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Show THE DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE TUESDAY, JANUARY 10 "It was tough to make it through practices," Bowels admits now, but would not in the middle of the season. "I just realized it was go;.ng to be there and tried to block it out and had to work through it You have to ignore it because in this sport you have to be ioo percent aggressive. Worrying about pain takes that vations is something I don't knew about and won't know about until she starts competing again," Marsden said. "But if anybody can come away." While Bowles fought through the discomfort with a perfect smile, her performance needed braces. Bowles ia her freshwas an man campaign of 1998, but slipped to, gulp, just a little above average back from trris and have no problems, it's Shannon." Even Bowles admits that the incident was the scariest thing that has ever happened to her, but will it slow her down? "No way," Bowies says with an absence of hesitation. "I feel strong. I can't wait to get going again. Once a gymnast reaches this level, we arc pretty dedicated, so things like this aren't going to stop us." Bowles won't be able to join her teammates in the Red Rocks' home opener this Friday against Utah State, but she will be picturing herself competing in the back of her mind. "I hope to be at full strength by the middle of the season" Bowles said. In case you were wondering, full strength means Bowles will probably only have three or four nagging an List year. on She still was an the besm, but her power was limited in the other events and the shoulder disabled h?r from going for the Red Rocks. With one of its biggest guns corked, Utah finished only seventh in Nationals, even though it took place light here on campus in the Jon M. Huntsman Center. Having 2 star such as Bowles injured was akin to running a 4 x 100 relay with your final sprinter in a cast. "Not having Shannon full strength was, a big ioss for us," Utah coach Greg Marsden said. "Shannon is a e talent that can go for us." Inspired by her devotion to return from the injury and regain tcp farm, Bowles put in extra work after receiving surgsry and quickly regained her form. In fact, it was almost like the injury never existed. Bowies was stronger; more explosive and vas attacking her routines like a boxer does a punch-drun- k opponent. "Shannon had an phenomenal preseason," Marsden said. "She was right back to being at the top of her all-arou- all-arou- nd big-tim- injuries. B II 1 SI E R " fa- -fa wJ' .i w T?S?' ' j(!fi? ep. Tj JEt; Sd t. LsP in 3 W-. "" " t " .mull .1 .. i&W -n- " Z 5 tit JLA& 8 ' t I - i a v & 3 " & s fs W"!!"ji5W" lv The Red 5?a:ks are one of the nation's deepest teams but will nonetheless be hurt by an injury to Shannon Scales. S rrl, H.T R H T G 10 R R S I T C S "V"'J lPr A3 flniH.EHSITY P a H B 11! R R C I CLASSIC vs UTAH STATE Friday, January 4, 7 p.m. Jon M. Huntsman Center 4 ' J nJfe r ' r T T 1 Q W I Q UTAH 4j j$t i , Infcrmotion call Students wiih a valid ID admitted free. www.ufabtss.com For Ticket &Jjr 581-UT- IX. bi-pe- tumbling passes, beam dis- mounts, and especially no vault. "I will work up slowly," Bowles said. "I plan on competing again." Bowles could be cleared to return to practice next week if m examination shows she is fully recovered from her accident. Of course, doctors can only check out the physical ''i , I '"i'v i-- liiisaTaM"! " WIN FREE TUITION Kim Silas Islilq Itm 8tr.ise s )r nnij Schmidt Students In att3ndap.ee have a (hence to win Last Yecr Colli Goodrich was o happy winner semester's tuition. of a semester's tuition. You could be r.sxt, but you must bg there to win! one by L '" I 1 Then the sport tagged her again. "Injuries are always going to be there in gymnastics." Bowles said. "It's a demanding sport. You just have to fight through them and not worry." Those are big words from Bowles, considering she went through the scariest moment of her gymnastics life less than two months ago. While practicing during the week of Thanksgiving, Bowles set out on her usual vault routine which, because she hits the horse going backwards, calls for her to blindly push off the apparatus with her hands. Out of 100 attempts, Bowles will hit the horse correctly 100 times. So how her hands missed the horse this S , game." time is a mystery to everybody.. As Bowles lay motionless on the mat in the Dumke Gymnastics Center, terror filled her head. Gymnasts are walking cn a sheet of glass that can crack at any time, should one wrong step accompany them on their journey. Bowies took that wrong step. "What happened to Shannon is something that in gymnastics can happen to anybody at anytime. Is it a freak thing?. Yeah" Marsden said. "Could it h'lpp en again? Yeah." Luckily, injury to Bowles did not end her career or her lifetime as a individual. Many have not been that lucky, but Bowies will live to dismount again. Bowles landed on the left side of her head and rieck, which fractured her cervical spine. Six week after the incident, Bowies is unable tb participate with her teammates. She can voik on her leaping but has been instructed not to put any weight on her arms. That means no bars routine, floor exer-cis- o 13 side of an athlets. Bowles doesn't think her mind will prevent her from going full bore once back in the gym full time, but a good scare can turn the steadiest of performers into slush. Bowles has never shown the slightest hint of nervousness wh'?n performing, one of her strongest suits. Now, who knows? "Whether Shanr.cn has any reser- BOWLES continued from page 2000 11, the Daily Utah Chronicle |
