Utah Gymnastics Prepares To Take On Rival UCLA
Feb 18, 2024, 11:42 AM
SALT LAKE CITY – It’s rivalry week for the Red Rocks and no, they are not competing against BYU- in the world of college gymnastics, UCLA wears that leotard.
The No. 4 Utes are heading to Los Angeles to face off with the No. 8 Bruins at Pauley Pavillion on Monday, February 19 at 3:30 pm MT. Because it’s President’s Day and one of the biggest rivalries in the sport, the meet has a prominent spot on ESPN2.
Utah head coach Carly Dockendorf discussed the impending matchup earlier in the week and how a strong showing at Washington last week sets the Red Rocks up well.
#4 @UtahGymnastics continues conference action on the road, traveling to #8 UCLA for a Presidents Day @pac12 top 10 showdown at 3:30PM MT on ESPN2 👊 #GoUtes | #RedRockshttps://t.co/LoedJk1hus
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) February 13, 2024
A Washington Win Sets Thing Up Nicely For Utah Against UCLA
The Red Rocks had their cleanest outing of the season in the Emerald City last weekend taking on the Gym Dawgs that Dockendorf believes helps set the table for a strong showing in Los Angeles this week.
“I think our win on the weekend was really important for us to have a great meet going into UCLA that just gives us a lot of confidence we can do our gymnastics at our very best on the road in a different atmosphere,” Dockendorf said. “We’re going to use that to carry into Monday’s competition. We’ll strategize some stuff in practice to keep making the girls feel a little bit uncomfortable- a tight space and be ready for Pauley Pavilion on Monday.”
The Red Rocks recorded a 197.775, which is the highest road score in program history in the regular season since 2022. 🙌
There have only been 3 other times in the last 8 years the Utes have recorded a higher regular season road score!#WeOverMe | #RedRocks pic.twitter.com/WIuavuFGmy
— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) February 11, 2024
After spending the first five weeks of the season in Utah, the Red Rocks made it very clear they were ready to hit the road last week. Dockendorf expects that same fire and excitement heading into this weekend against a big rival.
“I think most of our team has been to UCLA numerous times and they love competing there, so I think just having that mentality going into it really helps with the whole team and the freshmen that haven’t gotten the chance to be there,” Dockendorf said. “It’s a pretty energetic crowd and they sit really close to the equipment. I think our athletes really utilize that energy for us.”
UCLA Is Another Opportunity For Red Rocks To Build Confidence On The Road
There is no doubt Utah’s home crowd and atmosphere is great, but that’s not where most of the important meets happen. Those take place on the road and Dockendorf wants to see her team continue to grow and get comfortable away from the Huntsman Center.
“Continuing to build our confidence on the road because Pac-12s, Regionals, Nationals- none of that is going to be at home,” Dockendorf said. “Continuing to build skills that we need to perform our best in away meets- that’s really our emphasis right now and then obviously some detail stuff still. Sticking our landings and again, we’ve been scoring high 197s with a 75% meet. 49.2 on vault this weekend and we got our season’s best. There is still so much room for us to improve.”
We’re so grateful for our donors and their continued support of the program.
We couldn’t do what we do without U! 🙌#GoUtes | #RedRocks pic.twitter.com/8SUjmcAbsz
— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) February 16, 2024
Red Rocks’ Last Meet With Amelie Morgan
Team captain Amelie Morgan will be competing for the last time (for a few weeks) with the Red Rocks against UCLA as she heads back to the United Kingdom to put her Olympic dreams in motion.
Morgan is a key piece of Utah’s lineups on bars and beam where she’s proven to be unflappable and a consistent high scorer. Obviously, replacing her production for a few weeks won’t be easy, but Dockendorf says the team couldn’t be prouder of her ambition.
Have a day Amelie Morgan! She ties her career high with another 9.95 👏
📺 Pac-12 Network pic.twitter.com/BZLaWToNzC
— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) February 10, 2024
“I don’t think we can fill those shoes, she’s a pretty special individual,” Dockendorf said. “We’ve definitely been preparing with some of our younger athletes to take that spot and I think they will be ready to go. We’re going to be cheering her on and we’re very excited for her. We’ll be excited for her to come back as well.”
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 X, Instagram, and Threads: @BodkinKSLsports
Are you on Threads yet? Let’s connect, give us a follow @kslsports.
