Minutes after Utah’s gymnastics team took a slight lead in the Pac-12 Gymnastics Championships, there was a sense the Utes were tensing up. First, Grace McCallum faltered on the balance beam, scoring a 9.85, then Alexia Burch also balked, scoring 9.8.
Up next was Abby Paulson, a gymnast who has had an unpredictable season. Utah fans who have followed the team this year must have known her routine would for all intents determine the outcome of the conference meet.
If Paulson sensed how big the moment was, she didn’t show it as the junior delivered her best balance beam routine of the year.
The near flawless performance earned a 9.975, but in reality it was worth so much more than that as it seemed the routine sparked a collective exhalation among the Utes and their followers.
It was just the routine the Utes needed to lessen the nerves and allow them to earn the 2022 Pac-12 championship.
Paulson’s routine sparked the Utes to a 49.65 on the event, with Cristal Isa and Maile O’Keefe scoring 9.95s and Amelie Morgan a 9.925.
That effort gave Utah a 148.475 going into the final rotation with Oregon State in second (148.075), Cal in third (148.025) and Arizona State in fourth (147.45).
Utah closed out the meet on the floor, scoring 49.525 with McCallum scoring 9.95 and O’Keefe and Sydney Soloski scoring 9.925.
The Utes also won the championship in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2021, but this one was particularly sweet since Utah shared the regular season title with the other teams competing in their session after they all tied with 5-2 records. The Utes lost to Cal and Arizona in the regular season.
Utah’s McCallum won the uneven bars title with a 10.0, Paulson won the beam with her effort and Alexia Burch won the vault with a 9.925. Oregon State’s Jade Carey won the floor with a 9.975 and the all-around with a 39.725.
The last two events were so dominating for the Utes, it was easy to forget they started in a hole with vault, scoring only 49.275 with Alexia Burch being the only gymnast breaking the 9.9 mark with a 9.925.
That put the Utes behind Oregon State (49.45) and Cal (49.425).
Utah made a big move on the uneven bars where McCallum earned her second 10.0 of the season on the event, pacing Utah to a 49.55.
Isa had a 9.925 and Sage Thompson and Amelie Morgan had 9.9s.
The big effort pushed the Utes into the lead, just ahead of Oregon State and Cal, which were tied at 98.8, setting up the Utes for their dominating efforts in the final two events.
The Utes will find out Tuesday where they will go for the NCAA regional championships March 30-April 2.
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