One of the most surprising winners in Friday's competition between Utah and Oregon State was senior Stephanie McAllister. McAllister was questionable to even make the lineup after slicing the palm of her hand while cutting an avocado earlier this week.
But not only did the senior compete, she won the all-around with a 39.375.
"The hand is Ok now," she said. "The whole thing was kind of embarrassing."
Her effort was far from being embarrassing as it was good enough to beat Oregon State's Leslie Mak, who finished with a 39.1.
Mak, the 2011 Pac-12 Gymnast of the Year, entered Friday's competition ranked fourth nationally with a regional qualifying score of 39.4.
McAllister ranks 19th with a 39.18 average.
McAllister scored 9.775 on the vault, 9.85 on the bars, 9.8 on the beam and a 9.95 on the floor.
Mak had a 9.8 on the vault, 9.675 on the bars, 9.85 on the beam and 9.775 on the floor.
"She is a tough kid," Utah coach Greg Marsden said of McAllister. "I'm sure her hand wasn't that comfortable, but she did a nice job all the way through tonight."
Bounced by the beam
Utah freshman Georgia Dabritz, who has looked so strong in exhibition and in practice on the balance beam, couldn't pull off a similar routine when it counted Friday.
Dabritz, who admits she struggles mentally when competing on the beam, fell off twice.
She responded with a 9.925 on the floor.
"I was so mad, I tried to go all out on the last event," she said.
Last go
Friday's meet marked the last of Utah's head-to-head competition against Pac-12 opponents this season. The Utes' only loss was to UCLA in the season opener. The two teams will be the favorites on March 24 when the Utes host the Pac-12 Championships.
Of note
The highlight of the vault rotation was a 9.975 from senior Kyndal Robarts. It was the second meet in a row she earned a 9.975. ⦠Attendance was 13,571.
Twitter: @lyawodraska
