SALT LAKE CITY—The opponents and weekends are set for the 2019 Utah gymnastics season and Ute fans can look forward to some top-flight competition. In addition to their Pac-12 slate, the Utes will face three SEC and two Big Ten powers with showdowns against LSU, Georgia, Missouri, Michigan and Penn State. In-state rival BYU completes the non-conference schedule.

“The best way to prepare for the postseason is to go against nationally-competitive teams week-in and week-out, which is what this schedule is all about,” said Utah co-head coach Tom Farden. “That’s also why we scheduled a podium meet (The Mardi Gras Invitational in St. Charles, Mo.). Getting on podium before the NCAA Championships is critical in our preparation.”

The Mardi Gras Invitational on Feb. 15 is a quad meet featuring Utah, LSU, Missouri and Stanford. Utah (2015) and LSU (2016-17) are both recent runners-up at the NCAA Championships, while Stanford has qualified into nationals 16 times and Missouri in 2010.

Utah will open the season the weekend of Jan. 4-5 at home against the Penn State Nittany Lions, who are making their first appearance in the Huntsman Center since 2010. Utah’s other non-conference home meet is against Michigan the weekend of Mar. 1-2 in the annual “Senior Night” meet. Utah has non-conference road meets at BYU on Jan. 11 and Georgia on Mar. 15, in addition to the neutral-site Mardi Gras Invitational on Feb. 15.

 

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