Asked about the situation Utah’s gymnastics team is in with standout Grace McCallum sidelined by a knee injury and senior Abby Paulson talks like a veteran, using the terms “we” and “us” to emphasize the team effort needed to make up for the Olympian’s big scores.
But really, there is an “I” in there, too — as in, this is an ideal time for Paulson to be one of those who steps up for the Utes.
Paulson, a four-time All-American on the beam and a two-time Pac-12 beam champion, is one of the gymnasts capable of picking up some bigger scores for the Utes. Right now she is in the middle of the beam lineup and competed on the floor in the meet when McCallum went down, scoring a 9.875.
The Utes have others who can contribute more, such as freshman Makenna Smith, but Paulson is an intriguing one to watch.
As her accolades suggest, Paulson can earn big scores, but consistency has been an issue. On Monday she recorded a season-high 9.975 on the beam. Coming into the meet she had two 9.9s and two 9.875s, but did have a fall at Oklahoma. She has ranged from 9.775s to 9.875 on the floor.
How much more can she give? That is the question to watch going forward.
But Paulson seems ready.
“My beam is more confident and consistent in the gym and we’ll see how that translates as the season goes on,” Paulson said. “Each week it has gotten better. I have been working on small details and on the floor more technique type things.”
Being a part of the beam lineup is a point of pride for the Utes, considering how dominating the Utes have been this season. The Utes are ranked No. 1 with a 49.592 average and a high of 49.775. Florida is a distant second with a 49.488 average and a high of 49.6.
But Paulson and the rest of the Utes feel they can produce more, even without McCallum, who is out indefinitely with a hyperextended knee suffered during Utah’s meet on Feb. 11.
“We have a lot of amazing beam workers,” Paulson said. “We had all our beam workers return from last season and to be able to maintain that level of gymnastics we had last year has been fun to watch and compete. There is a lot of difficulty in our beam lineup but we are all working on a high level of consistency.”
The Utes haven’t set a timeline for McCallum’s return, given the unpredictable nature of rehabbing from a serious injury like the one Paulson suffered. Until she is back, whether it is this year or next, Utah coach Tom Farden said he’ll keep pushing Paulson and the others to make up for her big scores.
“After she was hurt we didn’t have much of a drop-off in production,” he said. “Technically, the judges have to judge the gymnastics in front of them and not the name on the start list, so hopefully we can keep squeezing more out of the kids who are competing.”
