Upcoming Event: Gymnastics versus Red Rocks Preview on December 12, 2025 at 7:00 PM
7:00 PM
Gymnastics
vs Red Rocks Preview
The University of Utah Athletics
Friday, April 15
Cleveland, Ohio
6:00 PM
University of Utah
vs
NCAA Championship Prelims
Ute Gymnasts Qualify into NCAA Super Six
4/15/2011 12:00 AM | Gymnastics
April 15, 2011
CLEVELAND -
The Utah gymnasts chipped their way into the NCAA Super Six, making an improbable late leap over Oregon State to move into third place, then holding off fast-charging Florida. Utah, which scored a 196.200 to place third behind Alabama (197.050) and Nebraska (196.850), will compete for the team title on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET (2 p.m. MT).
The trio will join Oklahoma (196.775), Michigan (196.700) and UCLA (196.500)--who made it through the first semifinal--in the Super Six. Utah is the only team to qualify for the last 12 NCAA Super Six championships and is tied with Alabama and Georgia for most all-time Super Six appearances with 17.
Teams failing to advance from the evening semifinal were Florida (196.125), Oregon State (196.100) and Kent State (195.000). Missing the cut in session I were Arkansas and Georgia, who tied for fourth (195.450), and Illinois (195.100).
As has been the case so often this season--most recently at regionals--the Utes hung on the outskirts of the competition for much of the meet before making their move. Entering their final competitive rotation on vault, the Utes trailed Oregon State by a whopping .525. Utah responded with its best score of the night, a 49.275 on vault, while OSU struggled to a 48.650 finale on the beam. It proved just enough for Utah to slide past the Beavers.
But the Utes weren't in the finals just yet. Florida, which opened the meet with a disastrous beam set, had charged back into the picture by the time its final rotation rolled around. The Gators needed a 49.375 on the bars to earn the third spot ahead of Utah. They came close, scoring a 49.300 to finish with a 196.125, but couldn't catch the Utes.
"This is who we are," said Ute coach Greg Marsden. "Florida is a much more talented team, but we are the little engine that could. We don't make mistakes and just hang around. If another team makes a mistake, we're there. "I'm so proud of this team. This has been such a fun year. Every time I think we've reached our limit, they find a way to take another step."
Stephanie McAllister, who finished fifth in the all-around scoring a 39.350, said, "Our goal was to have fun and take it one step at a time. That will be our goal tomorrow too."
McAllister earned two All-America certificates on opening day. She won first-team honors by tying for third on vault in the evening semi with a 9.90 and is a second-team All-American in the all-around. She will be joined in event finals on Sunday with freshman Mary Beth Lofgren, who placed fourth on beam with a 9.825 to become a first-team All-American.
First, though, Utah will compete in the Super Six on Saturday, where they will open on the balance beam. For a long time tonight, it looked like the Utes might be watching team finals, even while not counting a fall and hitting 23-of-24 routines.
Utah hoped for a fast start on its best event, the bars. But with Cortni Beers falling late in the lineup, Utah finished with a 49.05, which tied its season low on the event. Counting scores by Johnson (9.75), Lothrop (9.80), Damianova (9.80), McAllister (9.825) and Mackie (9.875), the Utes came out of the first rotation in second behind Nebraska. First rotation standings, which did not include Alabama and Kent State, who were out on byes: Nebraska 49.45, Utah 49.05, Oregon State 48.95 and Florida 48.125.
In round two, Utah fared better than Florida on the beam, which immediately prior had suffered two falls. All six Utes stayed aboard, but tight scoring on the beam (which stayed consistently low all night) led to a 48.75. As was the case on the bars, Utah tied its low score of the season on the beam. Lofgren (9.825) was Utah's top scorer and the only Ute to reach 9.80.
Utah entered its first bye in second to Oregon State, but they were the only teams with two scores. By the time the Utes exited the bye room, here's what the standings looked like: Nebraska 98.800, Alabama 98.750, Oregon State 98.050, Utah 98.700, Florida 97.575 and Kent State 97.050.
Back in action on floor, Utah put up a 49.125 with Damianova and McAllister scoring 9.85s and Lothrop posting a 9.825. However, both Nebraska and Oregon State expanded their lead over the Utes in the rotation, while Alabama sat out with a bye. Going into their final event--the vault--it was clear that the Utes would need some help from another team in order to advance.
Utah did its best to position itself in case another team faltered, posting its best score of the night on the vault, a 49.275. McAllister tied her career high with a 9.90 and Lia Del Priore, Lorthop and Mackie all earned 9.85s. Oregon State complied with the helping hand and Utah's score held up against Florida.
Players Mentioned
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
/ Gymnastics
Utah Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2025 | Gymnastics' Georgia Dabritz
Monday, October 13
Fan Fest 2025 Coaches and Players Interviews: Gymnastics
Sunday, August 17
Seven New Inductees to Join Utah Athletics Hall of Fame in October 2025
Monday, July 28
Utah Gymnastic's Grace McCallum call out from University of Utah President Randall
Thursday, May 08