Utah Gymnastics 2026 Season Preview
2025 Season Rank: 4th
Who they’re losing: Jaedyn Rucker, Jaylene Gilstrap, Grace McCallum, Amelie Morgan
Who they’re gaining: Bailey Stroud, Abbi Ryssman, Norah Christian, Sage Curtis
The New Faces:
Utah has reloaded for the 2026 season and is poised for another big year as the team looks to defend its Big 12 title and challenge for a spot in the Final Four for the sixth consecutive season.
There’s room for some of the new faces to step into lineups right away. Bailey Stroud is known for her clean and consistent gymnastics, and she’s one of the few freshmen in the country to enter college with a hit rate above 80% on every event — meaning she scored 9.5 or higher in more than 80% of her routines during the 2024 and 2025 Level 10 seasons. Stroud is a strong all-around contender and could contribute across all four events immediately.
Abbi Ryssman brings some of the straightest legs and most extended toe point in the NCAA this season. Expect her to for sure make an impact in Utah’s bars and beam lineups.
Norah Christian is returning from an Achilles injury but appears to be progressing well. Bars is her strongest event and her best opportunity to break into a lineup this season.
Rounding out this talented freshman class is Sage Curtis, a powerhouse gymnast. Curtis competes an explosive Yurchenko 1.5 — which earned a perfect 10 in Level 10 — and is training a split-legged double layout on floor. Both routines could make a strong case for lineup spots this year.
Vault Breakdown
Losing from post season lineup: Jaylene Gilstrap, Grace McCallum
New faces to watch for: Bailey Stroud (10 SV), Sage Curtis (10 SV), Clara Raposo (10 SV)
Outlook: Vault was an area where Utah struggled with consistency at times last season. However, the team only lost two routines from the postseason lineup — one of which was a Yurchenko full — leaving a strong foundation to build on. With key returners and a promising freshman class, the Utes are in a position to significantly boost both scoring potential and depth. Makenna Smith returns after averaging a 9.896 last season with her half-on, front pike off. Her consistency and ability to stick landings became a major asset in her junior year. Head coach Carly Dockendorf recently shared in our interview that Smith is now training a half-on, front pike half — a vault that could potentially improve her scoring potential even more, especially since it’s not a blind landing like her current vault is. Avery Neff continues to be a reliable contributor and is closing in on a perfect 10, thanks to her frequent stuck landings. Ashley Glynn and Ella Zirbes also return, both having averaged above 9.83 last season. Competition for the final lineup spots is expected to be intense. Bailey Stroud brings a clean Yurchenko 1.5 that’s among the strongest options. Zoe Johnson and Camie Winger, both with prior experience, are also in the mix. Johnson showed flashes of brilliance last season, scoring as high as 9.95 when she hit. Freshman Sage Curtis is another contender, earning a perfect 10 with her Y 1.5 during her club career. Clara Raposo also brings a Yurchenko 1.5 that fans have been eager to see in action — and Dockendorf sounds excited about — so this could be the year she breaks into the lineup.
Uneven Bar Breakdown
Losing from post season lineup: Grace McCallum, Amelie Morgan
New faces to watch for: Bailey Stroud, Abbi Ryssman, Norah Christian
Outlook: Bars was one of Utah’s strongest events last season, and that trend is expected to continue in 2026. Four key returners — Avery Neff, Ella Zirbes, Makenna Smith, and Ashley Glynn — all averaged around 9.85 and are likely to remain core members of the lineup. Ana Padurariu also returns after averaging a 9.829 and will be looking to retain her spot amid increased competition from a strong freshman class. Bailey Stroud, who earned a perfect 10 on this event during her club career, brings excellent handstand precision and could make an immediate impact. Abbi Ryssman is another standout freshman, known for her exceptional lines and refined toe point — attributes that make a compelling case for inclusion. Other contenders include Norah Christian, whose chances depends on how the coaches pace her to return from injury, and Clara Raposo, who made notable improvements to her form during the offseason and could push for a spot as well.
Beam Breakdown
Losing from post season lineup: Grace McCallum, Amelie Morgan
New faces to watch for: Bailey Stroud, Abbi Ryssman, Ella Zirbes, Clara Raposo
Outlook: Beam has historically been one of Utah’s strongest events, but replacing the likes of Grace McCallum and Amelie Morgan is no small task. Fortunately, several key returners are poised to lead the way. Avery Neff, who averaged a 9.914 last season, and Makenna Smith, who averaged a 9.8, are expected to remain fixtures in the lineup. Elizabeth Gantner also proved to be a steady presence, averaging a 9.825, making her a strong candidate to return as well. That leaves three lineup spots up for grabs. Ana Padurariu brings elegant lines and valuable experience, and her consistency has improved — she scored 9.85 or higher in eight of her 14 routines last season. Ella Zirbes has yet to break into the beam lineup, but her clean form and overall execution suggest significant scoring potential. Freshmen Bailey Stroud and Abbi Ryssman both delivered high-level beam work during their club careers and are strong contenders to make an immediate impact. Clara Raposo is another gymnast to watch, as she continues to push for a spot with growing consistency and refined execution.
Floor Breakdown
Losing from post season lineup: Jaylene Gilstrap, Grace McCallum
New faces to watch for:: Zoe Johnson, Bailey Stroud, Poppy Grace Stickler, Clara Raposo, Sage Curtis
Outlook: You can expect floor to be a deep event for the Utes this season, with the majority of the lineup returning from last season and several freshman and sophomores vying for the two open spots. Makenna Smith, one of the top floor performers in the nation last season, averaged a 9.908 and should be considered a lock for this lineup. Avery Neff is another key contributor, known for her consistency and ability to deliver the same high-level routine week in and week out. Ella Zirbes and Ashley Glynn also proved to be dependable performers in 2025 and are strong candidates to retain their places in the lineup. With four spots likely locked down, the final two positions are still up for grabs, setting the stage for intense preseason competition. Contenders include talented freshmen Bailey Stroud and Sage Curtis, a now-healthy Poppy Grace Stickler, and sophomores Zoe Johnson and Clara Raposo — both of whom have made significant progress during the offseason according to Dockendorf. With depth, experience, and emerging talent, the Utes’ floor lineup is poised to be one of the strongest in the country.
Final Outlook: The Utes have a combination of experienced veterans and fresh new faces, as well as underclassmen stepping up, that should make for some pretty deep lineups in 2026! As always, you can expect the Utes to be in the mix to advance to the Final Four and contend for an NCAA title. In the past, Carly Dockendorf felt the only thing keeping this team from breaking through and winning was their lack of confidence that they could actually achieve it. This seems to have been a focus in the offseason, and the team sounds hungry and determined to have a better ending than last season.
For our lineup predictions, become a gold level Patreon (or purchase this post) to get access to our 2026 Fantasy Gym Routine Tracker, which shows event-by-event averages, lineup predictions and more!
Listen to our 2026 Coaches Corner interview with Utah head coach, Carly Dockendorf!