Ute Gymnastics Team Will Host Utah State Tuesday

Feb. 5, 2001

SALT LAKE CITY -

QUICKLY

No. 3 Utah (3-1) will host Utah State (3-3) in the Sizzler Supermeet on Tuesday, February 6 in just its second home meet of the year ... Meet time is 7 p.m. ... The Utes moved up a place in the national rankings, from No. 4 to No. 3, during their week off. Utah State was unranked in the latest (Feb. 5) poll ... Parking for the Utah-Utah State meet and all subsequent Ute meets this year will be free ... Before last week's break from competition, Utah had spent the last three weekends competing at Minnesota, UCLA and Arizona, with their only loss coming to top-ranked UCLA ... In a reversal of scheduling fortunes, the Utes will spend all of February in state, with three home meets and a trip to Brigham Young on the docket this month ... Utah hopes to extend its national record regular season home win streak to 160 against the Aggies (see The Streak for more information) ... Live stats from the meet will be posted on Utah's web site at www.UtahUtes.com.

ALLAN LOST FOR SEASON

Ute sophomore All-American Kim Allan, a three-event performer who was scheduled to join the all-around lineup this Tuesday, ruptured her (left) Achilles tendon in practice on Sunday. She is tentatively scheduled to undergo surgery to repair the tendon on February 7 and will miss the remainder of the season. The injury occurred on the takeoff for a double back on the floor exercise. "This is a terrible loss for the team," said Head Coach Greg Marsden. "Kim had been competing three events for us and was scheduled to join the floor exercise lineup and go all-around for us on Tuesday (vs. Utah State)." Allan, an All-American on the balance beam as a freshman at last year's NCAA Championships, had "hit" all 12 of her routines this year. Her best scores this season were a 9.85 on the balance beam, a 9.80 on the uneven bars and a 9.675 on the vault. She was scheduled to upgrade the start value of her vault to a 10.0 on Tuesday.

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 in 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%).

PRACTICE TIMES & INTERVIEW POLICY

Monday and Thursday (1:30-3:00 p.m.) 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

The Utes moved up a place in the national rankings during their week off from competition, rising from No. 4 to No. 3. The new Top 25, released on February 5 and based on season average, follows: 1. UCLA (196.825), 2. Alabama (196.515), 3. Utah (196.025), 4. Georgia (195.990), 5. Stanford (195.862), 6. Nebraska (195.745), 7. Florida (195.555), 8. Michigan (195.210), 10. Penn State (194.750), 11. Minnesota (194.680), 12. Louisiana State (194.506), 13. Ohio State (194.505), 14. Iowa State (194.462), 15. Arizona State (194.300), 16. Illinois State (194.245), 17. West Virginia (194.105), 18. Brigham Young (194.067), 19. Oregon State (193.940), 20. Iowa (193.910), 21. Denver (193.900), 22. Illinois (193.881), 23. Kent State (193.821), 24 California (193.765), 25. Michigan State (193.531).

LAST COMPETITION

Utah won every individual event, the all-around and the meet at Arizona on January 26, scoring a season-best 196.400 to beat the Wildcats (193.925). Deidra Graham won the all-around with a season-best 39.325 and tied for first on the floor with a 9.90, Veronique Leclerc took vault with a 9.875, Theresa Kulikowski won bars (9.90) and Shannon Bowles won beam with Utah's first 10.0 of the season. Utah was never threatened, but blew the meet open on its third event, floor, scoring a 49.325. A season-best 49.55 on the balance beam was capped by Bowles' 10.0, but no Ute scored below a 9.825 and two (Graham and Kulikowski) scored a 9.925.

SERIES SHORTS

Utah leads USU 74-3 in a series that began in 1978 ... The Utes have not lost to their upstate neighbors since 1979, when they dropped a pair of meets to the Ags ... Utah has won the last 72 ... Utah is 31-0 against USU in Salt Lake City and owns a 49-3 regular season edge ... last year, Utah won in Salt Lake, in Logan and at regionals in Minneapolis.

UTE NOTES

Utah is ranked No. 1 in the nation on the balance beam (49.019 average), No. 2 on the floor exercise (49.306) and No. 4 on the bars (49.169) ... The top ranked Ute individual is Theresa Kulikowski on the bars (No. 4 with a 9.912 average) ... Senior Theresa Wolf made the all-around lineup for the first time of the year against Arizona and scored a 39.05, placing her third.

LINEUP LOOK

Scheduled to replace the injured Kim Allan in the upcoming meet: Kylee Wagner on vault and beam, Annie Medcalf on bars and Leah Sabo on floor exercise. It will be Medcalf's first collegiate competition. Utah's vaults will change almost across the board, with Marsden shooting for major upgrades against Utah State that would increase Utah's start value by six tenths of a point. If all goes as planned, here is what Utah's vault lineup will feature: Kylee Wagner, layout Tsukahara with a full twist (10.0), Melissa Vituj, Phelps (half on half off front layout worth a 10.0), Leah Sabo, handspring front tuck with a half twist (9.90), Theresa Wolf, half on half off front tuck (9.90), Deidra Graham, handspring front pike with a half twist (10.0) and Veronique Leclerc, handspring front pike with a half twist (10.0).

TRAINER'S TABLE

Sophomore All-American Kim Allan is lost for the season after rupturing her left Achilles tendon in a practice injury on February 4.

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 (724-108-3). In regular season competition, Marsden is 361-49-1. 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, has gone all-around in all four meets this year, the only Ute to do so. She is currently ranked No. 18 in the nation in the all-around with a 39.119 average. Graham is tied for Utah's win lead with five. She registered all-around victories at Minnesota (39.20) and Arizona (39.325). She also has one win on vault and two on floor. Her 39.325 at Arizona was her best score this year and she set a new personal best on the balance beam with a 9.925. Graham has "hit" 15 of 16 routines this year and has nailed 90-percent of her career routines (101-111). 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. She won her first four competitions this year and has five total wins, tied for first on the team. She has won 13 of her last 14 bar competitions, winning 12 straight before her streak was snapped on January 21 at UCLA. She is currently ranked No. 4 in the nation on the bars with a 9.912 average (9.95 best). Kulio has won 49 events and/or all-around titles in her brief Ute career, including a school record 37 victories in 1999. She has "hit" 7-8 routines this year and is 68-72 (96%) for her career. The former U.S. National team member was the alternate to the 1996 U.S. Olympic team. She was awarded a medical hardship extension by the NCAA, making her a sophomore in eligibility.

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 won the beam at Arizona with a perfect 10.0, the second of her career and first since her freshman year in 1998. She has won four event titles this year, including two on January 5 in her first meet since 1999. Three of her wins came on the beam and one was on the floor. 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 competed as an exhibition performer at Arizona, scoring a 9.50. Granted a medical hardship year due to the injury, Bowles is still a junior in eligibility. She has "hit" 11-12 routines this year and 95-105 (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 was scheduled to move into all-around lineup vs. Utah State on Feb. 6, before suffering a season-ending injury on Feb. 4 ... Allan ruptured her left Achilles tendon in practice and is tentatively scheduled to undergo surgery on Feb. 7 ... prior to the injury, Allan had competed on 3 events (vault, bars, beam) in the first four meets and was 12-12 ... 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 three times on bars, with a best score of 9.625 against Arizona ... member of 1996 and 2000 Junior Olympic National teams ... four-time region all-around champ.

Veronique Leclerc, Fr.-Utah's best vaulter has three victories this year and has won the last two vault competitions ... career-best 9.90 tied for first in dual meet with UCLA ... other vault wins were vs. Southern Utah (9.825) and Arizona (9.875) ... only Ute to attempt 10.0 valued vault (handspring front pike with one half twist) in competition so far this year ... tied for second on bars in first collegiate meet (9.90) ... has "hit" 7-8 events (miss was on vault) ... five-year Canadian National Team member was ninth all-around at 2000 Canadian Olympic Trials.

Annie Medcalf, Fr.-Is scheduled to do her first collegiate routine on Tuesday, replacing injured Kim Allan in uneven bar lineup ... 1997-99 U.S. National team member did not compete last year due to injury ... injuries have hampered her collegiate progress too ... won floor exercise and fourth all-around at 1998 Junior Olympic Championships.

Leah Sabo, So.-Greatly improved from freshman year ... scored 9.65 on first collegiate vault to count and had career-best 9.825 on floor in season opener ... career-best 9.675 on vault vs. UCLA ... regular in vault lineup will rejoin floor lineup after injury to Kim Allan ... without a fall in 5 routines this year and 5-6 in career routines.

Lindsay Tanner, Jr.-Nation's best lead-off floor exercise worker a year ago has scored a career-tying 9.85 this year (vs. Southern Utah) ... 9.80 vs. both Minnesota and Arizona ... first pass features full-in.

Melissa Vituj, Fr.-Freshman is good for consistently big scores ... has "hit" all 11 routines ... career-high 9.875 on floor against UCLA ... career-best 9.85 on beam vs. Arizona ... tied for first on floor (9.85) against Minnesota ... also had 9.85 floor score at Arizona ... competed on 3 events for first 3 meets ... did beam and floor routines at Arizona ... should return to vault lineup on Feb. 6 ... 1999 Junior Olympic Level 10 balance beam champion.

Kylee Wagner, Jr.-Two-event performer in three meets will go 3 events on Tuesday (vault, beam, floor) ... could feature Tsukahara with a full twist vault (10.0 start value) if it's ready ... will compete on beam for first time this year vs. Utah State ... back-to-back 9.85 floor scores against UCLA and Arizona ... did not compete to count in season opener, but is since 6-6 ... competed as exhibition on beam and floor in season opener.

Theresa Wolf, Sr.-Team's lone senior and captain moved into all-around lineup in last meet by competing on vault for the first time ... scored 39.05 at Arizona to place third ... tied career high with 9.90 floor score against UCLA ... best bar score this year is 9.90 ... has "hit" 11-13 routines this year and 99-115 (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 (5)
Bars (3)
9.950 vs. Southern Utah, Jan. 5
9.925 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 13
9.900 vs. Arizona, Jan. 26
Beam (2)
9.900 vs. Southern Utah, Jan. 5
9.900 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 13

Deidra Graham (5)
All-Around (2)
39.200 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 13
39.325 vs. Arizona, Jan. 26
Vault (1)
9.850 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 13
Floor (2)
9.850 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 13
9.900 vs. Arizona, Jan. 26

Shannon Bowles (4)
Beam (3)
9.900 vs. Southern Utah, Jan. 5
9.925 vs. UCLA, Jan. 21
10.00 vs. Arizona, Jan. 26
Floor (1)
9.925 vs. Southern Utah, Jan. 5

Veronique Leclerc (3)
Vault (3)
9.825 vs. Southern Utah, Jan. 5
9.900 vs. UCLA, Jan. 21
9.875 vs. Arizona, Jan. 26

AGGIE UPDATE

3-3 prior ... season-best 194.075 came in Feb. 26 win over Boise State (193.6) ... win avenged previous loss to Boise State on Jan. 15 ... Aggies' other wins were over Arizona at Cal Invitational on Jan. 21 and against Southern Utah in Logan on Feb. 2 ... top all-arounder is Tina Ellis (39.225) ... Head Coach Ray Corn is 383-322-2 in his 24th year.

MARSDEN SAYS

"Besides vault, which would probably be the most notable in terms of upgrades, we will also try to upgrade some bar and floor routines. On balance beam, we're pretty happy with where we are and don't plan any additional upgrades at this time. With the exception of our beam performance at UCLA, I felt extremely good about what we accomplished during our three week road swing. It will be great to get back to the Huntsman Center. Utah State appears to be a quickly improving team, one that (head coach) Ray Corn calls the most talented he's ever had. They're catching us at a good time because we're going to take some chances that we normally wouldn't."

"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 .

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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