Completed Event: Gymnastics versus NCAA Championship Final on April 19, 2025 , , 4th of 4 (197.2375)
Final Score
Gymnastics
4th of 4 (197.2375)
vs NCAA Championship Final
Friday, January 24
Salt Lake City
7:00 PM
University of Utah
197.150
vs
197.450
Arizona St
Utah Gymnasts Fall To No. 3 Arizona State
1/24/2003 12:00 AM | Gymnastics
Jan. 24, 2003
SALT LAKE CITY -
Too many mistakes by the Utah gymnastics team and virtually none by Arizona State sent the Utes into long forgotten territory and a 197.450-197.150 loss. The loss, which came before a crowd of 9,032, was Utah's second at home this year, something experienced only once before by a Ute team in its 28-year history. Only in its inaugural year, 1976, when Utah had three defeats in two home meets, had Utah lost at home in two separate meets. (Utah also had two home losses in 1978 and 1979, but they came in a triangular meet both times).
Three weeks ago, the Utes saw their national record 23-year home win streak broken by top-ranked UCLA, but Arizona State looked every bit the part of a national contender in beating the Utes in Salt Lake City for the first time since 1976. Utah, on the other hand, made it easy on the Sun Devils with three falls and steps on landings.
While Utah Head Coach Greg Marsden expressed frustration with his team's errors, he again attributed them to overdoing things rather than tentativeness. "I still say that if we make mistakes, I'd rather have it be from going all out, but we simply have to solve our problems. It is becoming very much a concern," he said.
ASU Coach John Spini expressed opposite emotions. "Outside of our four (NCAA) runner-up finishes, this is the highlight of my career. If I die tonight, I die a happy man."
Utah's only solace in its first 1-2 start in school history was on the individual front. Melissa Vituj avoided the bobbles that struck her teammates to tie for the all-around title with ASU's Ashley Ellsberry. Each scored a 39.60. Vituj has now scored a 39.60 or better in all three meets, including a career-tying 39.625 last week vs. Brigham Young. Kim Allan, limited to the uneven bars after slightly re-injuring the Achilles she tore two years ago, won that event with a career-best 9.95. Allan went all-around in Utah's first two meets. And Annabeth Eberle, angered by her falls off the bars and beam, scored the first perfect 10.0 of her career to win the floor exercise. Vault was won by ASU's Carla DeMartini (9.925) and beam by Ellsberry (9.95).
Utah also received solid performances from junior Veronique Leclerc, who scored a season-best 39.425 in the all-around, and freshman Natalie Nicoloff. Nicoloff hit her first bar routine in three meets and it went for a 9.825. As Allan's replacement in the beam lineup, Nicoloff nailed her first routine to count on that apparatus and scored a 9.85. She also filled in for Allan on floor and led off Utah's set with a 9.80.
Utah now heads out on the road for four weeks, where it will face Minnesota, Utah State, Arizona and Oregon State on successive weekends. The Utes hope to have All-American and NCAA champion Theresa Kulikowski back on at least two events sometime during their extended road swing. Allan should also come back on several events and freshmen Dominque D'Oliveira and Crystal Gilmore, who have yet to compete due to injuries, might also heal enough to compete some.
Fan Fest 2025 Coaches and Players Interviews: Gymnastics
Sunday, August 17
Seven New Inductees to Join Utah Athletics Hall of Fame in October 2025
Monday, July 28
Utah Gymnastic's Grace McCallum call out from University of Utah President Randall
Thursday, May 08
Utah Gymnastics Post-Meet Press Conference 4.5.25 | NCAA Regional Semifinal
Sunday, April 06