Red Rocks begin tough stretch with Missouri quad meet Friday, followed by Stanford and UCLA next week, but they set it up this way for a reason

Before the season ever started, Utah’s gymnastics team knew this weekend was going to be a test. Now, though. it appears to be more of a challenge than predicted.

The fourth-ranked Utes compete in a quad meet Friday night, then travel to Stanford for a dual meet on Monday. They will only have a few days to rest after that competition before hosting UCLA in the toughest regular season meet of the year.

If they didn’t know before, the Utes certainly will know who they are as a team after these three competitions.

“It’s going to be good practice for us for the postseason,” junior MyKayla Skinner said. “We are going to have several competitions in a row against top teams.”

Skinner is referring to the new format for regionals that will pit two teams against each other in a play-in, with the winner advancing to an eight-team competition. The top four teams from that will compete for two spots at the NCAA Championships.

In the past, regionals were a one-day competition. If the Utes maintain their high ranking they will avoid the play-in, but competing back-to-back both at regionals and then at nationals if they advance will be a test.

The good news is Stanford is involved in the quad meet, too, so the Cardinal are up against the same schedule. Also participating are LSU and Missouri.

The benefit of competing in the quad meet is it will be the only time the Utes go against three other teams before the postseason starts, so all four teams will compete at once instead of alternating. In addition, the meet will be on the raised style podium setting like nationals. Both formats require some adjusting, Utah coach Megan Marsden said.

“We need the podium experience because other conferences are already doing this kind of meet,” Marsden said. “The rotations go quicker for us, too, because you aren’t waiting for another of the athletes to finish. That can be good because it is less time to think.”

Originally the Utes were toying with the idea of going with a ‘Team A’ and ‘Team B’ approach for the quad meet and the dual competition against Stanford. However, it could be challenging to come up with enough athletes to do so because of some nagging injuries.

Skinner has a swollen ankle that might not let her compete two times in three days right now. Missy Reinstadtler remains slowed by a sore foot and freshman Cristal Isa is sidelined with an arm injury.

The good news is Kim Tessen is pushing for the lineup in several spots and freshman Hunter Dula is almost ready on the vault. Sophomore Lauren Wong is close to being ready as well.

The Utes might give some of those gymnasts a chance, but it might depend on who feels fresh after Friday.

“We will take a look and see, but I don’t think we are going to have drastic changes in the lineup,” Marsden said.

After these two meets, the Utes will have a short turnaround to get ready for rival and defending national champion UCLA. The Utes know that meet is out there, but they can’t worry about it just yet said senior Kari Lee.

“We have this schedule for a reason,” Lee said. “We want to keep going upwards.”