No. 4 Ute Gymnasts Compete Saturday At NCAA Regionals

March 29, 2000

SALT LAKE CITY -

QUICKLY

The No. 4 ranked Utes will compete for the NCAA Region 2 Championship on Sat., April 1 in Minneapolis ... The meet will start at 6 p.m. (CT) in the Sports Pavilion ... Utah is the top seed in the field ... The other nationally seeded team (the top 12 teams are seeded) in the Region 2 field is No. 9 West Virginia ... The four teams filling out the regional are host and No. 16 ranked Minnesota, No. 19 Denver, No. 24 Utah State and Southern Utah ... The top two finishers will qualify for the NCAA Championships ... Utah is just one of two teams (Florida is the other) to qualify for all 18 NCAA Championships .... The Utes finished seventh at the 1999 NCAA Championships ... Utah has won a record ten national championships, the last in 1995.

UTE BITS

Utah (10-4) has competed most of the year without injured All-Americans Theresa Kulikowski and Shannon Bowles. Neither will return for postseason competition. Kulikowski, who won the NCAA all-around and balance beam titles as a freshman last year, and finished second on vault and floor, tore her ACL in the third meet and had surgery. Bowles broke her neck in the preseason and has not competed all year. More on the injured Utes can be found later in this release ... Utah is 3-2 on the road (4-4 including neutral meets) ... Utah's No. 4 final ranking is its best since a three-week stretch from February 1-15, when it was also ranked No. 4. The Utes' highest ranking this year was No. 1, achieved on Jan. 25 before Kulikowski was lost to a knee injury.

HUMMEL HURT

Utah assistant coach Aki Hummel became Utah's latest injury casualty when he broke his femur in six places in a ski accident on March 26. He underwent surgery that night and has been hospitalized since then. Hummel, Utah's bar coach and primary spotter, will not be able to travel with the team to regionals. His bar team finished the regular season ranked No. 2 in the nation.

PRACTICE/PRESS CONFERENCE

Utah will practice in the Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis on Friday from 2:00-3:40 p.m. The practice will be open to the public. Ute Coach Greg Marsden and the other five coaches with teams at the NCAA Region 2 Championships will participate in a pre-meet press conference, Friday at 3:30 p.m., in the Sports Pavilion media room.

REGIONAL FORMAT

There are six regional sites and the top two finishers from each region-12 teams in all-will qualify for the NCAA Championships, held in Boise, Idaho on April 13-15 (see Getting to Nationals below). The six regional sites follow: Region 1-Oregon State, Region 2-Minnesota, Region 3-Arizona, Region 4-Alabama, Region 5-Penn State, Region 6-Georgia. At each regional, there is a single session of six rotations consisting of four events and two byes. Six at-large all-arounders will rotate with the teams. The at-large all-arounders will compete last on each event. A random draw to determine each team's rotation order was conducted by the NCAA office. The six rotations are: vault, bye before bars, bars, beam, bye before floor, floor. Utah's order of competition will be: floor, vault, bye, bars, beam, bye.

ROUGH REGION

Utah will face some of the stiffest competition in any region with four teams ranked in the final Top 20 (Utah, West Virginia, Minnesota, Denver). The toughest region on paper is again Region 1, which has five teams ranked in the Top 20 (UCLA, Oklahoma, Stanford, Washington, Oregon State). Region 3 (Nebraska, LSU, Arizona State), 5 (Michigan, Florida, Penn State) and 6 (Georgia, BYU, North Carolina State) all have three Top 20 teams, while Region 4 has just two (Alabama, Iowa State).

GETTING TO NATIONALS

The top two teams from each region automatically qualify for nationals, regardless of their scores. Once qualified for nationals, which will be held in the BSU Pavilion on the Boise State campus from April 13-15, a random draw will be used to place half of the first-place teams from regionals into the afternoon session on April 13 and half into the night session. The same random draw process will be followed for the second place teams from regionals.

HEAD TO HEAD

Utah has competed this year against three of the five teams they'll meet at regionals and is 4-1 against them. Utah did not meet either West Virginia or Denver. Utah vs. Minnesota in 2000: 1-1 ... won in Salt Lake on Jan. 21 (196.600-190.925) and lost in Tempe, Ariz., on Feb. 18 (194.675-195.150) ... loss in Tempe was Utah's worst score of the year. Utah vs. Utah State in 2000: 2-0 ... won in Salt Lake on Jan. 14 (195.650-190.375) and in Logan, Utah, on Feb. 7 (197.075-193.175). Utah vs. Southern Utah in 2000: 1-0 ... won in Provo, Utah, on Mar. 18 (197.200-193.300).

MUTUAL FOES

While they did not go head to head against either West Virginia or Denver, the Utes competed against some mutual foes. Utah and West Virginia both tangled with Utah State, Southern Utah and Arizona State. Utah went 3-1 against the trio (loss was at ASU), while West Virginia went 3-0. Utah and Denver both faced Arizona, Minnesota, Arizona State, Southern Utah and Utah State. Utah was 5-2 against that field, while Denver was 4-1. Utah beat Utah State (twice) and Southern Utah, split with Minnesota and lost to Arizona State. Denver beat everyone except Minnesota.

UTE TRAVEL PLANS

Flight Plans: Thur., Mar. 30--LV Salt Lake City at 10:05 a.m. (Delta #1859). AR Minneapolis at 1:30 p.m. Sun., Apr. 2-LV Minneapolis at 3:40 p.m. (Delta #1624). AR Salt Lake City at 5:20 p.m. Hotel Accommodations: Regal Minneapolis Hotel (612) 359-2232, 1313 Nicollet Mall Ave.

"WATCH" THE UTES ON THE WEB

Scores from the NCAA Region 2 meet will be available live on the internet on April 1. Live stats will either be posted on www.UtahUtes.com or there will be a link from Utah's web site to Minnesota's page . Scores will be updated as frequently as possible.

UTES WIN ATTENDANCE RACE FOR 18TH TIME

Utah, the highest drawing gymnastics team in NCAA history, has won its 18th national attendance crown in the last 19 years. 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). This year's average is the seventh best in Utah history. Utah's best crowd of the year was 12,201 for BYU on February 4. 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 record single-season home attendance average, held by Utah, is 13,164 (in 1993). Just one gymnastics team other than Utah has ever averaged in five-figure attendance and that was Alabama in 1997 (10,301). 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.

PRACTICE TIMES & INTERVIEW POLICY

Week of March 20-24: Tuesday (2:00-4:00 p.m.), Thursday and Friday (2:00-5:00 p.m.). Week of March 27-31: Monday, Tuesday (2:00-5:00 p.m.) in Salt Lake City. Friday from 2:00-3:40 p.m. in Minneapolis. All practices are open. Those in Salt Lake will be held in the Dumke Gymnastics Center. Media interested in interviews should plan to be in the Dumke Center 30 minutes before practice begins. All athlete and coach interviews must be completed by the start of practice. Call sports information director Liz Abel at 801-581-3511 to arrange interviews.

THE RANKINGS

Utah shot two places to No. 4 in the final national rankings, released March 21. The rankings are based on regional qualifying score (RQS). Utah achieved a season-best ranking of No. 1 back on January 25 before losing defending NCAA all-around champion Theresa Kulikowski for the season to a knee injury. It marked the first time Utah had been No. 1 since Feb. 27, 1995, also the year of its most recent NCAA Championship. The Top-10 as of March 21 follows. The complete poll can be found on page 5 of this release and on Utah's web site . 1. Michigan 197.255, 2. UCLA 197.015, 3. Georgia 196.965, 4. Utah 196.705, 5. Nebraska 196.675, 6. Alabama 196.670, 7. Louisiana State 196.390, 8. Iowa State 196.195, 9. West Virginia 195.710, 10. Oklahoma 195.615.

TRAINER'S TABLE

Kylee Wagner should be able to compete on at least vault at regionals after competing on just one event in the last two meets due to mononucleosis. Wagner continues to suffer from the effects of mono and has been limited in her training. Theresa Wolf, who missed half of Utah's final regular season meet with a concussion suffered in pre-meet warmups, is cleared compete at regionals. Freshman Erin Prewitt, already redshirting due to ankle surgery, underwent shoulder surgery on March 27. More on Prewitt can be found in her bio later in this release.

UTAH COACH GREG MARSDEN

Greg Marsden, the most successful coach in collegiate gymnastics history, is in his 25th year at the U. He became college gymnastics' first 700-win coach with Utah's win over Minnesota on January 21. Marsden is now 708-105-3 (all meets). His regular season record is 358-48-1. Marsden's ten national championships is double that of any other coach. Four of those titles came in the '90s (1990, '92, '94, '95). Fourteen of Marsden's teams have placed in the top-two nationally. The only coach in Utah's gymnastics history, Marsden is a seven-time national coach of the year selection.

SERIES SHORTS

Utah vs. West Virginia: Utah leads 2-0 ... the Utes won the only previous postseason meeting in 1995 when they won the NCAA Championship in Athens, Ga., and West Virginia finished 12th. Utah vs. Minnesota: Utah leads 16-1 ... teams split this year with Utah winning in Salt Lake on Jan. 21 (196.600-190.925) and Minnesota winning in Tempe, Ariz., on Feb. 18 (195.150-194.675) ... Utah leads 4-0 in Minneapolis ... Utes lead 3-0 in postseason play. Utah vs. Denver: Utes lead 8-0, 6-0 at neutral sites and 2-0 in postseason. Utah State: Utah leads 73-3 ... Utes won both meets this year: in SLC on Jan. 12 (195.650-190.375) and in Logan on Feb. 7 (197.075-193.175) ... Utah has not lost to USU in 20 years ... Utes lead 20-1 at neutral sites and 23-0 in postseason. Southern Utah: Utes lead 8-0 ... Utah won only meeting this year, 197.200-193.300 in Provo, Utah, on Mar. 18 ... teams have never met in postseason.

UTE NOTES

Oddly, in a season where Utah's roster has shrunk from injuries each week, Head Coach Greg Marsden may have a lineup controversy on his hands. Freshman Kim Allan has filled in on beam for the ill (mono) Kylee Wagner in the last two meets and scored a 9.875 each time as the lead-off competitor. Allan replaced all-arounder Theresa Wolf (concussion) on floor in Utah's last regular season meet and scored yet another 9.875 in her first floor routine of the year ... Deidra Graham finished the regular season as Utah's win leader. She has 13, ahead of Denise Jones (11) and Theresa Kulikowski (9 in just two and a half meets) ... Utah finished the regular season ranked No. 2 in the country on bars (tie with UCLA 49.380 RQS) and beam (49.200). The Utes were fourth on floor (49.385) and sixth on vault (49.065) ... Utah kept its national best home court win streak alive for a 21st straight year. The Utes have won their last 157 regular season home meets and haven't lost in non-NCAA competition in the Huntsman Center since 1979.

LAST COMPETITION

Three Utes scored all-around bests and Utah piled up its best score of the year in a tri-meet win over then No. 11 ranked Brigham Young and Southern Utah in Provo, Utah, on March 18. Led by winning all-arounder Deidra Graham's career-best 39.575 all-around effort, Utah scored a season-best 197.200 and trounced host BYU (196.650) and SUU (193.300). Senior Angelika Schatton finished second all-around with a personal-best 39.425, while Kim Allan, a late all-around entrant in place of injured Theresa Wolf (concussion), scored a 39.30 in her first-ever all-around. Wolf, who landed on her head in pre-meet vault warmups, competed on two events before admitting she was hurt. She scored a career-best 9.875 on bars and a 9.85 on beam before being pulled by the trainers, who diagnosed her with a mild concussion. Graham also won vault (9.90) and tied for first on bars with senior teammate Jenny Schmidt (9.90). Senior Ashley Kever won beam (9.95).

MORE ON THE UTES

Kim Allan, Fr.-Bidding for an all-around spot ... made vault and bar lineups in last eight meets and has done beam three times and floor once ... scored career-best 9.875 as lead-off beam worker in last two meets ... in first floor routine to count, she scored a 9.875 at BYU on March 18 ... in first all-around of collegiate career, had 39.30 on March 18 ... another big meet was at Oregon State on March 12 (9.875 on beam, 9.775 on bars and 9.725 on vault) ... has developed into great lead-off bar worker, scoring 9.85 twice and career-best 9.875 twice ... best vault of 9.80.

Shannon Bowles, Jr.-All-America all-arounder and former U.S. National Team member is taking a redshirt year after breaking her neck (fracture of the seventh cervical vertebrae) on Nov. 22 in a practice accident ... had off-season shoulder surgery ... four-time NCAA All-American has "hit" 90 percent of her career routines (84 of 93) and has 23 career victories ... career-best all-around score is 39.60 (10th best in school history).

Deidra Graham, So.-Ranked seventh in nation all-around (39.315 RQS) and on bars (9.915 RQS) in final regular season poll ... Utah's regular season win leader with 13 ... won all-around team-best four times ... career-best 39.575 all-around at BYU on Mar. 18 ... all-around wins were on Feb. 4 vs. BYU, Feb. 7 vs. Utah State, Mar. 3 vs. Washington and Mar. 18 vs. BYU ... won all-around and two events at both competitions with BYU ... three 39.50 or better all-around scores ... won bars (9.925) and floor (9.90) at Oregon State ... career bests on three events this year: vault (9.925), beam (9.90) and bars (9.95) ... All-American on bars as a freshman finished 10th in the nation ... has "hit" 74 of 83 career routines and is 36 of 39 this year with all three misses on beam.

Denise Jones, Sr.-Ranked 10th nationally in all-around (39.30 RQS) and 23rd on bars (9.890 RQS) in final regular season poll ... second on team with 11 wins ... had string of seven straight 39.00 or better all-around scores snapped on Mar. 18 ... three all-around wins this year-vs. UCLA (39.60), Oregon State (39.475) and Arizona (39.45) ... 39.60 vs. UCLA was career-best and is tied for 10th all-time at Utah ... all-around runner-up in three meets had 39.45 on Feb. 4, 39.425 on Feb. 7 and 39.150 on Feb. 18 ... career-best 9.95 on floor twice ... won beam with career-best 9.90 on Feb. 7 at Utah State ... 1998 All-America all-arounder (second team) ... 14 career 39.00-or-better all-around scores include seven this year ... 19 career victories ... has "hit" 92% of her career routines (173 of 188).

Ashley Kever, Sr.-Utah's final competitor on both beam and floor finished regular season ranked No. 7 on beam (9.885 RQS) and 14th on floor (9.905 RQS) ... 8 wins this year (5 on beam, 3 on floor) ... career-high 9.925 on floor vs. BYU clinched victory for Utes back on Feb. 4 ... career-tying 9.95 on beam in wins vs. UCLA, Oregon State and BYU (Mar. 18) ... 9.70 in first vault of the year on Mar. 12 at OSU ... also vaulted on Mar. 18 at BYU (9.725) ... "hit" 26 of 27 routines last year and is 23 of 24 this year.

Theresa Kulikowski, So.-1999 NCAA all-around and beam champion (runner-up on vault and floor) was lost for the season when she tore her ACL on Jan. 28 at LSU ... injury came on her first vault vs. LSU ... had surgery on Feb. 11 ... won 7 of 10 events before injury and had 9 wins overall (including two all-arounds) ... won all three bar competitions, both beam and floor routines, and both all-around competitions (did just two events at LSU) ... in national rankings just prior to her injury, she ranked No. 1 in the all-around (39.4625 average), third on beam (9.8875) and fourth on floor (9.900) ... was No. 1 on bars in rankings that immediately followed injury (Feb. 1) ... has scored 39.00 or better in all 13 of her career all-around attempts and has "hit" 61 of 64 routines (was 10 of 10 this year) ... 46 career victories includes 10 all-around wins ... first alternate for 1996 U.S. Olympic Team.

Erin Prewitt, Fr.-Is taking a redshirt year ... had ankle surgery on Feb. 18 in California and shoulder surgery on March 27 in Salt Lake City ... ankle surgery was for injury suffered prior to her college career ... shoulder scope was to repair partially torn bicep tendon ... member of U.S. Junior Olympic National team ... fifth all-around and finalist on floor at 1998 J.O. Nationals ... sixth all-around at 1997 J.O. Nationals ... was also a finalist on beam and floor at `97 Nationals.

Leah Sabo, Fr.-Second alternate for berth in floor lineup ... fall on last pass of her routine on Feb. 4 resulted in 9.350 ... great exhibition floor routine at LSU (9.875) would have tied for first had it been to count ... also did exhibition floor routine in season opener and at ASU Invitational ... at ASU on Feb. 18, scored 9.75 in floor exhibition ... 9.525 in exhibition on Feb. 25.

Angelika Schatton, Sr.-Has gone all-around in six meets, including last three ... career-best 39.425 in final regular season meet was good for second ... started season as all-arounder before spraining ankle at LSU on Jan. 28 ... in return to all-around status on Mar. 3, scored then career-best 39.400 ... finished regular season ranked No. 23 on beam (9.865 RQS) ... tied for first on beam vs. Washington on Mar. 3 (9.875) ... has become one of Utah's best beam workers, averaging just under 9.90 in last four meets ... career-best 9.925 on beam at BYU on Mar. 18 ... career-best 9.875 in first-ever bar routine to count (Jan. 14) ... also had 9.875 on bars vs. BYU and SUU on Mar. 18 ... career-high 9.875 on floor on Mar. 3.

Jenny Schmidt, Sr.-Tied for 15th on bars (9.905 RQS) in final national rankings ... was once ranked as high as No. 7 ... four wins on bars ... won two straight bar competitions (Feb. 18 and Feb. 25), scoring 9.95 in both ... one bar win was at four-team ASU Invitational ... won first event title of her career vs. BYU on Feb. 4, scoring 9.90 ... also scored 9.90 at Utah State on Feb. 7 and BYU on Mar. 18 ... relegated to single event after two knee surgeries interrupted fine career ... as a freshman, was a great three-event performer, hitting 29 of 30 routines ... 8 of 11 this year.

Lindsay Tanner, So.-With routine that features a full-in, and a 9.8 average floor score, she is one of the country's best lead-off competitors ... career best 9.85 three times (Feb. 4, Feb. 14 and Mar. 3) ... has scored 9.825 three times as well ... came to Utah on an academic scholarship.

Kylee Wagner, So.-Three-event performer (vault, beam and floor) is recovering from bout with mono ... could compete on anywhere from 1-3 events at regionals ... missed Mar. 12 meet with mono and competed only on vault on Mar. 18 ... best meet of career was Feb. 14 vs. UCLA (9.80 on vault, 9.825 on beam and 9.90 on floor) ... scored 9.80 on beam, 9.875 on floor and 9.75 on vault on Feb. 7 at Utah State ... career-best 9.85 on beam vs. Arizona on Feb. 25 ... won first-ever event title on Jan. 14 (vault, 9.775) on night she scored 39.00 as exhibition all-arounder ... career-best 9.875 on vault vs. Washington on Mar. 3.

Theresa Wolf, Jr.-Went all-around in seven straight meets before suffering concussion in warmups of final regular season meet ... did two events (bars and beam) before admitting to dizziness ... despite concussion, tied career high 9.875 on bars and had 9.85 on beam at BYU on Mar. 18 ... career-best all-around of 39.425 at USU on Feb. 7 was tied for second ... placed third all-around vs. Washington on Mar. 3, scoring 39.300 ... won two individual events at Utah State (vault, 9.90 and beam, 9.90) ... beam and vault scores at USU were career highs ... also won vault against Oregon State (9.90) and Minnesota (9.825) ... personal best 9.875 on bars vs. Washington ... in first floor routine of the year, tied career high of 9.90 vs. BYU ... has "hit" 33 of 38 routines.

UTE WINNERS IN 2000

Deidra Graham (13)
All-Around (4)
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
Vault (3)
9.875 vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 4
9.925 vs. Washington, Mar. 3
9.900 vs. Brigham Young/SUU, Mar. 18
Bars (2)
9.925 vs. Oregon State, Mar. 12
9.900 vs. Brigham Young/SUU, Mar. 18
Beam (1)
9.900  vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 4
Floor (3)
9.900 vs. Arizona, Feb. 25
9.925  vs. Washington, Mar. 3
9.900 vs. Oregon State, Mar. 12

Denise Jones (11)
All-Around (3)
39.600 vs. UCLA, Feb. 14
39.450 vs. Arizona, Feb. 25
39.475 vs. Oregon State, Mar. 12
Vault (2)
9.875 vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 4
9.900 vs. Oregon State, Mar. 12
Bars (1)
9.925 vs. Washington, Mar. 3
Beam (2)
9.900 vs. Utah State, Feb. 7
9.875 vs. Arizona, Feb. 25
Floor (3)
9.950 vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 4
9.950 vs. UCLA, Feb. 14
9.925 vs. Washington, Mar. 3

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

Ashley Kever (8)
Beam (5)
9.950 vs. UCLA, Feb. 14
9.875 vs. Arizona, Feb. 25
9.875 vs. Washington, Mar. 3
9.950 vs. Oregon State, Mar. 12
9.950 vs. Brigham Young/SUU, Mar. 18
Floor (3)
9.875 vs. LSU, Jan. 28
9.925 vs. Utah State, Feb. 7
9.925 vs. Washington, Mar. 3

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

Jenny Schmidt (4)
Bars (4)
9.900 vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 4
9.950 vs. ASU/Alabama/Minnesota, Feb. 18
9.950 vs. Arizona, Feb. 25
9.900 vs. Brigham Young/SUU, Mar. 18

Angelika Schatton (2)
Beam (2)
9.875 vs. Arizona, Feb. 25
9.875 vs. Washington, Mar. 3

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

REVIEWING THE REGION FIELD

West Virginia: 19-10 ... season-best 197.275 on Mar. 12 ... top all-arounders are Kristen Macrie (39.425) and Kelley Foley (39.250) ... head coach Linda Burdette is 429-177-2 in 26 years. Minnesota: 15-8 ... third at Big 10 Championships ... season-best 196.125 on Mar. 18 ... top all-arounders are Megan Beuckens (39.450) and MaryAnne Kelley (39.325) ... co-head coaches are Jim and Meg Stephenson. Their respective records as head coaches are 115-97-1 in 8 years and 47-26-1 in 3 years. Denver: 22-4 ... season-best 196.425 on Mar. 11 ... top all-arounders are Jenny Ebdon (39.245) and Sachi Ena (39.400) ... head coach Melissa Kutcher is 37-8 in two years. Utah State: 11-9 ... season-best 195.900 on Mar. 12 ... top all-arounders are Christy Denson (39.425, school record) and Kristen Bloom (39.175) ... head coach Ray Corn is 379-315-2 in 22 years. Southern Utah: 4-13 ... first-ever postseason invitation ... season-high 194.425 on Feb. 28 ... top all-arounder is Caycee Overstreet (38.975) ... head coach Scott Bauman is in his ninth year.

GREG MARSDEN SAYS

"It's going to be a tough region. There are five teams capable of being in the top two. We need to go there and do a good job. If we do that, we should be fine ... (on Utah's rotation) I'd rather end on beam than start on it. Hopefully at that point in the meet you're relaxed and in a groove ... (on Utah's mindset) We're going in after two good scores on the road, which was what we were shooting for. I believe we have a lot of confidence going into regionals."

UTES LOSE NCAA CHAMP

Sophomore Theresa Kulikowski, the defending NCAA all-around and balance beam champion and vault and floor runner-up, was lost for the season after injuring her knee on the vault vs. LSU on January 28. Kulikowski, who entered the meet ranked No. 1 in the nation in the all-around and on bars, tore the ACL in her left knee after landing her first vault. She had surgery to repair the ACL on February 11. She had ACL surgery on her right knee before coming to Utah. Kulikowski will petition for a medical hardship from the NCAA. More on Kulio below.

NOT KULI

Sophomore Theresa Kulikowski, the 1999 NCAA champion in the all-around and on balance beam, and the NCAA runner-up on vault and floor, tore her ACL on January 28 at LSU. She underwent surgery on February 11 in her hometown of Colorado Springs. Kulio, the first alternate to the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team and a five-time NCAA All-American as a freshman, won seven of 10 events (and two all-arounds) in her two and a half meets this year. She won all three bar competitions, both beam and floor competitions and both all-arounds (did just two events at LSU). At the time of her injury, Kulio was ranked No. 1 nationally in the all-around (39.4625 average) and on bars (9.9625). She was ranked third on beam (9.8875) and fourth on floor (9.900). She has scored a 39.00 or better in all 13 of her career all-around attempts and has "hit" 61 of 64 routines (10 of 10 this year). She set the school record for wins in a season last year with 37 and now has 46 career victories. Ten of those were in the all-around.

BROKEN BOWLES

Junior All-American Shannon Bowles, who sustained a neck injury on November 22, is redshirting this year. The injury, which occurred while she was attempting a yurchenko front half vault, resulted in a fracture of her seventh cervical vertebrae. Bowles' latest CAT scan, on February 14, indicated that the break has healed. She was cleared to gradually begin training and should be 100 percent by the start of next season. One of the nation's top all-arounders, Bowles is a former member of the U.S. National Team.

THE STREAK

Utah kept its home win streak alive for a 21st straight year after winning all six home meets this season. Utah's national record regular season home court win streak now stands at 157. The Utes survived the closest dual meet since 1979 this year on February 4, eking out a 196.300-195.800 win over BYU for win No. 154. The Utes got win No. 155 on Valentine's Day vs. then No. 5 ranked and favored UCLA. Utah last lost a regular season home meet back on Feb. 20, 1979 to Cal State-Fullerton. 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%).

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT

Now in its 25th year of varsity competition, Utah is the only school in the nation to qualify for each of the last 24 national championships. The Utes have made 18 straight NCAA appearances and 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 seventh last year.

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