It’s here. The big kahuna. The Pac-12 regular season headliner.
This meet has come down to about a single tenth the past three years. The margin was 0.050 in 2020, 0.125 in 2021 and 0.100 in 2022. Utah won each year; the Bruins last dual victory over the Utes came in 2019. The only gymnast remaining from that roster is fifth year Margzetta Frazier.
The conference rivals enter the Huntsman Center well matched yet again. Utah outflanks UCLA on vault and beam, while the Bruins top the Utes on bars and floor. Their season highs are separated by 0.125. UCLA enters with three star all-arounders putting up most of its routines: Jordan Chiles, Selena Harris and Chae Campbell lead the way. Utah leans on Grace McCallum in the all-around, but otherwise deals in a rotating cast of talented specialists. No gymnast on either squad has a 10.0 yet this year, but both teams have a few 9.975s in the books so perfection seems imminent.
Expect both teams to come out swinging. This is a rivalry meet, a mid-season test and a point of pride. It will set expectations for the conference championship next month and give us a look at what Tom Farden and Janelle McDonald consider their A lineups.
Rotation 1: Utah vault, UCLA bars
AFTER 1:
