Gymnast Profiles Meet the Utes Jessica Duke Senior • 5’4” • Sandy, Utah • The Waterford School Olympus School of Gymnastics

UTAH: A starter on bars since her freshman CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: International Elite year, she has competed on all four events at qualifier in 2000 … 2000 Junior Olympics na- various times of her career … 85-90 in career tional all-around champion … 10th in the all- routines and 10-of-10 in NCAA Champion- around at the 2003 J.O. Championships and ships routines… two career victories … 14th in 2004 … competed for Region I team member of Utah’s Student Athlete Advisory that took first at both the 2003 and ’04 J.O. Council (SAAC). Championships … sixth on bars and eighth 2007–Earned second-team All-America on at the 2004 J.O.’s … won floor and honors on the bars by scoring a career-best placed third on bars and fifth in the all-around 9.90 … missed a spot in NCAA event finals at the 2003 Utah- Games in Mos- by one place (tied for fifth session II of the cow, Russia … trained at Olympus School of opening night of the NCAA Championships) Gymnastics under coaches Mary Wright (also … swung bars to count in every meet … com- a Ute volunteer coach) and Ryan Kirkham … peted in the all-around in the first three meets, graduated from The Waterford School. scoring a career-best 39.00 in the opener Gymnast Profiles against UCLA … hit 31-33 routines … made PERSONAL: Daughter of Joy and Jeff Duke the Athletics Academic Honor Roll. … both parents graduated from BYU … three 2006–Scored a 9.80 on both and bars in brothers (David, Daniel, Matthew) and two NCAA Super Six competition … hit all four sisters (Jamie, Madeline) … family and con- routines at nationals … went all-around in sumer studies major … full name is Jessica the season opener at UCLA … won the floor Marie Duke … born Oct. 5, 1985 in Illinois. exercise at Washington with a 9.85 … hit 35- 38 routines. Catching up with Jessica Duke’s Career Highs 2005–Went the entire season, including Miles from home: 10 four routines at the national championships, All-Around 38.525 vs. UCLA, Jan. 7, 2006 Nicknames: Jessie, Dukie without a fall … scored a 9.85 on vault and a Vault 9.925 vs. Arizona State, Mar. 18, 2005 You may not know: My dad was the student 9.825 on bars (tying her season high) in the Bars 9.90 vs. Michigan, Feb. 11, 2006 body president at BYU. NCAA Super Six … cracked the vault lineup 9.90 at NCAA Championships, Apr. 26, 2007 Beam 9.675 vs. UCLA, Jan. 12, 2007 Gymnast I pretended to be as a child: one month into the season and earned a start- ing job on bars by the midway point … won 9.675 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 27, 2007 Floor 9.85 vs. Washington, Jan. 13, 2006 vault vs. Arizona State with career-best 9.925 Favorite skill to perform: Full-out dismount 9.85 vs. SUU/USU, Jan. 27, 2006 on bars. … had three 9.90-or-better vault scores … hit 9.85 vs. Oregon State, Mar. 10, 2006 Favorite non-U of U team: Manchester 19-19 routines. United Favorite food: Sushi Favorite movie: Garden State Favorite gymnasts: Gritt Hofmann, Shannon Bowles,

24 1 0 - t i m e n a t i o n a l c h a m p i o n s Meet the Utes Katie Kivisto Senior • 5’0” • Boca Raton, Fla. • Pope John Paul II HS American Twisters

UTAH: Emerged as a vocal team leader a CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Five-year Inter- year ago … a bar specialist for her first two national Elite gymnast competed for the U.S. years, she made the floor lineup in 2007 ... Senior National Team from 2001-02 … 11th will try out for a starting position on bars, in the all-around at the 2001 USA Gymnas- beam and floor… 32-38 in career routines … tics Championships … member of the USA member of Utah’s Student Athlete Mentors Junior National Team from 1999-2000 …

(SAMS). 1999 J.O. floor exercise champion … third in Gymnast Profiles 2007–Utah’s Most Inspirational Gymnast the all-around at 1999 J.O. Championships … overcame an elbow injury to earn a starting placed third all-around and first on beam at spot on the floor … Utah’s very first competi- the Puerto Cup … trained for the late Tim and tor of the NCAA Super Six scored a 9.775 on Toni Rand at American Twisters. the floor … received a 9.80 the first night of NCAA competition … tied her career high PERSONAL: Daughter of Sharon and Jussi with a 9.825 on floor at NCAA Regionals Kivisto … last name is pronounced ka-viss- … competed twice on bars before an elbow toe … younger sisters Brigitte and Hanna injury took her out of the rotation … hit 9-11 both compete in gymnastics (Brigette is a routines, including all nine floor routines sophomore at Yale) … has a skill on balance … made the Dean’s List and the Athletics beam named after her (the Kivisto) … double Academic Honor Roll … 4.0 GPA spring se- major in psychology and political science … mester … NACGC Scholastic All-American. full name is Katia Helena Kivisto … born 2006–Season ended prematurely when she Dec. 10, 1985. dislocated her elbow in uneven bar warm-ups Catching up with Katie on Mar. 10 … season-best 9.85 at Michigan Kivisto’s Career Highs on Feb. 11 … hit 5-6 routines (all on bars as Bars 9.90 vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 11, 2005 Miles from home: 2,050 the lead-off competitor) … only fall came in the season opener. Beam 9.70 vs. Utah State, Jan. 14, 2005 You may not know: My dad was born in Floor 9.825 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 27, 2007 2005–Began the season as the second com- Finland 9.825 vs. Arizona State, Mar. 23, 2007 I started gymnastics at age: 2 petitor on bars, but soon developed into a 9.825 at NCAA Regionals, Apr. 14, 2007 Gymnast I pretended to be as a child: high-scoring lead-off … 9.825 score on bars in the NCAA Super Six … competed on bars Favorite non U of U sports team: Miami in every meet and made the starting lineup Heat twice on beam and four times on floor … Career goal: Attorney placed second on bars vs. BYU, scoring a Favorite food: Steak career-best 9.90 … hit 18-21 routines, includ- Favorite subject in school: Pyschology ing `14-15 on bars. Favorite animal: Penguin Favorite gymnast: Jana Beiger

1 0 - t i m e n a t i o n a l c h a m p i o n s 25 Meet the Utes Ashley Postell Senior • 5’2” • Burke, Va. • Alpha Omega HS Capital Gymnastics NTC

UTAH: Owns 15 All-America awards (the to a foot injury suffered during the NCAA most possible) in her first three years – in- Super Six warm-ups (did compete on bars and cluding 13 first-team citations … 2007 NCAA tied for third) … despite the injury, she went champion … fierce competi- all-around and scored a 39.325 in the Super tor has never been beaten head-to-head in Six … NCAA North Central Region Gym- NCAA all-around competition – winning her nast of the Year … won the NCAA regional session all three years, only to finish second bar championship with a 9.925 … career twice (2006 and 2007), and third in 2005 … all-around best of 39.775 on Mar. 11 ties the Utah’s Most Valuable Performer all three fifth-best mark in school history … won the years has led the Utes in victories since her all-around in her very first college meet vs. freshman year … 73 career victories includes UCLA and her 39.625 score set a Ute fresh- 19 all-around wins … has hit 161-174 career man record for best all-around debut … two routines. 10.0 scores on the balance beam in back-to- 2007–Spectacular postseason culminated back weeks was a Utah first … team-best in an NCAA balance beam championship, 23 victories included seven all-around wins Gymnast Profiles a silver medal in the all-around and five … completed her first 43 collegiate routines All-America awards (four first team) … also without a fall before a miscue on floor in placed third on floor and seventh on bars at the final regular season meet … hit 56-58 nationals … second-team vault All-American routines … voted Utah’s co-MVP. … did not lose a head-to-head all-around competition at nationals, winning the evening CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: 2002 World Bal- session on Thursday (39.60) and scoring a ance Beam Champion …U.S. Senior National Catching up with Ashley 39.65 in the Super Six … recorded six wins Team member from 1998-2004 competed at over the three-day course of the NCAA both the 2002 and 2003 World Champion- Miles from home: 1,832 Championships – placing first on bars, beam ships … 2003 U.S. champion on floor exer- Nicknames: Ash, Potty and in the all-around on day one; floor and cise also placed second on beam and fourth Family note: My brother played football at all-around in the Super Six; and beam during in the all-around and on bars at the 2003 USA Duquesne University and has professional event finals … three-time NCAA West Re- Championships … trained for coaches Tatiana aspirations gional champion won the all-around, bars and Perskaia, Victor Vetrov and Marina Gerasi- Gymnast I pretended to be as a child: beam, while placing second on the floor … mova at Capital Gymnastics NTC … home three best all-around scores of the year came schooled (received degree from Alpha Omega Favorite skill to perform: Omilianchik (back in the postseason: 39.675 at regionals, 39.60 High School). handspring, 3/4, to handstand on beam) and 39.65 at nationals ... led Utah in victo- Hardest skill I’ve ever performed: Triple full ries with 30 (seven all-around) … hit 54-59 PERSONAL: Daughter of Linda Postell and punch front routines … voted Utah’s MVP. Gary Postell (pronounced Pah-stell) … broth- Something you don’t know about me: I’m 2006–NCAA runner-up in the all-around won ers Eric and Kyle and sister Territa … health half white and black the opening session of the NCAA Champion- education and promotion major … full name Favorite non U of U sports team: Real Salt ships with a 39.525 … five-time first-team is Ashley Blair Postell … born June 9, 1986. Lake (Major League Soccer) All-American qualified for event finals on all four apparatus … finished fifth on bars, sev- My goal is to: Go to the Olympics Postell’s Career Highs I’ve been described as: Funny, outgoing, enth on beam and eighth on vault (scratched jokester from floor) in NCAA event finals … lost six All-Around 39.775 vs. Washington, Mar. 11, 2005 weeks of training prior to the season with a Vault 9.95 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 26, 2005 torn elbow ligament … season-best 39.65 in 9.95 vs. Georgia, Mar. 6, 2006 the all-around vs. Georgia on Mar. 6 and at Bars 9.95 vs. Washington, Mar. 11, 2005 Florida on Mar. 17 … led Utah with 20 victo- 9.95 at NCAA Regionals, Mar. 14, 2007 Beam 10.0 vs. Washington, Mar. 11, 2005 ries (five all-around) … hit 51-57 routines … 10.0 vs. Arizona State, Mar. 18, 2005 voted Utah’s co-MVP … made the Athletic Floor 9.95 vs. UCLA, Jan. 7, 2005 Director’s honor roll. 9.95 at NCAA Championships, Apr. 27, 2007 2005–Five-time All-American placed third in nation in the all-around after winning the af- ternoon session with a 39.575 … also placed third on bars … first-team All-American in the all-around, bars, beam and vault and a second-teamer on the floor … withdrew from individual finals on the beam and vault due

26 1 0 - t i m e n a t i o n a l c h a m p i o n s Meet the Utes Kristina Baskett Junior • 5’1” • Normandy Park, Wash. • Mt. Rainier HS Puget Sound Gymnastics

UTAH: Three-time All-American was the CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: All-around, vault 2006 NCAA uneven bar co-champion as a and floor champion at the 2005 USA Junior freshman … one of the nation’s best all- Olympic Championships … qualified for the arounders … 39 career victories … has hit 2003 USA Championships, but broke her foot 101-113 career routines … two-time Dahl two days before the meet … took 18th in the Award winner (given to the Utah gymnast all-around at the 2002 USA Championships

who most distinguishes herself academically … placed fourth on vault at the 2004 U.S. Gymnast Profiles and athletically). Classic … won the all-around competition 2007– First-team All-American on the uneven at the 1999 Copa International in Monterey, bars (placed fourth) … her 9.925 tied for the Mexico, and the 2002 Costa Rica Interna- best bar score on the first day of the NCAA tional … trained at Puget Sound Gymnastics Championships … NCAA West Regional under coaches Brad Loan and Candyce Chit- vault co-champion scored a 9.925 … tied for tinden … graduated from Mt. Rainier High second in the all-around (39.475) at regionals School. … career-best 39.70 all-around score at Utah State on Feb. 9 is tied for the eighth best ever PERSONAL: Daughter of Jean and Randy at Utah ... tied her career high on vault with a Baskett (pronounced bass-KETT) … father 9.975 against Arizona State … other season is a pilot for United Airlines … one brother highs included a 9.95 on bars, 9.925 on floor (Ricky) … career goal is to become a profes- and 9.90 on beam … won at least one indi- sional photographer … mass communication vidual title in 12 of 13 regular season meets… major … full name is Kristina Marie Baskett second on the team in victories with 21 … … born June 5, 1987. Catching up with Kristina hit 51-59 routines… named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District At-Large second team Miles from Home: 710 … won Utah’s Dahl Award for academic and Baskett’s Career Highs Favorite skill to perform: Double layout on athletic success … made the Dean’s List and floor Athletics Academic Honor Roll. All-Around 39.70 vs. Utah State, Feb. 9, 2007 Hardest skill I’ve ever performed: Yurch- 2006–NCAA uneven bar co-champion and Vault 9.975 vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 24, 2006 9.975 vs. Arizona State, Mar. 23, 2007 enko double full first-team All-American … earned second- team All-America honors on vault … 9.90 Bars 9.95 vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 24, 2006 Favorite non U of U sports team: Salt Lake 9.95 vs. Utah State, Feb. 9, 2007 bar score on the first day of NCAA Cham- Bees 9.95 vs. Arizona State, Mar. 23, 2007 Career goal: Professional photographer pionships competition led both sessions … Beam 9.90 vs. UCLA, Jan. 12, 2007 Favorite food: My mom’s sourdough 9.95 vault score in the Super Six tied for Floor 9.925 vs. Oregon State, Mar. 10, 2006 pancakes second place … won her collegiate all-around 9.925 vs. Utah State, Feb. 9, 2007 Why I chose the University of Utah: I love debut against Nebraska on Jan. 20, scoring a everything about it 39.325 … season-best 39.40 all-around score Favorite animal: My cat Nacho vs. Georgia on Mar. 6 … 18 victories was Favorite activities: Wakeboarding, dancing, second-most on the team … hit 50-54 rou- photography tines … won Utah’s Dahl Award for academic Favorite gymnast: Theresa Kulikowski and athletic success … NACGC Scholastic All-American and Mountain West Conference Scholar-Athlete … made the Dean’s List and the Athletics Director’s Honor Roll.

1 0 - t i m e n a t i o n a l c h a m p i o n s 27 Meet the Utes Nina Kim Junior • 5’3” • , • Alpha Omega Academy World Olympic Gymnastics Academy

UTAH: Clutch performer is at her best in the CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year USA postseason … has hit 12-of-12 routines in two National Team member … did not compete years of NCAA Championships’ competition in 2005 … placed first on the balance beam … as a junior this year, she hopes to regain at the 2004 American Classic and won the the all-around position she held as a freshman all-around at the 2003 Podium Meet and the … has hit 92-98 career routines… member of 2002 Crystal D’Arc in France … also earned Utah’s Student Athlete Mentors (SAMS). top six finishes at the 2002 USA Gymnas- 2007–Career-tying 9.90 beam score in the tics Championships (6th), the 2003 Golden Super Six helped propel Utah to a runner-up Lilia in the Ukraine (5th) and the 2004 FL finish at the NCAA Championships … com- Gymnastics Open in Luxembourg (3rd) … peted on vault, bars and beam in every meet won the uneven bar title in Luxembourg … … developed into one of the best beam work- finished 16th in the all-around at the 2004 ers on the team in the last half of the season U.S. National Championships … Houston – scoring a 9.85-or-better in the last six com- native moved to Rowlett, Texas (near Dallas) petitions (seven total 9.85 or better scores on to train at the World Olympic Gymnastics Gymnast Profiles beam) … scored a career-high 9.925 on bars Academy under coaches Evgeny Marchenko at Utah State on Feb. 9 … season-high 9.875 and Natasha Boraskya. … home schooled on vault three times … hit 42-45 routines … (received degree from Alpha Omega High made the Athletics Academic Honor Roll. School). 2006–All-arounder hit all eight routines at the NCAA Championships … 39.225 all-around PERSONAL: Daughter of Sanya and Jong score tied for 11th in the Super Six field … Wook Kim … parents are immigrants from Catching up with Nina also had the sixth-best beam score (9.85) and South Korea … sister Jenny … enjoys draw- seventh-best vault score (9.90) in the Super ing … visited South Korea with her mother in Miles from home: 1,197 Six … placed fourth all-around at the NCAA the summer of 2006 … art major … full name Along with English: I am fluent in Korean Regional championships … 39.50 all-around is Nina Song Yi Kim … born Nov. 3, 1986. The gymnast I pretended to be as a child: high against BYU … went all-around in the Was different every day. final nine meets and scored above a 39.0 in Hardest skills I’ve ever performed: Round- all of them … best apparatus score was a Kim’s Career Highs off full beam mount and back handspring full 9.925 on vault and floor … 2 victories (both on the beam on floor) … hit 50-53 routines … made the All-Around 39.50 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 24, 2006 Dean’s List. Vault 9.925 vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 24, 2006 You don’t know this about me: I love shoes Bars 9.925 vs. Utah State, Feb. 9, 2007 (especially high heels) Beam 9.90 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 24, 2006 My outside interest: I love to go to art 9.90 at NCAA Championships, Apr. 27, 2007 galleries Floor 9.925 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 24, 2006 Favorite subject in school: Art Favorite animal: Giraffe Favorite food: Mom’s Korean food Favorite gymnast: Gritt Hofmann

28 1 0 - t i m e n a t i o n a l c h a m p i o n s Meet the Utes Daria Bijak Sophomore • 5’2” • Cologne, Germany • Georg Buechner Gymnasium HS • Turnteam Toyota Cologne

UTAH: All-American as a freshman will play CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Two-time German an even bigger role if she can avoid the inju- national all-around champion (2005-06) … ries that limited her a year ago … projected to also won national titles on vault and floor at compete as an all-arounder this year … two- the 2005 German National Championships, time German national all-around champion and placed first on bars at the 2006 national (2005-06) has great skills and presentation. meet … placed eighth in the all-around at the

2007–First-team All-American 2005 World Championships in Melbourne, Gymnast Profiles placed eighth at the NCAA Championships … Australia … 20th all-around at the 2003 overcame November knee surgery and a mid- World Championships … third on vault season injury to both knees to compete on and bars, and fourth in the all-around at the bars and beam at nationals … on the opening 2003 German Championships … trained at day of the NCAA Championships, she scored Turnteam Toyota Cologne for coach Shanna a career-best 9.925 on bars – tying for first Poljakova … graduated from Georg Buechner in the evening session – and a 9.80 on beam High School. … 9.85 on beam in the Super Six … until injuring both knees in late March, she was a PERSONAL: Daughter of Christel and starter on three events (bars, beam and floor) Christoph Bijak … name is pronounced … hit 27-29 routines … made the Dean’s List Darr-ee-a BEE-jhack (soft “j”) … one brother and the Athletics Academic Honor Roll … 4.0 (Thomas) … theater major … full name is GPA spring semester … NACGC Scholastic Daria Eva Bijak … born Nov. 12, 1985 in All-American. Poland.

Catching up with Daria Bijak’s Career Highs

Miles from home: 5,115 Bars 9.925 at NCAA Championships, Apr. 26, 2007 My family: Moved 20 times in 12 years Beam 9.900 vs. Florida, Mar. 9, 2007 I started gymnastics at age: 6 Floor 9.850 vs. Oregon State, Mar. 16, 2007 Hardest skill I’ve ever performed: Double front punch front on floor Favorite non U of U sports team: German National Soccer Team I will never forget: Being introduced at home meets My goal is to: Go to the Olympics Favorite foods: Pasta, corn on the cob with mayonnaise Favorite subject in school: Math Favorite activities: Dancing, surfing

1 0 - t i m e n a t i o n a l c h a m p i o n s 29 Meet the Utes Jamie Deetscreek Sophomore • 5’3” • Hatboro, Pa. • Hatboro-Horsham HS Ricochets Gymnastics

UTAH: Hopes to break into the starting PERSONAL: Daughter of Jean and Gary lineup … best events are bars and beam … Deetscreek … father is a golf pro and mother trademark quality is her consistency. is a pharmacist … both parents are graduates 2007–Served as the alternate on vault, bars of Temple University, where her father played and beam … competed to count against Utah on the golf team … sister Chrissy and brother State and Nebraska … season-best 9.775 best Michael … enjoys music and painting … has on bars and 9.75 on beam (twice) … scored not declared a major … full name is Jamie a 9.65 in her only vault to count … hit 4-4 Lee Deetscreek … born May 4, 1988. routines … made the Dean’s List and the Athletics Academic Honor Roll … 4.0 GPA spring semester … NACGC Scholastic All- Deetscreek’s Career Highs American. Vault 9.65 vs. Nebraska, Mar. 4, 2007 CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Two-year Junior Bars 9.775 vs. Utah State, Feb. 9, 2007 National Team member qualified as an Elite Beam 9.75 vs. Utah State, Feb. 9, 2007

Gymnast Profiles 9.75 vs. Nebraska, Mar. 4, 2007 in 2003 … 2002 and 2004 Junior Olympic all-around and beam champion … also won the J.O. bar title in 2004 … seventh in the all-around and eighth on vault and bars at the 2005 J.O. Championships … won the 2005 Level 10 state and regional all-around, vault, beam and floor titles … trained at Ricochets Catching up with Jamie for Troy Miller, Janet Hamvas, Chris Zim- merman and Amanda Greer … graduated Miles from home: 1,921 from Hatboro-Horsham High School. Everyone in my family: Knows how to play golf The gymnast I pretended to be as a child: Shannon Miller Favorite skill to perform: Double layout off bars Favorite non U of U sports team: Pitts- burgh Steelers You may not know: I love to sing Favorite food: Strawberries Favorite Movie: Legally Blonde Favorite subject in school: Writing Favorite animal: Dolphin

30 1 0 - t i m e n a t i o n a l c h a m p i o n s Meet the Utes Annie DiLuzio Sophomore • 5’3” • Folsom, Calif. • Folsom HS Byers Gymnastics Sacramento

UTAH: NCAA runner-up on the vault as a CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Two-year U.S. Na- freshman … hopes to go all-around this year tional Team member was the vault runner-up after recovering from an elbow injury that at the 2005 World Cup in Belgium and at the kept her from training on the uneven bars as 2005 U.S. Championships … placed seventh a freshman … one of the best vaulters in the in the all-around at the 2005 U.S. Champi- world (second in the 2005 World Cup) and a onships … first on vault at the 2005 North

spectacular tumbler on the floor exercise. American Tri-Meet (USA, Canada, Mexico) Gymnast Profiles 2007–NCAA vault runner-up scored a 9.8875 … won vault and finished 10th all-around in individual event finals … also a first-team at the 2004 U.S. Classic … 2003 Junior All-American on vault … scored a career- Olympic floor champion and vault runner-up high 9.925 on vault the first day of the NCAA … trained at Byers Gymnastics Sacramento Championships … also competed on floor under coaches Mas Watanabe and Eli and at nationals, scoring a 9.775 and 9.85 in the Debbie Rodriguez ... graduated from Folsom team qualifying round and Super Six, respec- High School. tively … “hit” all five routines at nationals … consistent scorer on vault and floor also PERSONAL: Daughter of Nancy and John competed on beam for the first five meets ... DiLuzio (pronounced da-LOO-zee-oh) … fa- four 9.90-or-better vault scores … 9.90 floor ther is a firefighter … adopted when she was best and 9.775 on beam … took first place 10 days old … one brother (Anthony) … full on the vault at BYU on Mar. 30 … scored a name is Annie Kaitlyn DiLuzio … born Sept. 9.90 on vault and 9.875 on floor at regionals 28, 1988 in British Columbia, Canada. … hit 29-32 routines … made the Dean’s List Catching up with Annie and the Athletics Academic Honor Roll … NACGC Scholastic All-American. DiLuzio’s Career Highs Miles from home: 513 Nickname: Dooz Vault 9.925 at NCAA Championships, April 26, 2007 Place of birth: Canada Beam 9.775 vs. UCLA, Jan. 12, 2007 Floor 9.90 vs. Utah State, Feb. 9, 2007 Favorite skill to perform: Double Arabian Hardest skill I’ve ever performed: Yurch- enko 2 ½ Favorite non U of U sports team: San Francisco Giants Favorite foods: Pasta and steak Favorite music: Country Favorite subject in school: Psychology Favorite gymnast:

1 0 - t i m e n a t i o n a l c h a m p i o n s 31 Meet the Utes Stephanie Neff Sophomore • 5’0” • Mesa, Ariz. • Apache Trail HS Carter’s Gymnastics Academy

UTAH: Will benefit from preseason training PERSONAL: Daughter of Susan and – something she missed as a freshman due to Steve Neff … mother is a Penn State alum a pre-existing injury … best events are bars … brother Steve is a U.S. Army Ranger … and floor … strong tumbler has innovative brother nicknamed her Tank for her ability to skills … if she becomes more consistent in compete when she was hurt … undecided on competition, she could win a starting spot on a major … full name is Stephanie Elizabeth several events. Neff … born Sept. 22, 1988 in Allentown, Pa. 2007–Missed the first half of the season to rehabilitate an injured back … came off the injured list to compete on the floor in six Neff’s Career Highs straight meets … season-best 9.80 floor score Bars 9.75 vs. Nebraska, Mar. 4, 2007 at Nebraska and Oregon State … competed Floor 9.80 vs. Nebraska, Mar. 4, 2007 on bars against Nebraska and scored a 9.75 9.80 vs. Oregon State, Mar. 16, 2007 ... hit 6-7 routines … made the Athletics Academic Honor Roll … NACGC Scholastic Gymnast Profiles All-American.

CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: 2003-04 Senior International Elite qualifier … member of the USA Junior National Team from 2001-02 and the Junior Olympic National Team in 2006 … 2006 Junior National bar champion and Catching up with Stephanie all-around runner-up … 2002 Junior National Elite all-around, bar and beam champion … Miles from home: 505 2001 Junior National Elite floor champion … Nicknames: Lizzie, Tank also placed first on vault at the 2001 J.O. Na- The gymnast I pretended to be as a child: tional Championships … won the all-around, Kristen Maloney beam and floor at the 2001 American Chal- Hardest skill I’ve ever performed: Piked lenge … silver medallist all-arounder at the double front on floor 2005 Pikes Peak Invitational, where she also Favorite non U of U sports team: Dallas placed third on bars and beam … fourth in Cowboys the all-around and third on beam at the 2005 This describes me: Small but mighty WOGA Classic … Arizona Level 10 Gymnast Favorite music: Hip-hop, R&B of the Year … 1998-99 U.S. National TOPS Favorite subject in school: Math team member … trained at Carter’s Gymnas- I enjoy: Swimming tics under coaches Jack and Erin Carter … Favorite movie stars: Martin Lawrence, valedictorian of Apache Trail High School Jessica Alba (Ariz.), where she was also a Presidential Gold Award winner.

32 1 0 - t i m e n a t i o n a l c h a m p i o n s Meet the Utes Beth Rizzo Sophomore • 5’0” • Hoffman Estates, Ill. • William Friend HS Buffalo Grove Gymnastics

UTAH: Just the second Ute walk-on ever to CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Level 10 competi- win NCAA All-America honors … strong tor from 2002-05 … Level 9 national floor tumbler has improved her dance and composi- exercise champion in 2001 also finished third tion … has competed only on floor to count, in the all-around … 2001 Illinois state Level but is training a vault and beam routine as 9 all-around champion … trained at Buffalo well … member of the Student Athlete Advi- Grove Gymnastics Center under Teri Crumley

sory Committee (SAAC). and Tony Toms … graduated from William Gymnast Profiles 2007–NCAA first-team All-American quali- Friend High School. fied for floor finals and placed 12th, scoring a 9.8375 … qualified into event finals by scor- PERSONAL: Daughter of Mary Ellen and ing a 9.85 … competed in 11 meets, including Sal Rizzo … both parents graduated from the all three days of NCAA Championships com- College of New Jersey, where her father was petition … did not have a fall all year (11-of- on the wrestling team … brother Joe played 11 on floor) … career-best 9.875 at Utah State lacrosse at Western Illinois … enjoys dancing … NACGC Scholastic All-American. … exercise and sport science major … full 2006–Redshirt … NACGC/W Scholastic name is Elizabeth Ellen Rizzo … born June All-American … Dean’s List and Mountain 12, 1987. West Conference Scholar-Athlete compiled a 3.775 GPA. Rizzo’s Career Highs Floor 9.875 vs. Utah State, Feb. 9, 2007

Catching up with Beth

Miles from home: 1,234 Nicknames: Bethy, Frizzo I have: Over 40 cousins Hardest skill I’ve ever performed: Double layout Favorite non U of U sports team: Chicago Bears Career goal: Sports agent You may not know: I love to cook Favorite food: Artichokes Favorite musician: Ne-Yo Favorite gymnast: Gritt Hofmann

1 0 - t i m e n a t i o n a l c h a m p i o n s 33 Meet the Utes Jacquelyn Johnson Freshman • 5’3” • West Chester, Ohio • Lakota West HS Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy

UTAH: Two-year U.S. National Team mem- PERSONAL: Daughter of Chuck Johnson ber was recruited by most of the top teams in and Angie Garcia Johnson … father wrestled the nation … best events are bars and floor, for Central Michigan … mother competed but she plans to compete for a spot in the all- in gymnastics and field hockey in college around lineup … very polished gymnast … (Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan) … has great lines and style. mother is a gymnastics coach … one brother (Marshall) … she and her mother moved from CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: USA National Michigan to Ohio so that she could train at Team member from 2006-07 … qualified as the Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy … has a Senior International Elite in 2004 … 2006 not chosen a major … goes by her nickname USA World Championships team member … Jacq … full name is Jacquelyn Ilene Johnson third in the all-around at the 2006 American … born June 17, 1989 in Michigan. Cup … all-around finish of 10th (2005) and 11th (2006) at the VISA Championships Greg Marsden Says … while competing for the National Team … Gymnast Profiles second in the all-around, first on bars and “Jacq was one of the most highly-recruited floor at the 2005 USA vs. Japan and New gymnasts in the country last year. She has al- Zealand meet … all-around and uneven ways been a strong competitor and burst onto bar runner-up at the 2004 Junior Olympic the international scene at the 2006 American Championships also placed fourth on beam Cup. … trained at Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy for coaches and Amy Wert “She has great skills on every event and the Catching up with Jacq … graduated from Lakota West High School type of competitive experience we need to stay with high honors … member of National in the national championship hunt.” Miles from home: 1,452 Honor Society. The gymnast I pretended to be as a child: Hardest skill I’ve ever performed: Stalder Khorkina from the low to high bar Favorite non U of U sports team: Cincinnati Bengals I will never forget: The first day I got to train as a University of Utah gymnast Favorite food: Spaghetti Favorite subject in school: Math Favorite TV show: Friends Favorite animal: Dog Favorite gymnast: Ashley Priess

34 1 0 - t i m e n a t i o n a l c h a m p i o n s Meet the Utes Gael Mackie Freshman • 5’2” • Vancouver, B.C. • Burnaby Central Omega Gymnastics Academy

UTAH: 2004 Canadian Olympian joined Utes PERSONAL: Daughter of Bill and Susan after Christmas break … initially planned Mackie … both parents are doctors and to defer enrolling in school until after the former gymnasts … father graduated from 2008 Olympics, but changed her mind when Michigan … father made the 1968 and 1972 a stress fracture in her leg prevented her Canadian Olympic teams, although injuries from competing in the 2008 Canadian World forced him to withdraw from both competi-

Championships Trials and Canada failed tions … mother was a National Team gymnast Gymnast Profiles to qualify a team … despite missing out on … brother Owen and sister Christie also com- preseason training, she could make an impact peted in gymnastics, while sister Charlotte is almost immediately. still competing … brother also competed in aerial skiing … has not yet chosen a major … CLUB, HIGH SCHOOL: As a 16-year-old, full name is Gael Briane Mackie … born Dec. Mackie competed for Canada at the 2004 16, 1988. in Athens, Greece … fifth all-around and third on bars at the 2007 Ca- Greg Marsden Says … nadian National Championships … made the World Championships team in 2006 … won “While we are sorry that things didn’t work the all-around, vault, bars and beam at the out exactly as Gael had planned, we are 2007 Friendship Classic … finished seventh thrilled that she is joining our team nearly a in the all-around to lead Canada to a bronze year before we thought possible. medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games … 2003 Senior National all-around champion “Gael has the skills on every event to compete Catching up with Gael … fourth-place all-around showing and a with anyone and has a performance quality bronze medal on the beam at the 2002 WOGA that makes her a joy to watch.” Miles from home: 804 Classic … seventh in the all-around (the best Nickname: Gmac finish by a Canadian) and second on the beam Favorite skill to perform: Double layout off at the 2002 Pacific Alliance meet … 2002 bars Canadian Junior National all-around, vault Favorite non U of U sports team: Vancou- and floor champion placed second on bars … ver Canucks 2001 Canadian Junior National vault cham- I’ve been described as: Feisty, fun, ambi- pion … won the uneven bars at the 2002 Elite tious Canada Championships and the balance beam Favorite foods: Pineapple, sushi in 2003 … trained for Vladimir and Svetlana Favorite musicians: Justin Timberlake, The Lashin at Omega Gymnastics Academy … Beatles graduated from Burnaby Central Secondary Favorite subject in school: History where she made the honor roll. Favorite TV show: America’s Next Top Model Favorite gymnasts: Ashley Postell, Nastia Liukin

1 0 - t i m e n a t i o n a l c h a m p i o n s 35 Meet the Utes Kyndal Robarts Freshman • 5’4” • San Marcos, Texas • Hays HS USA Aerial Athletics

UTAH: Former U.S. Junior Olympic champi- PERSONAL: Daughter of Henry and Dawn on is particularly strong on floor and beam … Robarts … name is pronounced RO-barts … coaches love her untapped potential … catlike mother is a professor at Texas State Univer- style and deceptive power are reminiscent of sity … sister Kaleigh, half brother Scott and current Ute All-American Kristina Baskett … half sister Stacy … enjoys swimming, water competes a double Arabian on floor. skiing and camping … has not chosen a major … full name is Kyndal Autumn Robarts … CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Spent two years born Jan. 31, 1989. on the U.S. Junior Olympic National Team … two-time J.O. floor exercise champion (2006- Greg Marsden Says … 07) was the all-around runner-up at the 2005 and 2006 J.O. nationals … 2007 region and “Kyndal’s tremendous success at the Junior state gymnast of the year ... 2003-04 Junior Olympic level inspired a lot of interest from International Elite … trained at USA Aerial the top collegiate programs. We feel fortunate Athletics for coaches Heather Schnelzer and she chose to come to Utah. Gymnast Profiles Mike Hunsucker … graduated from Hays High School in the top 10% of her class. “One thing I liked about Kyndal’s background was that the bigger the meet, the better she performed.”

Catching up with Kyndal

Miles from Home: 1,084 Nicknames: KRob, KJ, Kdawg Hardest skill I’ve ever performed: Double Arabian My most memorable moment at Utah: Swimming in front of a bunch of people at a triathlon and being laughed at Favorite non U of U sports team: Texas Longhorns Favorite foods: Cheese and grapes Favorite subject in school: Chemistry Favorite book: Harry Potter Favorite gymnast: Dominique Dawes Favorite song: Desperado

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