Jaedyn Rucker shares how her passion and success for gymnastics started young and some advice on quitting - that goes beyond sports
About this Episode
In this episode, Jaedyn Rucker shares how her passion and success for gymnastics started young and some advice on quitting - that goes beyond sports
This episode is brought to you by Master Electrical Service -- a supporter of Talkin' Utes and Utah Athletics.
Career Highlights
• NCAA Vault Champion (2022)
• NCAA All-American (vault)
• Three-time All-Pac-12 Conference
• 2021 Pac-12 Floor Co-Champion
• Three-time Pac-12 Specialist of the Week
• Two-time Pac-12 Coaches Choice award recipient
• 8 career wins
• Has hit 57-60 career routines
• Pac-12 All-Academic
2022 Season (Junior)
• NCAA Vault Champion
• First team NCAA All-American (vault)
• First team All-Pac-12 Conference (vault)
• Starter on vault every meet, floor all but one competition
• Scored a 9.9625 to win the NCAA individual vault title during the NCAA semifinals
• Recorded season-high tying 9.975 on vault at the NCAA finals
• Scored a 9.875 or better on floor in 10 of 15 routines, including final four floor routines of the postseason
• Posted a 9.975 on vault at California for event victory
• Tallied season-best 9.925 on floor against Oklahoma, Arizona State, and Minnesota
• Two-time Pac-12 Specialist of the Week (Jan. 11, Feb. 15)
• 4 event victories (all on vault)
• Hit 29-31 routines
2021 Season (Sophomore)
• Honorable Mention All-Pac-12 Conference on vault and floor
• Pac-12 Floor Co-Champion
• Starter on vault and floor every competition, bars in one meet
• Hit 9.90-mark on floor in seven of final eight routines
• Posted the highest score on vault at the NCAA Championships with a career high 9.9875 in the finals
• Pac-12 Specialist of the Week (Mar. 2) and two-time Pac-12 Coaches’ Choice recipient (Jan. 21, Feb. 9)
• Utah’s Most Improved Gymnast award winner
• 4 event victories (two on vault, two on floor)
• Hit 28-29 routines
• Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll
2020 Season (Freshman)
• Missed entire season with a knee injury sustained prior to joining the team
• Had knee surgery in Feb. 2019
• WCGA Scholastic All-American
• Athletic Director’s Honor Roll
Prior to Utah
• 2018 J.O. national vault champion (Senior B)
• Also placed 2nd all-around, 2nd on floor, 4th on bars and 7th on beam at 2018 J.O. Nationals
• 1st all-around, 1st on vault (10.0) and 1st on floor at the 2018 Pikes Peak Cup
• Three-time regional champion
• 12-time state champion
• Won every event and the all-around at the 2018 Arizona State Championship
• Trained at Desert Devils Gymnastics
• Graduated from Desert Ridge High School
Personal
• Daughter of Robert and Amy Rucker
• Father was a 1991 track All-American at Arizona State
• Sisters Jordyn and Jyntry
• Major is Kinesiology
• Full name is Jaedyn Breon Rucker
Rucker's Career HighsVault9.9875 at NCAA Championship Final, Apr. 17, 2021Bars9.725 vs. Utah State, Mar. 12, 2021Floor9.95 vs. California, Feb. 26, 20219.95 at Pac-12 Championships, Mar. 20, 2021
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2023: Played in all nine games, starting at Baylor and vs. No. 8 Oregon.
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- No. 5 recruit in the state of Utah on Rivals.
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