Kara Eaker Conquers The Best Of Utah Meet
Jan 14, 2023, 3:00 PM
WEST VALLEY, UT – Kara Eaker was a big get for the Red Rocks in last season’s signing class, but unfortunately, fans had to wait a while to really see her in action. The wait was definitely worth it.
The Team U.S.A. alternate for the Tokyo Olympics started out strong for the Utes last season until an accident warming up on vault for the Rio Tinto Best of Utah Meet derailed what looked to be a very promising freshman season for the talented gymnast.
Fast-forward a year later, and Eaker shined for the Red Rocks earning their first perfect 10 score of the 2023 season on beam- conquering the Best of Utah Meet that delayed her collegiate career just a season ago.
— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) January 14, 2023
Poetry In Motion
Eaker’s ability on the beam is jaw-dropping with the amount of confidence and beauty she is able to portray on four-inches raised four-feet off the ground. It’s a huge compliment considering the Red Rocks’ entire beam rotation can be described as “poetry in motion” with one solid routine after another.
Just two meets into the 2023 season and the Utes already posted a 49.675 team score on the event which puts them at mid-season form early on.
“I don’t know what to say about balance beam,” head coach Tom Farden said. “It’s probably the best balance beam- I keep saying that every year, but it’s pretty incredible. It’s jaw-dropping. I don’t know how else to describe it besides poetry.”
The Red Rock’s stellar overall beam performance was of course anchored by Eaker’s perfect 10 on the event. For Farden, seeing his athlete overcome the setback from the same meet a year ago to slaying it a year later could not be more rewarding.
“Last year she had a different dismount so we’re really proud of that,” Farden said. “That was a monkey-wrench thrown into things. Five of our athletes have new dismounts so to pop off that score with all new dismounts? That’s pretty good and for Kara? Thankfully we see 10s in practice all the time. I get to see four or five 10s a week and then we got to see one with all of her friends- all of our 6,000 friends which is even cooler.”
For Eaker, it was all about just controlling what she could control. In that case it was pure perfection.
“It was really exciting,” Eaker said. “I just really went up there wanting to do my personal best and focusing on controlling what I can do and just let everything else happen.”
Michelle Bodkin is the Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of both the Crimson Corner Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and The Saturday Show (Saturday from 10 a.m.–12 p.m.) on The KSL Sports Zone. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @BodkinKSLsports
