Utes try to put it together, qualify for nationals

BERKELEY, Calif — The sore knee that kept freshman Daria Bijak from practicing earlier this week has improved, so she is penciled in for two events tonight as an inconsistent Ute gymnastics team tries to qualify for the 32nd straight time for the national championships, which it will host in two weeks.

Utah (13-3, ranked seventh) is the second seed for the NCAA West Regional at Cal-Berkeley's Haas Pavilion starting at 6 tonight. It must finish first or second in the six-team meet to advance to the 2007 NCAA Championships at the Huntsman Center April 25-28.

Nebraska (19-4, ranked sixth) is the top seed at Cal, with No. 18 Missouri (14-9) the third seed. Other teams are unranked Washington (7-13), Sacramento State (17-4) and California (7-15). Utah is the nation's only program to have qualified for all 25 NCAA championships, and it made six AIAW-sponsored nationals before that.

The Utes have had a frustrating season with injuries, illnesses and mental factors keeping them from acting like an elite team. They have had one poor event in every meet, though they've often looked like champions on the other three, and the breakdowns haven't always been in the same place.

The last few weeks have found Utah growing stronger mentally and physically. "Everyone is kind of getting better. It's probably the best time we could have picked," junior Katie Kivisto said.

Bijak was diagnosed earlier this week with a cyst on cartilage in a knee, but the pain has lessened, and she should be available on bars and beam. Coach Greg Marsden said no surgery is planned even after the season, and rest is the cure.

The rest of the team — stalwart all-arounders Nicolle Ford (39.625 season high), Ashley Postell (39.55) and Kristina Baskett (39.70) and regular contributors Nina Kim, Annie DiLuzio, Jessica Duke and Sarah Shire — seem to be doing well, and there were battles for the other spots.

Marsden's been pleased with his whole team recently, and two who have made real leaps are in tonight's lineup.

Kivisto will be back on floor and is Bijak's bars backup, and freshman Jamie Deetscreek has worked back into beam.

"Katie has just been remarkable. Really, after her injury (elbow chips), she got down a little bit and reverted to some problems that she's dealt with in previous years, but we had a talk about it, and since then, she's just been on a mission," said Marsden, noting the change began at the Nebraska meet.