Utah Utes gymnastics: Banged-up Utes facing OSU

Utah's sixth-ranked gymnastics team will likely use the same patched-together lineup it did on March 4 against Florida when it tries its luck at No. 5 Oregon State tonight at 8 p.m. MT.

Freshman vaulter Victoria Shanley's back spasms haven't improved to the point that coach Greg Marsden wants to risk using her in that jarring event, and freshman all-arounder Corrie Lothrop has been diagnosed with a floating chip in her ankle that will eventually require surgery.

Lothrop returned to the beam lineup last week but probably won't be able to do a lot more than that, said Marsden.

Since the surgery would necessitate probably six weeks out, she likely won't have it until after the season and will try to do what she can. She might be able to do bars, but Marsden isn't expecting her to compete on floor or vault, though he said he wouldn't rule out anything for sure. Earlier this week, she was talking about going all-around tonight.

Lothrop, an alternate to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team, has been given a splint to wear while sleeping to hopefully keep the ankle from relaxing and allowing the chip to move into a spot where it hurts.

If Lothrop can only do beam, freshman Hailee Hansen will likely get her fourth competition on bars, and senior Gael Mackie will probably vault and do floor.

"This could be our team," Marsden said, looking toward the final two meets of the regular season and the postseason that begins with the NCAA regionals April 2. "You have to play the hand dealt you."

Utah is still without top all-arounder Kyndal Robarts, a senior who injured a knee Jan. 22. She has been cleared to train a little bit but no timetable for her return is certain. She has said she will come back this year if she can.

Even with the depleted lineup last week, Utah pushed No. 1-ranked Florida until the final event before falling 197-196.75, so there is hope for a strong meet at OSU.

The Beavers are 16-5 with a high score of 197 they hit last week at Stanford, when they upset the nation's former No. 2 team. They rank No. 1 nationally on bars and are led by sophomore all-arounder Makayla Stambaugh (39.525 high) and junior Leslie Mak (39.45). Utah's best are Lothrop (39.50) and junior Stephanie McAllister (39.475).