STANFORD, Calif. – UTAH claimed the 2017 Pac-12 Women’s Gymnastics Championship, winning the title for the third time in school history, and the third time in the last four years, after also claiming the title in 2014 and 2015. The Red Rocks recorded a 197.925 to capture first place overall. OREGON STATE came in second place with a 197.400 total team score, followed by WASHINGTON and UCLA who tied for third place with a 197.100.

FINAL RESULTS (PDF)

STANFORD took home fifth with a 196.625. CALIFORNIA placed sixth earning a 196.300, and ARIZONA (196.275) and ARIZONA STATE (195.600) took home seventh and eighth place, respectively.

The lower four seeds entering the Pac-12 Championships competed in the first session, leaving UCLA, UTAH, OREGON STATE, and WASHINGTON to compete for the title in the later session. In the first session, STANFORD performed best, scoring a 196.300, but it was only enough to get them fifth place overall as all four teams competing in the second session bested the Cardinal’s team total.

UTAH’s victory was a dominant one as the Utes won all but one event, claiming victory on the vault with a 49.475, on the bars with a 49.425, and on the floor with a 49.625. UTAH freshman standout MyKayla Skinner won the all-around, as she has in every Pac-12 meet this season, with a score of 39.725. Skinner is also the 2017 Pac-12 champion on floor and has a share of the individual championship on vault as well. Skinner’s floor title was won with a perfect 10.0 in the event. She shares her vault title with teammate Tiffani Lewis and OREGON STATE’s Dani Dessaints, all of whom scored a 9.950 on the event. Lewis also came in second on the floor with a 9.925. Other standout performances from UTAH included Baely Rowe who placed second in the all-around with a 39.575, and Kari Lee and Missy Reinstadtler who tied for second place on the bars – both scoring 9.900s.

After tying for second place at Pac-12 Championships last season, OREGON STATE had the second place title all to themselves today, with a final team score of 197.400. Senior Erika Aufiero claimed the 2017 Pac-12 Bars Title with a score of 9.950. Junior Dani Dessaints also had an impressive day, claiming a share of the Pac-12 vault title (9.950) and tying for second place on the beam (9.950).  

The only event title not won by UTAH was won by UCLA who claimed the beam title with a 49.575. The Bruins tied with WASHINGTON for third place overall with a score of 197.100. Bruin freshman Kyla Ross won the individual beam title with a perfect 10.0 on beam, the first perfect 10.0 on the event in Pac-12 Championship history. Other impressive individual performances by UCLA gymnasts included Christine Peng-Peng Lee’s 9.90 on bars, Katelyn Ohashi’s 9.950 on beam, and Hallie Mossett’s 9.925 on the floor exercise – all three scores were good for second place in their respective events.

In the Huskies first time competing in the later session of the Pac-12 Gymnastics Championships, WASHINGTON scored an impressive 197.100, good for a third-place tie with UCLA and a major improvement from their 7^th-place finish at the 2016 Pac-12 Gymnastics Championships.  The Huskies were led by junior Hailey Burleson who came in third place in the all-around with a score of 39.475. Senior Kaitlyn Duranczyk also performed well for WASHINGTON, scoring a 9.90 to tie for second place on the uneven bars.

In a vote by Conference coaches, OREGON STATE’s Kaytianna McMillan has been named the Pac-12 Gymnast of the Year. UCLA freshman Kyla Ross was named the Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year, and UCLA’s Christine Peng-Peng Lee has been named the Specialist of the Year. First-year WASHINGTON head coach Elise Ray was named the Pac-12 Coach of the Year. The Pac-12 Gymnast of the Year and Coach of the Year awards began in 1987, the Freshman/Newcomer of the Year award was added in 2000 and the Specialist of the Year honor was added in 2014.

Pac-12 Championships Final Results:
1.  UTAH                           197.925
2.  OREGON STATE        197.400
3.  UCLA                           197.100
3.  WASHINGTON            197.100
5.  STANFORD                 196.625
6.  CALIFORNIA               196.300
7.  ARIZONA                     196.275
8.  ARIZONA STATE         195.600