No. 3 Red Rocks Impress In Season Opener Against No. 6 LSU

SALT LAKE CITY- The No. 3 Red Rocks played host to the No. 6 LSU Tigers Friday night at the Huntsman Center in their season opener and did not disappoint. They beat the Tigers in front of a rowdy crowd 197.275 to 196.775 while still have some small things to build upon through the season.

It’s also @UtahGymnastics SZN…#GoUtes #UteProud #trUSt pic.twitter.com/j3KWNHkfs2

— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 7, 2023

The Utes are starting where they finished last season as the third ranked team in the nation with hopes a little maturity and better depth will get them a little closer to earning a National Title. Utah was voted preseason as the top team once again in the Pac-12 Conference.

First Rotation: Utah Vault, LSU Bars

Utah Vault Lineup/Scores:

1. Jillian Hoffman: 9.825
2. Abby Brenner: 9.875
3. Lucy Stanhope: 9.875
4. Makenna Smith: 9.900
5. Grace McCallum: 9.300
6. Jaedyn Rucker: 9.875

Total Vault Score: 49.350

Rucker with the strong finish on vault 💪🏽#GoUtes #RedRocks pic.twitter.com/6KHAwQkjbz

— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 7, 2023

LSU Bars/Scores:

1. Kiya Johnson: 9.775
2. Elena Arenas: 9.750
3. Alexis Jeffrey: 9.875
4. Aleah Finnegan: 9.750
5. Alyona Shchennikova: 9.775
6. Haleigh Bryant: 9.825

Total Bars Score: 49.000

Second Rotation: Utah Bars/LSU Vault

LSU Vault:

1. Elena Arenas: 9.850
2. Alyona Shchennikova: 9.825
3. Aleah Finnegan: 9.850
4. KJ Johnson: 9.775
5. Kiya Johnson: 9.875
6. Haleigh Bryant: 9.900

Vault Total: 49.300

LSU Total Score: 98.300

UTAH Bars:

1. Makenna Smith: 9.850
2. Abby Brenner: 9.800
3. Sage Thompson: 9.800
4. Maile O’Keefe: 9.850
5. Cristal Isa: 9.775
6. Grace McCallum: 9.925

Bounced back like the Queen she is. All hail, Grace McCallum.#GoUtes #RedRocks pic.twitter.com/xX99eWVymD

— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 7, 2023

Bars Total: 49.225

Utah Total Score: 98.575

Third Rotation: Utah Beam/LSU Floor

Utah Beam:

1. Amelie Morgan: 9.825
2. Cristal Isa: 9.875
3. Grace McCallum: 9.875
4. Abby Paulson: 9.875
5. Kara Eaker: 9.900
6. Maile O’Keefe: 9.950

✌🏽✌🏽before bringing it home.
Maile O’Keefe earns a 9.950 for this routine.#GoUtes #RedRocks #BeamTeam pic.twitter.com/YwGbggARwA

— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 7, 2023

Beam Total: 49.475

Total Score: 148.050

LSU Floor:

1. Sierra Ballard: 9.825
2. Alyona Shchennikova: 9.825
3. KJ Johnson: 9.500
4. Aleah Finnegan: 9.950
5. Haleigh Bryant: 9.875
6. Kiya Johnson: 9.900

Floor Total: 49.375

Total Score: 147.675

Fourth Rotation: LSU Beam/ Utah Floor

LSU Beam:

1. Kai Rivers: 9.700
2. Bryce Wilson: 9.775
3. KJ Johnson: 9.725
4. Haleigh Bryant: 9.850
5. Aleah Finnegan: 9.900
6. Kiya Johnson: 9.850

Beam Score: 49.100

FINAL SCORE: 196.775

Utah Floor:

1. Abby Paulson: 9.800
2. Jaylene Gilstrap: 9.850
3. Maile O’Keefe: 9.850
4. Makenna Smith: 9.875
5. Grace McCallum: 9.850
6. Jaedyn Rucker: 9.000

Floor Score: 49.225

FINAL SCORE: 197.275

Red Rocks win!#GoUtes #RedRocks #LightTheU https://t.co/18y5F5XSfS

— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 7, 2023

Up Next For The Red Rocks

The Red Rocks will be close by but not at home next week as they head to the Maverik Center in West Valley for the Rio Tinto Best of Utah Meet that will also feature BYU, Utah State, and Southern Utah. The quad-meet will take place next Friday, January 13 at 7 pm MT.

Michelle Bodkin is the Utah Utes Insider for KSLsports.com and host of both the Crimson Corner Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and The Saturday Show (Saturday from 10 a.m.–12 p.m.) on The KSL Sports Zone. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @BodkinKSLsports

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