Ute Gymnasts Will Meet Top Teams in Tempe, Ariz., on Friday. - The Official Athletic Site of the University of Utah

QUICKLY

The latest rankings are not yet available via the Internet. They were to have been released on Feb. 15. Therefore, the information that follows contains rankings from Feb. 8 ... The No. 4 Utes (5-1) won't have much time to savor Monday's come-from-behind win over UCLA (196.350-195.150). On Friday, Utah competes in the ASU Uno's Classic in Tempe, Ariz., along with No. 1 Alabama (9-2), No. 16 Arizona State (8-2) and No. 17 Minnesota (7-3) ... Meet time is 7 p.m. (Pacific and Mountain Time) ... Utah, winner of three straight, is 1-1 on the road this year ... It's a rare regular season meeting for Utah and Alabama, who have not squared off in the regular season since 1990 ... Live stats of the meet can be found on Utah's web site at .

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT

Now in its 25th year of varsity competition, Utah is the only school in the nation to qualify for each of the last 24 national championships. The Utes have made 18 straight NCAA appearances and own a record 10 national championships (1981-86, 1990, 1992 and 1994-95). They have never finished lower than 10th in the nation and were seventh last year.

"WATCH" THE UTES ON THE WEB

Running scores for all Utah gymnastics meets will be posted live on the Internet. To follow the meet in progress, go to Utah's web page at www.UtahUtes.com.

UTE TRAVEL PLANS

Flight Plans: Thursday-LV Salt Lake City at 1:55 p.m. (Delta #2043). AR Phoenix at 3:28 p.m. Sunday-LV Phoenix at 12:25 p.m. AR Salt Lake City at 1:57 p.m. Hotel Accommodations: Hilton Airport (480) 894-1600.

LAST WEEK

Utah rebounded from a poor night on the bars to snatch the lead and the victory from favored UCLA on Valentine's Day, 196.350-195.150, before 9,976 spectators in the Huntsman Center. Utah ran its record home court win streak to 155 on the wings of a career all-around effort by Denise Jones (39.60). Both teams tried to give the meet away on bars, where UCLA had three falls and Utah countered with two falls and an extra swing. But a big Bruin vault score put UCLA up by .05 going into the third round. The tide turned there, with Utah cranking out a 49.35 on the beam, tying its season best, as all six gymnasts scored a 9.80 or better. Ashley Kever produced a career-tying 9.95 to cap the set. The Bruins were enjoying similar success on floor, scoring a 49.275, but it was not enough to prevent Utah from moving slightly ahead (.25) entering the final rotation. All six Utes hit big in the closer, especially Jones, whose career-tying 9.95 floor score was the event winner. In the meantime, UCLA struggled through a three-fall effort on beam, giving Utah some breathing room.

TRAINER'S TABLE

Utah has lost its top two gymnasts-both All-Americans and one a two-time NCAA champion-for the season. Sophomore All-American and 1999 NCAA all-around and balance beam champion Theresa Kulikowski (knee) is out for the season after tearing her ACL on January 28 at LSU. She underwent surgery in her hometown of Colorado Springs last Friday (Feb. 11). Junior first-team All-American Shannon Bowles (neck), who placed fourth on beam last year and was eighth in the all-around in 1998, will redshirt after fracturing a vertebrae on November 22. More information on the injured All-Americans can be found at the end of this release. Freshman Erin Prewitt is awaiting ankle surgery and will also redshirt this season.

UTAH COACH GREG MARSDEN

Greg Marsden, the most successful coach in collegiate gymnastics history, is in his 25th year at the U. He became college gymnastics' first 700-win coach with Utah's win over Minnesota on January 21. Marsden is now 703-102-3 (all meets). His regular season record is 353-45-1. Marsden's ten national championships is double that of any other coach. Four of those titles came in the '90s (1990, '92, '94, '95). Fourteen of Marsden's teams have placed in the top-two nationally. The only coach in Utah's gymnastics history, Marsden is a seven-time national coach of the year selection.

SERIES SHORTS

Utah vs. Alabama: Utah leads 16-11 ... Utes lead 5-4 in regular season competitions and 6-2 at neutral sites ... teams have not met in regular season competition since 1990 (Alabama won 192.300-192.150 in Tuscaloosa) ... last time they met was at 1998 NCAA Championships (Alabama was third and Utah fourth). Utah vs. Arizona State: Utah leads 50-14-1 ... Utes lead 20-7-1 in regular season and 8-7-1 in Tempe ... they last met in 1998, with Utah winning 195.575-195.025 in Tempe. Utah vs. Minnesota: Utah leads 16-0 ... Utes lead 6-0 at neutral sites ... Utah won previous contest this year, 196.600-190.925, on Jan. 21 in Salt Lake City.

UTE NOTES

Utah has topped 49.00 on vault, beam and floor in the last three meets ... Utes have three 39.00-plus all-arounders even with the loss of All-Americans Theresa Kulikowski and Shannon Bowles to injury. They are: Denise Jones (39.60 best), Deidra Graham (39.55) and Theresa Wolf (39.425) ... Graham has topped 39.00 in the last four meets and Jones in the last three ... Jones' winning 39.60 all-around score against UCLA is tied for 10th in school history ... Freshman Kim Allan "hit" the first bar routine to count of her Ute career against UCLA and scored a 9.85. She fell on two previous attempts ... Kylee Wagner had a career night against UCLA on Feb. 14, tying her career bests on vault (9.80) and floor (9.90) and setting a new best on beam (9.825).

MORE ON THE UTES

Kim Allan, Fr.-Has made vault and bar lineups in last three meets ... is averaging 9.70 on three vaults (best of 9.725) ... hit first of three bar routines on Feb. 14 vs. UCLA and scored 9.85 ... scored 9.675 in exhibition on floor vs. Utah State and 9.70 on vault vs. Minnesota ... Canadian National Team member was fifth all-around at `99 Senior Elite Nationals ... third all-around at the 1998 Senior Elite Nationals and second on floor ... 10th all-around at 1997 World Trials. Shannon Bowles, Jr.-All-America all-arounder will redshirt this year after breaking her neck (fracture of the seventh cervical vertebrae) on Nov. 22 in a practice accident ... had successful off-season shoulder surgery ... former U.S. National team member is a four-time NCAA All-American ... has "hit" 90 percent of her career routines (84 of 93) and has 23 career victories ... career-best all-around score is 39.60 (ninth best in school history). Deidra Graham, So.-Has scored 39.00 or better in last four all-around attempts ... won two all-arounds (Feb. 4 vs. BYU and Feb. 7 vs. Utah State) ... ranked xx in nation all-around (xx) ... in last three meets, is averaging 39.34 ... career-best 39.55 vs. BYU on Feb. 4 ... won all-around (39.55), vault (9.875) and beam (9.90) vs. BYU ... career bests on three events this year: vault (9.875), beam (9.90) and bars (9.95) ... All-American on bars as a freshman finished 10th in the nation ... won collegiate all-around debut on Feb. 5, 1999, scoring 39.10 ... has "hit" 56 of 63 career routines and is 18 of 19 this year. Denise Jones, Sr.-Won her first all-around of season on Feb. 14 vs. UCLA with career-best 39.60 ... 39.60 is tied for 10th all-time at Utah ... all-around runner-up in previous two meets had 39.45 on Feb. 4 and 39.425 on Feb. 7 ... four individual event wins in last three meets ... two floor ex wins both received career-best 9.95 scores ... won beam with career-best 9.90 on Feb. 7 at Utah State ... 1998 All-America all-arounder (second team) ... 10 career 39.00-or-better all-around scores include three this year ... 13 career victories ... has "hit" 92% of her career routines (155 of 168). Ashley Kever, Sr.-Utah's final competitor on both beam and floor is currently ranked xxth nationally on floor with a 9.87 average ... two wins on floor this year: Jan. 28 at LSU (9.875) and Feb. 7 at Utah State (9.925) ... 9.925 on floor vs. BYU clinched victory for Utes ... 9.925 on floor is career high ... tied career best with winning 9.95 beam routine vs. UCLA ... "hit" 26 of 27 routines last year and is 11 of 12 this year. Theresa Kulikowski, So.-1999 NCAA all-around and beam champion (and runner-up on vault and floor) is gone for the season after tearing her ACL on Jan. 28 at LSU ... had surgery on Feb. 11 ... won 7 of 10 events before injury ... won all three bar competitions, both beam and floor routines, and both all-around competitions (did just two events at LSU) ... in poll just prior to her injury, she ranked No. 1 nationally in the all-around (39.4625 average), third on beam (9.8875) and fourth on floor (9.900) ... was No. 1 on bars in ranking immediately following injury (Feb. 1) ... scored 39.00 or better in all 13 of her career all-around attempts and has "hit" 61 of 64 routines (10 of 10 this year) ... 46 career victories includes 10 all-around wins ... first alternate for 1996 U.S. Olympic Team. Erin Prewitt, Fr.-Is taking a redshirt year and will undergo ankle surgery for an injury she incurred prior to coming to Utah ... member of U.S. Junior Olympic National team ... fifth all-around and finalist on floor at 1998 J.O. Nationals ... sixth all-around at 1997 J.O. Nationals ... was also a finalist on beam and floor at `97 Nationals. Leah Sabo, Fr.-Fighting for berth in floor lineup ... fall on last pass of her routine on Feb. 4 resulted in 9.350 ... great exhibition floor routine at LSU (9.875) would have been tied for first had it been to count ... also did exhibition floor routine in season opener ... did not compete vs. Minnesota (flu), Utah State or UCLA ... member of 1998-99 U.S. Junior Olympic National team ... won floor exercise and placed 12th all-around at 1998 J.O. Nationals ... third on vault and seventh on bars at 1999 J.O. Nationals. Angelika Schatton, Sr.-Started season as all-arounder before spraining ankle at LSU on Jan. 28 ... has done three events (vault, bars and beam) in last two meets ... career all-around best of 38.65 came against Utah State on Jan. 14 ... career-best 9.875 on beam at Utah State on Feb. 7 ... career-best 9.875 in first-ever bar routine to count (Jan. 14) ... went all-around in Utah's first three meets. Jenny Schmidt, Sr.-Had been sensational on bars before off night (fall and break) on Feb. 14 vs. UCLA ... ranked ninth nationally on bars with 9.870 average before her first fall of season ... won first event title of her career vs. BYU on Feb. 4, scoring career-best 9.90 ... also scored 9.90 at Utah State on Feb. 7 ... relegated to single event after two knee surgeries interrupted fine career ... as a freshman, was a great three-event performer, hitting 29 of 30 routines ... 5 of 6 this year. Lindsay Tanner, So.-With routine that features a full-in, and a 9.8 average floor score, she is one of the country's best lead-off competitors ... career best 9.85 on Feb. 4 and Feb. 14 ... has scored 9.825 twice ... came to Utah on an academic scholarship. Kylee Wagner, So.-Has solidified her hold on three event status after two great meets ... on Feb. 7 scored then career-best 9.80 on beam, 9.875 on floor and 9.75 on vault at USU ... on Feb. 14, had career bests on all three events: 9.80 on vault, 9.825 on beam and 9.90 on floor ... won first-ever event title on Jan. 14 (vault, 9.775) on night she scored 39.00 as exhibition all-arounder ... career-tying 9.80 on vault vs. BYU (Feb. 4). Theresa Wolf, Jr.-Has gone all-around in last three meets ... career-best 39.425 all-around at USU on Feb. 7 was tied for second ... won two individual events at Utah State (vault, 9.90 and beam, 9.90) ... beam and vault scores at USU were career highs ... also won vault against Minnesota (9.825) ... tied career bar high vs. Minnesota (9.825) ... in first floor routine of the year, tied career high with 9.90 vs. BYU ... has "hit" 18 of 20 routines.

UTE WINNERS IN 2000

Theresa Kulikowski (9) All-Around (2) 39.400 vs. Utah State, Jan. 14 39.525 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 21 Bars (3) 9.975 vs. Utah State, Jan. 14 9.950 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 21 9.925 vs. LSU, Jan. 28 Beam (2) 9.825 vs. Utah State, Jan. 14 9.950 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 21 Floor (2) 9.875 vs. Utah State, Jan. 14 9.925 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 21

Denise Jones (5) All-Around (1) 39.600 vs. UCLA, Feb. 14 Vault (1) 9.875 vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 4 Beam (1) 9.900 vs. Utah State, Feb. 7 Floor (2) 9.950 vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 4 9.950 vs. UCLA, Feb. 14

Deidra Graham (4) All-Around (2) 39.550 vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 4 39.450 vs. Utah State, Feb. 7 Vault (1) 9.875 vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 4 Beam (1) 9.900 vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 4

Theresa Wolf (3) Vault (2) 9.825 vs. Utah State, Jan. 14 9.900 vs. Utah State, Feb. 7 Beam (1) 9.900 vs. Utah State, Feb. 7

Ashley Kever (3) Beam (1) 9.950 vs. UCLA, Feb. 14 Floor (2) 9.875 vs. LSU, Jan. 28 9.925 vs. Utah State, Feb. 7

Kylee Wagner (1) Vault (1) 9.775 vs. Utah State, Jan. 14

Jenny Schmidt (1) Bars (1) 9.900 vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 4

ABOUT THE FOES

Alabama: Ranked No. 4 in the Feb. 8 poll ... 9-2 overall ... season high 197.05 vs. Georgia on Jan. 28 ... five 39.00 all-arounders include Andree' Pickens (39.70) and Robin Hawkins (39.275). Arizona State: Ranked No. 16 ... 8-2 overall ... season high 195.550 vs. Washington on Feb. 12 ... only all-arounder to date is Becky Acker (37.825). Minnesota: Ranked 17 ... 7-3 overall ... season high 195.125 vs. Iowa on Feb. 6 ... top all-arounder is Mary Anne Kelley (39.175).

MARSDEN SAYS

"We won't have much training time before our upcoming meet. We just hope to recover and accept another challenge in a season filled with challenges. There's no rest once the season starts. We go from not being able to sit around feeling sorry for ourselves about our injuries, because we have a meet coming up, to this case: We can't sit around and celebrate (the win over UCLA) when we have a meet just as tough and maybe tougher, since it's on the road, in a few days. We hope to continue to get better from this experience. We're going to see the No. 1 team in the country (Alabama) after seeing a great UCLA team on Monday. Of course, ASU is always tough, especially on their home floor. When we hit our stuff, we make everyone else have to be really on that night to beat us. When we make some mistakes, we're a very beatable team. How we do all depends what kind of night we have."

UTES LOSE NCAA CHAMP

Sophomore Theresa Kulikowski, the defending NCAA all-around and balance beam champion and vault and floor runner-up, is gone for the season after injuring her knee on the vault vs. LSU on January 28. Kulikowski, who entered the meet ranked No. 1 in the nation in the all-around and on bars, tore the ACL in her left knee after landing her first vault. She had surgery to repair the ACL on Feb. 11. She had ACL surgery on her right knee before coming to Utah. Kulikowski will petition for a medical hardship from the NCAA.

NOT KULI

Sophomore Theresa Kulikowski, the 1999 NCAA champion in the all-around and on balance beam, and the NCAA runner-up on vault and floor, will miss the remainder of the year after tearing her ACL on January 28 at LSU. She underwent surgery on Feb. 11 in her hometown of Colorado Springs. Kulio, the first alternate to the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team and a five-time NCAA All-American as a freshman, won seven of 10 events in her two and a half meets this year. She won all three bar competitions and both beam and floor routines. She won both of her all-around attempts (did just two events at LSU). Kulio finished the current season ranked No. 1 nationally in the all-around (39.4625 average) and on bars (9.9625). She was ranked third on beam (9.8875) and fourth on floor (9.900). She has scored a 39.00 or better in all 13 of her career all-around attempts and has "hit" 61 of 64 routines (10 of 10 this year). She set the school record for wins in a season last year with 37 and now has 46 career victories. Ten of those were in the all-around.

BROKEN BOWLES

Junior All-American Shannon Bowles, who sustained a neck injury on November 22, will redshirt this year. The injury, which occurred while she was attempting a yurchenko front half vault, resulted in a fracture of her seventh cervical vertebrae. Bowles' latest MRI was on February 14. It showed that, while the fracture is healing, she is not yet ready to compete. One of the nation's top all-arounders, Bowles is a former member of the U.S. National Team.

THE STREAK

Utah has survived two of its biggest scares in nearly 21 years in extending its national record regular season home court win streak to 155. Utah won the closest dual meet in the Huntsman Center since 1979 on February 4, eking out a 196.300-195.800 win over BYU for win No. 154. The Utes got win No. 155 on Valentine's Day vs. UCLA. Utah last lost a regular season meet at home almost 21 years ago on Feb. 20, 1979 to Cal State-Fullerton. In the last 15 years, just two opponents have come within a point of Utah in a regular season meet in the Huntsman Center: Utah defeated BYU by 0.5 on Feb. 4, 2000 and Oregon State by 0.75 in 1996. Two others came within a point and a half: LSU (1.225 in 1999) and Georgia (1.4 points in 1991). Among the nationally ranked teams to fall to Utah since 1979: Georgia, Alabama, UCLA, Michigan, Florida, Arizona State, Penn State, LSU, Oregon State, Arizona, Nebraska, Brigham Young, Washington and Stanford. Including post-season competition, Utah's all-time home record is 306-15 (95%).

UTES TOP DRAW OF THE NINETIES

The Utah gymnastics team won the attendance race for the ninth time in the 1990s last year, averaging 10,568 fans a home meet. It was the third best season home attendance figure ever for Utah or any gymnastics team. The Utes have averaged nearly 11,000 fans per home meet over the last nine years, led by an NCAA record 13,164 average in 1993. Just one gymnastics team other than Utah has ever averaged in five-figure attendance and that was Alabama in 1997 (10,301). Utah's 10,568 attendance average in 1999 was third for all women's sports, behind Tennessee (14,969) and Connecticut (10,744) women's basketball. Utah, which has the top five season attendance averages ever for a gymnastics program, also has nine of the top 12 single meet attendance marks, led by the biggest crowd ever to watch a collegiate gymnastics meet in the United States-15,238 vs. Cal State Fullerton in 1991. The Utes are averaging 9,849 fans in four home meets this year with a season-best 12,201 vs. BYU on Feb. 4.