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UCLA voted preseason favorite in Pac-12 gymnastics coaches’ poll

Dec 14, 2016
Christy Linder/UCLA Athletics

SAN FRANCISCO – In a poll taken by the Conference’s eight women’s gymnastics head coaches, UCLA was voted the preseason favorite to win the 2017 Pac-12 title, the Conference announced today.  

UCLA received 47 points and five first-place votes in the Pac-12 coaches’ poll. Meanwhile, the Bruins were voted fourth in the national preseason coaches’ poll where they also received five first-place votes. 

UCLA claimed the top spot in the preseason Pac-12 coaches’ poll for the first time since the 2013-14 academic year as UTAH had ruled the first-place position for the last two years. This season, UCLA will be looking to capture its second conference championship in a row, following the Bruins’ Pac-12 Championship win and Super Six appearance in 2016. 

Utah came in second in the Pac-12 poll, finishing closely behind UCLA and tallying 45 total points including three first-place votes. Utah is ranked sixth in the national preseason coaches’ poll where the team also received two first place votes. 

STANFORD sits in third place in the Pac-12 poll earning 33 points, with CALIFORNIA close behind in fourth place with 32 points. The Cardinal and the Golden Bears are ranked No. 11 and No. 10 respectively in the national coaches’ poll. 

OREGON STATE came in fifth place in the Pac-12 coaches’ poll with 25 points. Rounding out the poll were ARIZONA, WASHINGTON, and ARIZONA STATE with 22, 13, and 7 points respectively. 

Seven of eight Pac-12 teams are ranked in the top 20 nationally heading into the 2017 season. Joining No. 4 UCLA, No. 6 Utah, No. 10 California, and No. 11 Stanford are No. 13 Oregon State, No. 18 Arizona, and No. 20 Washington. 

The 2017 season is set to begin on Friday, Jan. 6. Pac-12 gymnastics will be featured on Pac-12 Networks throughout the season, including the 2017 Pac-12 Championship to take place on March 18, 2017 at Stanford. Visit www.pac-12.com for a full schedule of Pac-12 gymnastics meets.

PAC-12 PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL

1.    UCLA (5)          47
2.    Utah (3)            45
3.    Stanford           33
4.    California          32
5.    Oregon State    25
6.    Arizona             22
7.     Washington      13
8.     Arizona State    7

PAC-12 IN THE NATIONAL PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL

4. UCLA (5)            2328
6. Utah (2)              2246
10. California          1844
11. Stanford            1839
13. Oregon State    1601
18. Arizona             1330
20. Washington      1197
RV. Arizona State   199