No. 3 Utah Gymnastics Defeats No. 12 California On Final Rotation
Feb 8, 2020, 5:10 PM
Utah’s Sydney Soloski, right, hugs teammate Kim Tessen following Tessen’s vault during the Arizona State and University of Utah gymnastics meet at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. (Steve Griffin, Deseret News)
(Steve Griffin, Deseret News)
BERKELEY, Calif. – The third ranked Utah Utes gymnastics team was able to sneak by No. 12 California 197.55-197.325 after the meet was tied after the third rotation.
The Red Rocks started the meet on the bars where Kim Tessen had a career-high score of 9.975, a pair of 9.875 scores from Cristal Isa and Missy Reinstadtler. Finally, Emile LeBlanc and Abby Paulson each had 9.85 scores to give the Utes a 49.425-49.200 advantage after the first rotation.
Never. Back. Down.
The Red Rocks remain UNDEFEATED & earned a SEASON- HIGH of 197.55💥 pic.twitter.com/oEm93pTnxf
— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) February 8, 2020
The Golden Bears took the lead after the second rotation on vault as Alexia Burch recorded a 9.90, Cammy Hall with a 9.80 and both Tessen and Reinstadtler had 9.825 scores. Cal had a 98.575-98.500 lead after the second rotation.
Utah rebounded in the third rotation on the floor with freshman Maile O’Keefe recording a career-high 9.90. Paulson and Adrienne Randall each scored a 9.875 before Sydney Soloski ended the rotation with a 9.925. The Utes and Cal were tied at 147.925 entering the final rotation.
Career-high for Maile O'Keefe on floor!! Our freshman tumbles her way a 9.90! pic.twitter.com/z0JbrpvlcK
— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) February 8, 2020
On the beam, LeBlanc started the rotation with a 9.875 routine, followed by Burch recording the same score but O’Keefe put her stamp on the rotation with a career-high 9.95. Utah ended the beam with three fantastic performances with Cristal Isa earning a 9.90, Randall getting a career-high 9.95 score and Paulson adding a career-best 9.95 to help the Utes to victory.
WOW!! What a routine!! Maile O'Keefe with a career-high 9.95! pic.twitter.com/6Z2egeDYqJ
— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) February 8, 2020
The Red Rocks improved their record to a perfect 7-0 overall and 3-0 in Pac-12 competition. They will return to the Jon M. Huntsman Center on Saturday, February 15 to face Oregon State at 1 p.m. on the Pac-12 Networks.
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