GYMNAST BIOS • VERONIQUE LECLERC

UTAH: Former Canadian National Team member is a four-time NCAA All-American (3 bars, 1 ) … 18 career victories … has VERONIQUE LECLERC “hit” 116-132 career routines. 2003–Utah’s top individual finisher at the NCAA Championships Senior, 5’1" placed third on bars … first-team All-American on bars and second- St. Hubert, Quebec team All-American on vault … 9.90 on bars first night of NCAA Andre-Laurendeau HS Championships was tied for first in session and second overall … tied Anthropology/Exercise & Sport Science for sixth on vault in first day of NCAA competition (9.875) … “hit” June 23, 1981 6-7 routines at nationals … regular on vault, bars and went all- around four times, scoring season-best 39.425 score vs. ASU on Jan. 24 … two regular season victories on bars (vs. Utah State and LSU) … 9.95 bar score vs. USU was career best … “hit” 43-50 routines... NACGC Scholastic All-American. 2002–Second-team All-American on bars … “hit” all six routines at nationals and peaked in Super Six, scoring 9.90 on vault and bars and 9.80 on beam … Super Six bars score tied for third and vault score tied for fourth … went all-around nine times, winning at LSU (39.275) … season all-around best was 39.525 on Jan. 18 … set or tied career highs on bars (9.95) and beam (9.90) … 7 wins (1 all- around, 3 vault, 2 bars, 1 beam) … “hit” 43-49 routines. 2001–Second-team All-American on bars … scored a 9.85 on vault in Super Six … NCAA region vault runner-up … best freshman all- around debut score in school history (39.675) came in final regular season meet ... 39.675 tied seventh best all-around score ever at Utah ... 8 victories (all on vault) ... five 9.90 bar scores … competed on floor in last two regular season meets ... won vault and tied for second on bars in first collegiate meet ... “hit” 30-33 routines ... NACGC Scholastic All-American (3.80 GPA).

CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Five-year member of Canada’s National Team ... ninth all-around at 2000 Canadian Olympic Trials ... won all-around, vault and beam and was second on bars at 1997 Elite Canada ... 1997 Canadian uneven bar champion was also fourth all- around and second on vault ... 28th all-around at 1997 World Cham- pionships in Lausanne, Switzerland ... placed second on bars at 1998 Commonwealth Games (Canada won bronze medal) ... won all- around and bars at 1995 Canada Games ... 1998 Athlete of the Year by Canadian Gymnastics Federation ... trained at Gym-Richelieu (coaches Michel Charron and Galina Larchina.) ... graduated from Andre-Laurendeau High School.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Charlotte Cote and Andre Leclerc ... two siblings (one brother, one sister) are both musicians ... fluent in French and English ... anthropology and exercise and sport science major ... born June 23, 1981.

Nickname: V Did You Know: My family speaks French Leclerc’s Career Highs A-A 39.675 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 23, 2001 Three Words that Describe Me: Friendly, funky, Frenchy Vault 9.975 vs. Oregon State, Mar. 10, 2001 Favorite Color: Orange Bars 9.950 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 23, 2002 Favorite Food: Seafood 9.950 vs. Utah State, Feb. 7, 2003 Favorite Musician: Bob Marley Beam 9.900 vs. Washington, Feb. 8, 2002 Favorite Subject in School: Anthropology 9.900 vs. UCLA, Jan. 10, 2003 Favorite Book: Tuesdays with Maurie Floor 9.950 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 23, 2001 Favorite Person in History: Martin Luther King Jr. Favorite Event: Bars

10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM 21 GYMNAST BIOS • MELISSA VITUJ

UTAH: Eight-time All-American was voted team co-captain … national contender on all four events and in the all-around … 28 MELISSA VITUJ career victories … has “hit” 146-155 (94%) of her career routines … crowd-pleaser loves to compete. Senior, 5’0" 2003–First-team All-American on floor for third straight year … Ada, Mich. second-team All-American in the all-around was ninth overall with a Forest Hills Central HS 39.325 … ninth on floor in event finals … team-high 39.375 all- Health Promotion and Education around score in Super Six team finals … NCAA North Central May 2, 1982 Region Gymnast of the Year … region champion on vault (9.90) and floor (9.925) … went all-around in every meet … team’s co-MVP led Utah with 22 wins … twice scored career-best 39.675 in the all- around … won all-around, vault, beam and floor vs. LSU … set or tied career marks on every apparatus: vault (9.95), bars (9.875), beam (9.975) and floor (9.975) … “hit” 57-60 routines. 2002–Three-time All-American was first team on floor and second team on vault and beam … 9.90 on floor both nights of team competi- tion at NCAA Championships … won first-ever collegiate all-around competition, scoring 39.575 vs. Arizona on Jan. 18 … season-high 39.625 on Mar. 23 … 5 wins … “hit” 49-53 routines. 2001–Sensational freshman earned first-team All-America honors on beam and floor and second-team status on vault … finished third in the nation on beam and ninth on floor … scored 9.90 on floor both nights of team competition at nationals … “hit” all 8 routines at NCAA Championships … three-event regular “hit” her first 20 routines ... won floor exercise competition at Minnesota ... “hit” 40- 42 routines… NACGC Scholastic All-American.

CLUB, HIGH SCHOOL: Won and placed second on floor and vault and fifth in all-around at the 1999 Junior Olympic Level 10 nationals ... 1998 Level 10 J.O. national champ on beam and floor ... at 1999 region 5 meet, won all-around, beam and floor titles ... won region titles on beam and floor in 1998 ... three-year member of region 5 Junior Olympic National Champion team (1997-99) ... trained for Kentwood USA Gymnastics (coach John Figueroa) ... graduated from Forest Hills Central High School, where she earned four letters in cross country.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Carol and Bill Vituj (pronounced vee toy) ... one brother (Chris) ... skill on beam is named after her (the “Vituj” features a wolf one and a half jump) ... enjoys hiking, camping, water sports and rollercoasters … once played guest mascot at a Utah men’s basketball game and dunked a basketball off a mini-tramp as “Baby Swoop” … health promotion and education major ... nickname is Mel … full name is Melissa Lynn Vituj ... born May 2, 1982.

Vituj’s Career Highs A-A 39.675 vs. Utah State, Feb. 7, 2003 Nickname: Mel 39.675 vs. LSU, Mar. 14, 2003 Three Words that Describe Me: Happy, energetic, adventurous Vault 9.950 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 1, 2002 Did You Know: I have flown (piloted) a jet airplane 9.950 vs. LSU, Mar. 14, 2003 Hobbies: Rock climbing, hiking (in Utah), water sports Bars 9.875 vs. Arizona State, Jan. 24, 2003 9.875 vs. Oregon State, Feb. 21, 2003 Favorite Color: Red 9.875 vs. Michigan, Feb. 28, 2003 Favorite Food: Dill pickles 9.875 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 28, 2003 Favorite Book: All five Harry Potter books Beam 9.975 vs. Utah State, Feb. 7, 2003 Favorite Person in History: Mary Lou Retton 9.975 vs. Washington, Mar. 7, 2003 Floor 9.975 vs. Arizona State, Jan. 24, 2003 Favorite Amusement Park Ride: Rollercoasters 9.975 vs. Utah State, Feb. 7, 2003 Favorite Gymnast: (Former Ute) Linda Kardos-Wood 9.975 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 28, 2003

22 10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM GYMNAST BIOS • ANNABETH EBERLE

UTAH: Former U.S. National Team member and three-time All- American is a phenomenal talent … voted Ute co-captain … one of ANNABETH EBERLE the nation’s best all-arounders and a potential NCAA finalist on all four events … 25 career wins … has “hit” 91-103 career routines … Junior, 5’5" extremely powerful. Reno, Nev. 2003–Sensational sophomore season culminated with first-team All- Galena HS America honors in the all-around (fourth-tie) and vault (sixth) … Exercise & Sport Science/Physical Therapy second-team All-American on bars … 39.475 all-around score on first April 14, 1983 night of NCAA Championships tied for second in session and 9.95 on vault tied for first … scored 39.275 in all-around in Super Six team finals … 9.95 on vault both nights of team competition at NCAA’s and 9.8565 in individual event finals … NCAA North Central Region all-around champion (39.45) … team co-MVP competed all-around in every meet and career-best 39.750 is tied for fourth in school history … twice scored 10.0 on floor … recorded career highs on every event: 9.975 vault, 9.950 bars, 9.950 beam, 10.0 floor … 20 victories was second on team … “hit” 55-59 routines. 2002–All-arounder peaked in postseason competition, “hitting” all 12 routines at regionals and nationals … NCAA West Region vault champion had season-best 9.925 … sixth all-around at regionals with season-best 39.325 … scored 39.075 in opening session of NCAA Championships (11th) and improved to 39.225 in Super Six … won very first collegiate vault … 5 total wins (3 on vault, 1 on bars, 1 on floor) … “hit” 36-44 routines.

CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Seven-year U.S. National Team member … finished eighth all-around and third on beam at 1999 World Championships Trials … 19th all-around at 2000 USA Gymnastics Championships … won vault at 2000 Bluewater Invitational in Canada … also competed for U.S. team at meet in the in 2000 … trained under coach Derick Moellenbeck at Starz Gymnastics … member of National Honor Society.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Bindee Eberle and Joe Eberle (pronounced eb-er-lee) … father ran track at University of Nevada … mother was a cheerleader at Nevada and is now a personal trainer and sports nutritionist … sister, Aleise, runs track in high school … nickname is A.B. … full name is Anna Elisabeth Eberle … born April 14, 1983.

Eberle’s Career Highs A-A 39.750 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 28, 2003 Vault 9.975 vs. Washington, Mar. 7, 2003 9.975 vs. Florida, Mar. 21, 2003 Bars 9.950 vs. Brigham Young, Jan. 17, 2003 Beam 9.950 vs. Florida, Mar. 21, 2003 Floor 10.00 vs. Arizona State, Jan. 24, 2003 Nickname: A.B. 10.00 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 28, 2003 Three Words that Describe Me: Athletic, determined, enthusiastic Favorite Food: Fruit Favorite Color: Red Favorite Musical Group: Matchbox 20 Favorite Subject in School: Math Favorite Animal: Koala Favorite Book: Mind Gym Favorite Event: Beam Favorite Gymnast: John Roethlisberger

10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM 23 GYMNAST BIOS • GRITT HOFMANN

UTAH: Former German National Team member could compete on three to four events after successful off-season shoulder surgery … GRITT HOFMANN All-America potential on beam and floor. 2003–Key element of beam and floor lineups… voted team’s Most Junior, 5’1" Improved Gymnast … scored 9.90 on beam at regionals … 9.825 on Berlin, Germany floor during NCAA Super Six … career high 9.925 on beam at Utah Werner-Seelenbinder HS State on Feb. 7 … season-best 9.85 on floor and 9.80 on vault … Architecture “hit” 27-32 routines … NACGC/W Scholastic All-American. August 17, 1980 2002–Joined team at semester break … before back injury ended season, she made vault lineup in second meet … NACGC Scholastic All-American had 4.0 GPA.

CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Member of German National Team from 1994-2001 … competed at 2001 World Championships … placed first on floor, second on beam and fourth in all-around at 2000 German Championships … second on vault, beam and floor at 1998 national championships … 14th all-around at 1998 European Championships … 1997 German all-around champion also won vault, beam and floor … 1995 junior national all-around champion … competed for Germany at European Championships in 1996, ’98 and 2000 … club team Sport Club Berlin (SCB) was national team champion in 1995, ’96, ’97 and ‘2000 … trained for Sport Club Berlin (coaches Wolfgang Riedel and Heidrun Effler), same club as former Ute All- American Angelika Schatton.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Ruth and Dietrich Hofmann … parents are engineers … mother is a former gymnast … enjoys drawing and reading … one brother (Frank) … architecture major hopes for career as interior designer … full name is Gritt Alexandra Hofmann … born Aug. 17, 1980.

Hofmann’s Career Highs Vault 9.800 vs. Utah State, Feb. 7, 2003 Beam 9.925 vs. Utah State, Feb. 7, 2003 Floor 9.850 vs. Washington, Mar. 7, 2003 9.850 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 28, 2003

Nickname: Gritty Three Words That Describe Me: Perfectionist, friendly, inquisitive Favorite Foods: Italian, fish, chocolate chip cookies Favorite Musician: Celine Dion Favorite Subjects In School: Art and architecture Favorite Movie: My Big Fat Greek Wedding Favorite Book: Run Jane Run Favorite Actress: Sandra Bullock Best Advice I’ve Received: “Go hard or go home” Favorite Event: Floor

24 10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM GYMNAST BIOS • DOMINIQUE D’OLIVEIRA

UTAH: South African National Team member showed loads of potential as a freshman last year and is expected to vie for an all- DOMINIQUE D’OLIVEIRA around berth in 2004 … NCAA finalist potential on bars … handles pressure well. Sophomore, 5’5" 2003–Came back from December ankle surgery to make Utah’s Johannesburg, South Africa NCAA uneven bar lineup … scored 9.825 as Utah’s very first com- Redhill HS petitor at the NCAA Championships … also scored 9.825 from lead- Undeclared off position in the Super Six … in abbreviated season, “hit” 5-5 in January 19, 1984 routines and averaged 9.85 … NACGC Scholastic All-American.

CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Member of South African National Team since 1998 … fifth in all-round at 2002 Como Cup in … in 2001 SA International Cup, placed second all-around, first on bars and second on vault … South Africa’s top finisher at 2001 World Champi- onships in Ghent, Belgium … at 2000 South African Nationals, placed third all-around, won floor, was second on bars and third on vault … at 2000 National Trials, won all-around, vault, beam and floor and finished second on bars … team won gold at African Championships in 1998 and 2000 and she was fourth on beam … competed in the 2000 Como and Monte Forte Cups in Italy … placed fourth on beam and helped team to third-place finish at 1998 Pre- Commonwealth Games … fourth all-around, third on beam and bars at 1999 Leverkusen Cup … trained for Visions Academy of Gymnas- tics in Johannesburg, South Africa, for coach Michelle Theocharis … won awards for math, science, biology and Afrikaans as a student at Redhill High School … matriculated with four distinctions.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Catherine Errington and William D’Oliveira … last name is pronounced doll-a-veer-a … enjoys music, reading and dancing … interested in becoming an airline pilot or a career in forensics and criminal investigation … born Jan. 19, 1984 in Cape Town, South Africa.

D’Oliveira’s Career Highs Bars 9.900 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 28, 2003

Nickname: Dom Favorite Color: Yellow Hobbies: Dancing, reading, music I’d Like to: Travel the world Favorite Food: Bobotie (traditional South African meal) Favorite Subjects In School: Math and biology Favorite Movie: Green Mile Favorite Animal: Cheetah Favorite Actress: Sandra Bullock Favorite Gymnasts: Elena Zamolodchikova, Andreea Raducan

10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM 25 GYMNAST BIOS • NATALIE NICOLOFF

UTAH: Fast learner was expected to be a “project” but instead made an immediate impact as a freshman … will be counted on even more NATALIE NICOLOFF this year … loves difficult lead-off position on beam. 2003–Competed in every meet (all but two to “count”) … “hit” both Sophomore, 5’1" beam routines at the NCAA Championships as Utah’s lead-off Hermitage, Pa. performer … career-best 9.90 on beam at regionals … did three bar, Hickory HS eight beam and five floor routines total … made lineup on bars, beam Undeclared and floor against Arizona State on Jan. 24 and scored career highs May 22, 1984 bars (9.825) and floor (9.80) … “hit” 14-16 routines … NACGC Scholastic All-American.

CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Two-year Level 10 national qualifier … 2002 Level 10 region balance beam champion also placed third on floor … 2002 Level 10 Ohio state all-around, beam and floor cham- pion (second on vault and third on bars) … 1999 state floor exercise champ and 2001 state balance beam champ … Pennsylvania resident trained for club team Flytz USA Gymnastics in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, under coaches Terry Gray and Irina Milogradova … graduated from Hickory High School (Pa.) … set school record (boys and girls) for most push-ups with 200 … National Honor Society … French National Honor Society … Presidential Fitness Award.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Cindy and Dave Nicoloff … youngest of three children … has brother Jason and sister Jennifer … enjoys piano and putting scrapbooks together … nickname is Nat … full name is Natalie Rose Nicoloff … born May 22, 1984.

Nicoloff’s Career Highs Bars 9.825 vs. Arizona State, Jan. 24, 2003 Beam 9.900 at NCAA Regionals, Apr. 12, 2003 Floor 9.800 vs. BrighamYoung, Jan. 17, 2003 9.800 vs. Arizona State, Jan. 24, 2003

Nickname: Nat Three Words That Describe Me: Outgoing, perfectionist, dedicated Hobbies: Shopping, scrap-booking, golf Favorite Food: Steak Favorite Subjects In School: Nutrition and French Favorite Book: Awaken the Olympian Within Favorite Animal: Dog Favorite Actors: Brad Pitt and Julia Stiles Favorite Events: Bars and beam Favorite Gymnast: Elena Prudonova

26 10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM GYMNAST BIOS • GABRIELLA ONODI

UTAH: Hungarian National team member will benefit from first preseason of collegiate training … recovered from back injury that GABRIELLA ONODI sidelined her in 2003 … best event is beam. 2003–Arrived on campus on Christmas night and joined team for Sophomore, 5’1" second semester … competed in exhibition on beam on Feb. 14 at Budapest, Hungary Arizona and received 9.725 … back problems kept her out for Kova’cs Pa’l Gimna’zium remainder of the season … NACGC Scholastic All-American. Undeclared November 2, 1982 CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Member of Hungarian National team since 1995 is three-time Hungarian Masters all-around champion (Masters includes the best six junior and senior national team members) … won Hungarian all-around titles in 1998, 1999 and 2000 … also won 1998 floor and beam titles, 1999 floor, beam and bar titles and 2000 floor title … placed sixth on floor and 12th all-around at the 1998 European Championships … 49th all-around at the 1999 World Championships … competed at the 2000 European Championships and 2002 World Championships … took 2001 season off after attempting to qualify as an individual to the … trained for club team Ujpesti Torna Egylet (UTE) under coaches Judit Juha’sz and Kaptay Jozsef … graduated from Kova’cs Pa’l Gimna’zium.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Gabriella Sipos Onodine and the late Odon Onodi … name is pronounced Gab-ree-ella OH-no-dee … younger sister Erika plays handball, a sport also played by her mother … enjoys reading, embroidering, dancing and skating … full name is Gabriella Onodi … nickname is Gabi … born Nov. 2, 1982.

Nickname: Gabi Hobbies: Dancing, embroidering Favorite Color: Pink Favorite Foods: Hungarian fruit soup Favorite Subject in School: Math Favorite Movie: Scary Movie Favorite Book: Harry Potter Favorite Place to Travel: New York Favorite Events: Beam and floor Favorite Gymnast:

10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM 27 GYMNAST BIOS • KRISTEN RIFFANACHT

UTAH: One of the nation’s best freshmen a year ago won All- America honors on vault … very powerful gymnast is determined to KRISTEN RIFFANACHT make all-around lineup. 2003–All-American on vault (second team) tied for sixth in qualify- Sophomore, 5’3" ing session at NCAA Championships … 9.875 vault score ranked Cheshire, Conn. ninth across both sessions … scored 9.85 on vault in Super Six … Cheshire HS Utah’s most productive freshman competed on three events at Undeclared regionals and received 9.80 on vault and bars and 9.75 on floor … March 25, 1984 scored career-high 9.90 on vault (4 times) and floor … 9.85 high on bars … won vault at Utah State on Feb. 7 (9.90) … “hit” 37-41 routines.

CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Three-year qualifier to Junior Olympic national championships … two-year International Elite qualifier … ninth all-around and second on vault at 2002 J.O. national champion- ships … 2002 region all-around, vault, bars and beam champion was runner-up on floor … 2002 state all-around, vault and beam cham- pion placed second on floor … third all-around, second on bars and vault at 1998 J.O. national championships … trained for club team Gymnastics Revolution in Brookfield, Conn., under coaches Brian Bakalar and Russell Wallace … graduated from Cheshire High School with honors … President’s Award for Academic Excellence … honored for making honor roll every semester for four-year high school career.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Nancy and James Riffanacht … last name is pronounced riff-in-ack … one sister, Karen … enjoys volleyball, watching tennis and art … nickname is Riff … full name is Kristen Blair Riffanacht … born March 25, 1984.

Riffanacht’s Career Highs Vault 9.900 vs. Utah State, Feb. 7, 2003 9.900 vs. Arizona, Feb. 14, 2003 9.900 vs. Washington, Mar. 7, 2003 9.900 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 28, 2003 Bars 9.850 vs. Arizona State, Jan. 24, 2003 Floor 9.900 vs. Washington, Mar. 7, 2003 9.900 vs. BrighamYoung, Mar. 28, 2003

Nickname: Riff, Riffy Did You Know: My sister runs track and plays competitive volleyball Three Words That Describe Me: Hard worker, determined, dedicated My Goal in Life: To become a sports psychologist Favorite Food: Broccoli Favorite Subjects in School: Science and pyschology Favorite Movie: Independence Day Favorite Song: Fields of Gold Favorite Athlete: Venus Williams Favorite Gymnast: (Former Ute) Shannon Bowles

28 10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM GYMNAST BIOS • JACEY DRAPER

UTAH: Three-year international elite returned to her former home when she signed with the U. … upbeat personality shows up in her JACEY DRAPER routines … may be limited due to an injury that required a rod be surgically implanted in her leg. Freshman, 5’4" Lake Oswego, Ore. CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Three-year international elite (1999-2001) Lake Oswego HS participated for the 1997 and 1998 Junior National Team … qualified Undeclared for three J.O. National Championships … second on vault and ninth April 5, 1985 in the all-around at 2002 J.O. Nationals … won floor exercise at 1997 J.O.’s … fourth in the all-around and ninth on bars at 1998 J.O.’s … while living in Salt Lake City, trained for Mary Wright (now Utah’s volunteer assistant coach) at Olympus Gymnastics … in Oregon, she was coached by Meg Doxtator, Ivan Alexov and Sheila Lanner at Multnomah Athletic Club.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Tami and Lee Draper … mother is a registered nurse with a degree from Utah … lived in South Jordan, Utah, until 2001, when family moved to Oregon … first name is pronounced JAY-cee … nickname is Juice … one of six siblings whose ages range from 1-20 years … four brothers: Tom, Chris and twin babies Mo and Mikey … younger sister Shelby is also a gymnast … enjoys water skiing, wake-boarding, hiking and playing football … full name is Jacey Tamra Draper … born April 5, 1985.

“One week after having a rod surgically implanted in her lower leg, Jacey was in the gym conditioning and preparing for her comeback. This is one deter- mined young woman and she seems certain she will contribute before the season is over. I wouldn’t bet against her.”

Head Coach Greg Marsden

• • •

Nickname: Juice Family Fact: Lived in Utah until 2001 before moving to Oregon Hobbies: Wakeboarding, hiking, football Favorite Food: Strawberries and whipped cream Favorite Subject in School: Math Favorite Movie: Dumb and Dumber Favorite Musician: Jim Brickman Favorite Actor: Julia Roberts Favorite Event: Bars Favorite Gymnast: Courtney Kupets

10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM 29 GYMNAST BIOS • NICOLLE FORD

UTAH: International elite was extremely impressive in preseason camp … could help Utes immediately on all four events. NICOLLE FORD CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year international elite competed at Freshman, 5’2" 2000-01 U.S. National Championships … 20th in the all-around at Binghamton, N.Y. the 2001 U.S. National Championships … competed at J.O. nationals Windsor HS four years … as national elite, placed fifth in the all-around at the Undeclared U.S. Challenge … fourth all-around at the 2002 SCEGA Invitational March 29, 1985 … trained for coaches Daile VanPatten and Natalia Laschenova at Southern Tier Gymnastics.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Lori and Charles Ford … one brother (Matt) … hopes for career as a physical therapist … nickname is Nikki … full name is Nicolle Marie Ford … born March 29, 1985.

“I really feel like Nicolle is someone who could explode onto the collegiate scene, even as a freshman. She has great skills and beautiful execution on every event and she loves competition. The fact that she has the ability to be even better makes her one of the most interesting newcomers we’ve had in some time.”

Head Coach Greg Marsden

• • •

Nickname: Nikki Three Words that Describe Me: Fun, determined, generous Favorite Colors: Red and white! Favorite Foods: Chicken, pasta Favorite Subject in School: English Favorite Actor: Ashley Judd Favorite Animal: Monkey Favorite Movies: Dirty Dancing, Dumb and Dumber Favorite Event: Beam Favorite Gymnast: Courtney Kupets

30 10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM GYMNAST BIOS • STEPHANIE LIM

UTAH: One of the nation’s most hotly recruited freshman gymnasts … contributions her first year are dependent to a large degree on STEPHANIE LIM recovery from knee surgery last spring.

Freshman, 5’0" CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: 2003 senior international elite … won the The Woodlands, Texas all-around at 2002 J.O. regionals and placed seventh at nationals … The Woodlands HS 13th all-around at 2001 J.O. Nationals … Texas state all-around and Nursing uneven bar champion in 2002 and all-around champion in 2001 … Aug. 15, 1985 trained at Texas Star Texans Club for coaches Debbie Kaitschuch, Deana Parish and Julian Gomez … graduated cum laude.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Barbara and Frank Lim … brother William and sister Jennifer … nickname is Steph … hopes to attend graduate school and become a nurse anesthesiologist … born Aug. 15, 1985 in Colorado.

“Stephanie is extremely powerful and will make a big impact on our lineup, especially on vault and floor. Barring any further setbacks, this is someone our fans will enjoy.”

Head Coach Greg Marsden

• • •

Nickname: Steph Goal in Life: To become a nurse anesthesiologist Favorite Subjects in School: Anatomy and physiology Favorite Food: Mushrooms Favorite Musician: John Mayer Favorite Book: Of Mice and Men Favorite Animal: Zebra Favorite Event: Beam Favorite Place to Travel: Hawaii Favorite Gymnast: Courtney Kupets

10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM 31 GYMNAST BIOS • RACHEL TIDD

UTAH: U.S. National Team member is Utah’s most highly-creden- tialed recruit since Theresa Kulikowski … could challenge nation’s RACHEL TIDD best all-arounders immediately.

Freshman, 5’2" CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Three-year U.S. National Team member … Fallbrook, Calif. placed fourth in the all-around at the 2001 USA Championships and Calvary Christian HS was on U.S. World Championships team that took bronze at World Undeclared Championships … placed eighth on beam at 2001 World Champion- May 20, 1984 ships … 10th all-around at 2000 Olympic Trials … 12th all-around at 2000 USA Championships and 15th in 1999 … other international competitions include 1999 USA vs. France and 2000 Blue Water Invitational … trained at Southern California Elite Gymnastics Academy (SCEGA) … club coaches included former Utah All- American Meredith King-Paulicivic, as well as Tim Garrison and Kathy Strate.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Susan and Michael Tidd … one of 10 children: sisters are Mikala, Samantha, Olivia, Ashley , Holly and Nicole; brothers are Steven, Taylor and Brian … enjoys singing … full name is Rachel Michelle Tidd … born May 20, 1984.

“Rachel is one of the most talented incoming freshmen on anyone’s team,” says Marsden. “She has great skills and great international experience. She came to us a little beat up, but if we can get her healthy and keep her healthy, she’ll be a contender in the all-around at the NCAA Championships this year.”

Head Coach Greg Marsden

• • •

Hobbies: Singing, dancing, listening to music Did You Know: I was in a McDonald’s commercial when I was seven Three Words that Describe Me: Driven, random, spontaneous Favorite Food: Burritos Favorite Subject in School: Math Favorite Animal: Monkey Favorite Actor: Sandra Bullock Favorite Person in History: Jesus Christ Favorite Event: Bars Favorite Gymnasts: Vanessa Atler, Dominique Meceanu

32 10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM