Shortly after Utah’s win over Brigham Young on Friday, Utah coach Megan Marsden inquired as if the Utes had ever opened a season with a 197 or higher score.
Turns out they had done so, back in 2004 and 2005 when the Utes beat UCLA 197.35-196.375 and 197.675-197.3, respectively. But those moments of history didn’t diminish Friday’s accomplishment in the 197-194.275 win over the Cougars.
The Utes wanted to send a message that they are a team that can challenge for the national title by being near the top of the national standings from the start of the season. So far, so good. The Utes’ score was only topped nationally only by LSU which beat Arkansas 197.15-195.35.
UTAH VS. STANFORD, UCLA AND WASHINGTON<br>At Reno, Nev.<br>When • Sunday, 3 p.m.
Granted not all of the teams opened the season this weekend, but Marsden is still happy.
“I’m looking at it as a comparison to what we’ve done before than what others are doing, but I think it was a great start,” she said. “It’s exciting. I can’t believe how much better a 197 sounds than even a196.9. It’s just a tenth difference, but it gives a better impression.”
Junior Makenna Merrell-Giles said the opener was a confidence booster.
“To start the season strong with the third 197 in team history (for the opener) is cool,” she said. “We worked so hard in the offseason, it is nice to see it paying off.”
Beam tweaks
The one area in which the Utes faltered was the balance beam, where leadoff Shannon McNatt had a break and scored 9.575 and Missy Reinstadtler had a fall and scored 9.275. Utah finished with a rotation score of 48.975. Marsden said the beam is the one area that she might continue to experiment with the lineup as she searches for a consistent leadoff gymnast.
“I’m hoping that will be Shannon and we have trained her for that,” she said. “But we might give Sydney [Soloski] a chance too. She did a decent job in her first routine so we might look at that the first few meets.”
Soloski, a freshman, scored a 9.85 in her unexpected debut on the floor exercise. She competed in place of Kari Lee because Lee’s calf was cramping and the Utes didn’t want to risk an injury.
As for fellow freshman Alexia Burch, the Utes hope she can compete at least in exhibition in Sunday’s quad meet in Reno, Nev. Burch was slotted to perform in exhibition on Friday on vault and beam but was sidelined with a sprained ankle.
Around the state
BYU, which is tied for 17th with Penn State in the current rankings, hosts Cal on Friday at 7 p.m. Utah State opens its season Saturday at Bowling Green and Southern Utah opens the season Thursday at Boise State.
SUU was picked to finish second to the Broncos in the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference.
NATIONAL RANKINGS<br>1. LSU • 197.15<br>2. Utah • 197<br>3. Central Michigan • 196.375<br>4. UCLA • 196.25<br>5. Michigan • 196.2<br>6. Kentucky •196.075<br>7. Florida • 195.9<br>8. Denver • 195.775<br>9. Alabama • 195.675<br>10. Arizona • 195.425<br>17. BYU • 194.275