A standing-room only crowd of 15,202 in the Jon M. Huntsman Center witnessed sheer domination, as the No. 4 Utah gymnastics team routed No. 16 Stanford 198.050-195.900. Utah, which improved to 9-0 overall and 5-0 in Pac-12 meets, scored season highs on vault, bars, and beam while posting the fourth-highest score in the history of the program.
The attendance figure also represents the seventh-largest crowd ever to watch a Utah gymnastics meet, and the 12th time the Ute gymnasts have filled the 15,000-seat Huntsman Center.
"The crowd helped us get that score, especially on the floor exercise. It was like they pushed us along," said senior Tory Wilson, who won the all-around with a season-tying 39.55.
"Competing in front of this crowd is so exciting. It's indescribable. We feed off of them," said freshman Kari Lee, whose walk-through 9.95 beam routine was her best of the season.
"I knew we would have a good crowd by the box office count yesterday," said co-head coach Greg Marsden. "Our fan base is a huge part of why our gymnasts come here."
With his team performing the way it has been all season, the crowds are bound to come back for the last two home meets of the season, senior night against Michigan on Mar. 6 and the Pac-12 Championships on Mar. 21.
"We continue to get better each week," Marsden said, "and as well as we competed tonight, we can still get better."
"We did three and a half events really well, but I'm waiting for that meet where we all put it together from one to six. Georgia (Dabritz) wasn't quite up to par on floor exercise, but we'll give her a break," Marsden said.
Dabritz earlier scored a 10.0 on the bars, a 9.95 on vault, and made a bid to return to the all-around lineup with her 9.875 exhibition beam routine.
A season-best 49.650 on vault set the tone for the Utes, who took the opening round against Stanford (49.250 on bars) and never let up. Utah's big three vaulters – Tory Wilson (9.925), Dabritz (9.95) and Kailah Delaney (9.975) – were red hot from the back of the lineup.
Utah kept it going on bars, scoring a season-high 49.600 behind Dabritz's perfect 10.0. It was her second 10.0 on bars this season and the fourth of her career. Scoring career highs were Kassandra Lopez (9.925) and Corrie Lothrop (9.95). By the meet's midpoint, Utah was already pulling away, holding a 99.250-98.425 lead.
Lee's beautiful 9.95 beam routine highlighted a season-best 49.350 set on an event where Utah is head and shoulders above where it has been the past few years.
"Kari was just in a zone," Marsden said. "She was in that place great athletes go in a peak performance. I don't think she was even aware of what she was doing until she landed her dismount."
"I always feel confident and calm," Lee said, "but this was a different kind of calm."
Far ahead of Stanford, which counted a 9.50 on floor, heading into the final rotation, Utah cruised to a 49.45 on the floor. Lothrop won the event with a season-high 9.925, and Wilson and Becky Tutka tied for second with season-best 9.90s.