Red Rocks beat 2 Big Ten opponents in season debut, but see missed opportunities
KSL.com••sports
Key Points:
- The No. 5 Utah Red Rocks opened their 2026 gymnastics season with a meet-winning score of 196.625, defeating No. 15 Minnesota and No. 22 Iowa at the Huntsman Center.
- Despite the victory, head coach Carly Dockendorf noted uncharacteristic technical mistakes and emphasized the need for improved focus ahead of a tougher meet next weekend against top-ranked teams Oklahoma, LSU, and UCLA.
- Senior Makenna Smith highlighted the meet as a valuable learning opportunity, while sophomore Avery Neff showed signs of excitement affecting her performance but is expected to rebound strongly.
- Junior Ella Zirbes made a successful all-around debut, winning the all-around title with a 39.350 score and earning her
