Completed Event: Gymnastics versus NCAA Championships on April 16, 2026 ,
Final Score
Gymnastics
vs NCAA Championships
The University of Utah Athletics
Ute Gymnasts Finish Another Season At The NCAA Championships
5/2/2001 12:00 AM | Gymnastics
May 2, 2001
SALT LAKE CITY -
The University of Utah gymnastics team concluded the 2001 season where it has for the last 26 years-at the national championships. Utah, the only team to qualify for every national championship since1976, also became the only team to make it to all 20 NCAA Championships.
At the 2001 NCAA Championships, held in Athens, Ga., the Utes tied for fifth. It was the 21st time a Ute team placed in nation's top five, more than any other program. In addition to its team finish, Ute gymnasts racked up 12 All-America awards, boosting Utah's all-time total to 214, another national best. Sophomore Theresa Kulikowski won the 2001 NCAA balance beam championship, her second NCAA beam title, bringing Utah's individual championship total to 22, second only to Georgia, which has 26 golds.
In many ways, it was a remarkable NCAA Championship for Utah, which has won an unprecedented 10 national championships and was runner-up in 2000. Seven of the nine Utes who competed were named All-Americans, including the entire balance beam lineup. Named first-team All-Americans were: Theresa Wolf (all-around, beam), Deidra Graham (all-around), Theresa Kulikowski (bars, beam), Melissa Vituj (beam, floor) and Shannon Bowles (beam). Named second-team All-Americans were: Vituj (vault), Veronique Leclerc (bars), Graham (beam), Kylee Wagner (beam) and Bowles (floor).
Utah's road to the NCAA Super Six started with a 13-1-1 regular season record. The Utes' sole loss was to eventual NCAA champion UCLA in Los Angeles. Six of their wins came on their home floor, where Utah has now won 164 straight regular season meets, a record for any sport, men's or women's. The Ute gymnasts have not lost a regular season home meet in 22 years! The 2001 team performed before an average of 9,594 spectators per home meet, second only to Georgia, who averaged 9,853.
The Utes went on to win their NCAA regional competition, the 19th time they won the region title. The regional, held in Salt Lake City, drew 4,958 fans, most of any of the six regions around the nation.
The gymnasts capped their year with the annual team banquet, held April 28 at the New Yorker Club in downtown Salt Lake City. Awards were presented at the gala. The 2001 award winners were:
Diane Ellingson Most Inspirational Award:
Theresa Wolf Team captain and All-American placed 10th in the all-around and sixth on the beam.
Dahl Academic Award:
Theresa Kulikowski She has a cumulative 4.0 GPA and was the 2001 balance beam champion. She also took third on the bars at the NCAA Championships.
Coaches' Award:
Kylee Wagner was named the most improved athlete after competing on three events at the NCAA Championships and making the All-America second team on the balance beam.
Most Valuable Performer:
Deidra Graham and Melissa Vituj Graham finished eighth at the NCAA Championships and was Utah's top all-arounder all year, hitting 50 of 53 routines. Vituj, just a freshman, finished third on the balance beam and eighth on the floor at the NCAA Championships. She "hit" 40 of 42 routines, including all eight at the NCAA Championships.
Gymnastics Media Availability | Pre-NCAA Championships
Wednesday, April 15
Utah: 197.500 | Ala.: 197.225 | OSU: 196.375 | DU: 195.950 | Gymnastics Post-Meet Press Conference
Saturday, April 04
Utah: 197.400 vs. UCLA: 197.850 | Gymnastics Post-Meet Press Conference
Sunday, March 15
Utah: 197.650 vs. BYU: 196.550, West Virginia: 195.300 | Gymnastics Post-Meet Press Conference
Sunday, March 08