Ute Gymnasts Prepare For Earliest Season Opener Ever

Dec. 29, 2000

SALT LAKE CITY -

QUICKLY

The defending NCAA runner-up Utes are gearing up for their earliest season opener ever ... Utah will host Southern Utah in the Smith's Challenge Cup on Fri., Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. in the Huntsman Center ... The January 5 start beats Utah's previous record, set back in 1978, by two days ... It is also SUU's season opener ... Free general admission tickets to the meet are available at the customer service desk of participating Smith's Food and Drug locations ... Utah has never lost to the Thunderbirds in nine previous meetings (see Series Shorts) ... On the line is a national record win streak. The 10-time national champion Utes have won 158 straight regular season home competitions dating back to 1979. No other college team, men's or women's, can make such a claim. See "The Streak" for more information.

NO MORE SECOND CHANCES

A new rule goes into effect this year in college women's gymnastics. Gymnasts will now perform just one vault. In the past, each gymnast was allowed two vaults and could "throw out" the worst score.

WATCH THE UTES ON THE WEB

Running scores for all Utah gymnastics meets will be posted live on the Internet. To follow the meet in progress, go to Utah's web page at .

PRACTICE TIMES & INTERVIEW POLICY

Sat., Dec. 30 and Sun., Dec. 31 (1:00-5:00 p.m.). Tues., Jan. 2 and Wed, Jan. 3 (1:00-5:00 p.m.). Thur., Jan. 4 (walk-through, 1:00-3:00 p.m.). All practices are open to the public and are held in the Dumke Gymnastics Center. Media interested in interviews should plan to be in the Dumke Gymnastics Center 30 minutes before practice begins. All athlete interviews must be completed by the start of practice. Call sports information director Liz Abel at 801-581-3511 to arrange interviews.

THE RANKINGS

The 2001 gymnastics preseason poll has not yet been released. It is expected to come out sometime during the first week of January.

LAST YEAR

Devastated by season-ending injuries to All-Americans Shannon Bowles and Theresa Kulikowski, the 2000 Utes struggled early before finishing the season on a tear. After logging a 10-4 regular season record, the senior-led Utes came around when it counted, winning the NCAA Region 2 meet in Minneapolis and then placing second at the NCAA Championships in Boise, Idaho.

SERIES SHORTS

Utah leads Southern Utah 9-0 ... Series started in 1992 and has been continuous since with the exception of 1994 ... Utah leads 5-0 in the Huntsman Center and 8-0 in regular season showdowns ... Utah won both meets last year: in a meet that also featured Brigham Young in Provo and at the NCAA Region 2 meet in Minneapolis.

UTE NOTES

Utah returns eight letterwinners and four All-Americans from last year's NCAA runner-up team ... The Utes lost four letterwinners to graduation, all of whom were All-Americans (Denise Jones, Ashley Kever, Angelika Schatton and Jenny Schmidt) ... All-Americans returning for Utah include Deidra Graham, Shannon Bowles (1998-99), Theresa Kulikowski (1999) and Kim Allan ... Kulikowski was the 1999 NCAA champion in the all-around and on balance beam ... Graham was the 2000 NCAA Region 2 Gymnast of the Year ... Utah's freshman class is comprised of Tacia LaBatte, Veronique Leclerc, Annie Medcalf and Melissa Vituj.

LINEUP LOOK

Pencilled in to go all-around for Utah in the season opener is junior Deidra Graham and senior Theresa Wolf. Sophomore Kim Allan is an all-around possibility ... Graham will hold down the coveted No. 6 position on all four events in the opener ... Two freshmen should make their Ute debuts in a scoring capacity vs. SUU: Melissa Vituj and Veronique Leclerc. Vituj could be in the lineup on vault, beam and floor, Leclerc on vault and bars.

TRAINER'S TABLE

The Utes are healthy going into their season opener.

UTAH COACH GREG MARSDEN

Greg Marsden, the most successful coach in collegiate gymnastics history, is starting his 26th year at the U. He is college gymnastics' only 700 win coach (721-107-3). In regular season competition, Marsden is 358-48-1. Marsden, who has spent his entire career at Utah, has won 10 ten national championships, double that of any other coach. Four of those titles came in the '90s (1990, '92, '94, '95). Fifteen of his teams have placed in the top-three nationally, including last year's NCAA runner-up squad. Marsden is a seven-time national coach of the year selection.

GOLDEN GRAHAM

Junior Deidra Graham, the 2000 NCAA Region 2 Gymnast of the Year and a four-time All-American, will again compete in the all-around. After a great preseason, she will likely compete in the No. 6 spot on all four events on January 5. Graham has "hit" 91 percent of her career routines (86-95) and is a returning first-team All-America all-arounder (10th last year). She led Utah in wins as a sophomore with 16, including the all-around, vault and beam titles at regionals.

WAY KULIO

Theresa Kulikowski, the 1999 NCAA champion in the all-around and on balance beam (and the NCAA runner-up on vault and floor), is back in the lineup after missing most of last year with a knee injury. However, while she continues to heal from last year's ACL surgery, she will compete only on bars and beam. Kulikowski was awarded a medical hardship extension, meaning she is still a sophomore in eligibility. Prior to season-ending knee surgery last year, she won 7 of 10 events, including both all-around competitions. She has won 44 event and/or all-around titles in her brief Ute career, including a school record 37 victories in 1999. Kulio, who has "hit" 61 of 64 routines (95%), has scored a 39.00 or better in each of her 13 career all-around attempts.

BOWLES `EM OVER

Four-time All-American Shannon Bowles is back competing after missing all of last year with a broken neck. In the upcoming meet with Southern Utah, expect to see her on bars, beam and floor. When Bowles makes her return to the vault lineup, she will showcase a new vault, having scrapped her round-off entry vault for a handspring front pike. She has been granted an extra year of eligibility due to the injury, which makes her a junior. She has "hit" 90 percent of her career routines (84-93). A two-time NCAA balance beam All-American, who finished fourth in the nation as both a freshman and sophomore, Bowles is also an All-American on the bars and in the all-around. She placed eighth in the all-around at the 1998 NCAA Championships.

MORE ON THE UTES

Kim Allan, So.-All-American as a freshman could go all-around on January 5, depending on her training this week ... competed on 3 events at last year's NCAA Championships, making second-team All-American on beam (9.85) ... "hit" all 6 routines at NCAA Championships, including career-best 9.90 on vault in team finals ... went all-around once last year, scoring 39.30 vs. BYU in regular season finale.

Shannon Bowles, Jr.-See previous section titled Bowles `Em Over.

Deidra Graham, Jr.-See previous section titled Golden Graham.

Theresa Kulikowski, So.-See previous section titled Way Kulio.

Tacia LaBatte, Fr.-Member of 1996 and 2000 Junior Olympic National teams ... four-time region all-around champ ... best chance to see action in season opener is as an exhibition performer.

Veronique Leclerc, Fr.-Five-year Canadian National Team member will compete to count on at least two events (vault and bars) on January 5 ... has definite all-around potential ... qualified for 2000 Canadian Olympic Trials, where she finished ninth in the all-around ... 1998 Athlete of the Year by Canadian Gymnastics Federation.

Annie Medcalf, Fr.-1997-99 U.S. National team member did not compete last year due to injury ... injuries have hampered her progress as a Ute too, with the plan being to bring her along slowly ... hopes to make bid for competitive position on every event by mid-season ... won floor exercise and fourth all-around at 1998 Junior Olympic Championships.

Leah Sabo, So.-Little used as a freshman last year, she is now vying for a spot on all four apparatus ... will likely perform in an exhibition role in the opener, but could compete to count on bars ... got taste of competition as exhibition performer on floor last year ... member of 1998-99 U.S. Junior Olympic National team.

Lindsay Tanner, Jr.-Great lead-off floor exercise performer last year is also scheduled to compete on vault vs. Southern Utah ... has vaulted twice to count in her career, once as sophomore and once as freshman .... early indications have her performing second on both vault and floor on January 5, but don't be surprised if she shows up as Utah's lead-off on floor by the time the meet rolls around.

Melissa Vituj, Fr.-Great preseason could mean she goes three events in her freshman debut: vault, beam and floor ... she should compete somewhere in the middle of each rotation ... 1999 Junior Olympic Level 10 balance beam champion has move on beam named after her, the "Vituj," which features a wolf one and a half jump.

Kylee Wagner, Jr.-Bid to regain position as regular three-event performer could happen as early as the opening meet ... listed as an either/or on vault, beam and floor for Utah's Jan. 5 meet vs. SUU ... outstanding on those three events in regular season last year before bout with mononucleosis knocked her out of competition right before postseason play began.

Theresa Wolf, Sr.-Team's lone senior and captain is in best competitive shape of her career ... will go all-around vs. Southern Utah ... has "hit" 86% of her career routines ... Utah's top all-arounder at last year's NCAA team finals, scoring career-tying 39.425 ... part-time all-arounder her entire career is primed for full-time role this year.

RETURNING UTE WINNERS FROM 2000

Deidra Graham (16)
All-Around (5)
39.550 vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 4
39.450 vs. Utah State, Feb. 7
39.525 vs. Washington, Mar. 3
39.575 vs. Brigham Young/SUU, Mar. 18
39.475 at NCAA Regionals, Apr. 1
Vault (4)
9.875 vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 4
9.925 vs. Washington, Mar. 3
9.900 vs. Brigham Young/SUU, Mar. 18
9.875 at NCAA Regionals, Apr. 1
Bars (2)
9.925 vs. Oregon State, Mar. 12
9.900 vs. Brigham Young/SUU, Mar. 18
Beam (2)
9.900  vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 4
9.875 at NCAA Regionals, Apr. 1
Floor (3)
9.900 vs. Arizona, Feb. 25
9.925  vs. Washington, Mar. 3
9.900 vs. Oregon State, Mar. 12

Theresa Kulikowski (9)
All-Around (2)
39.400 vs. Utah State, Jan. 14
39.525 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 21
Bars (3)
9.975  vs. Utah State, Jan. 14
9.950  vs. Minnesota, Jan. 21
9.925 vs.  LSU, Jan. 28
Beam (2)
9.825  vs. Utah State, Jan. 14
9.950 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 21
Floor (2)
9.875  vs. Utah State, Jan. 14
9.925 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 21

Theresa Wolf (4)
Vault (3)
9.825  vs. Utah State, Jan. 14
9.900 vs. Utah State, Feb. 7
9.900 vs. Oregon State, Mar. 12
Beam (1)
9.900 vs. Utah State, Feb. 7

Kylee Wagner (1)
Vault (1)
9.775  vs. Utah State, Jan. 14

T-BIRD NOTES

0-0 ... made first postseason appearance ever last year, qualifying for NCAA Region 2 championships ... return 9 letterwinners ... Head Coach Scott Bauman is 59-85 in 10 years at SUU.

MARSDEN SAYS

"It's been a little difficult to prepare for this first meet because all of our athletes except Deidra (Graham) are a plane ride from home, and for them, Christmas break is their only opportunity to go home all year. We felt we needed to give them 10 days with their families. As a result, this early start will mean we have to be a little conservative in terms of routine composition. What's critical is that we are able to `hit' whatever we decide to do and worry about increasing difficulty as the season progresses. The athletes looked really good prior to Christmas break, but I think it will be almost impossible to get back to that place in the six practices we have remaining before our first meet. However, I assume Southern Utah is in a similar situation. This should be an interesting test for both teams ... The other wild card going into this season is the change in the vaulting rules. Each athlete will perform only one vault, taking the `mulligan' out of that event. It should really make that event much more pressure packed and interesting and will no doubt affect a team's strategy ... It's great to have Theresa (Kulikowski) and Shannon (Bowles) back in the lineup, although I'm sure they'll need a meet or two to regain their confidence. Deidra Graham and Theresa Wolf both had a great preseason and have never looked better. I'm also excited about the contribution our freshmen will make-some immediate and more as the season progresses."

THE STREAK

Utah's unprecedented regular season home win streak now stands at 158. Not since February 20, 1979, has a Ute gymnastics team lost a regular season meet on its home floor. No other collegiate team of any kind, men's or women's, can make such a claim. Of the present Ute team, only senior Theresa Wolf was alive the last time Utah lost a regular season home meet. In the last 15 years, just two opponents have come within a point of Utah in a regular season meet in the Huntsman Center: Utah defeated BYU by 0.5 on Feb. 4, 2000 and Oregon State by 0.75 in 1996. Two others came within a point and a half: LSU (1.225 in 1999) and Georgia (1.4 points in 1991). Among the nationally ranked teams to fall to Utah since 1979: Georgia, Alabama, UCLA, Michigan, Florida, Arizona State, Penn State, LSU, Oregon State, Arizona, Nebraska, Brigham Young, Washington and Stanford. Including post-season competition, Utah's all-time home record is 308-15 (95%).

HEAVY SCHEDULE

Utah's 2001 schedule features some of the biggest hitters in collegiate gymnastics, including four that made it to the 2000 NCAA Championships. Utah, runner-up at last year's NCAA meet, will meet defending champ UCLA in Los Angeles on January 1. The marquee home meet falls on February 23 against Michigan, which placed sixth at last year's championships. Other 2000 NCAA Championship qualifiers appearing on this year's Ute schedule are: Brigham Young (February 9 and March 23) and Oregon State (March 10). Perennial national qualifiers Florida and Arizona State, who failed to make the championships cut last year, are also on the schedule.

UTES WIN IN ATTENDANCE

Utah, the highest drawing gymnastics team in NCAA history, has won 18 of the last 19 attendance titles. Over the last 10 years, Utah has averaged 10,639 fans to its home meets-more than any other gymnastics team has averaged in a single season. The 2000 Utah gymnastics team averaged 9,808 spectators a meet in six home meets to finish ahead of Alabama (9,510 spectators in five home meets) and Georgia (8,857 in six meets). Last year's average was the seventh best in Utah history. The record single-season home attendance average, held by Utah, is 13,164 (in 1993). Utah, which holds the top five season attendance averages ever for a gymnastics program, also has nine of the top 12 single meet attendance marks, led by the biggest crowd ever to watch a collegiate gymnastics meet in the United States-15,238 vs. Cal State Fullerton in 1991.

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT

Now in its 26th year of varsity competition, Utah is the only school in the nation to qualify for each of the last 25 national championships, including all 19 NCAA Championships. The Utes own a record 10 national championships (1981-86, 1990, 1992 and 1994-95). They have never finished lower than 10th in the nation and were second last year.

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