Utah coach Megan Marsden was non-committal about the possibility of the freshmen breaking into Utah’s lineup this season because Utah has a deep team with multiple veterans.
Yet not only has freshman Sydney Soloski earned a spot in the floor lineup, it seems she is going to keep it.
Soloski has earned scores of 9.85, 9.825, 9.925 and 9.9 for her floor efforts.
The Calgary, Alberta native is getting so comfortable in her routine that she might upgrade her middle pass from a double twist to a double tuck Saturday when the Utes host Washington at 1:30 p.m.
Soloski used the double twist early to build her confidence.
“We knew fans and judges would love her dance,” Marsden said. “She has a different style that sets her apart, so we knew she could be a favorite. But you still have to land three good tumbling passes. She is doing that well.”
Soloski’s first pass sets her apart too because she completes a double layout, which is two back flips in a row with the body extended. It’s an eye-catching skill that the 5-foot gymnast has made a staple of her routines since she was 12 years old.
“I have a good body type for it,” she said. “It’s always one of the easier things for me.”
That Soloski has broken into the lineup as a freshman this year is impressive considering floor is a deep event for the Utes.
She admits being on the floor with veterans such as Tiffani Lewis, MaKenna Merrell-Giles and MyKayla Skinner is a bit of a surprise even to her, but no one is questioning her presence in the lineup.
“We could feel early on in the year that possibly the meet season was more like her time,” Marsden said. “I don’t think she felt that sense of urgency in the preseason.”
Soloski said it was the experience of the first meet that was a bit eye-opening for her.
“When you have 14,000 or 15,000 fans watching you in an arena, I knew this was meant to be and it was my time to show people what I can do,” she said.
Having the support of the veterans has helped, too. Lewis in particular has gone out of her way to make Soloski feel comfortable.
“She told me that it was my spot and I had earned it and I was staying,” Soloski said.