LSU Earns First Title In Program History, Utah Gymnastics Places Third

FORT WORTH, TX – The Red Rocks take third place at Nationals for the fourth year in a row while the LSU Tigers earned their first title in program history.

Utah had solid outings on three of four events and even lead heading into the final rotation, but two missed vaults killed their chances of coming away with a title for the first time since 1995.

While in some ways a disappointing ending to their season, in other ways it was encouraging to see the Red Rocks rally together the way they did after a rocky start to the year.

1. LSU- 198.2250
2. Cal- 197.8500
3. Utah- 197.8000
4. Florida- 197.4375

FINAL:

1) LSU- 198.2250
2) Cal- 197.8500
3) Utah- 197.8000
4) Florida- 197.4375

Utah takes third for another year.

All things considered good season for a team that had a lot going on before the season started.

Have to figure out vault on the big stage.#Utes

— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) April 20, 2024

Utah Bars, Cal Beam, LSU Floor, Florida Vault

Grace McCallum had the top score of the rotation with a 9.9500 with Maile O’Keefe right behind her with a 9.9000. Makenna Smith, Ella Zirbes, Amelie Morgan, and Alani Sabado all came in with solid varying 9.8 scores to give the Utes a 49.4375 team score.

Alani Sabado scores a 9.8375…that feels low, especially by comparison.

Regardless, Utah earns a 49.4375 after round one which puts them in third.

1) LSU- 49.6125
2) Cal- 49.4750
3) Utah- 49.4375
4) Florida 49.2500

Red Rocks move to beam.#GoUtes

— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) April 20, 2024

The first 9.9 of the day on bars 🙌#RedRocks | #WeOverMe pic.twitter.com/yzmk3XpC1j

— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) April 20, 2024

With that 9⃣.9⃣5⃣0⃣, she’s amazing Grace for a reason‼️

📺ABC#RedRocks | #OurBoat pic.twitter.com/cdDbJLhP4q

— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) April 20, 2024

Scores through the first rotation! #RedRocks | #OurBoat pic.twitter.com/HCh1XkUIND

— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) April 20, 2024

Utah Beam, Cal Floor, LSU Vault, Florida Bars

The Red Rocks posted a second very solid rotation on beam to move themselves into second place behind LSU with a 98.9125. Grace McCallum got the highest score of the rotation with a 9.9375. Amelie Morgan came in second with a 9.9125 and Maile O’Keefe a 9.9000. Elizabeth Gantner earned a 9.8750 with Abby Paulson posting a 9.850 and Makenna Smith a 9.8375 to earn a team score of 49.4750 on beam.

After rotation two:

1) LSU – 99.01250
2) Utah – 98.9125
3) Cal – 98.8500
4) Florida – 98.7250

The Red Rocks move on to floor after another very solid rotation that moved them to second.#GoUtes

— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) April 20, 2024

Add a 9⃣.9⃣3⃣7⃣5⃣ to the tally for Grace McCallum on beam‼️

Amelie Morgan started the rotation with a 9.9125 🙌

📺ABC#RedRocks | #OurBoat pic.twitter.com/NS4kdcJefs

— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) April 20, 2024

Chalk another 9.9 up for the beam team and the beam queen herself 👑#RedRocks | #OurBoat pic.twitter.com/eYdf1hgiPa

— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) April 20, 2024

How bout that beam team 🤩#RedRocks | #OurBoat pic.twitter.com/I5xqTLseQK

— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) April 20, 2024

Utah Floor, Cal Vault, LSU Bars, Florida Beam

The Red Rocks took the lead after a stella floor rotation that earned a team total of 148.500 and team event score of 49.5875. The effort was led by Maile O’Keefe, Abby Paulson, and Jaylene Gilstrap who all earned 9.9250s. Ella Zirbes added a 9.9125 while Makenna Smith and Grace McCallum added a pair of 9.9000s.

Grace McCallum earns a 9.9000. Doesn’t matter.

Utah leads with one to go.

1) Utah- 148.500
2) LSU- 148.4625
3) Cal- 148.3500
4) Florida- 147.9625

Utah will end on vault.#GoUtes

— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) April 20, 2024

That’s the way you get the floor party started 😎#RedRocks | #OurBoat pic.twitter.com/onpjgN559y

— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) April 20, 2024

With her final performance of her career, Abby Paulson goes out with a 💥💥#RedRocks | #OurBoat pic.twitter.com/BhN4nuHg7D

— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) April 20, 2024

Another 9⃣.9⃣2⃣5⃣ for the Red Rocks and Maile O’Keefe‼️

Take a bow, one of the best to ever do it.

📺ABC#RedRocks | #OurBoat pic.twitter.com/B1avaJmDvY

— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) April 20, 2024

Utah Vault, Cal Bars, LSU Beam, Florida Floor

Unfortunately, Utah didn’t handle their business the way they needed to on vault in order to keep the lead and walk away with the title. Two falls to start the rotation were too much to overcome while LSU and Cal surged on beam and bars.

Vault scores ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/YA38trZmzR

— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) April 20, 2024

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

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