PROVO — Forty consecutive victories.
That was what the Red Rocks were aiming for Friday night at the Marriott Center on the campus of Brigham Young University.
Utah had defeated the rival Cougars 39 straight times in gymnastics, including multiple wins a season ago, and yet there were moments in the Deseret First Duel where that run, as impressive as it had been, appeared in jeopardy.
A slow start by the Utes, coupled with a strong outing by the Cougars, put pressure on the Red Rocks early and continued strong outings by Cougar gymnasts kept said pressure on most of the night.