(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Makenna Smith is prepared for the beam by coach Carly Dockendorf during the Pac-12 Gymnastics Championships, at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
West Valley City • In the first year since changing head coaches after Tom Farden left the program amid allegations of emotional and verbal abuse, the Utah Red Rocks gymnastics team exemplified its seasonlong “We Over Me” mantra on Saturday at the Maverik Center.
The Red Rocks won their fourth consecutive Pac-12 Gymnastics Championship behind a perfect 10.0 on beam from senior Maile O’Keefe, and several stellar routines up and down the lineup on all four events.
“It’s really special and I think that’s why we came out on top,” coach Carly Dockendorf said. “We were thrown card after card against us through the fall. I watched that team come into practice and tune it out and just come in and be there and be present and continue to get better as a gymnast every single day.”
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Grace McCallum performs on the beam during the Pac-12 Gymnastics Championships, at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Grace McCallum added: “I think it makes it that much more sweet knowing everything we we did go through this fall.”
The Red Rocks recorded their third score this season of at least 198.
Oregon State led slightly through the first rotation, highlighted by Jade Carey’s perfect 10.0 on floor. UCLA took the lead midway through the meet, but the Red Rocks had a slight lead over the Bruins after the third rotation and held it due to floor routines that never got below a 9.90.
Dockendorf was part of the first three Pac-12 titles as Farden’s assistant. But even though this year marks her first as a head coach, she credited the entire group.
“I really just feel like I’m one of many people that make this place what it is,” Dockendorf said.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Maile O’Keefe performs a perfect 10 on the beam during the Pac-12 Gymnastics Championships, at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jaedyn Rucker celebrates her floor routine during the Pac-12 Gymnastics Championships, at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
O’Keefe breaks school record
O’Keefe became the sole University of Utah record holder for most perfect 10s in a career, earning her 15th on Saturday. She said breaking the record had been on her mind for several weeks, which may have caused a plateau for some time.
“I feel like I got really close the beginning of the season, and then I had a like a little hitch almost,” O’Keefe said. “But I feel like I’m kind of finding my groove again.”
O’Keefe and Dockendorf talked throughout the week about the stress the fifth-year senior was putting on herself. O’Keefe said she decided to “switch into business mode.”
Dockendorf said she told O’Keefe not to stress about the perfect 10, and that she’d get it “when it counts the most.” That moment came at the end of a beam rotation that started uncharacteristically for the Red Rocks.
“We needed that tonight,” Dockendorf said. “It was just a really special moment.”
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah celebrates with the Pac-12 championship trophy at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Meet results
• Utah — 198.000
• UCLA — 197.875
• Cal — 197.325
• Stanford — 197.175
• Oregon State —196.775
• Arizona State — 196.550
• Arizona — 196.475
• Washington — 196.325
Top Utah scores
Bars
• Amelie Morgan, Grace McCallum — 9.925
• Makenna Smith, Ella Zirbes — 9.900
Beam
• Maile O’Keefe — 10.0
• McCallum, Abby Paulson — 9.925
Floor
• Jaylene Gilstrap, O’Keefe, Paulson — 9.950
Vault
• Jaedyn Rucker — 9.950
• Camie Winger — 9.925
• McCallum, Ashley Glynn — 9.900
