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The University of Utah Athletics
Crimson Club Inducts Two Utah Gymnastics Teams, Kristina Baskett to the 2019 Hall of Fame Class
9/27/2019 11:10 AM | Gymnastics
SALT LAKE CITY – University of Utah Athletics is inducting three teams along with three former student-athletes into the Crimson Club Hall of Fame this weekend. Of the inductees, the Utah gymnastics program will have the 1981 Gymnastics team, 1982 Gymnastics team, and Kristina Baskett honored for their achievements.
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1981 Gymnastics Team
In its sixth year as an intercollegiate program, Utah Gymnastics won its first of 10 national titles at the 1981 AIAW National Championships. It would kick off a string of six consecutive national championships for the Utes from 1981-86. Greg Marsden was named National Coach of the Year in a 27-2 season.
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Megan McCunniff (later Marsden) and Linda Kardos were All-Americans in three events, including the all-around, while Diane Ellingson, Shannon Coleman and Eileen Huck also earned All-America honors. Christa Canary, Betsy Cotrill, Emily May, and Andra Turner complete the 1981 Utah gymnastics championship team that is being honored.
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1982 Gymnastics Team
Coming on the heels of its AIAW title the year before, Utah won the first NCAA gymnastics championship for women in 1982. Five Utah gymnasts (Sue Stednitz, Christa Canary, Megan McCunniff, Linda Kardos and Elaine Alfano) were awarded All-America honors and Greg Marsden was once again named the National Coach of the Year.
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Stednitz and Alfano became Utah's first individual NCAA champions in 1982. Stednitz won titles in the all-around and on balance beam, while Alfano claimed her NCAA title on vault. Shannon Coleman, Celeste Harrington, Emily May, Cindy Paul, Andra Turner, and Wendy Whiting round out the 1982 Red Rocks.
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Kristina Baskett (2006-09)
Kristina Baskett (now Peel) won the NCAA uneven bars title as a freshman in 2006 and went on to win seven NCAA medals during her career as a Ute. Baskett also earned 12 All-America awards in her career. In addition to her gold on bars in 2006, she garnered two silver medals (2008 vault, 2009 all-around) and four bronze medals (2008 all-around, 2009 vault, 2009 bars, 2009 beam). Baskett led Utah to three NCAA runner-up finishes and one third-place finish. She is tied for fifth in career wins at Utah with 88. She was a first-team Academic All-American as a senior in 2009.
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Following her time as a student-athlete, Baskett was involved in modeling, stunt work, acting and commercials. Baskett has recently taken fame as a stunt double on "Game of Thrones" for one of the show's main characters. Other opportunities as a stunt double for Baskett included appearing in Wild (Reese Witherspoon), Glee (Lea Michele), Modern Family (Sarah Hyland), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Megan Fox), and many others. Baskett also performed in the show Le Reve at the Wynn Casino in Las Vegas.
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Staying involved with gymnastics, Baskett served as the volunteer assistant coach at Arizona State for two seasons, but was recently promoted to the Gym Devils' full-time assistant coach this past June. Baskett is married to former Utah football player John Peel.
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1981 Gymnastics Team
In its sixth year as an intercollegiate program, Utah Gymnastics won its first of 10 national titles at the 1981 AIAW National Championships. It would kick off a string of six consecutive national championships for the Utes from 1981-86. Greg Marsden was named National Coach of the Year in a 27-2 season.
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Megan McCunniff (later Marsden) and Linda Kardos were All-Americans in three events, including the all-around, while Diane Ellingson, Shannon Coleman and Eileen Huck also earned All-America honors. Christa Canary, Betsy Cotrill, Emily May, and Andra Turner complete the 1981 Utah gymnastics championship team that is being honored.
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1982 Gymnastics Team
Coming on the heels of its AIAW title the year before, Utah won the first NCAA gymnastics championship for women in 1982. Five Utah gymnasts (Sue Stednitz, Christa Canary, Megan McCunniff, Linda Kardos and Elaine Alfano) were awarded All-America honors and Greg Marsden was once again named the National Coach of the Year.
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Stednitz and Alfano became Utah's first individual NCAA champions in 1982. Stednitz won titles in the all-around and on balance beam, while Alfano claimed her NCAA title on vault. Shannon Coleman, Celeste Harrington, Emily May, Cindy Paul, Andra Turner, and Wendy Whiting round out the 1982 Red Rocks.
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Kristina Baskett (2006-09)
Kristina Baskett (now Peel) won the NCAA uneven bars title as a freshman in 2006 and went on to win seven NCAA medals during her career as a Ute. Baskett also earned 12 All-America awards in her career. In addition to her gold on bars in 2006, she garnered two silver medals (2008 vault, 2009 all-around) and four bronze medals (2008 all-around, 2009 vault, 2009 bars, 2009 beam). Baskett led Utah to three NCAA runner-up finishes and one third-place finish. She is tied for fifth in career wins at Utah with 88. She was a first-team Academic All-American as a senior in 2009.
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Following her time as a student-athlete, Baskett was involved in modeling, stunt work, acting and commercials. Baskett has recently taken fame as a stunt double on "Game of Thrones" for one of the show's main characters. Other opportunities as a stunt double for Baskett included appearing in Wild (Reese Witherspoon), Glee (Lea Michele), Modern Family (Sarah Hyland), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Megan Fox), and many others. Baskett also performed in the show Le Reve at the Wynn Casino in Las Vegas.
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Staying involved with gymnastics, Baskett served as the volunteer assistant coach at Arizona State for two seasons, but was recently promoted to the Gym Devils' full-time assistant coach this past June. Baskett is married to former Utah football player John Peel.
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