Red Rocks Dominate Season Opener, Besting Minnesota and Iowa in Front of Energetic home Crowd
Utah Gymnastics launched its 2026 season with a commanding victory over Minnesota and Iowa Friday night, captivating a crowd of 11,191 fans at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. The No. 5 ranked Red Rocks posted a winning overall score of 196.625, surpassing No. 15 Minnesota (195.475) and No. 22 Iowa (194.825) in a decisive tri-meet.
The atmosphere within the Huntsman Center was a key factor in the Red Rocks’ success, according to head coach Carly Dockendorf. “It is such a special experience to be here,” she saeid. “This will be my ninth year, and it never gets old to walk into the Huntsman and have the crowd just roar for a great routine. Our fans are so special to us and that’s why recruits want to come here.” Dockendorf emphasized the importance of the fan support, stating, “I never take it for granted. I always take a moment to look around and just find a lot gratitude for the people that continue to show up and support this program and to cheer us on.”
Utah started strong on vault, with sophomore Zoe Johnson igniting the crowd with a score of 9.925, prompting the first “10” chants of the year. Seniors Makenna Smith and Ashley Glynn contributed solid scores of 9.875 and 9.825 respectively, while sophomore Avery Neff anchored the event with a 9.80. The Red Rocks concluded the first rotation with a 49.200, leading Minnesota (48.800) and Iowa (48.125).
The team continued its momentum on uneven bars, led by Smith’s notable 9.90. junior Ella Zirbes and senior Ana Padurariu added scores of 9.875 and 9.85, while Neff (9.775) and freshman Bailey Stroud (9.75) rounded out the rotation, bringing the team total to 49.150. After two rotations, Utah maintained its lead with a cumulative score of 98.350, followed by Minnesota (97.575) and Iowa (96.950).
Freshman talent shone on the balance beam, with Zirbes, Stroud, and Ryssman all making their debuts on the event.Neff and Zirbes led the charge, both posting scores of 9.875. Freshman Abbi Ryssman and Padurariu each contributed a 9.85, and Stroud finished with a 9.80. Dockendorf highlighted the team’s depth on beam, noting, “We have a lot of girls that love doing that event-who have a really strong mind for that event. We had All-Am
- zoe Johnson – 9.925
- Makenna smith – 9.875
- Ashley Glynn – 9.825
- avery Neff – 9.80
- Ella zirbes – 9.875
- Ana Padurariu – 9.85
- Bailey Stroud – 9.75
- Abbi Ryssman – 9.85
- Grace McCallum – 9.65
- Jordan Bischoff – 9.70
- Maia Bryant – 9.60
- Poppy-Grace Stickler – 9.775
- Avery Neff – 9.70
- makenna Smith – 9.70
UP NEXT
Utah will next compete at the third annual Sprouts Farmers Market Quad Meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah, on Saturday, January 10th at 2 p.m. MT, facing off against No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 2 LSU, and No. 4 UCLA. The Red Rocks will then return to the Maverik Center on Monday,January 12th at 7 p.m. for the Best of Utah meet, taking on in-state rivals BYU, USU, and SUU.
For an inside look at the Utah gymnastics program, fans can follow the Red Rocks on social media (TikTok: @utahgymnastics |Instagram: @utahgymnastics). .
Download the official mobile app of the University of Utah today – UTAH 360.
