Red Rocks recruiting heats up with 3 commits from 2028 class, including 5-star gymnasts
Oct 2, 2026, 12:20 AM | Updated: 12:44 am
The Utah Red Rocks celebrate after winning the Big 12 gymnastics championship at the Maverik Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 22, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Brice Tucker, Deseret News)
(Photo courtesy of Brice Tucker, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — It may have been an off week for Utah football, but the gymnastics program quickly stole the spotlight with a healthy return in the recruiting front.
The Red Rocks received the commitments from three gymnasts from the 2028 recruiting class this week, including two five-star gymnasts, who should add to an already talented roster that Carly Dockendorf and staff have built.
Here’s a look at the three gymnasts who committed to Utah this week:
Johanna “JoJo” Pickell, X-Cel Gymnastics
JoJo Pickell, a three-star gymnast out of Pennsylvania (X-Cel Gymnastics), kicked off the hot recruiting start this week when she announced her commitment to Utah on Sept. 30.
“I’m so excited to announce that I have verbally committed to the University of Utah on a full athletic scholarship to continue my academic and athletic career!!” Pickell said on Instagram.
Pickell is a Level 10 vault and bars state champion, and recently placed 12th in the all-around competition at the 2026 Women’s Development Program L10 Nationals. While there, she tied for eighth on balance beam and ninth on floor.
She chose Utah as her future school over offers from Auburn and Minnesota.
“I would lastly love to thank coaches Carly, Myia, Steve, and Mike for this amazing opportunity! Thank you for believing in me, and I’m so excited to be a Red Rock!!”
Greta Stowell, Olympus Gymnastics
The Red Rocks’ connection with Olympus Gymnastics will remain for at least a few more years with the future addition of South Jordan native Greta Stowell, who announced her commitment publicly on Oct. 1.
Stowell is a five-star recruit (No. 12 overall nationally) who chose her hometown school over offers from several top schools around the country, including her top choices of Alabama, Georgia and Oklahoma.
But Stowell will continue to call Utah home, where she’ll follow fellow Olympus Gymnastics star and current Red Rocks team captain Avery Neff.
“I opened my heart to this experience,” Stowell said on Instagram. “I explored the entire country genuinely trying to find my place! I was prayerful, willing and so open to go where the Lord needed me!! Recently, someone asked me (you’ll know who you are when you see this🫶🏼) “where do you see yourself being the happiest? where will you smile the biggest?” immediately my answer, my home, was so clear and I was filled with peace-exactly what I’ve been praying for.
“UTAH YOU’RE NOT GETTING RID OF ME🙌🏼❤️”
Stowell placed first in the all-around competition at the 2026 Women’s Development Program L10 Nationals, while placing fourth on vault at the 2026 Nastia Liukin Cup and first on vault and floor at the 2026 Women’s Developent Program Winter Classic.
She became the second Utah commit for the 2028 class.
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Andie Marshall, Royal Gymnastics
To round out the week, Andie Marshall publicly announced her commitment to Utah on Oct. 1. She and Stowell surprised the Red Rocks team during a recent practice, announcing their commitment to the team in person.
Marshall is another five-star recruit (No. 10 overall nationally) out of California, who ultimately chose the Red Rocks over a final four that included Auburn, Michigan and Oklahoma.
“I AM FINALLY A RED ROCK!!!!! ♥️🤍🥹 I am so blessed to say that I have verbally committed to the University of Utah on a full athletic scholarship to continue my academic and athletic career!!!
“Wow. Words cannot express how grateful I am to say that. This is truly a dream come true. As I was making this post, all I could think about was little me and how ecstatic she would be to know that I have a full ride scholarship to the University of Utah!! I know she is smiling right now and my goal has always been to make her proud. I have prayed and prayed for this wonderful moment and it is finally here, and I couldn’t be happier.”
Marshall recently placed third in the all-around competition at the 2026 Women’s Development Program L10 Nationals, while placing first on bars and third on vault at the same competition.
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New faces
The Red Rocks will kick off their upcoming season in January, where they’re welcoming in two freshmen, Ayla Miller (Minnesota) and Leonie Gervais (Canada), who were ranked four-star recruits.
Fellow freshmen Gabrielle Black and Madison Denlinger deferred to train for the 2028 Summer Olympics. Should the two stay committed to Utah, they’d join Pickell, Stowell and Marshall as part of the 2028 recruiting class.
The Red Rocks have four other gymnasts committed as part of the 2027 recruiting class, including three five-star gymnasts Claire Pease (Texas, No. 2 overall), Galilee Vestnys (California, No. 3) and Emma Howells (Georgia, No. 8), as well as four-star gymnast Taylor Noble (Utah).
On Wednesday, Pease locked up one of two automatic berths on the United State gymnastics team for the 2026 World Championships. A spot on Team USA for the 2028 Olympics could be in the cards for the future Red Rocks gymnast.
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