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Maddy Stover's grin is so infectious, the sophomore makes it seem like the balance beam is her friend as she dances along the four-inch-wide apparatus.

Actually, her demeanor isn't an act at all. Stover is one of those rare gymnasts who sees the balance beam as a fun event, not something to merely survive.

"I love it because it lets me show my gymnastics artistic side as well as the flipping component," she said. "I've always strived to be good in the artistic side with the leaping and jumping and in college I've found that it tends to be more rewarded than in the club, where it is more about big skills."

And she's been rewarded. Other than her one fall against Arizona, Stover has scored 9.825 or higher on the event this year. She earned a career-high 9.975 against Stanford then delivered a 9.9 on Saturday at Cal to make sure the Utes beat the Bears.

Since she is the anchor on the event, it's likely she might be in a similar situation when the sixth-ranked Utes compete at No. 5 Michigan on Friday, since the teams are so close in averages.

Being the anchor on any event, especially the beam, is a responsibility that comes with unique pressure, but there isn't anyone else Utah coach Megan Marsden can imagine in the role right now.

"Maddy just owns the beam; she has her entire life," Marsden said. "We saw it when we were recruiting her and knew she would make an impact for us. She helped us out when Tory [Wilson] got hurt last year, in the leadoff spot, and this year we wanted to put her deeper in the lineup because we felt like we might waste her score otherwise. She is so comfortable up there — a natural."

Some gymnasts have a hard time dealing with the team aspect when they arrive at the college level, since most spend their club years competing as individuals. In contrast, Stover welcomes the pressure her team's fate being on her shoulders.

"It's an honor to be at the end because it shows the team has confidence in me and my routines," she said. "You always try to go out and do your routine the same regardless of where you are in the lineup, you don't necessarily approach it differently, but there is some added excitement."

That she embraces the challenge for the team is symbolic of her attitude as a whole, Marsden said. Stover might be just a sophomore, but she is emerging as a leader.

"Since she arrived, she is someone who has gotten in the ear of people if they are having a rough day or a time of it," Marsden said. "She'll take time to have a meeting or go for coffee, and listens to her teammates. I love that about Maddy, it's not about her at all, it's about doing whatever she can for the team."

Due to some injuries, Stover is also getting a chance to compete on the floor, scoring 9.825, 9.8 and 9.85 in the last three meets, as the same artistic abilities on beam carry over to the choreography on floor. Those scores have been impressive, but no doubt it is the balance beam where she shines the most.

"I work a lot on the mental choreography of beam," she said. "I try to be as consistent as possible from meet to meet and I feel like I am dialing it in." —

About Maddi Stover

Class • Sophomore

Height • 5-foot-1

Hometown • Fullerton, Calif.

Noteworthy • Is 7 of 8 in balance beam routines this season. … Career high on the beam was a 9.975 at Stanford. … Career best on floor came at Cal where she scored 9.85. … Hit 14 of 14 beam routines as a freshman. … Serves on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. … Her mother, Nancy, was a gymnast for Cal-State Fullerton. —

Utah at Michigan

P Friday, 5 p.m. MST

TV • Big Ten Network (delay)