For the first time in the 10 years of the Super Six qualifying format, the U gymnastics team claimed first place in its session.
After posting a team score of 196.775, the Red Rocks advanced to the Super Six finals tonight at 7 p.m. CDT. The winner of the Super Six will be crowned NCAA Champion.
Utah will be joined in the Super Six by No. 3 Georgia (196.650) and No. 8 Nebraska (196.575). No. 5 Michigan (196.175), No. 6 LSU (195.850) and No. 12 Arizona (195.025) failed to advance to the next round.
Alabama (197.300), UCLA (197.100) and Stanford (196.050) qualified from the evening session.
Utah advanced to the Super Six with exceptional rounds in the floor exercise and balance beam.
After opening the competition with a bye, Utah turned in a 49.275 on floor.
Freshman Annabeth Eberle followed Lindsay Tanner’s solid opening 9.775 with a 9.800. The trio of Shannon Bowles, Theresa Kulikowski and Melissa Vituj all countered with 9.900s to give the Utes the second best score of the session in the event.
“We did about as good as we could on floor,” said U coach Greg Marsden.
The Utes were tested on the next event, vault. Deidra Graham, competing with five bulging back disks that have limited her performance this year, led off by either touching the mat or coming very close.
Her score was a 9.400, stacking pressure on the U’s next five performers. Vituj followed with a 9.875, sophomore Veronique Leclerc scored a 9.800, Eberle a 9.700, Kulio a 9.875 and Bowles a 9.850.
The Utes escaped near disaster by preserving the four-tenths of a point lead, totaling a 49.100 in the event.
After another bye, the U took to the bars. The team was solid but not exceptional one through six for a 48.950 team event score. Kulio’s 9.875 and Leclerc’s 9.800 led all Utes.
The U concluded with beam, on which it ranked No. 1 in the nation during the regular season.
The Utes proved why.
Eberle led off with a 9.825 and Graham scored a 9.850 two gymnasts later. Vituj followed with a 9.875, and poised vets Bowles and Kulio turned in scores of 9.950 each.
Utah’s 49.450 in the event was tops in the first session.
“We relaxed on the balance beam. [Now] we have to relax and enjoy it, and not get caught up in the outcome,” Marsden said.
Kulikowski’s 39.600 all around score placed her first out of all first session gymnasts, and third overall on the day, just behind UCLA’s Jamie Dantzscher (39.675) and Alabama’s Andree’ Pickens (39.625).
“It’s always exciting to be healthy and back in the all around,” Kulio said. “I’ve really just been trying to enjoy myself and keep the pressure off as much as possible.”
Bowles, who had been out of the all-around lineup for the past two competitions, placed fourth in the first session with a 39.450 all-around score.
Both Bowles and Kulio earned First Team all-around All America status for their finishes.
Eberle, in her first NCAA Championships, placed 11th with a 39.075 in her first NCAA Championships. Graham rounded out the all-arounders with a 38.800 for 17th place.
Kulio also earned First Team All-America on bars, beam and floor. Bowles got the honor on beam and floor, and Vituj won the honor on floor as well.
All three will compete Saturday in individual event competition, which starts at 7 p.m. CDT. The Utes did not qualify anyone on vault.
Utah’s quest for its first title since 1995 can be followed online at: www.rolltide.com.