Utah Red Rocks Explained

Utah Red Rocks
Founded:1976
University:University of Utah
Conference:Pac-12
Location:Salt Lake City, Utah
Coach:Carly Dockendorf
Tenure:1st
Arena:Jon M. Huntsman Center
Capacity:15,000
Knownas:Utah Utes
Nickname:Red Rocks, Utes
National Champion:10
(1981*,1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995)
(*AIAW National Championship)
Fouronthefloor:4
2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Supersix:32
(1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018)
Ncaa Regionals:34
Ncaa Tourneys:42
(1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Conference Champion:6
Pac-12 Conference: 2014, 2015, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023,2024
Pac-12 Regular Season: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

The Utah Utes women's gymnastics team, also known as the Red Rocks, represents the University of Utah and competes at the Division I level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as members of the Pac-12 Conference. Home meets are held in the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. As of the end of the 2024 season, the Red Rocks have won 10 national championships, including nine NCAA Gymnastics championships, and been runner-up nine times. The Red Rocks are the only team to have qualified for every NCAA Championships and have never finished lower than 10th.[1] The team was coached from its inception by Greg Marsden until his retirement after the 2015 season. Carly Dockendorf is the current head coach, after the release of Tom Farden in 2023.

History

The Utah Utes gymnastics team first competed in 1976. The team first appeared on television in 1978 and has appeared every year since then. The NCAA first sponsored women's gymnastics national championships in 1982. Utah is the only team to qualify for every national championship that has been held.

Pac-12 Conference

The University of Utah became a member of the newly expanded Pac-12 Conference in 2011, and the Red Rocks became one of eight teams in the conference to compete in women's gymnastics. Utah has taken the Pac-12 Championships seven times since joining the conference, winning in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The Red Rocks have won or shared a portion of the Regular Season Pac-12 Championship since its inauguration - the 2020 season is the first time each of the eight Pac-12 teams competed against every other team in the conference.[2] The Red Rocks won outright in 2020 and 2021, and shared the title in a four-way tie in both 2022 and 2023.[3]

Utah gymnasts have won the individual all-around title at the Pac-12 Championship five times:

Year Gymnast Score
2012 39.625
2014 Tory Wilson 39.450
2015 39.775
2016 Breanna Hughes 39.550
2021 39.700

Big 12 Conference

In 2024, the University of Utah was one of ten members of the Pac-12 who announced they would be moving to a different conference. Utah, alongside the University of Arizona and Arizona State University, moved to the Big 12 Conference.[4] They officially started competed in the Big 12 Conference in the 2024–2025 season.

Nickname

The nickname "Red Rocks" has its origins in the Utah Gymnastics 1992 media guide cover photo.[5] [6] At the time, all Utah women's sports teams used the moniker "Lady Utes". The name is a combination of "how rock solid they are, but also the red rock of southern Utah.” [6] The 1992 team won the NCAA championship, with the name sticking.[7]

Roster

2024–25 Roster
NameHeightYearHometownClub
Elizabeth Gantner 4-11 SO Indianapolis, IN JPAC
Jaylene Gilstrap 5-4 SR+ McKinney, TX Metroplex
Ashley Glynn 5-2 JR Hockessin, DE First State Gymnastics
Zoe Johnson FR Durham, NC Sonshine Gymnastics
Olivia Kennedy 5-3 SO Maryville, TN Georgia Elite
Sarah Krump 4-10 JR Las Vegas, NV Brown's Gymnastics
5-3 SR Isanti, MN Twin City Twisters
5-6 SR Bristol, England The academy
Avery Neff FR South Jordan, UT Olympus Gymnastics
Clara Raposo FR Toronto, ON East York Gymnastics
Jaedyn Rucker 5-3 SR+ Mesa, AZ Desert Devils Gymnastics
Makenna Smith 5-3 JR Albuquerque, NM Gold Cup Gymnastics
FR Cardiff, Wales Cymru Caerdydd
Camie Winger 5-3 SO Orem, UT Bold Gymnastics
Ella Zirbes 5-3 SO Stillwater, MN Flips Gymnastics

National records

Coaches

Head coaches

align=center bgcolor="#CC0000"Namealign=center bgcolor="#CC0000"Yearsalign=center bgcolor="#CC0000"Record
Greg Marsden1976 - 20151048-208-8
Megan Marsden2000–2019151-54-3
Tom Farden2016–2023101-33-1
Carly Dockendorf2024–present

Greg Marsden was hired in 1976 to begin the gymnastics program. Marsden coached Utah for 40 straight years. He is the only collegiate gymnastics coach to amass 1,000 wins and earn Coach of the Year honors seven times. He has never had a team finish worse than tenth place overall.

In July 2009 Megan Marsden was named co-head coach of the Red Rocks.[11] Megan, in addition to being Greg's wife, is a former member of the squad and has been an assistant coach since 1985.[12]

After the 2015 season, Greg retired and his wife Megan and assistant coach Tom Farden were named co-head coaches.[13] On 22 April 2019, Megan Marsden announced her retirement, and it was confirmed that current co-head coach Tom Farden would continue as the sole head coach.[14] Farden left his position in November 2023 after numerous people came forward with allegations of abuse.[15]

Current coaching staff

Name! style="; text-align: center"
Position
Carly DockendorfHead coach
Jimmy PrattAssistant coach
Myia HambrickAssistant coach
Mike HungerAssistant coach
Maile O'KeefeStudent assistant coach

Post-season history

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Year Finish Score Coach
1976 Tenth Place 101.65 Greg Marsden
1977 Ninth Place 138.50 Greg Marsden
1978 Sixth Place 141.10 Greg Marsden
1979 Fourth Place138.10 Greg Marsden
1980 Second Place144.15 Greg Marsden
1981 Champions 145.65 Greg Marsden
1982 Champions 148.60 Greg Marsden
1983 Champions 184.65 Greg Marsden
1984 Champions 186.05 Greg Marsden
1985 Champions 188.35 Greg Marsden
1986 Champions 186.95 Greg Marsden
1987 Second Place 187.55 Greg Marsden
1988 Second Place 189.50 Greg Marsden
1989 Fifth Place 190.20 Greg Marsden
1990 Champions 194.900 Greg Marsden
1991 Second Place 194.375 Greg Marsden
1992 Champions 195.65 Greg Marsden
1993 Third Place 195.825 Greg Marsden
1994 Champions 196.400 Greg Marsden
1995 Champions 196.650 Greg Marsden
1996 T-Third Place 196.775 Greg Marsden
1997 Seventh Place 196.025 Greg Marsden
1998 Fourth Place 196.025 Greg Marsden
1999 Seventh Place 195.475 Greg Marsden
2000 Second Place 196.875 Greg Marsden
2001 T-Fifth Place 196.025 Greg Marsden
2002 Fourth Place 196.950 Greg Marsden
2003 Sixth Place 195.300 Greg Marsden
2004 Sixth Place 195.775 Greg Marsden
2005 Third Place 197.275 Greg Marsden
2006 Second Place 196.800 Greg Marsden
2007 Second Place 197.250 Greg Marsden
2008 Second Place 197.125 Greg Marsden
2009 Third Place 197.425 Greg Marsden
2010 Sixth Place 196.225 Greg Marsden / Megan Marsden
2011 Fifth Place 196.500 Greg Marsden / Megan Marsden
2012 Fifth Place 197.375 Greg Marsden / Megan Marsden
2013 Ninth Place 196.200 Greg Marsden / Megan Marsden
2014 Seventh Place 197.025Greg Marsden / Megan Marsden
2015 Second Place 197.800 Greg Marsden / Megan Marsden
2016 Ninth Place 195.762 Megan Marsden / Tom Farden
2017 Fifth Place 196.5875 Megan Marsden / Tom Farden
2018 Fifth Place 196.900 Megan Marsden / Tom Farden
2019 Seventh Place 196.725 Megan Marsden / Tom Farden
2020 Post-season canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Third Place 197.9875 Tom Farden
2022 Third Place 197.7500 Tom Farden
2023 Third Place 197.9375 Tom Farden
2024 Third Place 197.8000 Carly Dockendorf

NCAA Champions

As of the end of the 2024 season, 16 different Utah gymnasts have won a total of 32 individual event championships.

EventWinner/Year
Team 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995
All Around Sue Stednitz 1982
Megan Marsden 1983, 1984
Melissa Marlowe 1992
Theresa Kulikowski 1999
Maile O'Keefe 2023
Vault Elaine Alfano 1982, 1983, 1985
Megan Marsden 1984
Kristen Kenoyer 1992
MyKayla Skinner 2018
Jaedyn Rucker 2022
Uneven Bars Melissa Marlowe 1992
Sandy Woolsey 1992
Angie Leonard 1999
Kristina Baskett 2006
Georgia Dabritz 2015
Maile O'Keefe 2021
Balance Beam Sue Stednitz 1982
Melissa Marlowe 1991, 1992
Summer Reid 1996, 1997
Theresa Kulikowski 1999, 2001
Ashley Postell 2007
Maile O'Keefe 2023
Floor Exercise Lisa Mitzel 1985
Melissa Marlowe 1992
MyKayla Skinner 2017
Maile O'Keefe 2021

Team records

Top team total[16] [17]

RankScoreMeetYear
1198.600Brigham Young2004
2198.575Minnesota2022
3198.550California2023
4198.425Brigham Young2002
5198.300Stanford, Utah State2024
6198.250Michigan2015
7198.225National Semifinal2023
8198.200Regional Final2022
8198.200UCLA2023
10198.150Georgia2018
10198.150Pac-12 Championship2015

Top event totals

ApparatusScoreMeetYear
Vault49.775Brigham Young2004
Bars49.800Minnesota2022
Beam49.775UCLA2020
Beam49.775UCLA2023
Floor49.800Brigham Young2001

Top Individual All-Around

RankScoreGymnastYear
139.950Susan Metz1995
239.900Kristen Kenoyer1993
339.875Melissa Vituj2004
439.825Grace McCallum2024
539.800Ashley Postell2008
539.800Melissa Vituj2004
539.800Theresa Kuliokowsi2002
539.800Theresa Kuliokowski2002
539.800Kristen Kenoyer1993

Past Olympians

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: University of Utah Gymnastics - A Tradition of Success. University of Utah Athletics. 2017-03-23.
  2. Web site: Utah claims inaugural Pac-12 Gymnastics regular-season crown . https://web.archive.org/web/20240521142227/https://pac-12.com/article/2020/03/03/utah-claims-inaugural-pac-12-gymnastics-regular-season-crown . dead . May 21, 2024 . 2020-03-03 . Pac-12 Conference . 2020-04-08.
  3. Web site: Utah Gymnastics Earns Share of 2022 Pac-12 Regular Season Championship . 2022-03-06 . Utah Utes Athletics . 2022-03-20.
  4. Web site: How will conference realignment affect Utah gymnastics?. January 25, 2024. Deseret News.
  5. https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6zd10s1 1992 Utah gymnastics media guide. University of Utah, Athletics Department 1992
  6. Miller, Ryan - Gymnastics notes: the origin of the nickname “Red Rocks”. The Daily Utah Chronicle, Feb 23, 2015, Notes: The article incorrectly states 1993.
  7. Hamilton, Linda - ROCKS' HELD TOGETHER LIKE GRANITE DURING TOUGH SEASON. Deseret News, May 1, 1992
  8. Web site: College Chat: Utah's Greg Marsden. Inside Gymnastics Magazine. 2009-07-08.
  9. Web site: Record Crowd of 16,019 Sees No. 4 Ute Gymnasts Beat No. 5 Michigan. Utah Utes. 2017-03-23.
  10. Web site: University of Utah Gymnastics - Red Hot Ticket. University of Utah Athletics. 2023-04-01.
  11. Web site: Megan Marsden named co-head gym coach of Utes. Salt Lake Tribune. Lya Wodraska. 2010-02-10.
  12. Web site: Utah gymnastics: Marsden has new, old role. Salt Lake Tribune. Lya Wodraska. 2010-02-10.
  13. Web site: Greg Marsden Announces Retirement after 40 Years as Utah Gymnastics Coach. Utah Utes. 2017-03-23.
  14. Web site: Longtime Utah gymnastics coach Megan Marsden retires after 35 years. Wood. Trent. 2019-04-22. DeseretNews.com. en. 2019-05-09.
  15. Web site: Tom Farden out as Utah gymnastics coach. November 22, 2023. ESPN.
  16. Web site: Records and Awards. Utah Gymnastics. 2017-03-23.
  17. Web site: Team: Utah. Road to Nationals. 2020-04-08.