MyKayla Skinner is a lot of things, a former national team member,holder of numerous gymnastics records and a student. To teammate MaKennaMerrell-Giles, Skinner is a carrot.
Following Utah’s 197.45-196.3 win over Oregon State on Friday, Merrell-Giles acknowledged she was motivated by Skinner’s consistent winning.
The result are two great gymnasts for the Utes.
Skinner won the all-around Friday with a 39.725 while Merrell-Giles was second with a 39.6.
The two tied for the vault title with 9.95s.
Skinner won the balancebeam (9.925) and set a career high in winning the uneven bars (9.975)while Merrell-Giles tied teammates Tiffani Lewis and Sydney Soloski forthe floor title with 9.925.
Skinner had a deduction that dropped her floor score to 9.875, asurprising score for someone who regularly notches 9.9s and higher onthe event. Still, her presence was felt, Merrell-Giles acknowledged.
“She is someone I want to be chasing,” Merrell-Giles said. “To be asgood as MyKayla, she sets the bar everyone wants to reach.”
Merrell-Giles tied Skinner for the all-around in the season opener, so evidently using Skinner as a target of sorts is working.
Good week
The Utes kept things light this week in practice since they competed on Sunday in the Elevate the Stage meet, leaving them with two days less than they normally have between meets. Utah had Monday and Wednesday off and went light on Tuesday. The easy week kept the gymnasts fresh for Friday.
“They did a good job of pacing us so we were able to recover fully,” Merrell-Giles said.
Ship was righted
Utah coach Tom Farden was impressed with Kim Tessen’s9.85 on the bars since the sophomore had some trouble in the warmups.Her score followed a 9.7 from Missy Reinstadtler and a 9.35 from KariLee.
“She missed a major release in warmups and for her to come back andsettle herself down and get into a rhythm was incredible,” he said. “Sherighted the ship.”