Utah Gymnastics Gearing up for 2017 Season

12/1/2016 1:44 PM | Gymnastics

Lots happening with the Red Rocks

SALT LAKE CITY—With the annual Red Rocks Preview just around the corner on Friday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m., UtahUtes.com caught up with the Ute gymnastics team today. Here's what we learned:

Tickets for the 2017 season have been selling briskly. A school-record 8,240 season tickets have already been purchased—breaking last year's mark of 7,315. The heavy demand encouraged the Utah ticket office to open additional seating, and for the first time, reserved seats are being sold in the upper bowl. In previous years, all seating in the upper bowl was general admission. Most of the seats in the first four rows above the concourse have already been snapped up and the ticket office plans to continue to selling upper bowl season tickets until the orders are filled.

"When Tom (Farden) and I told our gymnasts that we were selling reserved tickets into the upper bowl, they reacted with cheers, saying it confirmed that Utah has the best gymnastics fans in the country," said co-head coach Megan Marsden. Marsden added, "While we celebrate the increase in season ticket sales, we also want to assure fans who are only able to attend select meets that there will still be single-meet, general admission tickets available." (Editor's note: single-meet tickets will go on sale at the end of December).

There is plenty to be excited about with the upcoming gymnastics season. Training has been in full swing in the Dumke Gymnastics Center since August, where some great gymnastics has been on display. An inside look at what's going on in the gym follows:

Sophomore MaKenna Merrell might be Utah's most improved gymnast, showing dramatic improvement on all four events. Merrell is performing a Yurchenko one-and-a-half vault and has added a Deltchev release on bars. Utah has not had a Deltchev in its bar lineup since Daria Bijak competed it from 2007-10. Merrell also has a new tumbling pass on floor and a triple series on beam.

Kari Lee, who missed most of last season with an injury, has decided she wants to utilize her redshirt option and is a second-year sophomore. Lee has been fully cleared for training on all events for a month now and is solidly in the beam lineup. She is also vying for a position in the vault and bar lineups and has a new dismount on bars.

MyKayla Skinner, an alternate on the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team, is making a strong case to go all-around as a freshman. Skinner is doing some of the most difficult elements in collegiate gymnastics history, including a double twisting double back on her first floor pass. Watch closely though: She does it so easily, you might not notice you're seeing a double-double.

Highlights of freshman Mykayla Skinner from the Thanksgiving Intrasquad. #GoUtes #RedRocksPreviewDec9 pic.twitter.com/IayAeRUYIA
— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) November 30, 2016

Sophomore transfer Macey Roberts has brought a bubbly attitude and consistent work ethic to her new team and will provide depth on vault and floor.

Sophomores Shannon McNatt and Erika Muhaw, who were mostly were seen mostly in exhibition as freshmen, have routines ready on two events each: McNatt on floor and beam and Muhaw on vault and floor.

Co-captains Baely Rowe, a senior, and Maddy Stover, a junior have shown great leadership. Rowe, an All-American in the all-around and on beam last year, will again be a contender on all four events. Stover, Utah's All-America beam anchor last year, came back as strong as ever on her favorite event after offseason shoulder surgery.

Freshmen Missy Reinstadtler and Kim Tessen—though very different in their styles—both show the potential to earn spots on all four events. Reinstadtler has power and elegance, while Tessen is a dynamo who has been dubbed "Kimpossible."

If you thought Sabrina Schwab, the 2016 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and an All-American, was incredible last year, wait until this season. Schwab is working a 10.0 vault and has a new, upgraded release and dismount on bars. She has also positioned herself to compete on the balance beam. And, while fans loved her the floor routine from her rookie season, early reviews say this one is even better with the new music and choreography.

Junior Tiffani Lewis' strong competitive streak and athleticism make her a contender on every event and she is especially improved on the balance beam.

That's it for now. Be sure to join us in the Huntsman Center on Friday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Red Rocks Preview. Admission and parking are free.