The final words of Billy Joel’s “Vienna” were muffled, as it played from the Jon M. Huntsman Center’s speakers.
The 15,588 fans in the arena jumped to their feet. Their cheers reverberated off the 55-year-old venue’s ceiling and surrounded No. 5 Utah on the mat.
And then there was a smiling Grace McCallum. The maker of The Huntsman Center’s jubilant chaos. She had stuck her landing. The senior’s tears started flowing, while 10s flashed on the judges’ boards. She had finally earned her first perfect score on balance beam.
“I just felt really grateful,” McCallum said of the moment after the meet. “I’ve put in a lot of work the last four years and have really tried to build my confidence on that event. And so to finally see it all pay off. It was just a really amazing moment, and I just felt very grateful to have had gotten the 10 on senior night.”
McCallum ended the night tied second in the all-around, scoring a 39.675 against No. 4 UCLA. But her performance, and perfect 10, were the highlight of The Red Rocks' senior night and their 198.100 - 197.425 victory over the Bruins.
She did so with her family members in attendance, who walked with her while being honored following Utah’s win. She also did so on the night she announced what’s next for her future.
McCallum will be returning to the Red Rocks as a student coach for 2026.
“I feel like coaching has always been something that’s been in the back of my mind,” she said. “Who better to learn from than these amazing coaches here. I just feel like I’ll learn so much wisdom. I was really excited when I was offered the opportunity to come back a sixth year to coach. How could I say no?”
Utah head coach Carly Dockendorf added: “She has had to work for everything that she has gotten, and she’s going to be able to share that with her team next year. And to be there for those freshmen, be there for those seniors, she’ll really help our staff continue to improve and grow, as well.”
But, before McCallum joins the coaching ranks, she wants to help Utah win its 11th national championship.
It would add just another chapter to what has already been a historic, and memorable, Utah career for the senior.
“I feel like there’s just so many little things that through the years, you just look back and you’re like, ‘Wow, that was such a special moment,’” McCallum said. “Every win in the Huntsman, every stuck landing, every little celebration. I mean, they’re all just so special in their own ways. You can’t really pick one.”
Neff’s back in form
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah's Avery Neff on beam at Utah Gymnastics' Red Rocks Preview, NCAA gymnastics in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024.
Avery Neff needed this performance.
She knew it heading into the week, as she dwelled over her all-around score the Red Rocks' Seattle trip.
And, event after event on Saturday night, the former No. 1 recruit showed why she’ll be a force in Utah’s upcoming chase for another national championship. Neff finished with a all-around score of 39.675.
It was highlighted by a 9.95 on vault and two scores of 9.925 on uneven bars and balance beam. Her lowest score was a 9.875 on floor.
“I think for Avery, tonight just showed her that she’s back and that she’s ready for postseason,” Dockendorf said. “She’s ready for the biggest meets that are yet to come. And, you know, I think that was really important for her to be able to do that, so that she felt ready for the Big 12 championships, regionals and nationals.”
In January, Neff sprained both of her ankles during the final tumbling pass of her floor routine vs. Iowa State.
A week ago against the Huskies, the freshman returned to the all-around. Tonight was a glimpse into Neff’s return to tip-top shape following her pair of ankle injuries.
“I definitely didn’t think I would be here after my little incident” Neff said. “I feel tonight I showcased that, to myself — even though I had a little setback — I can still put my mind to it and still do the best that I can, especially with a team that backs me up with everything I’m doing."
Utah recovers from underwhelming Washington meet
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Coach Carly Dockendorf as Utah hosts Boise State, NCAA gymnastics in Salt Lake City on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024.
After the team’s Seattle trip, Dockendorf met with Utah’s seniors.
“I just kind of told them... ‘We’ve done a lot of talking. Now it’s time to actually put it into action.‘ I really leaned into the seniors to step up with their leadership,” the Red Rocks coach said.
From that point, the Red Rocks went to work.
“We know our potential,” McCallum said. “We know what we can do, and so we just thought we’d put our best foot forward and go do what we know how to do.”
Senior Jaylene Gilstrap said she could feel a newfound confidence during the team’s warmups.
“I’d say that we’ve been really focused on fine tuning every single detail,” Gilstrap said.
Now the Red Rocks hope to carry their momentum to the Big 12 championships on Saturday, March 22 at the Maverik Center in West Valley.
And maybe its win over No. 4 UCLA will be enough to catapult Utah closer to its hopes of capturing a 11th NCAA title.
“In order for us to do what we’re wanting to do everybody needs to be bought in,” Dockendorf said. “Everyone needs to believe that we’re capable of doing this. That’s something I feel like we’ve been missing here at Utah: the deep belief that we’re not just good, but we’re great. We’re good enough to win a national title.
“I really think that this [win] is going to help instill that belief moving forward.”
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