This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Fort Worth, Texas • The last bye was the toughest.
The Red Rocks already knew their Super Six dreams were shot after the fourth rotation on beam. After falling twice and suffering another break with a bad dismount, Utah was in an unfamiliar position: behind the rest of the field.
Tom Farden and Megan Marsden, first-year co-coaches but experienced as assistants, rallied their team for one last event on floor — one that wouldn't put them in position to win, but at least would end things in the defiantly great approach the team has taken all season.
"I told the kids, 'Hey, what's done is done,' " Farden said. " 'We can't feel sorry for ourselves, we've got one more event to go.' I said, 'Let's muster up some pride, go out on that floor and attack it.' "
Utah finished on a high note with a 49.2375 on floor rotation, but it didn't cover for the heartbreak of the evening. With its lowest score in an NCAA semifinal since 1999, the Red Rocks faltered in the most critical stage of the season.
It was a surprise, considering the way that the program had surpassed expectations throughout the year. Questions were abundant to start season, from losing an all-star senior class that included Georgia Dabritz, to weathering the retirement of coach Greg Marsden, who had led the program through four decades.
Until Friday night, Utah had acquitted itself of that doubt. But the beam meltdown brought some of those questions rushing back.
Senior Breanna Hughes, who won 20 events this year for Utah but struggled on uneven bars and beam at NCAAs, said the team had high energy going into the competition. She lamented that her mistakes and others' obscured some of the other competitors' achievements, including three Utes earning All-American status.
"Sometimes in the sport of gymnastics, things happen, and unfortunately tonight was the night," she said. "I think we had some really high points, too. Kass [Lopez] and Baely [Rowe] really killed it and they helped the team a lot. Despite the troubles, we had a lot of good high moments."
There was also something to be said for Utah's youth movement. Junior Rowe finished with All-American honors on beam (9.9), despite Utah's issues there, and all-around, turning in arguably the most sound performances of the evening. Sabrina Schwab also turned in an All-American night on uneven bars, and Farden said he was pleased to see freshman MaKenna Merrell hit on her floor routine.
The memory that will resonate will still be negative, but the hope for Utah is it will lead to positive things next season. In the last rotation of the semifinals, the Red Rocks tried to start that turnaround, despite how deep they had already dug themselves in.
They tried to channel their pain into something good. And to do that, they leaned on each other.
"It's hard to flip that switch right away," Schwab said. "But that's what teammates are for."
Twitter: @kylegoon