WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah – The University of Utah made a stunning first impression in its inaugural Big 12 season, sweeping both the regular season and championship titles. The Red Rocks claimed the 2025 Big 12 Gymnastics Championship with a 197.775 score at the Maverik Center, securing their place at the top of the conference.
This year marked the first time the championship was held in a multiple-session format. The afternoon session featured the bottom-ranked teams—BYU, Iowa State, and West Virginia—based on National Qualifying Score (NQS). The evening session then highlighted the top four teams—Arizona, Arizona State, Denver, and Utah—battling for the championship.
Utah’s All-Around Success
Utah delivered a dominant performance, with gymnasts placing in every event. Arizona took second place with a score of 196.675, followed by Denver (196.400), BYU (196.275), Arizona State (195.975), Iowa State (195.775), and West Virginia (194.875).
Star gymnast Grace McCallum led the way for Utah, clinching the all-around title with a 39.550 and tying for first place on vault (9.900) alongside her teammate Ashley Glynn, as well as Mila Brusch and Bella Mabanta of Denver.
On uneven bars, BYU’s Anna Bramblett-Wilde and Utah’s Makenna Smith shared the event title with a 9.925. Utah secured additional individual victories, with Avery Neff and Ana Padurariu tying for balance beam gold (9.950), while Smith took the floor title outright with a 9.925.
Season Awards and Recognitions
Utah’s dominance extended beyond the championship, as the team collected multiple Big 12 season honors.
- Grace McCallum was named Gymnast of the Year, boasting an NQS of 39.605, leading the conference and ranking eighth nationally. She secured 22 event victories across the all-around, bars, beam, and floor during the season.
- Avery Neff, who overcame an early-season injury, was honored as Newcomer of the Year. She earned a spot on the All-Freshman Team after winning three weekly newcomer awards.
Specialist Awards and Academic Honors
- Arizona’s Elena Deets and BYU’s Brynlee Andersen shared Specialist of the Year honors. Deets, a bars and beam specialist, notched seven event wins in 2025, while Andersen, a beam standout, scored a career-high 9.950 and earned four event titles this season.
- Eliza Millar-Crossman (BYU) won Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the second straight season, maintaining a 3.98 GPA in neuroscience.
- Arizona’s John Court was named Coach of the Year, leading the Wildcats to a 5-1 conference record in his seventh season at the helm.
Final Team Standings
- Utah – 197.775
- Arizona – 196.675
- Denver – 196.400
- BYU – 196.275
- Arizona State – 195.975
- Iowa State – 195.775
- West Virginia – 194.875
Individual Champions
- All-Around: Grace McCallum (Utah) – 39.550
- Vault: McCallum (Utah), Glynn (Utah), Brusch (Denver), Mabanta (Denver) – 9.900
- Bars: Smith (Utah), Bramblett-Wilde (BYU) – 9.925
- Beam: Neff (Utah), Padurariu (Utah) – 9.950
- Floor: Smith (Utah) – 9.925
With Utah’s commanding performance, the Red Rocks have established themselves as a powerhouse in the Big 12, setting the stage for future championship battles .
