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UTAH: All-American is coming off ankle surgery that sidelined her in 2009 ... came to Utah as a walk-on in 2006 and was awarded a scholarship prior to her junior season ... just the second Ute walk-on gymnast ever to become an All-American and the only one to win first-team honors ... best event is floor ... one career victory ... has never fallen in college competition (25-25 for her career) ... member of Utah's Student Athlete Advisory Committee ... already has her degree in exercise and sport science and began work on an MBA in the fall.
2009-Suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the season-opener while doing an exhibition floor routine against UCLA ... underwent surgery on Mar. 12 ... 0-0 in routines ... Mountain West Conference Scholar-Athlete and Athletic Director's Honor Roll.
2008-Scored a 9.80 as Utah's leadoff performer on floor in the NCAA Super Six Championship ... career-high 9.90 on floor twice ... 10 starts on floor and three on vault ... one win (on floor) ... hit 14-14 routines ... made the Athletics Director's Honor Roll.
2007-NCAA first-team All-American qualified for floor finals and placed 12th, scoring a 9.8375 ... qualified into event finals by scoring a 9.85 ... competed on floor in 11 meets, including all three days of NCAA Championships' competition ... hit 11-11 routines ... season-best 9.875 at Utah State ... NACGC Scholastic All-American.
2006-Redshirt ... NACGC/W Scholastic All-American ... Dean's List and Mountain West Conference Scholar-Athlete.
PRIOR TO UTAH: Level 10 competitor from 2002-05 ... Level 9 national floor exercise champion in 2001 also finished third in the all-around ... 2001 Illinois state Level 9 all-around champion ... trained at Buffalo Grove Gymnastics Center under Teri Crumley and Tony Toms ... graduated from William Friend High School.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Mary Ellen and Sal Rizzo ... both parents graduated from the College of New Jersey, where her father was on the wrestling team ... brother Joe played lacrosse at Western Illinois ... exercise and sport science major ... full name is Elizabeth Ellen Rizzo ... born June 12, 1987.
Rizzo's Career Highs
Vault 9.800 vs. Utah State/SUU, Feb. 22, 2008 Floor 9.900 vs. Minnesota, Feb. 1, 2008 9.900 vs. Washington, Feb. 16, 2008
Age Started Gymnastics: Two
These Words Describe Me: Energetic, ambitious, determined
Last Summer: I worked at a coffee shop
Favorite Non U of U Sports Team: New York Yankees
Favorite Gymnastics Skill: Double layout on floor
Favorite Activities: Playing any sport, cooking, watching movies
Favorite Movie Star: Steve Carell
Favorite TV Shows: 24, Heroes
Favorite Subject in School: English
Favorite Food: Ice cream, chocolate
Favorite Gymnast: Dominique Dawes
