MyKayla Skinner might garner most of the press for Utah’s gymnastics team, but the Utes have more to them than one superstar — as MaKenna Merrell-Giles and Tiffani Lewis reminded everyone Friday.

While Merrell-Giles tied Skinner for the all-around, Lewis excelled as a three-event participant in the season-opening 197-194.275 win over the Cougars. Lewis, a senior from Las Vegas, scored 9.9s on the vault and floor and 9.85 on the uneven bars.

What made Lewis’ scores so impressive was her spot in the lineup. The Utes wanted to use her experience to set the tone on bars and floor, so she was used in the leadoff spot. She went third in the vault lineup.

“I haven’t been a leadoff very often, but it’s fun,” Lewis said. “It’s fun to start everybody off and I’m fresh and mentally fresh. I can feel the confidence from the teammates.”

Utah co-coach Tom Farden said Utes wanted to use Lewis first because they felt she could set a high mark the rest of the lineups could match.

“If we can start with a 9.9 on bars and floor, I think we can hold them all the way through the lineup,” he said.

Lineup changes made

Junior Kari Lee was pulled from vault and floor as a precaution after her calf muscles started cramping. Lee tore her Achilles’ tendon in 2016, and the Utes didn’t want to risk another injury.

Junior Macey Roberts replaced her on vault and scored 9.75, and freshman Sydney Soloski went in her place on floor and scored 9.85. Lee did compete on the uneven bars and balance beam, scoring 9.85s on both events.

“We trusted Macey, we knew what she could do,” co-coach Tom Farden said. “We knew Sydney would hit that floor routine too.”

Lewis gave Soloski a pep talk before she competed.

“I told her I couldn’t think of any reason why she couldn’t go out there and be confident,” Lewis said. “I truly believe in our freshmen this year.”

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