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Knowing when and how to put on a show has made Utah's gymnastics team one of the highest attended women's collegiate sports, having averaged more than 10,000 fans for home meets since 2004.

So when Utah's coaches were given the opportunity to showcase their team in a special preseason event for the Pac-12 Networks, co-coaches Megan Marsden and Tom Farden knew exactly what they needed to do, get their team ready earlier than ever.

Apparently their mission has been accomplished.

The Utes will debut their 2016-17 team Friday at 7 p.m. in the Huntsman Center in a format catered to a live broadcast by the Pac-12 Network.

Rather than dividing into two teams, eight gymnasts will compete on each event in Olympic order, starting on the vault, then the uneven bars, balance beam and floor.

The pressure of knowing they were going to be on TV has the team farther ahead than usual at this point in the preseason, Marsden said.

The Utes open the regular season Jan. 7 against Michigan.

"We are excited about this opportunity to be on TV so we wanted to have full routines ready," she said. "This is going to be a good thing for us. It has put us farther ahead than we normally are and it is going to be a great recruiting tool on the national stage."

The Utes return eight letter winners, but no doubt the gymnast most fans will be curious to get a first-hand look at is freshman MyKayla Skinner, an alternate for the 2016 Olympic gold medal team.

With her international experience, Skinner will face extremely high expectations at Utah. However, Marsden said the freshman has shown no indications she won't be able to live up to her reputation.

"She has already shown she deserves all-around status," Marsden said. "She has more difficulty on floor and vault than anyone we have had in the program so she will be out in force on Friday. You never know how gymnasts are going to transition to the college level, but so far I'm really proud of the transition she has made."

Also making their debut will be fellow freshmen Missy Reinstadtler and Kim Tessen and sophomore Macey Roberts, a transfer from Maryland.

Marsden said the freshmen are already pushing the returners, a notable achievement considering the Utes return a lot of experience, including senior Baely Rowe who is expected to compete in the all-around as is junior Tiffani Lewis.

Sophomore Sabrina Schwab, the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, is another contending for all-around, Marsden said.

"In my opinion she is a star in the making," she said. "She is as brilliant as ever on bars and floor and is consistently coming in strong on beam and vault."

Utah fans also will be relieved to hear Kari Lee, who missed most of the 2016 season with a torn Achilles, has recovered well and is vying for spots on everything but floor, the event in which she suffered the injury.

Maddy Stover, who is six months out from shoulder surgery, is the only other gymnast not quite up to speed, Marsden said.

Of course all the enthusiasm is tempered by the memories of a year ago. The Utes had a standout regular season, only to suffer a horrendous showing on the balance beam at the NCAA Championships, dropping them to sixth place in the semifinals and ninth out of the 12 teams competing.

To that end, Marsden said the Utes already are being put under pressure situations, mindful it is a young team.

"I see them responding well to it," Marsden said. "But we still have to see how they do in meet situations." —

Utah Red Rocks preview

P At the Huntsman Center, Friday, 7 p.m.

TV • Pac-12 Network

Of note • Parking and admission are free. All seating is general admission, so fans are encouraged to arrive early.