Can Utah gymnasts keep their NCAA Championships streak alive? Utes say they are ‘peaking at the right time’

For a meet that doesn’t have to be won, the NCAA Regional Gymnastics Championships is often described as the scariest meet of the year.

All the Utes have to do is finish in the top two to advance to the NCAA Championships. Doing so should be the expectation for the Utes, since they are the top seed in the Seattle regional and are ranked fourth overall. They also have history on their side since they have qualified for every NCAA Championship since the NCAA began sponsoring gymnastics in 1982.

But being the team that “should advance,” and the long history can be detrimental too, adding all kinds of pressure.

The streak will end at some point, will this be the year?

The Utes say no.

“We are peaking at the right time,” Utah junior Maile O’Keefe said shortly after the Utes won the Pac-12 title with a 198.0.

The Utes compete in the evening session with Pac-12 rival Oregon State being Utah’s closest threat as the No. 13 seed. The Utes have beaten Oregon State twice this year, which should give them a boost of confidence.

They have also performed well in their pressure meets, such as the Pac-12 championships when they came from behind to win the title.

The Utes opened on the vault in that meet, but this time the top seeds in each region will open on floor. It’s an unfamiliar rotation that was decided by a random draw, but Utah coach Tom Farden doesn’t mind since the Utes are strong on floor, ranking fourth nationally, and will finish on beam where they are ranked No. 1.

“We don’t take anything for granted, but we have a strong mindset and good confidence,” Farden said. “Coming off Minnesota, LSU and the Pac-12s, those were all good strong performances and we will build off those.”

Alabama and Michigan State are the seeded teams in the afternoon, although Washington can’t be counted out since it is the host and BYU is good enough to advance if others make mistakes.

One slight format change to the regionals this year is the day off in between sessions. Farden likes the day of recovery, although it does mean some extra planning is in order.

“We’ll have them do some activities and move them,” Farden said. “It’s much like a day when they get off the jet on a travel day and you want to get them fresh.”

Utah State is competing in the Norman regional and Southern Utah is in the Auburn regional as all four Utah teams advanced.

Seattle Regional

Session 1: No. 5 Alabama (197.79), No. 12 Michigan State (197.165), BYU (196.64), Washington (196.55), 2 p.m. MT

Session 2: No. 4 Utah (197.92), No. 13 Oregon State (197.155), Illinois (196.775), Stanford (196.415) /San Jose State (196.26), 8 p.m. MT

Norman Regional

Session 1: No. 8 Minnesota (197.44), No. 9 California (197.33), Boise State (196.56), Utah State (196.55)

Session 2: No. 1 Oklahoma (198.14), No. 16 Arizona State (196.905), Arkansas (196.82), West Virginia (196.315)/Arizona (196.3)

Raleigh Regional

Session 1: No. 6 LSU (197.735), No. 11 Missouri (197.195), Iowa (196.585), NC State (196.33)

Session 2: No. 3 Michigan (198.015), No. 14 UCLA (197.09), Maryland (196.765), Towson (196.265)/North Carolina (196.225)

Auburn Regional

Session 1: No. 7 Auburn (197.65), No. 10 Kentucky (197.25), Georgia (196.575), Southern Utah (196.535)

Session 2: No. 2 Florida (198.135), No. 15 Denver (196.96), Ohio State (196.89), Iowa State (196.43)/Western Michigan (196.215)

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