Utah Utes gymnastics: Nansy Damianova needs more progress to compete in all-around

When Ute freshman Nansy Damianova did an outstanding — if exhibition — balance beam routine last Friday night at Utah State, it begged the question of when the 2008 Canadian Olympian will break into the all-around to count.

The answer is that it may not be as close as it seems.

Coaches are trying to ease her into progression on beam, an event that she dislikes, even fears at times.

Damianova has done three events all year for the Utes, and over the last four meets, most of her scores have been in the 9.825-9.875 range.

Friday night in Logan, she scored 9.875 on vault, 9.825 on bars and got her first-ever 9.90 on floor after hitting her exhibition beam (9.825). That would have given her an all-around of 39.425, a spectacular debut.

But even though her exhibition beam score would have tied for second-best on the team, it's unlikely she'll compete beam Friday night when Utah hosts No. 1-ranked Florida for the Utes' final home meet and Senior Night.

"We're dealing with some fear with my event," said co-coach Megan Marsden, who handles beam. "That series pass, the roundoff-layout, she's admitted that if her roundoff, the base move, is not feeling good, if the beam's not feeling good to her, then she's really frightened of that skill."

That's more an issue on the road, where gymnasts perform on whatever equipment is provided, but it's tough to put her into the lineup when consistency is such an issue.

Marsden also has some worry about senior Gael Mackie, who tends to wobble at times on beam, but wobbles don't count off as much as a fall, and with Damianova, "I'm more concerned about a fall. With Nansy, I think it's going to be all or nothing," Marsden said.

It is all about comfortable progression for her, said co-coach Greg Marsden.

"I don't know if we're quite to that point," said Megan Marsden, "but I think the other night helped quite a bit. How much, I guess I'm going to see – see if she's going to be pushing to be out there some more.

"She does definitely seem to build confidence from good performances, and the fact that she had a chance to get out there and took advantage of her opportunity, I do think that will help build her confidence."

IN THE STANDS: The last home crowd of 13,975 against Michigan Feb. 18 left the Utes on the verge of winning the NCAA women's gymnastics attendance crown for the 27th time out of 30 tries.

The Utes need a big walkup crowd Friday when No. 1 Florida visits to stay ahead of Alabama.