Completed Event: Gymnastics versus NCAA Championships on April 16, 2026 ,
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Gymnastics
vs NCAA Championships
The University of Utah Athletics
No. 2 Ute Gymnasts Open Season At No. 3 UCLA
1/2/2006 12:00 AM | Gymnastics
Jan. 2, 2006
SALT LAKE CITY -
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A few notes on the Utah gymnastics team's season-opener at UCLA follow. For the complete release, please download the accompanying PDF.
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The preseason No. 2-ranked Utah gymnastics team will open its 2006 campaign against No. 3 ranked UCLA on Saturday, Jan. 7 in Los Angeles. The meet will start at 6 p.m. (PST) in Pauley Pavilion ... UCLA will have one meet under its belt before hosting the Utes. The Bruins kick off their season on Jan. 3 against Oregon State, Arkansas and California at the Aloha Gymfest in Oahu, Hawaii ... This marks the fourth straight year that Utah's first opponent is UCLA. The Utes hold a 2-1 advantage over the Bruins in the last three openers ... Live video streaming of the meet is available with the purchase of the Utah All-Access pass found at www.UtahUtes.com.POWERHOUSE PROGRAMS
Two of the most dominant teams in NCAA gymnastics history will square off this Saturday in Los Angeles. Utah and UCLA have combined to win 15 national championships and 14 of the 30 NCAA Championships to date. Utah has won 10 national titles (nine NCAA)--most recently in 1995. UCLA owns five NCAA Championships--four in the last six years and the most recent coming in 2004. Utah and UCLA are two of just four programs to have won an NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championship (Alabama and Georgia are the others). Utah placed third and UCLA finished fourth at the 2005 NCAA Championships in Auburn, Ala.ALL-AMERICAN GIRLS
The Utah-UCLA rosters include a combined eight All-Americans, although injuries will keep some from competing. For Utah, sophomore Rachel Tidd is out indefinitely with a back injury, while senior Kristen Riffanacht (ankle) and sophomore Ashley Postell (elbow) are questionable for the first meet. UCLA sophomore Tasha Schwikert, who won the all-around as a freshman at last April's NCAA Championships, underwent shoulder surgery on Dec. 19 and is expected to be out for 2-3 months. Ute All-Americans who are ready to go are junior Nicolle Ford and senior Gritt Hofmann. In addition to Tasha Schwikert, UCLA returns All-Americans Kate Richardson and Jordan Schwikert. Richardson won the NCAA bar and beam championships in 2003.PRESEASON RANKINGS
Utah was picked to finish second in the preseason coaches' poll. The top 25 follows (first-place votes are in parentheses). 1. Georgia (15) 603, 2. Utah (5) 586, 3. UCLA (3) 579, 4. Alabama (3) 532, 5. Michigan 492, 6. Florida 470, 7. Louisiana State 443, 8. Nebraska 424, 9. Stanford 417, 10. Oklahoma 383, 11. Iowa State 359, 12. Penn State 341, 13. Oregon State 331, 14. Arizona State 293, 15. Auburn 213, 16. Missouri 208, 17. Arizona 188, 18. Washington 185, 19. Brigham Young 180, 20. Arkansas 171, 21. Denver 144, 22. North Carolina 99, 23. Kentucky 88, 24. Minnesota 76, 25. New Hampshire 50.NOTHING BUT THE BEST
Perennial NCAA championship contender UCLA is the first obstacle on Utah's daunting 2006 schedule. Ten of Utah's upcoming opponents are ranked in the preseason top 25, including defending NCAA champion Georgia, which begins the year ranked No. 1. Other ranked teams on tap for the Utes are No. 5 Michigan, No. 6 Florida, No. 13 Oregon State, No. 14 Arizona State, No. 18 Washington, No. 19 Brigham Young and No. 24 Minnesota.UTE RETURNER NOTES
Returning from last year's third-place NCAA Ute team are 10 letterwinners and five All-Americans. Unfortunately, All-America junior Rachel Tidd's future in the sport is nebulous due to a back injury. Sophomore Ashley Postell, a five-time All-American as a freshman last year and the 2002 World Balance Beam Champion, is recovering from a torn ligament in her elbow and might only be ready on beam for the first meet. Postell finished third in the all-around at the 2005 NCAA Championships--winning the afternoon session before slipping two places after the scores from the evening session were figured in. Senior Kristen Riffanacht (ankle) is another All-American who could be limited to the beam against UCLA. Four-time All-America junior Nicolle Ford and senior All-American Gritt Hofmann also return for the Utes, who graduated just one member from last year's NCAA bronze-medalist team--eight-time All-American Annabeth Eberle. The other returners are: seniors Dominique D'Oliveira, Natalie Nicoloff and Gabriella Onodi and sophomores Jessica Duke and Katie Kivisto.UTE NEWCOMER NOTES
Highly-touted Ute freshmen Nina Kim and Kristina Baskett are slated to make their collegiate debuts against UCLA. Kim, a four-year USA National Team member, will likely compete in the all-around this week. Baskett, the 2005 USA Junior Olympic all-around, floor and vault champion, has earned a spot on at least three events (vault, bars and floor). Walk-on Beth Rizzo is the other Ute freshman.
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