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Utah's fourth-ranked gymnastics team has performed more like a veteran squad than the young one it is. But Utah's gymnastics coaches aren't taking the mature attitude for granted as the Utes prepare for Saturday's NCAA regional in Fayetteville, Ark.

High on the coaches' to-do list this week is getting the team prepared for a different rhythm in the meet. Each squad will have two byes since six teams will be competing.

The Utes drew the following rotation: bars, beam, bye, floor, vault, bye.

Utah coach Megan Marsden likes the rotation, particularly since the Utes won the Pac-12 Championships competing in that order but without the byes.

Those breaks have her attention now. The Utes will have a mock meet Tuesday to go through the rotation and also adjust to having an individual rotating with them.

"They are very subtle things, but Tom [Farden] and I want this team prepared knowing it's going to be a little different," she said. "We've practiced it and even the veterans have forgotten how it works, so it's good to go over it all again."

That such minor differences could be a big deal might surprise some, but junior Maddy Stover said it can be harder than it seems to adjust.

"We are used to very tightly structured meets here at Utah where things run fast and smooth," she said. "Having that many teams drags things out, and 20 minutes is long enough to stay warm if you keep moving, but it's also enough to get lost, too. You've got to keep the energy light and the bodies warm."

While most teams dislike ending on a bye because scores tend to climb in the last rotation, Marsden doesn't see it as too much of a disadvantage for regionals, where the Utes are a top seed.

"We have good feelings about this team as long as we do our job," she said. "At the same time, we know we have to do our job well and go into our final bye feeling pretty good about things."

Floor undecided

The Utes haven't decided whether to go with MaKenna Merrell or Kari Lee in the floor lineup. Lee has competed the last two meets, scoring 9.875 at Georgia and 9.675 at the Pac-12 Championships when she stepped out of bounds.

She hopes to get another shot, especially since she has been able to practice the routine more.

"I haven't had that many numbers under my belt," she said. "It is frustrating for me because I want to be perfect, and trying to be perfect isn't always the best thing."

Lee is a late addition to the floor mix because the coaches were giving her time to recover from the torn Achilles tendon she suffered last year.

Injury update

Vault specialist Shannon McNatt continues to recover from the hyperextended knee she suffered at the Pac-12 Championships. She was cleared to do everything on bars and beam as of Monday.

However, McNatt still isn't vaulting and likely will be replaced in the lineup by Merrell, who has competed in the vault lineup every meet except for the Pac-12s and a road meet at Washington.

Marsden said it was important to bring McNatt back slowly — rather than risk aggravating the injury by having her vault — since she is the top backup on bars and beam.

Merrell has scored 9.875 or higher four times out of the nine times she has vaulted. —

Regional championship

P at Fayetteville, Ark.

When • Saturday, 3 p.m. MDT

TV • None

At stake • Top two teams from each region advance to NCAA Championships, April 14-15 in St. Louis

The competitors (with national ranking and regional qualifying score) • 4. Utah 197.55; 9. Denver 197.04; 16. California 196.515; 21. Auburn 196.265; 27. Arkansas 195.775; 28. Central Michigan 195.765