Home dominance continues to carry Utah gymnastics team

It’s hard for members of Utah’s gymnastics team to comprehend winning 170 consecutive meets at home, as the Utes did during their NCAA record-setting streak from 1979 to 2003.

Maddy Stover’s reaction speaks loudly. “How many?” she asked with a stunned expression on her face.

Yep. That streak is probably one that will never be threatened again,given the way the talent has grown and spread out in collegiate gymnastics. But the current Utes aren’t doing too badly when it comes to defending their home turf.

The Utes, who host Oregon State Friday, have won 27 home meets dating back to a March 9, 2012 loss to Nebraska. The streak is the longest since the NCAA record run, surpassing the 18 in a row the Utes won from 2003-2006 and a streak of 21 in a row the Utes won from 2007-2011.

That they’ve been able to put together such a home stretch surprises the Utes, even though they have been extremely successful in recent seasons.

The Utes haven’t lost more than two meets in a regular season since 2014 when they went 10-3 and finished seventh at the NCAA Championships.

Since then the only defeats were at Georgia in 2015, at UCLA in 2016 and at Oregon State and Georgia last year.

The Utes pride themselves on defending their home turf. They acknowledge competing in front of more than 14,000-plus fans gives them an advantage, but they also say they feel a responsibility to their home crowd too.

“It’s a happy place for us but it can be a terrifying and intimidating place for other people,” Stover said. “Our fans are knowledgeable and respectful but when you have 15,000 people cheering for you, it only makes your gymnastics that much better because you realize they are there to support you.”

Since UCLA, the Utes’ biggest Pac-12 rival isn’t visiting this season,it would seem the Utes have a good shot at preserving their home run.

Remaining home meets are against No. 13 Washington on Feb. 3, Arizona State on Feb. 9 and Georgia on March 16.

Nevertheless, the Utes are wary of upsets. After all, Oregon State got them in one last year when the Beavers took a 196.55-196.525 in Corvallis.

“Most of the time we are going up against teams that could knock us off if we have a bad night,” Utah co-coach Megan Marsden said. “Our approach and strategy is to focus on our skills and routines and not bank on winning at home, you have to think of all your meets as putting your best team on the floor no matter where we are.”

The Utes haven’t lost to the Beavers at home, holding a 33-0 record over OSU. Trueto the team’s philosophy, the Utes aren’t getting swept up in any kind of revenge mode for last year said senior Tiffani Lewis.

“We have a new team and they have a new team so no one is thinking about last year,” she said. “We just know every year it’s a great competition with them so it’s fun going against them.”