Completed Event: Gymnastics versus NCAA Championship Final on April 19, 2025 , , 4th of 4 (197.2375)
Final Score
Gymnastics
4th of 4 (197.2375)
vs NCAA Championship Final
Sunday, January 14
Reno, NV
3:20 PM
University of Utah
vs
Elevate the Stage (Utah, UCLA, Stanford, Washington)
Ute Gymnasts Take Second in Elevate the Stage
1/14/2018 6:10 PM | Gymnastics
Skinner leads Utes with four victories.
RENO, Nev.—The No. 2 ranked Utah gymnasts shined on three events, but low scores on beam left them short of No. 4 UCLA in a four-team Pac-12 preview in the Reno Events Center. Led by sophomore MyKayla Skinner's four individual victories, Utah scored a 196.975 to finish second to UCLA's 197.200. Rounding out the competition were Washington (195.725) and Stanford (195.350).
Skinner dominated a star-studded field, winning the all-around (39.70), floor (9.975), bars (9.95) and vault (9.95), tying for first on the latter two. She also placed second on beam—the night's lowest scoring event overall—with a 9.825. Placing fourth in the all-around behind Skinner, Stanford's Elizabeth Price (39.65) and UCLA's Kyla Ross (39.55) was Utah's MaKenna Merrell-Giles (39.45). Merrell-Giles also tied for second on vault with a 9.90.
"We had some standout performances for this early in the season," said Utah coach Tom Farden. "MyKayla (Skinner) and MaKenna (Merrell-Giles) had a great day of gymnastics and our team floor was close to postseason quality. I was particularly happy with the second person up on all four events, as they really helped get our rhythm going. On balance beam, we were still a little tentative and we have to be sharper on our connections to ensure we get the (10.0 start) values."
The Utes got off to a fast start on bars with a 49.300 set headlined by a flawless looking 9.95 from Skinner. Merrell-Giles added a 9.875 in helping Utah take what would be its only lead of the day.
The second rotation would cost the Utes dearly. A slew of 9.90 start values from a member of the judging panel resulted in a 9.60 and three 9.725s in mostly bobble-free routines from Shannon McNatt, Merrell-Giles, Maddy Stover and Missy Reinstadtler. Skinner (9.825) and Lee (9.80) could bring Utah up to only a 48.80 and left the Utes in third place at the midway point.
The Utes didn't go down without a fight, however, posting the best scores of any team on floor (49.450) and vault (49.425) on their last two events. Skinner had the large contingent of Utah fans screaming for 10.0s and came close—scoring a 9.975 on a picture perfect floor routine and finishing the night with by sticking a huge vault for a 9.95.. Merrell-Giles was hot on Skinner's heals, setting her up nicely with a 9.95 on floor and 9.80 on vault.
Utah returns home for a Friday, Feb. 19 meet against Oregon State. The meet starts at 7 p.m.
Skinner dominated a star-studded field, winning the all-around (39.70), floor (9.975), bars (9.95) and vault (9.95), tying for first on the latter two. She also placed second on beam—the night's lowest scoring event overall—with a 9.825. Placing fourth in the all-around behind Skinner, Stanford's Elizabeth Price (39.65) and UCLA's Kyla Ross (39.55) was Utah's MaKenna Merrell-Giles (39.45). Merrell-Giles also tied for second on vault with a 9.90.
"We had some standout performances for this early in the season," said Utah coach Tom Farden. "MyKayla (Skinner) and MaKenna (Merrell-Giles) had a great day of gymnastics and our team floor was close to postseason quality. I was particularly happy with the second person up on all four events, as they really helped get our rhythm going. On balance beam, we were still a little tentative and we have to be sharper on our connections to ensure we get the (10.0 start) values."
The Utes got off to a fast start on bars with a 49.300 set headlined by a flawless looking 9.95 from Skinner. Merrell-Giles added a 9.875 in helping Utah take what would be its only lead of the day.
The second rotation would cost the Utes dearly. A slew of 9.90 start values from a member of the judging panel resulted in a 9.60 and three 9.725s in mostly bobble-free routines from Shannon McNatt, Merrell-Giles, Maddy Stover and Missy Reinstadtler. Skinner (9.825) and Lee (9.80) could bring Utah up to only a 48.80 and left the Utes in third place at the midway point.
The Utes didn't go down without a fight, however, posting the best scores of any team on floor (49.450) and vault (49.425) on their last two events. Skinner had the large contingent of Utah fans screaming for 10.0s and came close—scoring a 9.975 on a picture perfect floor routine and finishing the night with by sticking a huge vault for a 9.95.. Merrell-Giles was hot on Skinner's heals, setting her up nicely with a 9.95 on floor and 9.80 on vault.
Utah returns home for a Friday, Feb. 19 meet against Oregon State. The meet starts at 7 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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