Utah junior gymnast Nina Kim was in class Monday when she heard two girls talking.
"I could tell they were freshmen by just the way they talked, and I don't want to say they didn't know about life, but they had a lot more to learn," said Kim, who isn't sure how she felt about that.
"I was just like, 'Man, those times were the good times."'
For Kim, maturing "just slapped me in the face sophomore year" and is continuing more rapidly now. She has always been the gym cut-up, keeping the mood light, but she's growing up before her very eyes. Expanding mentally means her gymnastics is stepping forward, too.
"I didn't really want to change because I still wanted to feel young," Kim said, "but now I feel older when I go out, and I feel so old compared to the freshmen, and it's like, 'Oh, man.'
"But it's for the better. I need to grow up sometime. Can't stay as a kid."
Because of that and an injury Monday to junior teammate Kristina Baskett — who displaced five ribs, though she doesn't know how — Kim may compete in three events, possibly even all four, tonight at 7 when 1-0 third-ranked Utah meets 2-0 11th-ranked Nebraska in the Huntsman Center on Breast Cancer Awareness Night. Those who wear pink to the meet will get free general admission.
Last year's meet at Nebraska March 4 was a turning point for a somewhat rudderless and bickering Ute team that lost 196.675-196.10 with injured senior Nicolle Ford and freshman Annie DiLuzio left at home. In that meet, and in a team discussion in the hotel afterward, then-junior Katie Kivisto suddenly became a much-needed vocal leader, and several freshmen suddenly stepped up and finally felt like important ingredients.
"It doesn't have to be like last year when we just messed up, and it was no fun," said sophomore Daria Bijak. "It was like too many things that came together that didn't work out. Now we're working really hard, and we still have fun."
Utah has been on the good side of things most of the time since that night in Lincoln.
It's 6-1 in regular-season meets, including last week's season-opener over then-top-ranked Georgia. It also won the 2007 NCAA West Regional and was runner-up to Georgia in the 2007 NCAA Championships.
Nebraska comes in with several injuries but has eight-time All-American Emily Parsons (39.475 season high) and Desire Sniatynski (39.45), as well as freshman Brittnee Habbib, who was recruited by Utah.
If Baskett can't go tonight, Kim will likely replace her on bars, sophomore Beth Rizzo on vault, Jamie Deetscreek will be back on beam and Jessica Duke or possibly Kim would replace Baskett on floor.
Kim scored 9.825s on vault and beam last week and might have done more then except she hurt her back slightly Jan. 8, but she's better now.
"I think I'm a different person from last year," said Kim, crediting family members, teammates, coaches and team sports psychologist Dr. Keith Henschen. "I've grown a lot and learned a lot from last year." She also did a lot of training over the summer.
"It didn't just happen," she said, noting she's realized she can't fix everything all at once. "That helped."
"She's a happier person," observed coach Greg Marsden. "Last year, she really struggled. She didn't know what she wanted to do with school. She had the weight of the world on her shoulders, and I don't think was enjoying gymnastics or school or anything."
Now, he said, she's decided to be an art major, even though others told her she couldn't make a living at it. "It's in her heart," he said. "She loves it. So I think that's helped. Last year, she was just kind of going through the motions, and this year she's more directed with what she wants to do."
One thing she wants is to be an all-arounder (she scored 39.50 as a freshman). Mentally she wasn't ready last year. But this year ...
"I don't want to sit back," Kim said. "I do want the best girls to be out there, but I know I only have this year and one more year, so I want to make the best of it, school and gym.
"Just everything."
Well, except get older as she gets wiser. "I won't be having any more birthdays," she declared, knowing there's little choice. "My heart is still at 15, but I have to grow up."
NCAA gymnastics
No. 11 Nebraska (2-0) at No. 3 Utah (1-0)
Today, 7 p.m.
Huntsman Center
E-mail: lham@desnews.com