Utah's defending two-time NCAA-champion gymnastics team received a big scare Thursday when sophomore All-American all-arounder Traci Sommer developed sudden severe back pains while doing a back handspring on balance beam in preseason workouts.
She didn't fall but was barely able to move upon dismounting the beam and was rushed for X-rays. She'd had some spasms the week before but stretched well and felt good Thursday, said coach Greg Marsden.X-rays showed nothing broken, so for now it is assumed to be a painful soft-tissue injury with muscle spasms that will require rest.
"If this thing turns out to be more serious than we think it is, we'll be in trouble," says Marsden. "But I learned last year (an injury-filled season that still turned into Utah's 10th national championship in 20 years) to take it one day at a time."
Sommer was the first Ute freshman to compete all-around at the NCAA Championships since Kristen Kenoyer in 1990. She hit eight of nine routines in the three-day finals and, on Super Six night when the team title is decided, her all-around of 39.25 was eighth-best in the championships.
The Utes have good news on another injury. They'd thought freshman Molly Northrop was lost for the season to an Achilles tendon tear, but she is progressing far ahead of schedule, and Marsden now predicts she could help on bars by midseason. The season runs from January to mid-April. She's already doing some bar work and has shed cast and crutches.
Molly and identical twin sister Sarah, of Peoria, Ill., are among four Ute frosh. The others are Angie Leonard of Tempe, Ariz., and Summer Reid of Reno, Nevada. Molly and Sarah tied for the Junior Olympic bars title two years ago.