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, March 10
Salt Lake City
7:00 PM MT
University of Utah
197.425
vs
196
Oregon St
No. 3 Ranked Utah Gymnasts Roll Over No. 14 Oregon State.
3/10/2001 12:00 AM | Gymnastics
March 10, 2001
SALT LAKE CITY -
For the second meet in a row, the No. 3 ranked Utah gymnastics team started out smoking only to hit some turbulence on the third event. The event was different this time and so was the result, as Utah bounced back to beat No. 14 Oregon State 197.425-196.050 before a gathering of 9,779 in the Huntsman Center.
Utah's 197.425 tied for the seventh best score in school history, but the team and fans left shaking their heads over what might have been. The Utes blasted to a 99.125 two-event total, putting them on a school and possibly national record pace. But, like last Sunday in Seattle, third time was no charm. Then it was floor where Utah ran into trouble, ultimately leading to a tie with underdog Washington. Tonight the beam bit, with stars Theresa Kulikowski and Shannon Bowles, who entered the meet tied for No. 1 in the nation, both falling. It marked the first time in their Ute careers that the duo both fell off the beam on the same night.
Utah righted itself on the floor exercise, with the last three gymnasts scoring a 9.925 or better. In fact, its 49.525 floor score was second only to its bar score, a season-best 49.675. Annie Mecalf led off bars with a career-high 9.90, followed by a 9.90 by Veronique Leclerc. As good as those scores were, one was tossed, after Theresa Wolf tied her career-high with a 9.925, Bowles set a new career best with a 9.95 and Deidra Graham and Kulikowski closed with matching 9.95 scores.
While the Utes flirted with a rout after two events were finished, it started out a one-tenth point game. That wasn't due to a bad Ute vault set, however. Leclerc, the No. 5 ranked vaulter in the nation, popped for a 9.975 that brought on a standing ovation when it was initially raised as a 10.0. The Oregon member of the split judging crew had given her routine a 9.95, but the place went wild before the mistake was noticed and the new score was raised. Nonetheless, Leclerc's career-best vault and a career-tying 9.90 by Melissa Vituj led to a 49.450 first round score. Across the floor, Oregon State nearly kept pace on the uneven bars, with Stephanie Bychowski scoring a 9.950 that would eventually land her in a tie for first place.
Utah put its national record win streak, now at 163, out of danger on the second event by expanding its lead from a tenth to nearly a point (99.125-98.225). It is believed to be the first time in school history that Utah cracked 99.00 by the midway point in a meet.
Through four performers on the balance beam, everything seemed on course for a record-setting night. Utah's big guns Kulikowski and Bowles were set up by a pair of 9.80s, a 9.85 and a 9.875. But neither gymnast could capitalize this night and their unprecedented back-to-back falls left Utah looking for a big score, rather than the best score.
Graham, who won the all-around with a 39.625, her second-best ever and tied for the ninth-best score in school history, made sure the final score was big. Graham tied her career high on the floor exercise for the third time in the last four meets with a 9.95 to capture the meet's final event. She also tied for first on the bars (9.95) and was second on the beam (9.875). Kulikowski and Bowles shared bar honors with Graham, each scoring a 9.95 and Leclerc won vault (9.975) to give ensure a Ute at least tied for every event title.
Next up for the 9-1-1 Utes is Florida in Gainesville. Joining Utah and the Gators in Saturday's meet will be North Carolina and George Washington.
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