UTE BIOS • ANNABETH EBERLE

UTAH: Four-time All-American is considered a serious contender for the NCAA honors in the all-around and on all four events … two-time Utah ANNABETH EBERLE co-MVP has also been voted team co-captain for the second straight year … including ties, has 7 of Utah’s all-time top 10 all-around scores … 5 Senior, 5’5” career 10.0 scores (3 on vault, 2 on floor) … 46 career wins … has “hit” Reno, Nev. 136-150 career routines. Galena HS 2004–NCAA vault runner-up and first-team All-American scored 9.9188 in Starz Gymnastics NCAA vault finals … tied for first on vault (9.95) across both sessions the Exercise & Sport Science/Physical Therapy first day of the NCAA Championships … North Central Region Gym- nast of the Year … Utah co-captain was team’s co-MVP … finished the regular season tied for sixth in the nation in the all-around (39.650 RQS) … career-high 39.775 all-around score vs. BYU on Mar. 19 is the fifth- best ever at Utah … “hit” her first 37 routines of the season before fall off bars at regionals … led team with 21 victories despite missing two and a half meets with an ankle injury … won four straight all-around, vault and floor competitions before Feb. 14 injury … in her first meet back, scored a perfect 10.0 on vault and a 39.725 in the all-around at Washington … four wins against both Nebraska and BYU (all-around, vault, beam and floor) … scored 10.0 on vault three times and had two 9.975 vaults … “hit” 45-47 routines … Inside Gymnastics’ NCAA Athlete of the Week for Jan. 19. 2003–Sensational sophomore season culminated with first-team All-Amer- ica honors in the all-around (fourth-tie) and vault (sixth) … second-team All-American on bars … 39.475 all-around score on first night of NCAA Championships tied for second in session and 9.95 on vault tied for first … scored 39.275 in the 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 … season-best 39.750 all-around score … twice scored 10.0 on floor … 20 victories was second on team … “hit” 55-59 routines. 2002–All-arounder peaked in postseason competition, “hitting” all 12 rou- tines 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 her very first collegiate vault attempt … 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 Netherlands 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 … nickname is A.B. … full name is Anna Elisabeth Eberle … born April 14, 1983. Nickname: AB Did You Know: My uncle is the VP of Harley Davidson Three words that Describe Me: Determined, Athletic, Outgoing Best Advice I’ve Received: Be patient Eberle’s Career Highs Favorite Color: Red A-A 39.775 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 19, 2004 Favorite Food: Sushi, artichokes Vault 10.0 vs. UCLA, Jan. 10, 2004 Favorite Subject in School: Anatomy 10.0 vs. Washington/Iowa/I-C, Mar. 5, 2004 Favorite Book: Mind Gym Bars 9.975 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 19, 2004 Favorite Animal: Horse Beam 9.950 vs. Florida, Mar. 21, 2003 Favorite Event: Balance beam 9.950 vs. Brigham Young, Jan. 2, 2004 Favorite Sport: Freestyle moto-cross Floor 10.00 vs. Arizona State, Jan. 24, 2003 10.00 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 28, 2003

10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM 21 UTE BIOS • GRITT HOFMANN

UTAH: Former German National Team member is one of the most exciting floor performers in the nation … career has been hampered by GRITT HOFMANN hip and back injuries … if she can stay healthy, she could contribute on vault, beam and floor … has “hit” 37-42 career routines. Senior, 5’1” 2004–Tied for NCAA regional floor title with a 9.90 … finished season Berlin, Germany strong after spending six weeks on sidelines with hip and back injuries Werner-Seelenbinder HS … performed on floor at the NCAA Championships and scored a 9.825 Sport Club Berlin in Super Six competition … 9.975 floor routine on Mar. 19 was career Interior Design best … 2 victories were both on floor … member of beam lineup prior to injuries scored season-best 9.85 on Jan. 10 … “hit” 11-11 routines … NACGC Scholastic All-American. 2003–Utah’s Most Improved Gymnast contributed regularly for beam and floor lineups … scored 9.90 on beam at regionals … 9.825 on floor during NCAA Super Six … career high 9.925 on beam at Utah State on Feb. 7 … season-best 9.85 on floor and 9.80 on vault … “hit” 27-32 routines … NACGC Scholastic All-American. 2002–Joined team at semester break … vaulted in the second meet … back injury ended her season … 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, bars and floor … 1995 junior national all-around champion … competed for Ger- many 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) … interior design major … nickname is Gritty … full name is Gritt Alexandra Hofmann … born Aug. 17, 1980.

Hofmann’s Career Highs Vault 9.80 vs. Utah State, Feb. 7, 2003 Beam 9.925 vs. Utah State, Feb. 7, 2003 Floor 9.975 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 19, 2004

Nickname: Gritty Three Words that Describe Me: Perfectionist, inquisitive, friendly Favorite Food: Italian Favorite Musician: Celine Dion Favorite Movie: My Big Fat Greek Wedding Favorite Book: Run Jane Run Favorite Animal: Dolphin Favorite Event: Floor exercise Favorite Place to Travel: “Home” (Germany) Favorite Car: BMW Mini Cooper

22 10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM UTE BIOS • DOMINIQUE D’OLIVEIRA

UTAH: Solid lead-off performer on bars since late in her freshman year … could also make the floor lineup this year … very fit athlete DOMINIQUE D’OLIVEIRA has a great work ethic … expressive dancer … has “hit” 16-20 career routines. Junior, 5’5” 2004–Competed on bars in every meet but one and led off 11 times … Johannesburg, South Africa Utah’s very first competitor at the NCAA Championships scored a 9.80 Redhill HS on the bars … tied career bar high of 9.90 twice—one of those com- Visions Academy of Gymnastics ing at the NCAA regional championships … scored 9.80 or better 10 Sociology/Pre-Med times … competed to count twice on floor … “hit” 11-15 routines … NACGC Scholastic All-American. 2003–Came back from December ankle surgery to make Utah’s NCAA uneven bar lineup … scored 9.825 as Utah’s very first competitor at the NCAA Championships … also scored 9.825 from lead-off position in the Super Six … in abbreviated season, “hit” 5-5 in routines and aver- aged 9.85 … NACGC Scholastic All-American.

CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Member of South African National Team from 1998-2003 … fifth in the all-round at 2002 Como Cup in Italy … in 2001 SA International Cup, placed second all-around, first on bars and second on vault … South Africa’s top finisher at 2001 World Championships in Ghent, Belgium … at 2000 South African Nation- als, 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 Cham- pionships 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 Leverku- sen Cup … trained for Visions Academy of Gymnastics in Johan- nesburg, 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 foren- sics and criminal investigation … sociology major is completing pre- med requirements … born Jan. 19, 1984 in Cape Town, South Africa.

D’Oliveira’s Career Highs Bars 9.90 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 28, 2003 9.90 vs. Oregon State, Mar. 12, 2004 9.90 at NCAA Regionals, Apr. 3, 2004

Nickname: Dom Hobbies: Hiking, swimming, rock climbing, squash Three Words that Describe Me: Spontaneous, outgoing, sincere Favorite Foods: Fruit, nuts, cereal Favorite Subject in School: Anatomy Favorite Movie: Green Mile Favorite Book: Da Vinci Code Favorite Animal: Wild cats (lion, panther, etc.) Favorite Actors: Sandra Bullock, Matthew Perry Favorite Gymnasts: Andreea Raducan, Elena Zamolodchikova

10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM 23 UTE BIOS • NATALIE NICOLOFF

UTAH: Outstanding in difficult role as lead-off competitor on beam … also a possibility for the bar and floor lineups … has hit 29-31 career NATALIE NICOLOFF routines. 2004–Did not count a fall the entire season … did a great job leading Junior, 5’1” off the beam lineup, scoring a 9.80 or higher in eight meets … 9.775 Hermitage, Pa. on beam in NCAA Super Six competition … season-best 9.875 on Hickory HS Mar. 19 … competed on floor at Michigan and scored career-tying Flytz USA Gymnastics 9.80 … “hit” 15-15 routines … NACGC Scholastic All-American. Behavioral Science and Health 2003–Competed in every meet but two to count and went exhibition in other two meets … “hit” both beam routines at the NCAA Cham- pionships as Utah’s lead-off performer … career-best 9.90 on beam at NCAA regional championships … did three bar, eight beam and five floor routines total … made lineup on bars, beam and floor against Ari- zona State on Jan. 24 and scored season highs 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 champion (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 … behavioral science and health ma- jor … 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. Brigham Young, Jan. 17, 2003 9.800 vs. Arizona State, Jan. 24, 2003 9.800 vs. Michigan, Feb. 14, 2004

Nickname: Nat Hobbies: Dancing, shopping Favorite Place to Shop: Forever 21, Victoria Secret Favorite Color: Blue but slowly becoming red Favorite Food: Steak Favorite Book: Awaken the Olympian Within Favorite Animal: Dog Favorite Athlete: Lance Armstrong Favorite Vacation Destination: The beach Favorite Gymnast: Nicolle Ford

24 10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM UTE BIOS • GABRIELLA ONODI

UTAH: Excellent beam worker needs only to improve her consis- tency … also has a competitive floor routine … has “hit” 7-11 career GABRIELLA ONODI routines. 2004–Part-time starter competed on beam in 10 meets and had four Junior, 5’1” 9.85 scores … Utah’s second performer on beam both days at the Budapest, Hungary NCAA Championships scored a 9.8 on opening night … competed to Ujpesti Torna Egylet count on floor on Feb. 27 but fell … “hit” 7-11 routines. Kova’cs Pa’l Gimna’zium 2003–Arrived in Salt Lake City on Christmas night and joined the Communication team for second semester … competed in exhibition on beam on Feb. 14 at Arizona and received 9.725 … back problems kept her out for remainder of the season … NACGC Scholastic All-American.

CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Member of Hungarian National Team from 1995-2003 was a three-time Hungarian Masters all-around champion (Masters includes the best six junior and senior national team mem- bers) … 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 attempt- ing to qualify as an individual to the Olympic Games … 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 … communication major … nickname is Gabi … full name is Gabriella Onodi … born Nov. 2, 1982.

Onodi’s Career Highs Beam 9.85 vs. Brigham Young, Jan. 23, 2004 9.85 vs. Iowa, Feb. 6, 2004 9.85 vs. Michigan, Feb. 14, 2004 9.85 vs. Washington/Iowa/Ill.-Chicago, Mar. 5, 2004 Floor 9.35 vs. Utah State, Feb. 27, 2004

Nickname: Gabi Hobbies: Dancing, ice skating, reading Favorite Color: Pink Favorite Holiday: Christmas Favorite Food: Hungarian fruit soup Favorite Subject in School: Japanese Favorite Book: Harry Potter Favorite Animal: Rabbit Favorite Place to Travel: New York Favorite Gymnast: Svetlana Khorkina

10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM 25 UTE BIOS • KRISTEN RIFFANACHT

UTAH: Two-time All-American will bid for full-time all-around posi- tion this year … voted team’s co-captain … powerful gymnast’s best KRISTEN RIFFANACHT events are vault, beam and floor … has “hit” 72-77 career routines. 2004–Second-team All-American on the balance beam scored a 9.85 Junior, 5’3” on opening night of the NCAA Championships … 9.85 tied for eighth Cheshire, Conn. in the evening session and ninth across both sessions of NCAA open- Cheshire HS ing day competition … “hit” 6-7 routines at the NCAA Champion- Gymnastics Revolution ships … fall at NCAA’s (bars) was her only fall all year … won Diane Exercise and Sport Science Ellingson award for Utah Most Inspirational Gymnast … regular on vault, beam and floor went all-around once (at the NCAA Champion- ships) … joined beam lineup midway through season and in first-ever routine to count, scored a 9.80 at Arizona State … “hit” 35-36 routines with career highs on three events: 9.95 on vault, 9.90 on beam and 9.925 on floor. 2003–Second-team All-American on vault tied for sixth in qualifying session at NCAA Championships … 9.875 vault score ranked ninth across both sessions … scored a 9.85 on vault in Super Six … Utah’s most productive freshman competed on three events at regionals and received a 9.80 on vault and bars and 9.75 on floor … scored 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 champion 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 … exercise and sport science major … nick- name is Riff or Riffy … full name is Kristen Blair Riffanacht … born March 25, 1984.

Nickname: Riffy, Riff Riffanacht’s Career Highs Did You Know: My sister is a competitive volleyball player Vault 9.95 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 19, 2004 Favorite Food: Broccoli Bars 9.850 vs. Arizona State, Jan. 24, 2003 Favorite Subject in School: Science Beam 9.90 vs. Washington/Iowa/I-C, Mar. 5, 2004 Favorite Movie: 50 First Dates Floor 9.925 vs. Utah State, Feb. 27, 2004 Favorite Book: The Da Vinci Code 9.925 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 19, 2004 Favorite Animal: Dog Favorite Actor: Will Smith Favorite Places to Shop: Walmart, American Eagle Favorite Event: Floor exercise

26 10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM UTE BIOS • NICOLLE FORD

UTAH: Three-time All-American as a freshman should contend for the NCAA all-around title and on all four individual events this year … NICOLLE FORD has it all: power, great dance and difficulty. 2004–Team’s only two-time first-team All-American also won second- Sophomore, 5’2” team honors in the all-around … tied for fourth on bars and finished Binghamton, N.Y. 12th on beam in NCAA event finals … in team qualifying competition Windsor HS at the NCAA Championships, tied for eighth across both sessions with Southern Tier Gymnastics a 39.525 all-around score … qualified for finals on bars and beam with Physical Therapy 9.925 and 9.875 scores, respectively … won Coaches’ Award, which honors the team’s most improved gymnast … went all-around in the first seven meets until a back injury on Feb. 27 caused her to miss one meet and limited her to bars and beam in two meets … in her first all- around competition in five weeks, she placed third at regionals with a 39.550 … season-best 39.625 all-around vs. Iowa … other big scores included a 39.575 at BYU and 39.525 at Arizona State … 3 victories … scored 9.925 or better on all four apparatus … has “hit” 44-49 routines.

CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year International Elite competed at 2000-01 U.S. National Championships … 20th in the all-around at the 2001 U.S. National Championships … competed at J.O. nationals four years … as national elite, placed fifth in the all-around at the U.S. Challenge … fourth all-around at the 2002 SCEGA Invitational … trained for coaches Daile VanPatten and Natalia Laschenova at South- ern Tier Gymnastics.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Lori and Charles Ford … one brother, Matt … pre-physical therapy major … nicknames are Nikki and Queenie … full name is Nicolle Marie Ford … born March 29, 1985.

Ford’s Career Highs A-A 39.625 vs. Iowa, Feb. 6 Vault 9.925 vs. Brigham Young, Jan. 23 9.925 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 30 Bars 9.95 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 19 9.95 at NCAA Regionals, Apr. 3 Beam 9.925 vs. Brigham Young, Jan. 23 9.925 vs. Iowa, Feb. 6 Floor 9.925 vs. Michigan, Feb. 14

Nicknames: Queenie, Nikki Hobbies: Watching movies with my girls Three Words that Describe Me: Attitude, queen, determined Favorite Color: Red Favorite Food: Italian Favorite Movie: Princess Diaries 1 & 2 Favorite Book: The Magic Locket Favorite Animal: Puppy Favorite Places to Shop: Victoria Secret, Hollister, Target Favorite Events: Bars and beam

10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM 27 UTE BIOS • STEPHANIE LIM

UTAH: Could make starting lineup on vault, bars and floor … charis- matic performer has unusual bar routine and good difficulty on floor, STEPHANIE LIM where she opens with a full in and finishes with a pike double back. 2004–Competed five routines as a freshman at the NCAA Champion- Sophomore, 5’0” ships and scored a 9.80 or better on four of them … starter on vault The Woodlands, Texas and floor also competed on bars in seven meets … season-best scores The Woodlands HS of 9.925 on floor, 9.875 on vault and 9.85 on bars … scored 9.925 Texas Star Texans twice on floor … scored 9.85 on floor at regionals … “hit” 24-27 International Studies routines.

CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: 2003 Senior International Elite … won the all-around at 2002 J.O. regionals and placed seventh at nationals … 13th all-around at 2001 J.O. Nationals … Texas state all-around and uneven bar champion in 2002 and all-around champion in 2001 … trained at Texas Star Texans Club for coaches Debbie Kaitschuch and Deana Parish … graduated cum laude.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Barbara and Frank Lim … brother Wil- liam and sister Jennifer … nickname is Steph … nursing major hopes to become a nurse anesthesiologist … born Aug. 15, 1985 in Colo- rado.

Lim’s Career Highs Vault 9.875 vs. Utah State, Feb. 27 Bars 9.85 vs. Nebraska, Jan. 16 Floor 9.925 vs. Utah State, Feb. 27 9.925 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 19

Nickname: Steph, Ling Ling Hobby: Music (film scores and string instrumentals) Career Goal: Work with the U.S. Embassy or teach French Three Words that Describe Me: Blunt, outgoing, energetic Favorite Subjects in School: French, sciences Favorite Movie: Shakespeare in Love Favorite Book: Of Mice and Men Favorite Animal: Sea otter Favorite Place to Shop: Best Buy Favorite Gymnast: Courtney McCool

28 10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM UTE BIOS • RACHEL TIDD

UTAH: One of the nation’s top gymnasts as a freshman, she missed the NCAA Championships due to a bout with mononucleosis … will RACHEL TIDD certainly vie for All-America honors and individual titles when she gets her chance … one of two Ute freshmen (the other was former Sophomore, 5’2” NCAA champion Theresa Kulikowski) to score a 10.0 her freshman Fallbrook, Calif. year … does not have a weakness and is especially strong on vault and Calvary Christian HS bars. Southern California Elite Gymnastics Academy 2004–Incredible freshman campaign was marred by shin injury and Undeclared mono—the latter which cost her a chance to compete at nationals … region vault champion tied for first with a 9.95 … also scored a 9.90 on bars at regionals … Dahl Award winner as the team’s most ac- complished combination student-athlete, she earned a 4.0 GPA her first semester and finished the year with a 3.91 cumulative GPA … all-arounder when healthy … 39.675 all-around best is tied for ninth all-time at Utah …10.0 on vault vs. BYU on Mar. 19 … two 9.975 vault scores … other personal bests included a 9.95 on bars, 9.925 on floor and 9.90 on beam … despite injuries, finished third on team in victories with 8 (4 on bars, 3 on vault, 1 on beam ) … “hit” 36-42 routines … NACGC Scholastic All-American.

CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Three-year U.S. National Team member … placed fourth in the all-around at the 2001 USA Championships and was on U.S. World Championships team that took bronze at World Championships … placed eighth on beam at 2001 World Champion- 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 Invi- tational … trained at Southern California Elite Gymnastics Academy (SCEGA) … club coaches included former Utah All-American Mer- edith King-Paulicivic, as well as Tim Garrison and Kathy Strate.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Susan and Michael Tidd … one of 10 chil- dren: 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.

Tidd’s 2004 Highs A-A 39.675 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 19 Vault 10.0 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 19 Bars 9.95 vs. Utah State, Feb. 27 Beam 9.90 vs. Nebraska, Jan. 16 Hobbies: Singing, dancing, listening to music 9.90 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 19 Did You Know: I was in a McDonald’s commercial when I was Floor 9.925 vs. Arizona State/Air Force, Feb. 20 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

10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM 29 UTE BIOS • JESSICA DUKE

UTAH: Former International Elite’s best events are bars and vault ... best instate gymnastics recruit since former Ute All-American Diedra JESSICA DUKE Graham starred at the U. from 1999-2002.

Freshman, 5’4” CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: International Elite qualifier in 2000 ... Sandy, Utah 2000 Junior Olympics national all-around champion ... 10th in the all- The Waterford School around at the 2003 JO Championships and 14th in 2004 ... competed Olympus School of Gymnastics for Region I team that took first at both the 2003 and ’04 JO Champi- Undeclared onships ... sixth on bars and eighth on floor at 2004 JO’s ... won floor and placed third on bars and fifth in the all-around at the 2003 Utah- Moscow Games in Moscow, Russia ... trained at Olympus School of Gymnastics under coaches Mary Wright (also a Ute volunteer coach) and Ryan Kirkham ... graduated from The Waterford School.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Joy and Jeff Duke ... both parents gradu- ated from BYU ... three brothers (David, Daniel, Matthew) and two sisters (Jamie, Madeline) ... nickname is Jess ... full name is Jessica Marie Duke ... born Oct. 5, 1985 in Illinois.

“Jessica has great skills on every event and is an experienced national and international competitor. It’s especially exciting when a locally trained gymnast can come in and help us continue to be competitive at the highest level and Jessica is certainly capable of that.”

Head Coach Greg Marsden

Nickname: Dukie Did You Know: I was born in Chicago, raised in Orlando and then moved to Sandy, Utah Three Words that Describe Me: Determined, thoughtful, fun Favorite Color: Red Favorite Food: Shrimp and salmon Favorite Subject in School: English Favorite Movie: Lord of the Rings the Trilogy Favorite Book: To Kill a Mockingbird Favorite Event: Uneven bars Favorite Gymnast: Theresa Kulikowski

30 10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM UTE BIOS • KATIE KIVISTO

UTAH: Former U.S. Senior National team member will make an immediate impact on Utah’s success—most likely as a freshman all- KATIE KIVISTO arounder ... beautiful performer also has a high level of difficulty in her routines. Freshman, 5’0” Boca Raton, Fla. CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Five-year International Elite gymnast Pope John Paul II HS competed for the U.S. Senior National Team from 2001-02 ... 11th in American Twisters the all-around at the 2001 USA Gymnastics Championships ... member Pre Law of the USA Junior National Team from 1999-2000 ... 1999 JO floor exercise champion ... third in the all-around at 1999 JO Championships ... placed third all-around and first on beam at the Puerto Cup ... trained for coaches Tim and Toni Rand at American Twisters ... American Twisters is the club that produced former Ute All-American Suzanne Metz (1992-95). Ute assistant coach Aki Hummel coached there prior to coming to Utah in 1993.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Sharon and Jussi Kivisto ... last name is pronounced ka-visto ... sisters both compete in gymnastics ... Brigitte, 15, is Level 10; Hanna, 10, is Level 5 ... academic goal is to attend law school ... has a skill (the Kivisto) on balance beam named after her ... full name is Katia Helena Kivisto ... born Dec. 10, 1985.

“Katie is someone we went after really hard. Katie has experienced success at every level and I am confident that will continue throughout her collegiate gymnastics career. She is a beautiful gymnast to watch perform and has plenty of difficulty packed into every routine. She even has a skill on balance beam (the Kivisto) named after her.”

Head Coach Greg Marsden

Nickname: Shorty Career Goal: Attorney Three Words that Describe Me: Motivated, energetic, outspoken Favorite Color: Pink Favorite Food: Bananas and peanut butter Favorite Movie: Old School Favorite Person in History: Princess Diana Favorite Places to Travel: New York, Chicago Favorite Event: Balance beam Favorite Gymnast: Shannon Miller

10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM 31 UTE BIOS • ASHLEY POSTELL

UTAH: One of Utah’s top recruits ever, she was the 2002 World balance beam champion and a seven-year U.S. Senior National Team ASHLEY POSTELL member ... as a freshman, she will rate among the all-around and indi- vidual event favorites at the NCAA Championships. Freshman, 5’2” Burke, Va. CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: U.S. Senior National Team member from Alpha Omega HS 1998-2004 was the World balance beam champion in 2002 ... com- Capital Gymnastics NTC peted at both the 2002 and 2003 World Championships ... 2003 U.S. Undeclared champion on floor exercise also placed second on beam and fourth in the all-around and on bars at the 2003 USA Championships ... trained for coaches Tatiana Perskaia, Victor Vetrov and Marina Gerasimova at Capital Gymnastics NTC ... home schooled (received degree from Alpha Omega High School).

PERSONAL: Daughter of Linda and Gary Postell ... brothers Eric and Kyle and sister Territa ... Kyle has a football scholarship to Duquesne University ... career goal is to become a doctor ... full name is Ashley Blair Postell ... born June 9, 1986.

“Ashley is the total package. She is a lottery pick. Simply stated, she is one of the best gymnasts in the world. She is destined to become one of the stars of collegiate gymnastics.”

Head Coach Greg Marsden

Nickname: Ash Career Goal: Doctor Three Words that Describe Me: Outgoing, vibrant, funny Favorite Food: Pickles Favorite Subject in School: Math Favorite Movie: Butterfly Effect Favorite Animal: Dog Favorite Place to Travel: Australia Favorite Event: Floor exercise Favorite Gymnast: Dominique Dawes

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