it wasn't enough to eclipse the mark as the Red Rocks finished with a 197.950 score, tying the highest score awarded to a team (Oklahoma) this season. And as such, the Red Rocks were crowned the "Best of Utah" for another season.
Finishing in second was Southern Utah with a 196.175 score, followed by Utah State (196.000) and BYU (195.750). Of the five other 9.90 or higher scores on the night, the Flippin' Birds secured three of them, with Ellie Cacciola earning a 9.90 on beam and a 9.925 on floor, and Mia Hampton scoring a 9.90 on floor.
Smith finished the night winning the all-around with a 39.725 score. She beat out teammates Grace McCallum (39.600) and Camie Winger (39.475), and Southern Utah's Niya Randolph (39.275).
"Makenna, when she's in her element and she's just vibing in her own world, then she's gonna have a fantastic night," Utah head coach Carly Dockendorf said. "But, I mean, Makenna works so hard every single day. She comes in, she has a great attitude, she's encouraging with her teammates, and she loves to compete and have a crowd.
"And I think she was just in vibe mood tonight for Makenna."
For Smith, it was all about just "having fun" and not worrying about the scores or the pressure of competing.
"I think I had to take a couple steps back, because I was putting a little bit too much pressure on myself these first couple meets, and I just wanted to go out there and have a great time and be able to smile and not actually care about scores or outcomes or anything," she said. "As long as I was able to put a smile on my face."
It was easy to see that smile in the end for the Albuquerque, New Mexico, native in her third year.
Smith started off the night in the leadoff spot on bars with a 9.90 score, setting the tone to what would be the Red Rocks' best meet to date. And she only got better from there, adding a 9.950 on beam, a 9.925 on floor, and another 9.950 on a perfect stick on vault.
"What a fantastic night," Dockendorf said. "I think one of the highlights was just seeing our team complete four events — just do a complete meet. We haven't done that yet (this season). I loved their composure all night. I thought they stayed confident and relaxed, but really focused."
Added McCallum: "This is definitely a confidence booster for us, just knowing that we can go out there and do those beautiful routines that we do every day, and just knowing that we're heading in the right direction to where we want to end the season."
The Red Rocks return to action Friday in Provo as they take on the Cougars for the second time this season in a week's time.
Team scores
No. 5 Utah
- Bars: 49.525
- Beam: 99.050 (49.525)
- Floor: 148.575 (49.525)
- Vault: 197.950 (49.375)
BYU
- Beam: 49.025
- Floor: 97.700 (48.675)
- Vault: 146.500 (48.800)
- Bars: 195.750 (49.250)
Utah State
- Floor: 48.950
- Vault: 98.000 (49.000)
- Bars: 146.950 (48.950)
- Beam: 196.000 (49.050)
Southern Utah
- Vault: 49.100
- Bars: 98.150 (49.050)
- Beam: 146.700 (48.550)
- Floor: 196.175 (49.375)
Red Rocks scores
1st Rotation: Bars (49.525)
- Makenna Smith: 9.900
- Camie Winger: 9.800
- Ana Padurarui: 9.900
- Ashley Glynn: 9.900
- Amelie Morgan: 9.900
- Grace McCallum: 9.925
2nd Rotation: Beam (49.525)
- Ana Padurarui: 9.850
- Camie Winger: 9.900
- Makenna Smith: 9.950
- Amelie Morgan: 9.925
- Grace McCallum: 9.900
- Elizabeth Gantner: 9.825
3rd Rotation: Floor (49.525)
- Makenna Smith: 9.925
- Camie Winger: 9.925
- Ashley Glynn: 9.900
- Jaylene Gilstrap: 9.850
- Grace McCallum: 9.925
- Sarah Krump: 9.850
4th Rotation: Vault (49.375)
- Ella Zirbes: 9.875
- Grace McCallum: 9.850
- Camie Winger: 9.850
- Makenna Smith: 9.950
- Ashley Glynn: 9.850
- Amelie Morgan: 9.850
Other top scores:
BYU
- Beam: Brynlee Andersen (9.925)
Utah State
- Bars: Avery Bibbey (9.900)
- Floor: Nyla Morabito (9.925)
Southern Utah
- Beam: Ellie Cacciola (9.900)
- Floor: Ellie Cacciola (9.925)
- Floor: Mia Hampton (9.900)
