April 10, 2001
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Utah, winner of the NCAA North Central Region Championships in Salt Lake City on April 7, has qualified for the 2001 NCAA Championships, which will be held April 19-21 in Athens, Ga. ... Utah finished second at the 2000 NCAA Championships and is making a record 20th consecutive NCAA Championships appearance. Utah is the only team in the nation to qualify for every NCAA Championship, and counting the AIAW years (predecessor to the NCAA), Utah has qualified for the last 26 national championships ... Athens, Ga., was the site of Utah's most recent national championship, back in 1995 ...Utah has won a record 10 national championships (nine NCAA) ... The Utes will open NCAA competition on April 19 at 7:00 p.m. (EDT) in Stegeman Coliseum ... The top three teams from each session on Thursday will advance to the Super Six, held Fri., April 20 at 7:00 p.m. (EDT) ... The individual event championships will be held on Sat., April 21, beginning at 7:00 p.m. (EDT).
LUCK OF THE DRAW
The random draw that determined who competes when on the first night of the NCAA Championships resulted in a stacked evening session that includes five of the top 10 teams in the final regular season rankings. The early session, by comparison, has three top 10 ranked teams. Teams in the 7 p.m. session on April 19 and their final regular season rankings are: No. 2 Georgia, co-No. 3 Nebraska, No. 5 Utah, No. 6 Stanford, No. 9 Arizona State and No. 24 Denver. Competing at 1 p.m. on Thursday are: No. 1 UCLA, co-No. 3 Alabama, No. 7 Michigan, No. 12 Florida, No. 13 Oregon State and No. 19 Oklahoma.
LIVE ON THE `NET
Live scoring from the NCAA Championships will be available on the Internet. To follow the meet in progress, log on to www.georgiadogs.com.
THEY'RE BAAACK!
Back in the NCAA Championships after a year's absence due to injuries are former U.S. National Team members Theresa Kulikowski and Shannon Bowles. Kulikowski, the 1999 NCAA all-around and balance beam champion as a freshman (NCAA runner-up on vault and floor), was awarded a medical hardship year after missing most of last season with a knee injury. A sophomore in eligibility, Kulikowski has competed only on bars and beam this year while continuing her recovery from ACL surgery. She is a five-time first-team All-American and was the first alternate for the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team. Bowles, a junior, also received another year of NCAA eligibility after missing all of last season due to a broken neck. She is a four-time first-team All-American who finished fourth on the beam at both the 1998 and 1999 NCAA Championships. She placed eighth all-around and fourth on bars at the 1998 NCAA Championships.
FOR THE RECORD
The Utes were 13-1-1 in regular season competition. Utah was 4-1-1 on the road and 3-0 at neutral sites ... Utah was ranked as high as No. 1 (January 15) in the national poll and was in the top three for six straight weeks before falling to No. 5 in the last two polls ... The Utes were the nation's top-ranked balance beam team in the final rankings, with a 49.415 RQS. Utes Theresa Kulikowski and Shannon Bowles were tied for No. 1 on the beam with a 9.940 RQS. Utah finished No. 3 on both the bars (49.440) and floor (49.500) and No. 8 on the vault (49.150) ... The longest regular season win streak in the nation (any sport) lived for another season. Utah was 6-0 at home in 2001, improving its national record win streak (any sport) to 164 straight in the Huntsman Center. The Utes have not lost a regular season home meet in 22 years, dating back to Feb. 20, 1979.
UTE NOTES
Utah's rotation order at nationals is the same order it drew at regionals (bye, floor, vault, bye, bars, beam) ... The all-arounder who will rotate with Utah is Lindsey Vegedes of Ohio State ... It has been a record-breaking year for the Utes, who posted five of the top 10 scores in school history: 1st-197.925, 2nd-197.900, 7th-197.425 (scored twice), 8th-197.225 ... Theresa Kulikowski is Utah's victory leader with 19. She has won or tied for first in 12 of 13 uneven bar competitions. Deidra Graham is second on the team with 15 wins and Shannon Bowles has 14 ... The highest drawing program in NCAA gymnastics history, Utah finished a close second in the attendance race to Georgia this year. The Utes averaged 9,594 fans to their six regular season home meets to Georgia's 9,853. Utah has won 18 of the last 20 attendance "championships," finishing second the other two times. The North Central Regional in Salt Lake City drew more fans than any of the six region championships. The crowd of 4,958 topped that in regionals at Alabama (4,270), UCLA (4,129), Nebraska (2,632), Florida (2,545) and Michigan (2,287).
NCAA DAY I SESSION FIELDS (APRIL 19)
1:00 p.m.Team Rotation OrderOklahoma Vault, bye, bars, beam, bye, floorFlorida Bye, bars, beam, bye, floor, vaultMichigan Bars, beam, bye, floor, vault, byeOregon State Beam, bye, floor, vault, bye, barsUCLA Bye, floor, vault, bye, bars, beamAlabama Floor, vault, bye, bars, beam, bye
7:00 p.m.Team Rotation OrderStanford Vault, bye, bars, beam, bye, floorNebraska Bye, bars, beam, bye, floor, vaultGeorgia Bars, beam, bye, floor, vault, byeDenver Beam, bye, floor, vault, bye, barsUtah Bye, floor, vault, bye, bars, beamArizona State Floor, vault, bye, bars, beam, bye
UTE PRACTICE TIMES
In Salt Lake City: April 9-16: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Monday (April 16), 2:00-5:00 p.m. in the Dumke Gymnastics Center. All practices are open. Media interested in interviews should plan to be in the Dumke Center by 1:30 p.m. All athlete and coach interviews must be completed by the start of practice. In Athens: April 18 (Wednesday), 11 a.m.-12:40 p.m. in the Stegeman Coliseum.
UTE TRAVEL PLANS
Flight Plans: Tuesday, April 17-LV Salt Lake City at 10:35 a.m. (Delta #454). AR Atlanta at 4:18 p.m. Drive to Athens. Sunday, April 22-LV Atlanta at 11:55 a.m. AR Salt Lake City at 1:58 p.m. Hotel: Holiday Inn, 197 E. Broad St., Phone 706-549-4433, Fax 706-548-3031.
NCAA TEAM QUALIFIERS
A list of the NCAA team qualifiers with their regional place and scores follow: West Region: 1. UCLA 197.775, 2. Oregon State 194.075. North Central Region: 1. Utah 194.075, 2. Denver 193.900. South Central Region: 1. Nebraska 196.200, 2. Oklahoma 195.225. Central Region: 1. Alabama 198.000, 2. Arizona State 195.950. Northeast Region: 1. Michigan 197.225, 2. Stanford 196.725. Southeast Region: 1. Georgia 197.775, 2. Florida 196.650.
UTAH AND THE SUPER SIX Utah has made the Super Six six times since the format went into effect in 1993. Utah's Super Six finishes follow: 1993-3rd, 1994-1st, 1995-1st, 1996-3rd (tie), 1998-4th, 2000-2nd. The Utes failed to make the cut in 1997 and 1999, finishing seventh both years. Although they have won two NCAA Championships under the Super Six format, the Utes have never won a qualifying round.
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 18 from 3-4 p.m. in the Conference Room of Stegeman Coliseum.
2001 TEAMS ARE NCAA VETERANS
Denver is the only newcomer to the NCAA Gymnastics Championships. The 2001 qualifiers and the number of trips this will make for them to the NCAA Championships: Utah (20), Alabama (19), Florida (19), Georgia (18), UCLA (18), Arizona State (16), Oregon State (15), Nebraska (12), Michigan (9), Stanford (4), Oklahoma (3), Denver (1).
NATIONAL NOTABLES
Four teams have been crowned champion in the 19-year history of the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships: Utah (9), Georgia (5), Alabama (3) and UCLA (2). Utah has a record 10 total national championships, including the 1981 AIAW title ... There have been eight different runners-up at the NCAA Championships since they began in 1982: Alabama (5), Utah (4), Arizona State (4), 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 NCAA champion has won its qualifying session five of eight years under the three-day format: Georgia in 1993, 1998 and 1999, Alabama in 1996 and UCLA in 2000 ... 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.
HEAD TO HEAD
Utah has competed this year against six of the 12 qualifiers to nationals and is 5-1 against them. Following are the results of Utah's competitions vs. the NCAA field in 2001: Utah vs. UCLA: 0-1 (lost at UCLA 195.700-197.500), Utah vs. Arizona State: 1-0 (won in SLC 197.900-196.100), Utah vs. Michigan: 1-0 (won in SLC, 197.425-196.675), Utah vs. Oregon State: 1-0 (won in SLC, 197.425-196.050), Utah vs. Florida: 1-0 (won at Florida 196.750-196.525), Utah vs. Denver: 1-0 (won at region meet in SLC 194.075-193.900).
SERIES TALK
Utah has won 82 percent of its contests with teams in the 2001 NCAA Championships (261-59-2). Utah's series record by team (postseason record and streak in parentheses): Alabama 18-12 (13-7, W2), Arizona State 51-15-1 (30-7, W1), Denver 10-0 (4-0, W10), Florida 22-3 (18-2, W3), Georgia 17-9-1 (13-8-1, W1), Michigan 9-4 (5-2, W1), Nebraska 27-2-1 (22-2-1, W1), Oklahoma 23-1 (16-0, W13), Oregon State 45-5 (19-1, W4), Stanford 7-1 (2-0, W1), UCLA 32-7 (16-6, L2).
REGION RECAP
The Utes were at their worst at the NCAA North Central Region Championships in Salt Lake City on April 7, but they were still good enough to win the meet and receive an NCAA Championships invitation. Utah scored a season-low 194.075 to beat Denver (193.900), Iowa State (193.375), West Virginia (192.400), Utah State (191.200) and Air Force (190.200). It took a nearly unheard of comeback from 1.525 points down at the meet's midpoint for Utah to win the meet. Three falls on vault caused Utah's trouble and its 47.000 score was its worst on that event in 12 years. To the relief of the largest regional crowd in the nation (4,958), a nice bar set, capped by Theresa Kulikowski's winning 9.950 routine, got Utah within arm's reach of second place. The Utes shot all the way to first on their final even, the beam. There, the first four Utes scored well enough to overcome falls by "ringers" Kulikowski and Bowles. Bowles tied for first on floor (9.875) to give Utah two golds. Junior Deidra Graham returned off the injured list to place second in the all-around (39.150) and on beam (9.825). Freshman Veronique Leclerc was second on the vault (9.75).
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 (739-108-4). In regular season competition, Marsden is 371-49-2. 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.
MORE ON THE UTES
Kim Allan, So.-All-American as a freshman in 2000 suffered season-ending injury on Feb. 4 ... underwent surgery to repair torn left Achilles on Feb. 7 ... three-event performer was scheduled to go all-around in Feb. 6 meet vs. USU before getting injured ... she had "hit" all 12 of her routines, four each on vault, bars and beam ... competed on three events at 2000 NCAA Championships, making second-team All-American on beam (9.85).
Shannon Bowles, Jr.-Four-time All-American ... missed entire 2000 season after breaking her neck on preseason vault ... returned to the all-around lineup on February 16, 2001 (had not done all-around since March 27, 1999) ... all-around win on March 17 at Florida first since her freshman year in 1998 ... 2001 NCAA North Central regional floor exercise champion (9.875) ... tied for first with teammate Theresa Kulikowski in final regular season national beam rankings (9.940 RQS) ... spent four total weeks ranked No. 1 on beam ... season best all-around score of 39.525 came on March 17 ... two perfect 10.0s this year (one on beam, one on floor) ... set or tied career highs on three events this year: 10.0 on beam and floor and 9.95 on bars ... ranks third on team in victories with 14: seven on beam, five on floor, one on bars and one all-around ... has "hit" 39-46 routines this year and 123-139 (88%) in her career ... two-time NCAA balance beam All-American finished fourth in nation on that event freshman and sophomore years ... also an All-American on bars (fourth in 1998) and all-around (eighth in 1998).
Deidra Graham, Jr.-Four-time All-American placed 10th all-around at 2000 NCAA Championships ... NCAA North Central region all-around runner-up (39.150) also placed second on beam (9.825) ... did just one routine in final two regular season meets combined after hyperextending right knee during bar warmups when Utah competed at Florida on March 17 ... finished regular season ranked No. 9 in nation in all-around with 39.465 RQS ... was ranked No. 16 nationally on floor exercise (9.925 RQS) ... second on team in victories this year (15) ... has set career highs in the all-around (39.725 vs. ASU, Feb. 16) and on every event (9.950 on vault, bars and floor, and 9.925 on beam) ... 39.725 all-around best is tied for fifth best in school history ... six all-around wins: Minnesota (39.200), Arizona (39.325), Utah State (39.275), BYU (39.475), Arizona State (39.725) and Oregon State (39.625) ... has "hit" 43 of 45 routines, with miss on beam in season opener and fall on bars in regular season finale ... 129-140 (92%) in career routines ... former U.S. National Team member is NCAA first-team All-American on bars (10th, 1999), all-around (10th, 2000) and beam (11th, 2000) ... second-team All-American on floor (10th, 2000) ... 2000 NCAA Region 2 Gymnast of the Year.
Theresa Kulikowski, So.-1999 NCAA all-around and balance beam champion (NCAA runner-up on vault and floor) and five-time All-American ... is competing only on bars and beam this year while recovering from ACL surgery that cost her last season ... NCAA North Central Region uneven bar champion (9.95) ... finished regular season tied for first in nation on beam (9.940 RQS) ... ranked No. 1 on beam for last four weeks of regular season ... final national bar ranking was No. 3 (9.955) ... team-high three perfect 10.0s this season (2 on bars, 1 on beam) brought career total to seven ... despite her limited events, she leads Utah in wins with 19 ... won 21 of her last 22 regular season bar competitions, dating back to 1999 ... won 12 of 13 bar competitions this year, including regional title ... has "hit" 22-26 routines (all four misses were on beam) and is 82-90 (91%) for her career ... 66 event and/or all-around titles in her career includes school record 37 victories in 1999 ... missed most of last year with knee injury and was awarded medical hardship extension by NCAA, making her a sophomore in eligibility now ... former U.S. National team member was first alternate to 1996 U.S. Olympic team.
Tacia LaBatte, Fr.-Freshman competed on three events to count this season ... No. 1 backup on bars suffers from hand injury that has kept her out of practice since March 23 ... scored career-high 9.875 as last minute replacement on bars vs. BYU on Mar. 23 ... 9.650 on vault in season opener ... did Utah's very first routine this year (went first on vault in season opener) ... member of 1996 and 2000 Junior Olympic National teams ... four-time region all-around champ.
Veronique Leclerc, Fr.-Two-event performer (vault and bars) for most of season went all-around in season finale and had best freshman debut in school history ... 39.675 all-around score on March 23 is tied for seventh best ever at Utah ... possibility to go three events at nationals (vault, bars and floor) ... NCAA North Central Region vault runner-up finished regular season tied for fifth in nation on vault (9.915 RQS) ... season event bests this year are: 9.975 on vault, 9.90 on bars, 9.875 on beam and 9.95 on floor ... 8 victories this year ranks fourth on team ... all 8 wins were on vault: Southern Utah (9.825), UCLA (9.90), Arizona (9.875), Utah State (9.85), BYU (9.90 and 9.95), ASU (9.95) and Oregon State (9.975) ... five bar scores of 9.90 or better ... competed on floor in last two regular season meets ... won vault (9.825) and tied for second on bars (9.90) in first collegiate meet ... has "hit" 27-29 routines ... five-year Canadian National Team member was ninth all-around at 2000 Canadian Olympic Trials.
Annie Medcalf, Fr.-Made lineup in fifth meet of season and has done eight bar and two beam routines ... missed Mar. 23 meet vs. BYU after suffering concussion in pre-meet bar warmups ... returned to bar lineup at regionals and led off set with 9.775 ... discounting fall on first bar routine, has averaged 9.825 on that event ... career-best 9.90 on bars vs. Oregon State on March 10 ... is also reliable replacement on beam, where she has been last minute sub twice and stuck both routines ... career-best 9.875 on beam at Florida on Mar. 17 ... has "hit" 8 of 9 routines ... 1997-99 U.S. National team member won floor exercise and was fourth all-around at 1998 Junior Olympic Championships.
Leah Sabo, So.-Vaulted in first six meets before suffering foot injury ... on deck as bar worker should need arise at NCAA's ... career-best 9.75 on vault vs. Utah State ... also competed to count on floor twice, scoring career-best 9.825 both times (Southern Utah, Utah State) ... without a fall in 8 routines this year (9.40 vault vs. Arizona was due to steps on landing) and is 8-9 in career routines.
Lindsay Tanner, Jr.-Has led off Utah's floor set in all but one meet ... tied career-best 9.90 in three straight meets (Feb. 9-16-23) ... made vault lineup four times ... career-best vault score of 9.775 came at Washington on March 4 ... only "miss" of season was at regionals, when she was docked heavily for step out of bounds during floor ex routine and received 9.475.
Melissa Vituj, Fr.-Freshman has performed on three events in all but two meets ... will be in vault, beam and floor lineups at NCAA Championships ... "hit" first 20 routines of her college career before falling on vault landing, Feb. 23 ... career-bests are 9.95 on floor and 9.90 on vault and beam ... 9.90 or better on floor four times ... career-best 9.90 on vault three times ... 9.90 on beam twice ... tied for first on floor (9.85) against Minnesota ... has "hit" 32 of 34 routines this year ... 1999 Junior Olympic Level 10 balance beam champion.
Kylee Wagner, Jr.-Three-event specialist is having fantastic season on vault, beam and floor ... set or tied personal best on all three events in final meet of regular season (9.925 on vault, 9.875 on beam, 9.95 on floor) ... 9.80 on both beam and floor at regionals ... normal position in lineup is first on beam, third on floor and fourth on vault ... in last six regular season meets, averaged just under 9.90 on vault ... 9.90 or better on floor in five meets ... has "hit" 30-32 routines (both falls were on vault).
Theresa Wolf, Sr.-Team's lone senior and captain is having best season yet ... has gone all-around nine times and is scheduled to go all-around at nationals ... 39.625 career-high all-around on March 23 is tied for ninth best score in school history ... also set career highs this year on bars (9.95), beam (9.95) and floor (9.95) ... other top all-around scores were 39.45 on Feb. 9 and 39.425 on Feb. 16 ... five wins this year (2 on floor, 2 on bars and 1 on beam) ... has "hit" 39-44 routines this year and 130-150 (87%) for her career ... Utah's top all-arounder in last year's NCAA Super Six team finals scored 39.425.
UTE WINNERS IN 2001
Theresa Kulikowski (19)Bars (12)9.950 vs. Southern Utah, Jan. 59.925 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 139.900 vs. Arizona, Jan. 269.925 vs. Utah State, Feb. 610.00 vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 99.975 vs. Arizona State, Feb. 1610.00 vs. Michigan, Feb. 239.925 vs. Washington/WMU, Mar. 49.950 vs. Oregon State, Mar. 109.900 vs. Florida/GWU/UNC, Mar. 179.950 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 239.950 at NCAA Regionals, Apr. 7Beam (7)9.900 vs. Southern Utah, Jan. 59.900 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 1310.00 vs. Utah State, Feb. 69.950 vs. Arizona State, Feb. 169.950 vs. Michigan, Feb. 239.950 vs. Florida/GWU/UNC, Mar. 179.950 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 23
Deidra Graham (15)All-Around (6)39.200 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 1339.325 vs. Arizona, Jan. 2639.275 vs. Utah State, Feb. 639.475 vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 939.725 vs. Arizona State, Feb. 1639.625 vs. Oregon State, Mar. 10Vault (3)9.850 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 139.850 vs. Utah State, Feb. 69.950 vs. Arizona State, Feb. 16Bars (1)9.950 vs. Oregon State, Mar. 10Floor (5)9.850 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 139.900 vs. Arizona, Jan. 269.950 vs. Arizona State, Feb. 169.950 vs. Michigan, Feb. 239.950 vs. Oregon State, Mar. 10
Shannon Bowles (14)All-Around (1)39.525 vs. Florida/GWU/UNC, Mar. 17Bars (1)9.950 vs. Oregon State, Mar. 10Beam (7)9.900 vs. Southern Utah, Jan. 59.925 vs. UCLA, Jan. 2110.00 vs. Arizona, Jan. 269.900 vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 99.950 vs. Michigan, Feb. 239.950 vs. Washington/WMU, Mar. 49.950 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 23Floor (5)9.925 vs. Southern Utah, Jan. 59.950 vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 99.925 vs. Florida/GWU/UNC, Mar. 1710.00 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 239.950 at NCAA Regionals, Apr. 7
Veronique Leclerc (8)Vault (8)9.825 vs. Southern Utah, Jan. 59.900 vs. UCLA, Jan. 219.875 vs. Arizona, Jan. 269.850 vs. Utah State, Feb. 69.900 vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 99.950 vs. Arizona State, Feb. 169.975 vs. Oregon State, Mar. 109.950 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 23
Theresa Wolf (5)Bars (2)9.925 vs. Utah State, Feb. 69.950 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 23Beam (1)9.950 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 23Floor (2)9.925 vs. Utah State, Feb. 69.950 vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 9
Melissa Vituj (1)Floor (1)9.850 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 13
WHAT'S IN ROUND ONE
UCLA: 23-2 ... West region champion (197.775) ... high score of 198.25 on Feb. 16 ... top all-arounders are Mohini Bhardwaj (39.975) and Onnie Willis (39.675) ... Head Coach Valorie Kondos is 225-47 in 11 years.
Alabama: 15-2-1 ... won Central region with season-best 198.00 .. top all-arounders are Andree Pickens (39.75), Jeana Rice (39.65) and Kristin Sterner (39.60) ... Head Coach Sarah Patterson is 299-62-4 in 23 years.
Michigan: 20-7 ... Northeast region champion (197.225) ... high score of 197.575 on March 17 ... Big 10 champion ... top all-arounders are 2000 U.S. Olympian Elise Ray (39.650), Bridget Knaeble (39.525) and Karina Senior (39.425) ... Head Coach Bev Plocki is 233-69 in 12 years.
Florida: 15-12 ... season-best 196.650 at Southeast regional ... top all-arounders are Hilary Thompson (39.45) and Gabby Fuchs (39.425) ... Head Coach Judi Markell is 110-70-1 in 9 years at Florida and 388-157-2 overall in 27 seasons.
Oregon State: 5-9 ... West region runner-up (194.075) ... high score of 197.425 on March 17 ... top all-arounder is Annie Campbell (39.625) ... Head Coach Tanya Chaplin is 66-42 in 4 years.
Oklahoma: 16-6 ... South Central region runner-up (195.225) ... season-high 196.90 on March 10 ... top all-arounders are Kasie Tamayo (39.550) and Leticia Ishii (39.475) ... co-Head Coach Becky Switzer is 226-101 in 18 years, co-Head Coach Steve Nunno is 16-6 in his 1st year.
WHAT'S IN ROUND TWO
Georgia: 24-2-1 ... Southeast region champion (197.775) ... won SEC championship with season-best 198.00 ... top all-arounders are Cory Fritzinger (39.70) and Kristi Lichey (39.625) ... Head Coach Suzanne Yoculan is 556-77-5 in 18 years.
Nebraska: 23-1 ... South Central region champion (196.200) ... won Big 12 Championship with season-high 197.65 on March 24 ... top all-arounders are Alecia Ingram (39.625) and Tammy Harris (39.450) ... Head Coach Dan Kendig is 146-27 in 8 years at Nebraska and 259-139-1 in 18 years overall.
Utah: 13-1-1 ... North Central region champion (194.075) ... high score of 197.925 on March 23 ... top all-arounders are Deidra Graham (39.725) and Shannon Bowles (39.525) ... Head Coach Greg Marsden is 739-108-4 in 26 years.
Stanford: 12-3 ... runner-up at Northeast region (196.725) ... won Pacific-10 championship over top-ranked UCLA with season-best 197.850 ... top all-arounder is Lindsay Wing (39.750) ... Head Coach Mark Cook is 61-25-2 in 4 years.
Arizona State: 10-5 ... Central region runner-up (195.950) ... high score of 197.450 on March 2 ... top all-arounders are Laura Moon (39.600) and Maggie Germaine (39.550) ... Head Coach John Spini is 262-92-1 in 21 years.
Denver: 13-8 ... North Central region runner-up (193.900) ... high score of 196.625 ... top all-arounders are Ashley Shible (39.575) and Melanie Schiff (39.500) ... Head Coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart is 59-22 in 3 years.
MARSDEN SAYS
"After a disappointing performance at regionals, we feel fortunate to have qualified on to the national championships. It goes without saying that we feel extremely fortunate to have won the regional competition but we know we're a much better team than we demonstrated that night. We look forward to an opportunity to prove that. We won't make any significant changes in our approach to nationals. We've been doing things the same way for a long time and we're certainly not going to panic because we made a few mistakes at regionals. I hope we'll use this time to re-focus and be better prepared when we get to Athens ... It will be an exciting meet, as the championship should be. We're in a tough session and will have to be at our best to advance to the Super Six, which is how it ought to be. We'll be in with the host team, Georgia, which will make for a highly charged atmosphere. Hopefully we can use that to our benefit, even though the crowd will be cheering for Georgia. Because of our fan support here, I think we're a team that's comfortable in that environment."