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Feb. 9, 1998
Feb. 9, 1998
Utah vs. Minnesota Red Robin Invitational Fri., Feb. 13 7:00 p.m. Salt Lake City Huntsman Center Meet AT A GLANCE Utah: 31 Rank: No. 2 Minnesota: 51 Rank: No. 10 Series: Utah leads 130 coming up Feb. 20 at Washington, 7 p.m. Feb. 27 Utah State, 7 p.m. Mar. 6 at Stanford, 7:30 p.m.
QUICKLY The No. 2ranked Utes (31) meet a new national power on Friday, when No. 10 Minnesota comes to town for the Red Robin Invitational ... Minnesota (51) is coming off the best NCAA finish in school history: The Gophers finished 10th at the 1997 NCAA Championships ... Bolstered by a seasonbest 196.825 score last week against Brigham Young, Utah should remain the nation's No. 2 ranked team when the new poll is released late Tuesday (Feb. 10) ... at No. 10, Minnesota is the secondhighest ranked team Utah has faced this year, behind Michigan (No. 8) ... Utah Head Coach Greg Marsden, who has 656 career wins, earned his 330th regular season win against BYU last Friday ... Utah, which has won a record ten national championships, including four in the 1990s (1990, '92, '94, 95), placed seventh last year.
THEY'RE BACK Minnesota cohead coaches Jim and Meg Stephenson are in familiar territory in the Huntsman Center. Jim was Utah's top assistant from 198992 and Meg was a volunteer coach for part of that time. They helped Utah capture NCAA titles in 1990 and '92.
THE STREAK Utah's regular season home win streak stands at a nationalrecord 142 after Friday's 196.825194.875 victory over BYU. The Utes' last regular season home court loss was almost 19 years ago, on Feb. 20, 1979 to Cal StateFullerton. Including postseason competition (regionals and nationals), Utah's alltime home record is 28212 (96%). In the last 14 years, just two opponents have come within a point and a half of Utah during a regular season meet in the Huntsman Center: Utah defeated Oregon State by three quarters of a point in 1996 and beat Georgia by 1.4 points in 1991. Among the teams to fall by larger margins to Utah during that time span are the likes of national powers Alabama, UCLA, Michigan, Arizona, Arizona State, Florida, Penn State, Nebraska, Brigham Young, Washington and Minnesota.
PRACTICE TIMES & INTERVIEW POLICY Monday, Tuesday, Thursday (1:304:30) in HPER W106. All practices are open. Media interested in interviews should plan to be in the practice facility (HPER W106) by 1:00 p.m. All interviews must be completed by 1:30 p.m. Note: Head Coach Greg Marsden is available during practice, upon request. Interviews outside practice can be arranged by calling sports information director Liz Abel at 8015813511.
IN THE POLLS Utah, ranked No. 2 for the past two weeks, should remain there when the new poll is issued late Tue., Feb. 10. The rankings are based on average score through Feb. 24. Beginning March 3, the rankings will be determined by regional qualifying score (RQS). Georgia will remain No. 1a position it has maintained all season. The Bulldogs were followed in the latest poll by Utah, Alabama, Florida and Penn State. The complete poll is found on page 5 of this release.
LAST WEEK Utah cracked 196.00 for the first time this season with its impressive 196.825194.875 win over a very good BYU team, Feb. 6. The Utes, who hit all 24 routines for the first time this year, took the top three allaround spots. Freshman Shannon Bowles, who won the allaround with the eighthbest score in school history (39.60), became just the second freshman in Utah history to score a 10.0. She won beam with a perfect 10.0 and also won vault with a personalbest 9.925. Allaround runnerup Angie Leonard scored a seasonbest 39.275. Denise Jones placed third with a careerbest 39.250, aided by a personalbest 9.90 on bars. She tied for first on bars with Molly Northrop, who also hit a careerbest. Theresa Wolf made it a Ute sweep by winning the floor exercise in a careertying 9.85.
TRAINER'S TABLE Summer Reid will miss the upcoming Minnesota meet with a torn (right) calf muscle. Reid, who has also been slowed by two offseason wrist surgeries, has done just one routine all yearon floor exercise at Michigan. She is not expected to return to action for at least another two weeks. Sophomore Jenny Schmidt underwent surgery on Dec. 27 to repair the patellar tendon in her right knee and is doubtful to return this season.
UTAH COACH GREG MARSDEN Utah's Greg Marsden, the most successful coach in collegiate gymnastics history, is in his 23rd year at the U. He owns a 656903 record (330411 regular season). His ten national championships is triple that of any other coach. Four of those titles have come in the '90s (1990, '92, '94, '95). Fourteen of Marsden's teams have placed in the toptwo nationally. The only coach in Utah's gymnastics history, Marsden is a seventime national coach of the year selection.
SERIES SHORTS Utah leads 130 ... Series has been annual since 1994 ... Firstever meeting was at the 1976 national championships ... Utes have won last the two in Minneapolis, but by just smallest of margins (0.05) last year ... Utah is 40 in Salt Lake City ... Utah took the last meeting in the Huntsman Center, 196.300190.650 in 1995.
COMMON OPPONENTS Utah and Minnesota have each met Michigan and Utah State this year. Utah is 11, losing to Michigan (195.850194.350) and beating Utah State (194.950193.400)both on the road. Minnesota is 20, defeating both opponents in Minneapolis. The Gophers beat Michigan, 192.800190.400, and Utah State, 194.000189.875.
UTE NOTES Utah is averaging 11,495 fans through its first two home meets ... Uneven bars has produced the highest scores in the first four meets, led by a 49.350 (tied with beam) on Feb. 6 ... After three meets as Utah's lowest scoring event, balance beam checked in with a meetbest (tie) 49.350 on Feb. 6 ... Utah set season bests on all four events against BYU and produced a 49.00 circuit for the first time of the season ... Freshman Shannon Bowles has won a teambest eight titles, including two allarounds ... Bowles' 10.0 on beam last week is just the second ever by a Ute freshman. The other freshman to score a 10.0? Current Ute senior Traci Sommer on beam in 1995 ... Junior Molly Northrop is the only multievent Ute without a miss this year (88).
TRACKING TRACI Senior Traci Sommer turned in her best effort of the year against BYU, posting seasonhighs on beam (9.875) and floor (9.800). She opened the night with a 9.700 on vault. The twotime AllAmerican has recovered from the knee sprain she suffered in the seasonopening meet. She missed Utah's meet at Michigan on Jan. 23 due to the injury, and has competed just eight routines through four meets. A threeyear allarounder, Sommer has not cracked this year's bar lineup. She has 18 career 39.00 allarounds and owns the fifthbest score in school history (39.70, Mar. 7, 1997). In her career, she has "hit" 141 of 160 routines (88%). Her breakdown by year: 4651 (1995), 4247 (1996), 4553 (1997), 88 (1998).
ALLAMERICA ANGIE Junior AllAmerican Angie Leonard received her third 39.00 allaround score of the year last week, when she finished runnerup to teammate Shannon Bowles, with a 39.275. It was Leonard's high score of the season and the 11th 39.00 of her career. She won the allaround against Arizona on Jan. 16 (39.050) and is second behind Bowles in wins this season (4). She had two season highs in Utah's most recent meet, scoring a 9.825 on beam and tying her previous best on bars (9.875). Utah's most consistent allarounder in her first twoplus years, Leonard has hit 100 of 108 routines in her career (93%). On bars, she is a nearperfect 29 of 30.
SHANNON SHINES Freshman sensation Shannon Bowles tied the eighth highest allaround score in school history with her winning 39.60 against BYU last Friday. Bowles also became the first Ute of 1998 and just the second Ute freshman ever to score a 10.0 with her perfect effort on the beam. Utah's leader in individual wins this year with eight, Bowles has won two allaround and three beam competitions. The U.S. National Team member won her collegiate allaround debut in a January 23 meet with Michigan, scoring a 39.25. Her eight 9.875orbetter scores is a team best (three each on bars and beam; one on floor; one on vault).
MORE ON THE UTES Marilyn EkdahlCompeted vault and bars in first three meets, but will likely do just bars for second straight meet this week ... training limited by shoulder injury ... freshman had great collegiate start, tying for second on both vault (9.75) and bars (9.75) against Arizona ... careerbest 9.80 to lead off Utah's bar set at Utah State ... scored 9.675 as Utah's first performer on vault vs. USU.
Denise JonesSecond year all arounder put together first complete meet against BYU, setting career bests allaround (39.25) and on bars (9.90) ... placed third allaround vs. BYU ... has now hit 12 of 16 routines after going just 8 of 12 in first three meets ... 59 of 66 (89%) in her career ... set season bests on all four events vs. BYU: 9.775 vault, 9.90 bars, 9.75 beam and 9.80 floor (tie) ... also had 9.80 floor on Jan. 16.
Ashley KeverHas done well on floor this year despite battle with injuries ... floor scores to date: 9.65 vs. Arizona, 9.80 vs. Michigan, 9.75 vs. Utah State and 9.70 vs. BYU ... has competed on beam just once this season (Michigan, fell).
Molly NorthropOnly "perfect" multipleevent Ute left remaining has hit all eight routines and has scored at least a 9.70 on each ... won first event of career on Feb. 6, when she tied for first on bars with careerbest 9.90 ... seasonhigh 9.80 on beam vs. BYU ... making pitch as the nation's best leadoff beam worker for a second straight year.
Sarah NorthropCompeted to count for the first time of 1998 on Feb. 6 and led off Utah's vault and bar sets with 9.80 on each ... scored 9.775 in exhibition bar routine and 9.700 practice vault at Utah State ... will lead off Utah's vault and bar sets again this Friday.
Summer ReidTwotime defending NCAA balance beam champion has yet to compete on specialty this year due to unsuccessful offseason wrist surgeries ... has done just one routine all yearscoring 9.70 on floor at Michigan on Jan. 23 ... retore calf muscle on Jan. 29 and is expected to miss at least another two meets ... leg injury was reason behind firstmeet lineup absence as well.
Angelika SchattonIs 5of5 this year, with four 9.75 or better vaults ... careerbest 9.80 vault against both Michigan (Jan. 23) and BYU (Feb. 6) ... competed floor against Arizona ... went exhibition on beam in first three meets ... 9.75 exhibition beam at Michigan.
Jenny SchmidtHad surgery on Dec. 27 to repair patellar tendon in her right knee ... injured while training uneven bars prior to Christmas ... was coming back from seasonending knee surgery last year (Mar. 7, same knee) ... likely to miss entire 1998 season.
Theresa WolfFreshman has won last two floor competitions, scoring personalbest 9.85 against both Utah State (Feb. 2) and BYU (Feb. 6) ... best beam score of 9.85 on Feb. 6 ... went allaround at Michigan, scoring 38.600 ... scheduled to go two events (beam and floor) this week ... has hit 11 of 13 routines.
GOPHER UPDATE 51 ... beat Alabama in seasonopener 192.925192.300 ... undefeated in Big10 competition, beating Michigan, Iowa and Ohio State ... other win was over Utah State ... sole loss was at Iowa State (192.375191.050) ... Mindy Knaeble and Judy Cavazos are 1997 AllAmericans ... best events are floor (48.95 high) and beam (48.90) ... no allarounders ... 21 on the road.
MARSDEN SAYS "Minnesota has improved each year that Jim and Meg (Stephenson) have been there. They (the Gophers) have a very veteran team this year. They've started the season very strong, with wins over Alabama and Michigan, and their scores have consistently risen. Last week they beat Utah State by a greater margin than we beat Utah State. They finished tenth at nationals last year, which is their highest finish ever. I know that it's a big goal of Jim and Meg's to come back here and win at our place, since they coached here for four years (Meg was a volunteer coach) ... I don't know how you couldn't feel good about our performance on Friday. The one area where we still need work is our tumbling difficulty on floor. We did upgrade (difficulty) last week, but we need to continue to do so. I feel good about where we are on the other three events. Each week we are executing better and we need to continue in that vein. Our effort on beam against BYU was not a surprise. I've expected us to compete like that all year on beam. Beam should be one of our strongestif not our strongestevent. Friday was more reflective of how we should be on balance beam and, hopefully, we are on track for the rest of the season."
tentative utah lineup
(Subject to Change)
vault
Sarah Northrop
Angelika Schatton
Traci Sommer
Denise Jones
Shannon Bowles
Angie Leonard
uneven bars
Sarah Northrop
Marilyn Ekdahl
Molly Northrop
Shannon Bowles
Denise Jones
Angie Leonard
balance beam
Molly Northrop
Theresa Wolf
Denise Jones
Angie Leonard
Traci Sommer
Shannon Bowles
floor exercise
Ashley Kever
Denise Jones
Traci Sommer
Angie Leonard
Theresa Wolf
Shannon Bowles
allaround
Shannon Bowles
Angie Leonard
Denise Jones
NACGC COACHES POLL
(Feb. 3, 1998)
No. Team Score
1. Georgia 196.335
2. Utah 194.667
3. Alabama 194.337
4. Florida 194.325
5. Penn State 193.794
6. Kentucky 193.733
7. UCLA 193.350
8. Michigan 193.160
9. West Virginia 192.756
10. Minnesota 192.625
11. Arizona State 192.150
12. Stanford 192.108
13. Ohio State 192.094
14. Oregon State 191.983
15. LSU 191.962
16. Illinois 191.675
Nebraska 191.675
18. Michigan 191.550
19. Washington 191.525
20. Utah State 191.075
21. Arizona 191.055
22. Brigham Young 190.900
23. Kent State 190.833
24. New Hampshire 190.725
25. Iowa State 190.625
*Poll is based on average score
1998 attendance
Home Meets
Date Team Atten.
116 Arizona 11,522
26 Brigham Young 11,468
213 Minnesota
227 Utah State
314 Oregon State
Avg. 11,495
Away Meets
Date Team Atten.
123 Michigan 1,671
22 Utah State 4,792
220 Washington
36 Stanford
321 Brigham Young
44 NCAA Regionals
1998 Utah event scoresmeet by meet
Date Opponent VT UB BB FX
116 Arizona 48.700 48.725 48.325 48.950
123 Michigan 48.725 48.975 47.725 48.925
22 Utah State 48.650 49.175 48.175 48.950
26 Brigham Young 49.100 49.335 49.350 49.025
213 Minnesota
220 Washington
227 Utah State
36 Stanford
314 Oregon State
321 Brigham Young
44 NCAA Regionals
the best of '98
Total: 196.825 vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 6
Vault: 49.100 vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 6
Bars: 49.350 vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 6
Beam: 49.350 vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 6
Floor: 49.025 vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 6
UTAH VS. ARIZONA, SALT LAKE CITY, JAN. 16
VAULT
Kara Fry 9.575 Theresa Wolf 9.675
Gretchen Diaz 9.100 Marilyn Ekdahl 9.750
Cami Banholzer 9.700 Angelika Schatton 9.750
Kiernan Andrews 9.200 Denise Jones 9.700
Kristin McDermott 9.675 Traci Sommer 9.650
Maureen Kealey 9.250 Angie Leonard 9.825
VT 47.400; Running 95.125 VT 48.700; Running 48.700
BARS
Lisha Stone 9.200 Traci Sommer 9.625
Rose McLaughlin 9.675 Marilyn Ekdahl 9.750
Heather Straccia 9.075 Molly Northrop 9.725
Kara Fry 9.650 Shannon Bowles 9.750
Tenli Poggemeyer 9.525 Denise Jones 9.250
Kristin McDermott 9.675 Angie Leonard 9.875
UB 47.725; Running 47.725 UB 48.725; Running 97.425
BEAM
Gretchen Diaz 9.375 Theresa Wolf 9.625
Rose McLaughlin 9.650 Angie Leonard 9.525
Cami Banholzer 8.875 Molly Northrop 9.700
Tenli Poggemeyer 8.500 Denise Jones 9.600
Kristin McDermitt 9.400 Shannon Bowles 9.875
Kara Fry 9.425 Traci Sommer 9.125
BB 46.725; Running 188.850 BB 48.325; Running 145.750
FLOOR
Heather Straccia 9.350 Angelika Schatton 9.525
Kiernan Andrews 8.425 Theresa Wolf 9.800
Kara Fry 8.875 Ashley Kever 9.650
Kristin McDermott 9.500 Denise Jones 9.800
Tenli Poggemeyer 9.700 Shannon Bowles 9.875
Cami Banholzer 9.575 Angie Leonard 9.825
FX 47.000; Running 142.125 FX 48.950; Running 194.700
UTAH VS. UTAH STATE, FEB. 2
VAULT
Marla Lowes 9.500 Marilyn Ekdahl 9.675
Trina Ewart 9.550 Traci Sommer 9.725
Laurie Cannon 9.575 Denise Jones 9.700
Kristen O'Dell 9.600 Angelika Schatton 9.750
Christy Denson 9.625 Angie Leonard 9.800
Amber Jamison 9.775 Shannon Bowles 9.650
VT 48.125; Running 48.125 VT 48.650; Running 97.825
BARS
Trina Ewart 9.725 Marilyn Ekdahl 9.800
Lyndsey Gaustad 9.700 Theresa Wolf 9.125
Melissa Kilpatrick 9.175 Molly Northrop 9.850
Amber Jamison 9.775 Shannon Bowles 9.875
Emily Swank 9.775 Denise Jones 9.800
Christy Denson 9.650 Angie Leonard 9.850
UB 48.625; Running 96.750 UB 49.175; Running 49.175
BEAM
Lyndsey Gaustad 9.575 Molly Northrop 9.775
Melissa Kilpatrick 9.000 Theresa Wolf 9.800
Amber Jamison 9.625 Denise Jones 9.025
Kerry Griggers 9.750 Angie Leonard 9.050
Krissy Richards 9.875 Traci Sommer 9.675
Christy Denson 9.800 Shannon Bowles 9.875
BB 48.625; Running 145.375 BB 48.175; Running 194.950
FLOOR
Kristen O'Dell 9.000 Ashley Kever 9.750
Melissa Kilpatrick 8.725 Denise Jones 9.750
Lyndsey Gaustad 9.750 Traci Sommer 9.775
Krissy Richards 9.775 Angie Leonard 9.825
Amber Jamison 9.650 Theresa Wolf 9.850
Christy Denson 9.850 Shannon Bowles 8.725
FX 48.025; Running 193.400 FX 48.950; Running 146.775
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