The Utah Red Rocks are off to a high-octane start in 2026, packing three meets into an 11-day stretch to open the season. But after that whirlwind, the pace has slowed, giving the team a valuable window to regroup, refine, and reset before hitting the road for their first out-of-state meet.
That meet comes this Sunday against Iowa State-a team ranked outside the top 50-giving No. 12 Utah a chance to sharpen its edge while building confidence away from home. And if the rotation draw is any indication, the Red Rocks are in position to come out swinging.
They’ll open on bars and vault, their two strongest events so far this season. Utah ranks No. 4 nationally on bars and No. 2 on vault, and they’ve already posted the country’s top scores on both events this year: a 49.675 on bars and a 49.6 on vault. That kind of firepower to start a meet is a luxury, and head coach Carly Dockendorf knows it.
“I think it will really boost our energy to begin the meet (on bars and vault),” Dockendorf said. “But again, it’s just, you know, it doesn’t matter the rotation, we still have to just go and do our job.”
That mindset is key, especially with some early-season inconsistencies on beam and floor. Utah currently sits 31st on beam and 17th on floor, numbers that don’t quite match the program’s usual dominance. But context matters-those lineups are filled with new routines, and with more reps and confidence, the Red Rocks expect those scores to climb.
Vault: From Volatile to Virtuoso
Vault has been a revelation this season for Utah. It’s an event that’s tested the Red Rocks in recent years-moments of brilliance mixed with bouts of inconsistency-but 2026 is telling a different story. Through three meets, Utah’s vaulters have delivered in a big way, and the results speak for themselves.
“It’s such a volatile event that can go really good, or it can go south really fast because it’s one skill, one landing, and so it’s magnified,” said assistant coach Mike Hunger, who joined the staff in May 2024 with a focus on vault.
Hunger brings decades of experience from the club scene, where he built Twin City Twisters into a powerhouse. That club produced Utah stars like Grace McCallum and Abby Paulson, and now Hunger is helping mold the next wave of elite vaulters in Salt Lake City.
“Mike’s a very veteran coach,” said senior Makenna Smith. “He knows so much about vault and is passionate about it. His passion has bled into us.”
Smith also highlighted Hunger’s attention to detail-how he can break down a vault frame by frame and pinpoint the smallest adjustment that can make the biggest difference.
Vault is unique in that it’s essentially one explosive skill, unlike the multi-skill routines on beam, bars, or floor. That makes it thrilling, but also unforgiving. There’s no room for error, and Hunger understands that better than most.
“Vault has been my world for the last 20 years,” he said. “As a club owner, I kept hiring coaches that wanted to coach bars, wanted to coach floor. I never hired anybody who wanted to coach vault, so I became the de facto vault coach.”
His passion for the event runs deep. Hunger has long been a fan of Utah gymnastics-his daughter, Breanna Hughes, competed for the Red Rocks from 2013 to 2016-and he fondly recalls the electricity of back-to-back 10.0s from Tory Wilson and Georgia Dabritz in 2015.
Now, he’s helping create new 10.0 moments. Earlier this month at the Sprouts Quad Meet, Utah posted the highest vault score in the nation, capped by Avery Neff’s perfect 10.0-the first of her career, and Hunger’s first as a collegiate coach.
Utah’s vault lineup is as deep as it is talented. Hunger believes seven gymnasts are capable of competing 10.0 start values “on any given day,” with two more not far behind. That kind of depth is rare-and dangerous for opponents.
“They gave me some pretty good (gymnasts) to work with so that never hurts,” Hunger said with a laugh. “We have a lot of really good, natural vaulters and they put in the work. We also have the most carry over for our lineups from last season, so we’ve been able to keep working together.”
Beam Adjustments and Mental Prep
While vault and bars are clicking, the Red Rocks are still fine-tuning their beam lineup. One notable change: Avery Neff has tweaked her routine after a couple of judging conferences and lower-than-expected scores early in the season. Her leap sequence, which looked sharp in preseason training, hasn’t translated consistently in meets.
Dockendorf said the new routine gives Neff a better scoring opportunity while still maintaining her signature style.
The coaching staff is also taking a creative approach to preparing for the unfamiliar arena in Iowa. To help the team visualize the space and stay mentally sharp, Dockendorf and her staff printed out photos of the facility. It’s a small detail, but one that speaks to the program’s commitment to preparation.
Rising Star: Abbi Ryssman
Freshman Abbi Ryssman is already making waves. She’s coming off a breakout performance at the Best of Utah meet, where she posted career highs on beam (9.9) and bars (9.925). That effort earned her Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honors and solidified her place as a rising contributor in Utah’s lineups.
Utah Gymnastics is a Statewide Force
It’s not just the Red Rocks making noise. All four NCAA programs in the state of Utah are ranked in the top 25 after three weeks of competition.
Utah leads the way at No. 12, followed by BYU at No. 22, Utah State at No. 23, and Southern Utah at No.
The depth of talent across the state is impressive-and it’s raising the bar for everyone.
As Utah heads into its first road test of the season, the Red Rocks are leaning into their strengths, addressing their weaknesses, and continuing to build momentum. If the vault and bars performances are any indication, this team is just getting started.