The NCAA Gymnastics Committee’s new vault codes affected both Utah and BYU in big ways Friday as neither team had many high vault scores in the season opener at the Huntsman Center.
The committee has downgraded the popular Yurchenko full performed by the majority of gymnasts to a 9.95 start value.
The only Utah gymnast who has a 10.0 start value is Breanna Hughes, who performs a Yurchenko one-and-a-half.
She had previously vaulted just once in her career, scoring 9.825, but not surprisingly she had one of the best vaults for the Utes on Friday, delivering a 9.825 to place second behind Kailah Delaney.
Delaney won the vault competition with a 9.85.
BYU’s best vaulter was Sin To, who scored a 9.775.
Honor time
Utah’s pre-meet ceremonies included a rather understated ceremony for the Utes’ performances last year in which they won their second straight Pac-12 title and finished second to Florida at the NCAA Championships by a mere 0.05.
The gymnasts were recognized in a quick ceremony shortly after introductions.
Prior to the meet, coach Megan Marsden said the team didn’t want to make too big of a deal, preferring to focus on what they needed to do this year to win.
Familiar faces
Former Utah gymnast Meredith (King) Paulicivic made her debut as a Ute assistant Friday. Paulicivic previously served as an assistant at California and Arizona and has coached at the club levels.
Her specialty is in choreography, giving the Utes an element they haven’t had before, Marsden said.
“The majority of our routines have been choreographed by volunteers or the gymnasts,” Marsden said. “People are going to notice a difference. She is a professional choreographer and has done a great job.”
Former Ute Georgia Dabritz, who won the NCAA uneven bars title, is serving as a student coach.