(KUTV) The Ute gymnasts are ranked No.1 in the nation, thanks in large part to their scores at the Huntsman Center.In three home meets the Utes average just a shade under 197.40...Yet in two road meets, they average a point and quarter lower, roughly 196.1 a number that would rank the Utes ninth in the nation, were it not for the home meets.The Utes obviously feed off the energy of their massive home crowds, which clearly wasn't the case last Sunday when the Utes defeated 25th ranked Arizona State.

"When we walked into the arena, it was pretty much, not too many people," Corrie Lothrop said. But it isn't the crowd or lack of of them that troubles the Utes.

"When you go on the road and you travel, you definitely have to deal with adversities, senior Stephanie McCallister said. "We don't have our own fans and it is different equipment and it is just not our arena."

The Utes aren't home again until they take on Stanford a week from Friday. This week they are at Michigan where they have a miserable 2-6 record all-time.

More importantly, the NCAA Championships are on the road and the top ranked Utes want to end their 17 year title drought.


(Copyright 2012 Sinclair Broadcasting)Utah Gymnastics Prep for Michigan