No. 12 Utah Gymnastics Ready to Defend Big 12 Title

The Red Rocks aim to secure their third consecutive conference championship this weekend.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 8:54am

No. 12 Utah Gymnastics is set to defend its Big 12 Championship title on Saturday, March 21st, at the Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah. The Red Rocks are coming off an undefeated 6-0 run in Big 12 competition, securing their second consecutive regular season title.

Why it matters

Utah Gymnastics has established itself as a dominant force in the Big 12, having won the conference title in each of the last two seasons. A third consecutive championship would cement the program's status as a regional powerhouse and position them well for a strong showing in the upcoming NCAA tournament.

The details

The Big 12 Championship will feature a two-meet format, with Utah facing No. 23 Denver, No. 24 BYU, and Arizona in a quad meet at 5 p.m. MT. The Red Rocks boast a strong roster of 12 returners, including senior Makenna Smith and sophomore Avery Neff, alongside four talented freshmen. Utah's success this season is reflected in the eight Red Rocks named to All-Big 12 teams, with Avery Neff earning accolades in all four events and the all-around.

  • The Big 12 Championship will take place on Saturday, March 21st, 2026.
  • The Red Rocks' quad meet is scheduled for 5 p.m. MT.
  • The NCAA regional assignments will be announced on Monday, March 23rd, at 10 a.m. MT on ESPNU.

The players

Carly Dockendorf

The head coach of the Utah Gymnastics team, in her third season leading the Red Rocks and ninth season with the program overall.

Makenna Smith

A senior member of the Utah Gymnastics team and one of the 12 returners on the roster.

Avery Neff

A sophomore gymnast on the Utah Gymnastics team, who has earned accolades in all four events and the all-around this season.

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What’s next

Following the Big 12 Championship, Utah will await their regional assignment, which will be announced on Monday, March 23rd, starting at 10 a.m. MT on ESPNU.

The takeaway

Utah Gymnastics has established itself as a dominant force in the Big 12, with the potential to continue its success in the upcoming NCAA tournament. The Red Rocks' undefeated regular season and multiple All-Big 12 honorees demonstrate the team's depth and talent, positioning them well to defend their conference title.