It is believed that religious prayer can help out with a team's performance.
After competing at Brigham Young last weekend, and with a meet against Utah State this weekend, the Michigan women's gymnastics team may want to join the Mormon Church.
The Wolverines, who lost to the Cougars, may need the spiritual help in defeating the Aggies at Cliff Keen Arena at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Utah State poses a potential threat to the Wolverines, scoring as high as 197 on the road at Texas.
But the Wolverines have scored higher than the Aggies in practically every event.
Last weekend against BYU, Michigan scored a 49.65 on the vault. Utah State, in its meet, scored only a 48.925 - almost an entire point less.
"It doesn't matter what their scores are because we can't prepare for that," Michigan coach Bev Plocki said. "Their scores have fluctuated all season."
"We have to just go out there and do our best."
Amen.
Although the meets over spring break were a disappointment to Michigan, the Wolverines are practicing as hard as ever and are even adding new moves to their floor exercises.
"We have been outstanding in the floor lately," Plocki said. "We have added difficulty in the floor, and we have landed everything.
"I am happy with this event."
Hallelujah.
As happy as the Wolverines are about the floor, they scored low on the bars at Brigham Young.
"We just need to be more consistent and train like we have been training," Plocki said. "Scores are not evident that we have problems."
And it is evident that lower scores last week will not affect Michigan's performance on Saturday.
In fact, even with a few mishaps in Utah over the break, Plocki is still happy with Michigan's performance.
"Our break didn't come out like we would have liked it to," Plocki said. "But I am terribly optimistic. It is almost impossible to win at Utah and we completed 24 out of 24 routines there."
And the Wolverines seem to be at a comparable level with other top teams such as Georgia, which they competed against over the break as well.
"Seeing these other teams compete is increased motivation for the girls," Plocki said. "But we know how good we are, we don't need other teams to prove it."
Even a few falls on the balance beam didn't affect Michigan's performance last weekend.
"We've done fairly well," Plocki said. "The fall on the balance beam didn't count, and another little break we had didn't count as well.
"Overall, the beam has been good."
Another blessing the Wolverines have had is the health of two of its stars, Beth Amelkovich and Kathy Burke, who were feeling a bit sick on the trip.
"They were feeling a little fluish, but now they are much better," Plocki said.
Also lucky for Michigan is the return of freshman Sarah Cain, who was pulled from a few events against Brigham Young.
"I had to hold her out because she needs a rest," Plocki said. "She can't go all-around at every meet.
"My pulling her may have cost us the meet, but her mental health is more important than a win."
Plus, what the Wolverines score during the regular season means little.
"The win-loss record means nothing," Plocki warns. "All we have to do is put up good scores at the Big Ten Conference meet."
Good scores against the Aggies and a win in their last home meet of the season may leave the Wolverines singing like the Tabernacle choir.
And with renewed confidence and good performances, Michigan will be ready to realize their ultimate goal- an unprecedented sixth consecutive Big Ten title.
FILE PHOTO/Daily
After its loss to BYU, the Michigan women gymnasts are looking to bounce back against Utah State.