CORVALLIS -- Taylor Ricci calls gymnastics "ruthless."
No. 12 Oregon State got its latest reminder of that fact at NCAA Regionals less than two weeks ago.
It happened to the Beavers' final competitor on their meet's final event, when sophomore Kaytianna McMillian tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee. In that moment, OSU lost one of its top performers, somebody who was capable of scoring a 9.9 on every event.
Now, Ricci is one gymnast helping fill in for McMillan, her roommate and close friend, as she is likely to compete on floor exercise and possibly on vault when OSU makes its first appearance at the NCAA Championships in three years this weekend in Fort Worth, Texas.