Ute Gymnasts Continue Road Swing This Friday At Arizona.

Jan. 22, 2001

SALT LAKE CITY -

QUICKLY

Utah (2-1) ends a three-week road swing this Friday in Tucson, Ariz., where the Utes will meet Arizona (2-7) in the McKale Center starting at 7:30 p.m. MST ... The Utes slipped from No. 1 to No. 4 in the latest rankings, issued on Monday. Arizona is unranked ... Utah's wins this year came against Southern Utah and Minnesota. The Utes lost on Sunday to top-ranked UCLA, 197.50-195.70, in a meet that was close until Utah ran into trouble on the balance beam ... Live stats of this Friday's meet at UA will be posted on Utah's web site at www.UtahUtes.com ... Utah hopes to keep its record perfect against the Wildcats. The Utes have never lost to Arizona in 44 previous meetings (see Series Shorts for more information).

PROGRAM OF CHAMPIONS

Utah is the only program in the nation to qualify for all 19 NCAA Championships and the last 25 combined NCAA and AIAW national championships. The Utes have won a record 10 national championships (1981-86, 1990, 1992 and 1994-95) and have never finished lower than 10th in the nation. Utah placed second at last year's NCAA Championships.

TRAVEL PLANS

Flight Arrangements: Thur., Jan. 25-LV Salt Lake City at 8:10 p.m. (Delta #1021). AR Tucson at 8:59 p.m. Sat., Jan. 27-LV Tucson at 4:45 p.m. (Delta #1034). AR Salt Lake City at 7:24 p.m. Accommodations: University Park Marriott (520) 792-4100.

PRACTICE TIMES & INTERVIEW POLICY

Tuesday 1:30-5:30 p.m. and Thursday 1:30-3:30 in the Dumke Gymnastics Center. All practices are open to the public. 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

After a week at No. 1, Utah slid to No. 4 in the latest national rankings, which were released on January 22 and are based on high score. (Next week, the rankings will be determined by total season average). The latest Top 25 follows: 1. UCLA (197.500), 2. Alabama (196.650), 3. Georgia (196.500), 4. Utah (196.375), 5. Michigan (196.200), 6. Illinois State (196.00), 7. Ohio State (195.575), 8. Florida (195.550), 9. Nebraska (195.500), 10. Stanford and Oklahoma (195.300), 12. California (195.175), 13. Iowa State (195.075), 14. Oregon State (194.900), 15. Minnesota (194.850), 16. Penn State and Bowling Green (194.825), 18. Illinois (194.650), 19. Utah State (194.460), 20. Brigham Young (194.325), 21. Denver (194.175), 22. Iowa (194.100), 23. Western Michigan (193.850), 24. New Hampshire (193.800), 25. Arizona State (193.750).

LAST WEEK

The Utes hung with Olympian-powered UCLA for three events, but two falls and a major break on beam sent Utah to a 197.500-195.700 loss in Pauley Pavilion, Sunday. Utah led after the first event, then after dropping a point behind in round two, moved back to within six-tenths of a point going into the beam. There, Utah had to count a 9.40 and a 9.55, preventing a second 196-plus score this season. Deidra Graham placed third in the all-around with a season-best 39.30 and Veronique Leclerc and Shannon Bowles each tied for an event title: Leclerc on the vault (9.90) and Bowles on the beam (9.925).

SERIES SHORTS

Utah leads Arizona 44-0 ... Utes are 6-0 in Tucson and 14-0 in regular season competitions ... series opener was back in 1976 at the AIAW regional championships ... meets in Tucson tend to be close ... Utes won by just .40 last time they were in Tucson (193.625-193.250 in 1999).

UTE NOTES

Utah is 226-16-1 all-time against the Pac-10 ... Friday's meet marks the third straight road meet for Utah ... Theresa Kulikowski has a team-best 4 victories ... Tied for second are Deidra Graham and Shannon Bowles, each with 3 wins ... Kulikowski's streak of regular season bar wins, dating back to 1999, was snapped at 12 at UCLA on Jan. 21 ... Of 12 possible individual titles this year, Utes have won or tied 10.

LINEUP LOOK

Junior Deidra Graham is Utah's sole all-arounder. Theresa Wolf, Kim Allan and Melissa Vituj have been competing on three events each. Utah's most credentialed all-arounders, sophomore Theresa Kulikowski (1999 NCAA champion) and junior Shannon Bowles (8th at the 1998 NCAA Championships), will compete on two and three events respectively: Kulikowski on bars and beam and Bowles on bars, beam and floor. Bowles warmed up on vault for the first time of the year at UCLA but did not compete.

TRAINER'S TABLE

The Utes are healthy to start the week.

UTAH COACH GREG MARSDEN

Greg Marsden, the most successful coach in collegiate gymnastics history, is in his 26th year at the U. He is college gymnastics' only 700 win coach (723-108-3). In regular season competition, Marsden is 360-49-1. 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, is Utah's only all-arounder at this point. Graham won her first all-around of the year Jan. 13 against Minnesota, tying for first with a 39.20. She also won vault with a 9.85 and tied for first on floor with a 9.85 at UM. She finished third in the all-around with a season-best 39.30 at UCLA on Jan. 21. Graham has "hit" 11 of 12 routines this year and has nailed 90-percent of her career routines (97-107). The former U.S. National Team member finished 10th in the all-around at the 2000 NCAA Championships and made the All-America first team.

WAY KULIO

Theresa Kulikowski, the 1999 NCAA champion in the all-around and on the balance beam (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 is competing only on bars and beam. Kulikowski was awarded a medical hardship extension, meaning she is still a sophomore in eligibility. She won her first four of competitions this year (2 on bars and 2 on beam). Her best score this year is a 9.95 on bars in the season opener. Kulio has won 48 event and/or all-around titles in her brief Ute career, including a school record 37 victories in 1999. She has "hit" 5-6 routines this year. Her miss, on beam against UCLA, was her first ever in collegiate beam competition. Kulikowski has hit 66-70 routines (96%) in her career. The former U.S. National team member was the alternate to the 1996 U.S. Olympic team.

BOWLES `EM OVER

Four-time All-American Shannon Bowles is back in prime form after sitting out all of last year with a fractured neck vertebrae. Bowles has won three event titles this year, including two in her first meet since 1999 on Jan. 5. Currently competing on three events, she is working on a new vault in practice that could put her in the all-around lineup in the near future. Bowles has scrapped her round-off entry vault for a handspring front pike, which she warmed up before Utah's meet with UCLA, although she did not make the final lineup. Granted a medical hardship year due to the injury, Bowles is still a junior in eligibility. She has "hit" 8-9 routines this year and 92-102 (90%) in her career. A two-time NCAA balance beam All-American, who finished fourth in the nation on that event as both a freshman and sophomore, Bowles is also an All-American on the bars and in the all-around. The former U.S. National team member placed eighth in the all-around at the 1998 NCAA Championships.

MORE ON THE UTES

Kim Allan, So.-All-American as a freshman is competing on 3 events (vault, bars, beam) ... she is in contention for an all-around berth ... 9-9 this year ... gives Utah potential for big score as first competitor up on all 3 of her events ... best vault this year is 9.675, but she scored 9.90 at the NCAA Super Six last April ... scored 39.30 last year in only all-around attempt ... competed on 3 events at 2000 NCAA Championships, making second-team All-American on beam (9.85).

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.-Freshman vaulted in season opener and scored 9.65 ... has gone exhibition twice on bars, scoring 9.60 against SUU ... member of 1996 and 2000 Junior Olympic National teams ... four-time region all-around champ.

Veronique Leclerc, Fr.-Utah's best vaulter has two victories this year ... career-best 9.90 tied for first in dual meet with UCLA ... won vault against SUU, too (9.825) ... only Ute to attempt 10.0 valued vault (handspring front pike with one half twist) so far this year ... tied for second on bars in first collegiate meet (9.90) ... is 2-3 on vault and 5-6 overall this season ... five-year Canadian National Team member was ninth all-around at 2000 Canadian Olympic Trials.

Annie Medcalf, Fr.-1997-99 U.S. National team member did not compete last year due to injury ... injuries have hampered her collegiate progress too, with the plan being to bring her along slowly ... hopes to earn roster spot by mid-season ... won floor exercise and fourth all-around at 1998 Junior Olympic Championships.

Leah Sabo, So.-Huge improvement from last year was evident in first meet of 2001 ... scored 9.65 on first collegiate vault to count and had career-best 9.825 on floor ... career-best 9.675 on vault vs. UCLA ... regular in vault lineup is still in picture on all four events ... has "hit" 4-4 routines this year and is 4-5 in career routines.

Lindsay Tanner, Jr.-Nation's best lead-off floor exercise worker a year ago is keeping pace so far in 2001 ... scored career-tying 9.85 in season opener and received 9.80 vs.Minnesota ... step out of bounds hurt her vs. UCLA (9.675) ... first pass features full-in.

Melissa Vituj, Fr.-Freshman is one of Utah's most consistently big scorers ... has "hit" all 9 routines ... career-high 9.875 on floor against UCLA ... tied for first on floor (9.85) against Minnesota ... competes on vault, beam and floor ... 1999 Junior Olympic Level 10 balance beam champion.

Kylee Wagner, Jr.-Key three event performer from last year returned to lineup on 2 events on Jan. 13 and hit both ... 9.850 floor routine at UCLA last week solidified her hold on floor ex position ... 4-4 this year ... competed in exhibition on beam and floor in season opener.

Theresa Wolf, Sr.-Team's lone senior and captain tied career high with 9.90 floor score against UCLA ... also scored 9.90 on bars back on Jan. 5 ... part-time all-arounder since coming to Utah is working on a new vault in practice ... has "hit" 7-9 routines this year and 95-111 (87%) for her career ... Utah's top all-arounder at last year's NCAA team finals scored career-tying 39.425.

UTE WINNERS IN 2001

Theresa Kulikowski (4)
Bars (2)
9.950 vs. Southern Utah, Jan. 5
9.925 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 13
Beam (2)
9.900 vs. Southern Utah, Jan. 5
9.900 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 13

Deidra Graham (3)
All-Around (1)
39.20 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 13
Vault (1)
9.850 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 13
Floor (1)
9.850 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 13

Shannon Bowles (3)
Beam (2)
9.900 vs. Southern Utah, Jan. 5
9.925 vs. UCLA, Jan. 21
Floor (1)
9.925 vs. Southern Utah, Jan. 5

Veronique Leclerc (2)
Vault (2)
9.825 vs. Southern Utah, Jan. 5
9.900 vs. UCLA, Jan. 21

WILDCAT REPORT

2-7 ... Friday's meet is Arizona's first home meet of 2001 and its first dual meet ... Wildcats have competed in three straight quad meets to open the season ... fourth of four in most recent meet at Cal, scoring 193.35 to finish behind Oklahoma, Cal and Utah State ... UA was ranked No. 19 in the preseason poll, but has since dropped out of the rankings ... high score of 193.450 (Jan. 14) ... top all-arounder is Kara Fry (39.300) ... Head Coach Bill Ryden is 23-36-1 in his third year. Ryden was an assistant at Arizona the previous eight years.

MARSDEN SAYS

"This will be a short week in the gym, with really only one full training day, Tuesday. So I don't think we can expect too much change in our routine composition. We need to go to Arizona and accomplish what we did at UCLA on three events, but improve our effort on balance beam. Once we get back from Arizona, we'll have another full week of training and plan to implement a number of changes for our February 6 meet with Utah State. Both the Minnesota and UCLA meets on the road have been good learning experiences, but it will be nice to compete at home again after this meet."

"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 .

THE STREAK

Utah's unprecedented regular season home win streak now stands at 159. Not since February 20, 1979, when Utah lost to Cal State Fullerton and Clarion, 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 309-15 (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. The Utes have met or will meet eight teams currently ranked i n the Top-25: No. 1 UCLA, No. 5 Michigan, No. 8 Florida, No. 14 Oregon State, No. 15 Minnesota, No. 19 Utah State, No. 20 Brigham Young and No. 25 Arizona State.

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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