Utah gymnast Cristal Isa had last two postseasons taken away by injury and pandemic. She’s not letting this one slip past.

Utah gymnast Cristal Isa has had two postseasons taken from her, so when the Utes began their current run she was determined to make the best of it.

She couldn’t have hoped for a better introduction to the postseason than the one she had at the Pac-12 Championships.

Isa finished second to teammate Maile O’Keefe in the all-around competition, totaling a 39.65 to O’Keefe’s 39.7, and tied for first on the balance beam and uneven bars with 9.95s.

O’Keefe might have the big name, but Isa’s performance indicates she can’t be discounted either when it comes to postseason accolades.

Her results aren’t surprising to those who know of her gymnastics, she just hasn’t had a chance to show off her talents when it matters most.

As a freshman Isa missed the postseason with an injured elbow and last year the championships were canceled due to the pandemic.

“I’m really motivated this year,” she said. “The last Pac-12s I was watching in the peanut gallery so it was different. I’m so excited to compete this year.”

Isa has been a consistent performer on every event this year except floor. She competed in the event the first two meets before the Utes experimented with the lineup. But now that the postseason is here, the Utes have gone back to the veteran. Isa scored a 9.85 against Oregon State, then fell against Utah State scoring 9.2, but she redeemed herself by leading off with a 9.9 in the Pac-12 Championships.

“My record on floor has been a struggle,” Isa said. “Personally I know I can hit those 9.9s and to finally do it in the Pac-12s was a big thing.”

Utah coach Tom Farden said it was a “gut call” by assistant coach Courtney McCool Griffeth to use Isa, but he has plenty of faith in Isa too.

Her performance set up the Utes’ best floor set of the year as they scored a 39.675.

“She gave us a spark of energy,” Farden said. “She got us going in the right direction for one of our most memorable floor sets in Utah history.”

What is interesting about Isa is the different roles she plays. She is the leadoff on floor and vault and the closer on the uneven bars. On beam she is an equalizer of sorts, bringing some levity to the middle of the lineup.

“It’s crazy the roles that she plays and it’s fun to watch,” Farden said. “She has a great self-awareness about herself and her gymnastics. Her approach is great.”

Isa serves another role, one not so obvious but just as important.

Isa and O’Keefe have known each other since high school when they attended schools in the Las Vegas area. Their friendship has grown at Utah and now Isa serves as a balance of sorts for O’Keefe.

“They are the yin and yang,” Farden said. “Cristal is light and happy and Maile is focused and determined to be aggressive. A little bit of Cristal has rubbed off on Maile and that’s a good thing.”

O’Keefe doesn’t focus on her individual scores, but she knows Isa is there pushing her, such as the Pac-12 Championships

O’Keefe helps Isa too, reminding her to save a little bit of energy for vault at the Pac-12 Championships.

“Her energy every day in the gym and competition is super high,” O’Keefe said. “She is fun to be around and when she hits the rest of the lineup just goes. She makes you really confident.”

Isa isn’t too interested in conserving energy right now, she has waited too long for her shot in the big meets, she isn’t going to take things easy now.

“I’m embracing this moment,” she said.