The University of Utah Red Rocks gymnastics team enters the 2022 season coming off an NCAA Championship run that saw the program earn a third-place finish at the national championships. With a roster loaded with returning talent and one of the most decorated incoming classes in program history, the Red Rocks are poised for another championship-caliber season.
Defending Champions Return
Leading the charge is junior Maile O'Keefe, the defending NCAA champion on bars and floor exercise and the 2021 Pac-12 Gymnast of the Year. O'Keefe was dominant throughout the 2021 campaign, consistently delivering scores of 9.9 and above on her championship events. Her return as the most decorated active gymnast in the NCAA gives Utah an unmatched anchor across multiple lineups.
Joining the Red Rocks this season is a freshman class that reads like a who's who of elite gymnastics. Olympic silver medalist Grace McCallum, who helped Team USA earn silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, headlines the incoming class. She is joined by Olympic medalist Amelie Morgan, who earned a bronze medal with Great Britain in Tokyo, World Championship gold medalist Kara Eaker, and national champion Sage Thompson.
Incoming Freshman Class Highlights:
Grace McCallum — Olympic Silver Medalist (Team USA, Tokyo 2020)
Amelie Morgan — Olympic Bronze Medalist (Great Britain, Tokyo 2020)
Kara Eaker — World Championship Gold Medalist
Sage Thompson — National Champion
Head Coach Tom Farden on the 2022 Team
Head coach Tom Farden, entering his seventh season at the helm of the program, expressed his excitement about the depth and talent on this year's roster.
“This is without question one of the most talented and deep teams we have ever assembled at the University of Utah. The combination of our experienced returners and an incoming class that features Olympic medalists and world champions gives us an incredible roster. We have competition at every position on every event, and that internal competition is what drives championship programs.”
— Tom Farden, Head Coach
Farden also highlighted the leadership of his upperclassmen, including fifth-year seniors Alexia Burch and Sydney Soloski, who have been instrumental in building the culture and standard of excellence the program is known for.
Alexia Burch: 2021 Pac-12 Specialist of the Year
Fifth-year senior Alexia Burch returns as the reigning 2021 Pac-12 Specialist of the Year. Burch was one of the most consistent performers on the team last season, earning All-America honors with her dynamic floor exercise routine. Her veteran presence and leadership will be critical for the Red Rocks as they navigate a challenging schedule.
Event-by-Event Breakdown
Vault
The Red Rocks are expecting to feature five to seven capable 10.0 start-value vaults in 2022, a significant upgrade that gives the team elite-level difficulty across the lineup. The addition of McCallum and Eaker, both of whom competed high-level vaults on the international stage, bolsters a vault squad that already featured solid contributors in Jaedyn Rucker and Jaylene Gilstrap. Vault was an area the coaching staff targeted for improvement, and the influx of talent has the potential to make it one of Utah's strongest events.
Bars
With Maile O'Keefe as the reigning NCAA champion on bars, this event is poised to be the backbone of Utah's scoring. O'Keefe has been one of the most consistent bar workers in the country, routinely posting scores in the 9.95 and above range. The addition of McCallum, Morgan, and Eaker — all of whom competed bars at the highest international level — gives Utah incredible depth. Abby Paulson and Cristal Isa also return as proven contributors, making bars arguably the deepest event on the team.
Beam
The 2022 beam lineup may feature the best depth the program has ever seen. Utah was ranked No. 3 nationally on beam heading into the season, and the influx of international-level talent only strengthens the event. O'Keefe, McCallum, Morgan, Eaker, and Thompson all have extensive beam experience at the elite level. Combined with returning contributors like Paulson, Isa, and Adrienne Randall, the coaching staff will have difficult decisions to make in setting the lineup each week.
Floor Exercise
Floor is loaded with talent in 2022. O'Keefe returns as the defending NCAA champion on the event, and Soloski has been one of the most electrifying floor performers in the Pac-12 throughout her career. The additions of McCallum, Eaker, and Thompson add even more firepower to what was already one of the top floor lineups in the nation. Burch, the Pac-12 Specialist of the Year, also returns to anchor the lineup with her dynamic tumbling and artistry.
Fans Return to Huntsman Center
One of the most exciting storylines entering the 2022 season is the return of fans to the Jon M. Huntsman Center. Prior to the pandemic, the Red Rocks set an NCAA record by averaging 15,273 fans per home meet during the 2020 season, making the Huntsman Center one of the most electric atmospheres in all of college sports. Fans were not able to attend meets during the 2021 season due to health and safety protocols, and the return to a full Huntsman Center is eagerly anticipated by the athletes and coaching staff alike.
By the Numbers: The Red Rocks set the NCAA attendance record in 2020, averaging 15,273 fans per home meet at the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Farden has spoken extensively about what having the fans back means to the program:
“Our fans are the best in the country, period. There is nothing like competing in front of 15,000 screaming Red Rocks fans at the Huntsman Center. The energy our fans bring is a true competitive advantage, and our athletes feed off of that energy. Having them back in the building is going to be special for everyone involved.”
— Tom Farden, Head Coach
Schedule Challenges
The 2022 schedule presents no shortage of challenges for the Red Rocks. Utah will face several top-ranked programs throughout the regular season, including road trips to UCLA, California, Washington, Arizona, and LSU. The home schedule features marquee matchups against Oklahoma, Arizona State, Stanford, Oregon State, and Minnesota at the Huntsman Center.
The Pac-12 Championships will be held in West Valley City, Utah, giving the Red Rocks a home-state advantage at one of the most important meets of the season. The proximity to Salt Lake City is expected to draw a massive crowd of Utah faithful to the event.
“We have one of the toughest schedules in the country, and that is by design. We want to be tested and challenged throughout the regular season so that when we get to the postseason, we are battle-tested and ready. Every meet on our schedule is going to demand our best.”
— Tom Farden, Head Coach
With an unparalleled combination of returning talent and incoming star power, the 2022 Utah Red Rocks have the depth, experience, and determination to compete for a national championship. The season promises to be one of the most exciting in program history.