Utah gymnastics rises above adversity to make 48th-consecutive nationals appearance

Coaching abuse accusations from multiple athletes. A subsequent change at head coach right before the start of the season. A nearly-catastrophic bars rotation during the regional final.

For many, these occurrences could spell disaster for those impacted, but we’re talking about the seemingly unflappable University of Utah Red Rocks, who have won a record 10 national championships (tied with Georgia) and advanced to the Four on the Floor national final the past three years.

After besting then-No. 2-ranked Cal in March with a 198 to win the last-ever Pac-12 championship before conference realignment, the Red Rocks – known for their consistency and ongoing excellence – were a team that seemed poised to make another final appearance despite obstacles in the preseason.

And then the Gainesville regional final happened.

Ranked as the No. 5 seed going into the NCAA tournament, the Red Rocks easily advanced to the final after scoring a 197.825 in the second round. But after multiple mistakes on bars in the first rotation left them with a massive 0.625 deficit to Florida early, they needed nearly flawless execution on their remaining three events to escape elimination…

And Utah delivered once again.

They flourished on beam (49.475), floor (49.625), and vault (49.500). As a result, they edged out Missouri and Michigan State for a second place finish (197.575) to Florida and secured a berth to their 48th consecutive national championships.

Despite the rising talent, despite the sudden changes and adversity, Utah continues to excel.

“They will not give up on anything,” first-year head coach Carly Dockendorf said during a post-meet interview at regionals. “They’re just such strong women. Obviously, they’re incredible athletes, but it just speaks to their character and who they are as people that they believe so much in one another and want to do this for one another and themselves. That kind of courage and that kind of strength can’t just be taught. It’s something that is developed over time, and they’ve really had to learn that this year.”

The trauma of reporting, investigating, and taking action to remedy abuses within an athletic program can take its toll on everyone involved, but especially the athletes. It takes courage and resiliency, and Dockendorf reminded the team after their shaky bars rotation in the Gainesville regional of what they had already conquered this year:

“During the fall (semester), it was really challenging for all of us, but we all made it through. I told them if we were able to survive that and come out and do what we’ve accomplished this year, that this moment was nothing compared to that. And we just used that as fuel and kept moving forward.”

Now in a field of eight teams who advanced to the NCAA championships, the Red Rocks will put their mettle to the test again on April 18 in Fort Worth, Texas.