Upcoming Event: Gymnastics versus NCAA Regionals on April 3, 2026 at 2:00 P.M.
2:00 P.M.
Gymnastics
vs NCAA Regionals
The University of Utah Athletics
Saturday, April 10
Corvallis, Ore. (NCAA Regionals)
6:00 PM
University of Utah
at
Multiple Schools
Utah Gymnasts Qualify for NCAA Championships
6/21/1999 12:00 AM | Gymnastics
April 11, 1999
CORVALLIS, Ore. - The Utes avenged their only loss of the season and in the process qualified for a record 18th-straight NCAA Championships on April 10 in Corvallis, Ore. Utah, which lost its only meet all year to Oregon State in Corvallis on March 14, finished second at the NCAA Region 1 meet behind UCLA and ahead of OSU. Utah and UCLA qualified for the NCAA Championships by virtue of their top two finishes.
The Bruins won the most difficult of six regional competitions by scoring a 197.025, followed by Utah (196.425), Oregon State (194.875), Washington (193.425), Boise State (192.475) and Sacramento State (190.275).
In a night that saw Utah "hit" all 24 routines, three Utes placed in the top seven in the all-around competition. Sensational freshman Theresa Kulikowski (39.500) finished a close second to UCLA's Heidi Moneymaker (39.525), while Denise Jones (39.200) and Angie Leonard (39.150) finished sixth and seventh respectively for Utah. Kulikowski won the uneven bars competition with a 9.95 and tied with teammate Shannon Bowles for first on the balance beam (9.95).
The Utes, who clinched their return to the NCAA Championships with a huge score on their final event, were in danger of elimination from national play at the meet's midway point. Utah opened competition with a solid 49.225 on the floor exercise, but a season-low 48.400 on vault was barely enough to stay ahead of OSU, despite the fact the Beavers counted a fall on the beam. Fortunately the vault scores stayed low for every team, negating the effect of the disappointing score.
After their first two events, the took a "bye" break. They came out of it smoking. Bars, where Utah is the top ranked team in the nation, helped the Utes expand their lead to just over a half a point over OSU. Led by Kulikowski's winning 9.95 routine, a 9.825 by Denise Jones and a 9.80 by freshman Deidra Graham, Utah scored a 49.225.
But the always dangerous beam lay in wait for the Utes, who along with Oregon State, would end the meet on a "bye". The danger developed on vault instead of beam, however. While Oregon State felt the sting of the low vault scoring on its final event, Utah rocked the beam. The Utes, led by co-winners Kulikowski and Bowles (9.95), produced the highest score by any team all night-a 49.60-to pull away from OSU. Including ties, five Utes finished in the top four on beam. Molly Northrop led off the sensational set with a 9.80 that would get tossed when Leonard, Jones and Ashley Kever each stuck 9.90 routines. Kulikowski and Bowles' twin 9.95 scores were icing on the cake for the Utes.
NCAA Region 1 Championships 1. UCLA 197.025 2. Utah 196.425 3. Oregon State 194.875 4. Washington 193.425 5. Boise State 192.475 6. Sacramento State 190.275
Utah: 197.400 vs. UCLA: 197.850 | Gymnastics Post-Meet Press Conference
Sunday, March 15
Utah: 197.650 vs. BYU: 196.550, West Virginia: 195.300 | Gymnastics Post-Meet Press Conference
Sunday, March 08
Utah: 197.200 vs. Denver: 196.100 | Gymnastics Post-Meet Press Conference
Monday, March 02
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