Ute Gymnasts Prepare for NCAA Championships

April 3, 2000

SALT LAKE CITY -

QUICKLY

Utah, winner of the NCAA Region 2 meet in Minneapolis on April 1, has qualified for the NCAA Championships, which will be held April 13-15 in Boise, Idaho ... Utah is making its 19th consecutive NCAA Championships appearance and is the only team in the nation to qualify for every NCAA Championship to date. Counting AIAW Championships (predecessor to the NCAA), Utah has now qualified for 25 straight trips to nationals ... Utah has won a record 10 national championships, nine NCAA, with the last title coming in 1995 ... The Utes will open NCAA competition on April 13 at 1 p.m. in the Boise State Pavilion. The evening session will start at 7 p.m. ... The top three teams from each session on Thursday will advance to the Super Six, held Fri., April 14 at 7 p.m. The individual event championships will be held on Sat., April 15, beginning at 7 p.m. ... The Utes placed seventh at the 1999 NCAA Championships.

FOR THE RECORD

Utah was 10-4 in the regular season and went into postseason play ranked No. 4 in the nation ... Including NCAA regional competition, Utah is 6-2 at neutral sites ... Utah's 196.325 was the sixth-best score of the 36 teams that made it to regionals ... The Utes' highest ranking this year was No. 1, achieved on January 25 ... Utah finished the regular season tied for second in the country on bars with UCLA (49.380 RQS). Utah was also second on beam (49.200), 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 ... Utah, the highest drawing gymnastics team in NCAA history, won the 2000 attendance title-its 18th in the last 19 years. The Utes 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).

UTE BITS

Theresa Kulikowski, who as a freshman last year won the all-around and balance beam titles at the NCAA Championships (she placed second on vault and floor) will not be able to defend her titles in 2000. Kulikowski and fellow All-American Shannon Bowles have missed most or all of the season with injuries. Kulikowski tore her ACL in the third meet and had season-ending 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 plans to use four all-arounders at nationals, all of whom have scored above a 39.00: seniors Denise Jones (39.600 best) and Angelika Schatton (39.425), junior Theresa Wolf (39.425) and sophomore Deidra Graham (39.575) ... At regionals, Utah's four seniors performed half of Utah's 24 routines ... Just one freshman has made the lineup this year: Kim Allan competes on vault, bars and beam.

MORE UTE NOTES

Utah's rotation at nationals is nearly identical to its regional rotation. The Utes' first competitive event will be floor and they will end on beam. The only difference is Utah will start on a bye rather than finishing on one ... Sophomore Deidra Graham leads the 2000 Utes in victories with 16. In second is Denise Jones (11), followed by Ashley Kever (9) and Theresa Kulikowski (9 in just two and a half meets).

UTE PRACTICE TIMES

In Salt Lake City: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Monday (April 10), 2-5 p.m. in the Dumke Gymnastics Center. All practices are open. 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. In Boise: Wednesday (April 12) 1:00-2:40 p.m. in the BSU Pavilion.

NCAA TEAM QUALIFIERS

A list of the NCAA team qualifiers with their regional scores and placings follows: Region 1: 1. UCLA 197.025, 2. Oregon State 196.175, Region 2: 1. Utah 196.325, 2. West Virginia 195.475, Region 3: 1. Nebraska 196.875, 2. Louisiana State 195.650, Region 4: 1. Alabama 197.300, 2. Iowa State 196.100, Region 5: 1. Michigan 196.550, 2. Penn State 195.925, Region 6: Georgia 196.725, 2. Brigham Young 194.700.

SESSION FIELDS ARE RANDOM DRAW

The session fields for the first day of NCAA Championships competition on Thur., April 13 were determined by a random draw. The draw placed three of the winning teams from regional competition into Thursday's first session and three into the second session. The procedure was repeated for the six region runners-up. The at-large all-around qualifiers were ranked 1-12 based on their score obtained at regionals. A random draw was then used to place half of the top six scorers and half of the competitors ranked 7-12 into each session.

SESSION FIELDS (APRIL 13)

1:00 p.m. Team First Event At-Large All-Arounder/Event Specialist Louisiana State Vault Sachi Ena, Denver Georgia Bye before Bars Randi Liljenquist, Arizona Oregon State Bars Chrissy Van Fleet, Florida/Rickee Wertzberger, Ohio State (floor) Alabama Beam Gabi Weller, Towson/Jill Tucker, Ohio State (floor) Utah Bye before Floor Megan Beuckens, Minnesota Brigham Young Floor Lauren Riesenman, Washington

7:00 p.m. Team First Event At-Large All-Arounder/Event Specialist Nebraska Vault Amber McCracken, Oklahoma Penn State Bye before Bars Melanie Schiff, Denver/Katy Herbert, Stanford (beam) Iowa State Bars Ginger Russell, Oklahoma UCLA Beam Jen Exaltacion, Stanford /Nicole Liphardt, Central Michigan (floor) West Virginia Bye before Floor Jennifer Ebdon, Denver Michigan Floor Laura Moon, Maryland

WHO WINS WHEN

Thursday's competition determines just one champion-the all-around winner. The main purpose of the Thursday competition is to qualify teams into the Super Six the following night, when the team champion will be crowned. The top three teams from each session on Thursday advance to the Super Six. On Saturday, the individual event champions will be determined. They will earn a berth in the finals by placing in the top eight (including ties) during Thursday's action.

UTAH AND THE SUPER SIX

Utah has made the Super Six in five of seven years (the Super Six format went into effect in 1993). The Utes failed to make the cut in 1997 and 1999, finishing seventh both years. In 1993, the first year of the three-day championships format, Utah finished third. Utah then won back-to-back NCAA Championships in 1994 and 1995. In 1996, Utah tied for third with Georgia. In 1998, the Utes placed fourth. Although they have won two NCAA Championships under the Super Six format, the Utes have never won a qualifying round.

UTAH'S ROTATION

Utah will rotate from event to event on Thursday, April 13 as follows (determined by a random draw): bye, floor, vault, bye, bars, beam.

PRE-NCAA PRESS CONFERENCE

The head coach and one gymnast from all 12 teams will be available at a pre-NCAA Championships press conference on Wed., April 12 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. in the Pavilion Auxiliary Gym.

NATIONAL NOTABLES

Four teams have been crowned champion in the 18-year history of the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships: Utah (9), Georgia (5), Alabama (3) and UCLA (1). Utah has a record 10 total national championships, including the 1981 AIAW title ... The afternoon session on April 13 contains a total of 18 national titles (Utah 10, Georgia 5, Alabama 3), while the evening session has one (UCLA) ... There have been eight different runners-up at the NCAA Championships since they began in 1982: Alabama (5), Arizona State (4), Utah (3), UCLA (2), Florida (1), Georgia (1), Michigan (1) and Cal State-Fullerton (1) ... The closest NCAA Championships ever were in 1994 and 1989. In 1994, Utah edged Alabama 196.400-196.350. In 1989, Georgia nipped runner-up UCLA 192.650-192.600 ... The best score ever at nationals was Alabama's 198.025 in 1996 ... The lowest seed ever to win the NCAA title was a No. 5 seed. Both Utah (1994) and Georgia (1989) accomplished that feat ... The NCAA champion has won its qualifying session four of seven years under the three-day format: Georgia in 1993, 1998 and 1999, and Alabama in 1996 ... Utah won the NCAA title in 1994 and 1995, after finishing second and third, respectively, in its qualifying round. UCLA won in 1997 after placing second in its qualifying round.

MORE NCAA NOTES

Iowa State is the only newcomer to the NCAA Gymnastics Championships. The 2000 qualifiers and the number of trips this will make for them to the NCAA Championships: Utah (19), Alabama (18), Georgia (17), UCLA (17), Oregon State (14), Penn State (14), LSU (13), Nebraska (11), Michigan (8), Brigham Young (7), West Virginia (3), Iowa State (1) ... Conspicuously absent from the 2000 NCAA Championships field is Florida, which failed to make it for the first time since NCAA competition for women began in 1982.

HEAD TO HEAD

Utah has competed this year against six of the 12 qualifiers to nationals and is 5-2 against them. Following are the results of Utah's competitions vs. the NCAA field in 2000: Utah vs. Alabama: 0-1 (lost at Arizona State 194.675-195.300), Utah vs. UCLA: 1-0 (won in Salt Lake City 196.350-195.150), Utah vs. Oregon State: 1-0 (won at Oregon State 196.525-195.200), Utah vs. LSU: 0-1 (lost at LSU 194.800-195.125), Utah vs. Brigham Young: 2-0 (won in Salt Lake City 196.300-195.800, won at BYU 197.200-195.650), Utah vs. West Virginia: 1-0 (won at region meet in Minnesota 196.325-195.475).

SERIES TALK

Against the 2000 NCAA Championships field, Utah owns an all-time combined record of 253-45-2 (85%). Utah's series record by team (postseason only in parentheses): Alabama 16-12 (11-7), BYU 63-2 (21-0), Georgia 16-8-1 (12-7-1), Iowa State 3-0 (0-0), LSU 20-1 (16-0), Michigan 7-4 (4-2), Nebraska 26-2-1 (21-2-1), Oregon State 42-5 (18-1), Penn State 25-6 (13-5), UCLA 32-5 (16-5), West Virginia 3-0 (2-0).

WATCH THE UTES ON THE WEB

The NCAA Championships results will be posted "live" on the internet. To follow the meet in progress, go to Utah's web page at www.UtahUtes.com and choose the NCAA Championships link.

REGION RECAP

Utah cleaned up at the NCAA Region 2 Championships in Minneapolis on April 1, winning the team title, three event titles and four of the five individual event championships. Trailing West Virginia and Minnesota after two events, Utah blasted out of its bye rotation with big scores on bars and beam to finish nearly a point ahead of runner-up West Virginia. Utah's winning score was a 196.325 to the Mountaineers' 195.475. Four Ute all-arounders finished in the top 10, led by champion Deidra Graham (39.475). Angelika Schatton was second (39.250), Denise Jones fourth (39.125) and Theresa Wolf ninth (38.900). Graham also won vault (9.875) and tied for first on beam with Ashley Kever (9.875). Jenny Schmidt won bars (9.975). Utah won a low scoring vault competition with a 48.775, tied its season best to win bars (49.550) and won beam with a 49.125.

TRAINER'S TABLE

Kylee Wagner is questionable for nationals due to mononucleosis. She did not compete at regionals and has done just one event in the last three meets (vault vs. BYU). Wagner was in the vault, beam and floor lineup before contracting mono. Utes who are redshirting this year or will apply for a medical hardship are: Theresa Kulikowski (torn ACL, surgery), Shannon Bowles (fractured neck vertebrae), Erin Prewitt (ankle and shoulder surgery). Utah assistant coach Aki Hummel is also on the injured list and will probably not be able to travel to the NCAA Championships. Hummel broke his femur in six places in a ski accident on March 26 and underwent surgery that night. Hummel is Utah's bar coach and primary spotter. His bar team finished the regular season ranked No. 2 in the nation.

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 713-105-3 (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.

MORE ON THE UTES

Kim Allan, Fr.-Has earned a spot on three events (vault, bars and beam) and is first alternate on floor ... made vault and bar lineups in last nine meets and has done beam four times and floor twice ... scored career-best 9.875 as lead-off beam worker in last two regular 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 three times (including regionals) 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.-Won NCAA Region 2 all-around title (39.475) ... also won vault (9.875) and beam (9.875) at regionals ... finished regular season ranked seventh in nation all-around (39.315 RQS) and on bars (9.915 RQS) ... Utah's win leader has 16 ... won all-around team-best five 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, Mar. 18 vs. BYU and Apr. 1 at regionals ... three 39.50 or better all-around scores ... 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" 78 of 87 career routines and is 40 of 43 this year with all three misses on beam.

Denise Jones, Sr.-Tied for fourth in the all-around at regionals (39.125) ... in final regular season national rankings was 10th in the all-around (39.30 RQS) and 23rd on bars (9.890 RQS) ... second on team with 11 wins ... once scored 39.00 or better in seven straight meets ... ... 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) ... 15 career 39.00-or-better all-around scores includes eight this year ... 19 career victories ... has "hit" 92% of her career routines (177 of 192).

Ashley Kever, Sr.-Tied for first on beam at NCAA region championship ... 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) ... 9 wins this year (6 on beam, 3 on floor) ... did deciding routine in three meets and pulled Utah to victory in two (on floor vs. BYU on Feb. 4, when she scored a 9.925, and on beam at NCAA region meet, where she scored a 9.875) ... career-tying 9.95 on beam in wins vs. UCLA, Oregon State and BYU ... has vaulted in last three meets ... "hit" 26 of 27 routines last year and is 26 of 27 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.-All-around runner-up at NCAA Region 2 Championships (39.250) ... career-high 9.925 on bars at regionals ... has gone all-around in seven meets, including last four ... career-best 39.425 in final regular season meet ... 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) ... career-best 9.925 on beam at BYU on Mar. 18 ... 9.875 or better on bars four times... career-high 9.875 on floor on Mar. 3.

Jenny Schmidt, Sr.-NCAA Region 2 bar champion scored career-best 9.975 ... in final regular season national rankings was tied for 15th on bars (9.905 RQS) ... ranked as high as No. 7 ... five 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 ... 9 of 12 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 ... 12 of 12 this year (stepped out of bounds at regionals) ... came to Utah on an academic scholarship.

Kylee Wagner, So.-Three-event performer (vault, beam and floor) remains questionable for nationals with mononucleosis ... has competed on only one event (vault vs. BYU) in last three meets ... did not compete in regionals and has been unable to train since being diagnosed with mono ... 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 ... career-best 9.875 on vault vs. Washington on Mar. 3.

Theresa Wolf, Jr.-Ninth all-around at regionals (38.900) ... has gone all-around eight times ... career-best all-around of 39.425 at USU on Feb. 7 ... scored 39.300 vs. Washington on Mar. 3 ... career high 9.875 on bars twice ... 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) ... in first floor routine of the year, tied career high of 9.90 vs. BYU on Feb. 4 ... has "hit" 36 of 42 routines.

UTE WINNERS IN 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


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 (9)
Beam (6)
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
9.875 at NCAA Regionals, Apr. 1
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 (5)
Bars (5)
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
9.975 at NCAA Regionals, Apr. 1


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

GREG MARSDEN SAYS

"We'll try not to overdo our training leading up to nationals and will emphasize quality over quantity. We want to do enough that we're sharp and confident, but not so much that we're fatigued ... With another week, there's an outside chance we might get Kylee (Wagner) back on vault. Everyone else came out of regionals in pretty good shape. Since our numbers are down, we can't afford any injury or sickness, so hopefully we'll go to Boise in good health. If Kim Allan fills in on floor, I'm confident we won't miss a beat, but we can't afford to lose anyone on the other three events ... With the exception of two meets this year, we've had a good season. We didn't handle Theresa Kulikowski's injury at LSU well and let it affect us, which was understandable. Then we self destructed on one event at Arizona State. Especially since that balance beam fiasco at ASU we've gotten progressively better throughout the season and have gained confidence. The athletes are comfortable with their roles ... Boise State runs a good meet and I'm sure things will go smoothly. Hopefully, it's close enough that we get some fan support, which helps. It also helps that we don't have to spend all day traveling to get there. It seems like a season ago since we were at home and we've done a good job competing a lot on the road at the end of the year, so I don't see that as an issue. Actually, our average on the road turned out to be higher than at home."

THE RANKINGS

Utah finished the regular season ranked No. 4 in the nation. The Utes 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 complete final regular season poll can be found on page 5 of this release and on Utah's web site .

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.

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