Ninth-ranked UCLA, No. 8 Oregon State, No. 3 Florida and No. 4 Michigan - that list of gymnastics teams sounds like the competition one might find in the Super Six of the NCAA Championships.
And it might very well be the kind of lineup the Utes will face at nationals in April. But first they have to meet those teams in the upcoming schedule, which is possibly the most difficult stretch of opponents the Utes have faced.
Utah starts its gamut of a who is who in college gymnastics with an afternoon meet at UCLA today.
It's the first Sunday meet of the season for the Utes, who scored a 197.2 in Friday's win over SUU (193.1) and Utah State (189.65).
"It's going to be a big test, but exciting," Utah coach Greg Marsden said of the matchup with the Bruins. "I know they'll be ready, but the big test will be if their legs are ready."
The Utes are accustomed to facing the best teams, which is why Marsden schedules such powers as the Bruins, Georgia and Florida. But facing a string of the opponents this late in the season and with three of the four meets on the road is a new kind of task.
Also differing from past seasons is the Utes are the ones favored. The Utes served notice with the season opening win over Georgia that they are a new team this year, and the results that have followed have only strengthened that image.
Since that 196.3-196.2 win over Georgia, the Utes have won their last six meets in comfortable fashion, boosting their confidence and reputation, but also increasing the potential for disappointment if Utah doesn't do well in the meets ahead.
Senior Katie Kivisto doesn't think this team is the kind that will crumble in tight meets.
"We're pretty confident of ourselves and what the team can do well," Kivisto said. "Last year we were the underdogs and it's a totally different position we find ourselves in this year. It's more fun, to not always have to prove we can still do something or make it to nationals. It gets old being an underdog."
The Utes expressed confidence in the past, but didn't back it up on the floor. They admitted they were intimidated at Georgia last year and often one mistake would lead to another. This season has been the opposite, with the Utes showing no signs of intimidation in the win over Georgia and reacting to falls with strong routines through the rest of their lineups.
"We've demonstrated we can handle it," junior Kristina Baskett said. "We know these teams are going to be good, but we should be more prepared, too."
The Utes aren't putting any kind of number of wins or losses to determine their overall success in this string of opponents. Senior Ashley Postell said the main thing is to get better with each meet.
However, if the Utes can make it through with their undefeated mark intact they should become just the second Utah team to finish a regular season. After their string of ranked opponents, the only meet they'll have left is a home meet against BYU.
The only team that went undefeated in the regular season was the 1993 squad, which went 17-0. That team won its region, but finished third at the NCAA Championships.
"I think it's something we can do," sophomore Annie DiLuzio said. "We have the potential to do that, we know it's up to us."
lwodraska@sltrib.com
