Jaedyn Rucker to Return for Sixth Season with Utah Gymnastics

Utah gymnastics’ Who Rocks the House NIL collective may want to temporarily change its name to Who Rucks the House next season, as the team announced that NCAA vault champion and floor exercise stalwart Jaedyn Rucker will be returning for a sixth season in 2025.

Rucker, who captured the vault title in 2022, expressed her gratitude for the support she has received from teammates, coaches, and fans over the past five years. Despite facing challenges, Rucker’s love for the sport and desire to continue growing and learning have led her to make the decision to return for one more year of competition.

The Mesa, Arizona native’s eligibility for a sixth season stems from a torn ACL suffered in high school, which delayed her collegiate debut due to complications during recovery. The additional year granted to all collegiate athletes due to the COVID-19 pandemic allowed Rucker to utilize her “COVID year” this season, paving the way for her return in 2025.

Rucker’s return will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the Utah gymnastics team, particularly on vault where her expertise could bolster the team’s performance. Questions remain about her potential participation in floor exercises, as she was sidelined during the championship meet this year.

While Rucker will be the sole returning gymnast from this year’s senior class, Maile O’Keefe will also be rejoining the program as a student assistant coach. With Rucker’s experience and leadership, Utah gymnastics looks poised for another successful season as they aim to build on their third-place finish at nationals in 2024. Fans can expect to see Rucker continue to shine and inspire her teammates as she embarks on her final year of collegiate competition.