Utah Gymnastics Still Searching for Rhythm After Uneven Outing at Iowa State
The Red Rocks are still looking for their groove.
Utah, ranked No. 12 in the nation, picked up a 195.725-192.300 win over Iowa State on Sunday, but the score told a story that’s becoming all too familiar this season: flashes of brilliance surrounded by head-scratching inconsistency. For the second time this year, Utah couldn’t break the 196.000 mark-an unusual trend for a program that’s built its legacy on precision and polish.
The most puzzling part? The inconsistency isn’t just event-to-event-it’s happening routine-to-routine. And that makes it tough to diagnose what’s going wrong.
Early Stumbles Set the Tone
It started rough on bars, where senior Makenna Smith clipped her feet on the ground during her routine. Her 9.325 set a shaky tone for the rotation, and Utah never fully recovered.
That’s a stark contrast to their previous meet, where the Red Rocks posted a nation-leading 49.625 on bars. This time around, a fall from freshman Bailey Stroud later in the lineup meant Smith’s score had to count.
Utah finished the rotation with a 48.750-well below their potential.
Vault Offers a Glimmer of Hope
Vault was a different story. Smith bounced back in a big way, earning a 9.925 to win the event and spark a much-needed rally.
Avery Neff and Ella Zirbes each added strong 9.875s, helping Utah post a 49.350-by far their best event of the day. For a moment, it looked like the Red Rocks were settling in.
But the momentum didn’t stick.
Floor Woes Continue
The floor rotation was a rollercoaster, and not the fun kind. Camie Winger fell in the leadoff spot, and Neff followed with a fall of her own.
The rest of the lineup was a mixed bag-scores of 9.7, 9.85, 9.625, and 9.875 added up to a flat 48.125. Not the kind of scoring you expect from a team with postseason aspirations.
Beam Brilliance Closes the Day
Then came beam-and Utah reminded everyone why they’re still a team to watch.
Beam has been Utah’s most unpredictable event this season, but on Sunday, it was lights out. The Red Rocks put together a stunning 49.500, their highest event score of the day by a wide margin and a performance that brought some much-needed energy to an otherwise uneven meet.
Abbi Ryssman, fresh off being named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week, delivered a career-best 9.925. Winger added a strong 9.9, and Ana Padurariu stole the show with a 9.95 that matched her career high. It was a reminder of just how good this team can be when everything clicks.
Scoring Trends and Road Challenges
Over the first three events, Utah managed just one score above 9.90. On beam alone, they had three. That kind of disparity raises questions-especially in a week where scoring inconsistencies across the NCAA have been under the microscope.
It’s also worth noting that this was Utah’s first time competing at Hilton Coliseum, and the travel to Ames, Iowa wasn’t exactly smooth sailing. Multiple transfers and a long day on the road may have contributed to the team’s sluggish start.
What’s Next
The Red Rocks return home Friday night to face Big 12 rival Arizona State at the Huntsman Center. With home-crowd energy and a chance to reset, Utah will look to find the consistency that’s eluded them so far in 2026.
They’ve shown they can hit elite-level routines-now it’s about stringing them together. Because when this team is locked in, they’re not just good. They’re dangerous.