Utah gymnastics: Dabritz struggling with injury more mentally than physically

Utah junior Georgia Dabritz has enjoyed a remarkably injury-free career, which is why she isn't handling her injury, albeit a minor one, very well at all.

Dabritz has a hip strain that bothers her during certain leaps, mainly on the balance beam, which prevented her from competing in the event in Friday's win over Washington.

Plans are to hold her out of Friday's crucial meet at No. 7 Michigan as well.

Being out of the lineup is frustrating for Dabritz, who just earned a spot in the beam lineup with the last two meets, scoring 9.65 against Stanford and 9.875 against Oregon State.

"I had a meltdown the other night and was really frustrated and upset with myself," she said. "I wanted to help out the team and be out there. I'm very bummed."

The good news is the injury isn't thought to be a serious one. The sixth-ranked Utes are hoping if they limit her in practice this week, she'll be ready for next week's regular season finale against Georgia.

Some of the urgency of getting Dabritz in the lineup lessened after Becky Tutka's performance in which she scored a 9.8. It was the first routine of the year for her, but not her last as she already has earned a spot in the next meet.

"Her stock really went up a whole lot," Utah coach Greg Marsden said. "I was pleased with how aggressive she was and how she rose to the occasion."

Injury report

Dabritz isn't the only gymnast less than 100 percent. Kailah Delaney is still getting over an illness that prevented her from competing in everything except the vault on Friday while Tutka still has tendonitis in her Achilles tendon.

"It's frustrating, but this is something we have to deal with at this point in the season," Marsden said. "It's getting toward the end of the season so you start to have some over-use stuff. Luckily we don't need a lot of repetition at this point in the season and we can manage those things."

Close quarters

Despite the win on Friday, the Utes slipped a notch in the rankings, dropping to No. 6. However, Marsden isn't too concerned since less than a point separates his team from top-ranked LSU.

The Tigers have a 197.605 average while the Utes are averaging 197.015.

"There are a lot of good teams out there," he said. "It is much more competitive than it has ever been and it goes to show you winning is about who is at their best at that right time and who can handle the pressure the best."

Individually, Tory Wilson is No. 8 in the all-around with a 39.445 average and is ranked No. 1 on the vault in a tie with Delaney with a 9.94 average.

Dabritz is ranked third on the uneven bars with a 9.93 average and second on the floor with a 9.95 average. —

Top 25 Rankings

1. LSU 197.605

2. Florida 197.515

3. Oklahoma 197.415

4. Alabama 197.215

5. Georgia 197.02

6. Utah 197.015

7. Michigan 196.795

8. UCLA 196.74

9. Nebraska 196.71

10. Stanford 196.465

11. Auburn 196.335

12. Minnesota 196.255

13. Illinois 196.165

14. Arkansas 196.13

15. Oregon St. 196.115

16. Boise St. 196.08

17. Central Mich. 196.03

18. Arizona 195.915

19. Penn St. 195.91

20. Denver 195.77

21. Arizona St. 195.71

22. California 195.65

23. SUU 195.56

24. Ohio St. 195.39

25. NC State 195.37 —

Utah at Michigan

P Friday, 5 p.m.

TV • None.