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Closing out the regular season with a win on the road in the SEC, against a Top-10 team and on the team’s senior night would be a huge accomplishment for Utah’s gymnastics team.
But Friday’s finale at LSU is as much about Utah’s own direction as it is the meet itself.
The Utes have some crucial decisions to make as they get ready for the Pac-12 Championships scheduled for March 19 at the Maverik Center.
The competition is so close this year, Utah needs every tenth of a point it can muster if it wants a chance to defend its Pac-12 title.
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But what lineups will give Utah the best chance to do that? Friday’s meet could go a long ways in helping the Utes’ coaching staff determine the answers.
Utah coach Tom Farden, who never hesitates to make last-minute lineup changes, has several options to consider for the postseason. The meet against the Tigers is the perfect proving ground.
The biggest question is how much to use freshman Kara Eaker. She scored a 9.9 on the balance beam against Minnesota a week ago in her first action since injuring her ankle in the season opener.
She is also ready on floor and vault, Farden said, so don’t be surprised if she shows up elsewhere in the lineup, particularly after that beam routine.
“She hit the road running,” he said of her return.
But finding a place to use her could be tricky.
On floor, Abby Paulson has been solid for the Utes since taking over the leadoff spot when Jillian Hoffman tore her Achilles tendon at Cal on Feb. 12. Paulson stepped in short notice in that meet and scored a 9.9 and has followed that performance with a 9.925, 9.9, 9.875 and 9.85.
Jaedyn Rucker’s floor efforts have been a little more inconsistent, but she has scored two 9.9s and a 9.925 in three of her last four efforts.
Jaylene Gilstrap, a relative newcomer to the lineup (with scores of 9.875, 9.825 and 9.9 scores), could be in danger of losing her spot but she offers something unique to the lineup with her dance skills. Her artistic lines could earn the Utes big scores since her routine makes her stick out.
The Utes have been using Sage Thompson as the vault leadoff since Hoffman was injured and she has scored three 9.775s and a 9.8. The Utes might be tempted to give Eaker a go, but do you risk aggravating a still-recovering ankle? If she doesn’t compete Friday, would it be fair to throw her into the lineup for the postseason?
Those are all questions Farden must answer.
For the gymnasts, their priority is handling LSU’s crowd, which is averaging 11,903 at home. It will be a great challenge for the Utes to stay focused in that hostile atmosphere.
“It’s going to be cutthroat,” Utah senior Cammy Hall said. “We are expecting to get the most out of everybody and it is going to be a close meet. We just have to go in strong and finish strong.”