THE INSIDE SCOOP

Kim Allan Melissa Vituj Crystal Gilmore Nickname: Ruby Nickname: Mel, Smurf Nickname: Sparky My Goal in Life is: To become a doctor, then Three Words that Describe Me: Energetic, Three Words That Describe Me: Perfectionist, Prime Minister of Canada happy, fun outgoing, sincere Three Words that Describe Me: Stubborn, Hobbies: Rock climbing, dancing, traveling Favorite Food: Cheesecake hardworking, competitive Favorite Color: Red Favorite Musical Group: Tragically Hip Hobbies: Mountain biking, water-skiing, scrap- Favorite Food: Dill pickles Favorite Movie: Dumb and Dumber booking Favorite Musical Group: Moby Favorite Book: The Outsiders Favorite Food: Coffee Favorite Movie: Back to the Future (all three) Favorite Animal: Cat Favorite Subjects in School: Anatomy and Favorite Actor: Michael J. Fox Favorite Actor: Ray Romano Health Promotion Favorite Book: Harry Potter Favorite Person In History: Terry Fox (he tried Favorite Movie: When Harry Met Sally Favorite Gymnast: (Former Ute) Linda Kardos- to run across Canada to raise money for cancer Favorite Book: It’s Not About the Bike Wood research but died halfway through) Favorite Animal: Dog Favorite Place To Travel: Australia Favorite Color: Ute Red! Annabeth Eberle Nickname: AB Natalie Nicoloff Theresa Kulikowski Three Words that Describe Me: Independent, Nickname: Nat Nickname: Kulio athletic, determined Three Words That Describe Me: Outgoing, Did You Know: My dad was in the Army so when Favorite Food: Fruit perfectionist, focused I was little, we lived in Germany for four years Favorite Musical Group: Matchbox 20 Hobby: Piano Three Words That Describe Me: Inquisitive, Favorite Subject in School: Math Favorite Musical Group: Collective Soul hardworking, changing Favorite Animal: Horse Favorite Subject In School: French Hobbies: Hiking, dancing Favorite Movie: The Last Castle Favorite Movie: Shrek Favorite Food: Sushi Favorite Actor: Adam Sandler Favorite Book: Awaken the Olympian Within Favorite Subject in School: Anatomy Favorite Person in History: Jesse Owens Favorite Animal: Monkey Favorite Movie: Best In Show Favorite Place to Travel: Puerto Rico Favorite Actor: Brad Pitt Favorite Book: The Art of Happiness Favorite Gymnast: Lilya Podkopayera Favorite Animal: Eagle Gritt Hofmann Favorite Place to Travel: Home to Colorado Nickname: Gritty Kristen Riffanacht Springs Three Words That Describe Me: Orderly, Nickname: Riff determined, optimistic Did You Know: My sister is a volleyball player Kylee Wagner Favorite Color: Purple and runs track and was undefeated last year Nickname: Ky Favorite Foods: Pasta, rice pudding, cookies, Three Words That Describe Me: Outgoing, Three Words That Describe Me: Outgoing, potatoes perfectionist, diligent determined, compassionate Favorite Musician: Celine Dion Hobbies: Volleyball, art Hobbies: Shopping, water skiing Favorite Subjects In School: Art and architecture Favorite Food: Rice Favorite Food: Italian Favorite Movie: Titanic Favorite Subject in School: Science Favorite Dessert: Ice cream Favorite Book: Run Jane Run Favorite Movie: Independence Day Favorite Movies: The Last Castle and Legally Favorite Actress: Sandra Bullock Favorite Actor: Will Smith Blonde Favorite Gymnast: Favorite Book: A Child Called It Favorite Animal: My golden retriever Maddy Favorite Athlete: Venus Williams Favorite Actress: Julia Roberts Dominique D’Oliveira Favorite Vacation: Backpacking through Europe Nickname: Dom Favorite Gymnast: Henrietta Onodi Three Words That Describe Me: Determined, ambitious, adventurous Veronique Leclerc Hobbies: Dancing, reading, music Nickname: V Favorite Subject In School: Math Did You Know: My family speaks French Favorite Movie: Green Mile Hobbies: Dancing, reading Favorite Book: It’s Not About The Bike Favorite Color: Orange Favorite Animal: Cheetah Favorite Food: Seafood Favorite Actress: Sandra Bullock Favorite Musician: Bob Marley Favorite Place To Travel: Europe Favorite Subject in School: Anthropology Favorite Gymnasts: , Favorite Book: Tuesdays with Morrie Andreea Raducan Favorite Person in History: Martin Luther King Jr. I’d Like to Visit: Africa and India

Dogs are the favorite animal of several gymnasts and Zoey Marsden takes full advantage of that fact.

10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM 21 GYMNAST BIOS • KIM ALLAN

UTAH: Former Canadian National Team member and NCAA All- American … part-time all-arounder during her Ute career ... presi- dent of the Student-Athlete Athletic Advisory (SAAC). KIM ALLAN 2002–Made lineup on every event at some point in season … made beam lineup at regionals and bar lineup at NCAA Championships … Senior, 5’2" 9.725 on bars first night of NCAA competition .. season bests were Port Coquitlam, B.C. 9.875 on and beam and 9.825 on … “hit” 14-20 routines. Terry Fox HS 2001–Suffered season-ending left Achilles tear on Feb. 4 and had Exercise & Sport Science/Pre-Med surgery three days later ... three-event performer (vault, bars, beam) May 29, 1981 in first four meets ... “hit” all 12 routines ... best score in shortened season was 9.85 on beam … NACGC Scholastic All-American. 2000–Second-team All-American on beam (9.850) tied for seventh during NCAA Championships prelims ... competed on vault, bars and beam at nationals and “hit” all six routines … career-best 9.90 on vault during Super Six competition was good for fifth place tie ... also had 9.75 on bars and 9.85 on beam in team finals ... didn’t even crack lineup until fourth meet … competed on beam just four times before nationals, where she put together back-to-back scores of 9.80 and 9.85 from lead-off position ... scored career-best 9.875 on beam in last two regular season meets ... career-best 9.875 twice on bars ... NACGC Scholastic All-American.

CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Member of the Canadian National team ... fifth all-around at ‘99 Senior Elite Nationals ... third all-around at the 1998 Senior Elite Nationals and second on floor ... 10th all-around at 1997 World Trials ... fifth all-around at 1998 Bluewater International Invitational ... 12th all-around at 1998 Senior Elite Canada ... female athlete of the year from 1995-98 ... ninth all-around at 1998 Chinese Motor Invitational held in Taipei, Taiwan ... trained at Omega Gymnastics (coaches David Kenwright, Cathy Chapell).

PERSONAL: Daughter of Pat and Rob Allan ... has one sister (Laura), who plays basketball and softball ... loves to mountain bike … also enjoys water and snow skiing … exercise and sport science major has pre-med emphasis ... born May 29, 1981.

Allan’s Career Highs A-A 39.300 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 18, 2000 Vault 9.900 at NCAA Championships, Apr. 14, 2000 Bars 9.875 vs. Arizona, Feb. 25, 2000 9.875 vs. Washington, Mar. 3, 2000 Beam 9.875 vs. Oregon State, Mar. 12, 2000 9.875 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 18, 2000 9.875 vs. Arizona, Jan. 18, 2002 Floor 9.875 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 18, 2000

22 10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM GYMNAST BIOS • THERESA KULIKOWSKI

UTAH: Former U.S. National Team member is a 12-time NCAA All- American, three-time NCAA champion and two-time NCAA runner-up … elected 2003 team captain … has won 98 event and/or all-around THERESA KULIKOWSKI titles … 11 career 10.0’s … has “hit” 137-149 (92%) of her routines … voted one of Utah’s top 25 female athletes of all-time ... has seven of Utah’s top 10 all-around scores … graduated with 4.0 GPA last May and Senior, 5’5" is currently pursuing physical therapy degree … voted 2002 Verizon Colorado Springs, Colo. Academic All-America Team Member of the Year. Palmer HS 2002–Five-time All-American finished third all-around and on beam, Pre-Physical Therapy fifth on bars and 11th on floor exercise at NCAA Championships … won Jan. 23, 1980 all-around and beam in first session of NCAA’s … tied for first on bars and beam in Super Six … NCAA West Region all-around, bar and beam champion … returned to all-around status on Feb. 15 for first time in two years and scored 39.80 in all-around and 9.95 on vault; both career bests … team-best 31 victories ... four 10.0’s … “hit” 49-51 routines … Verizon First-Team Academic All-American and Verizon Academic Team Member of the Year … NACGC Scholastic All-American. 2001–Won second NCAA beam title and made first-team All-American on both events she competed (placed third on bars) … NCAA region bar champion ... three 10.0s ... led Utah in wins with 20 … “hit” 28-32 routines ... NACGC Scholastic All-American (4.0 GPA). 2000–Surgery for torn ACL on Feb. 11 ... before injury, won 7 of 10 events and both all-arounds ... “hit” all 10 routines ... NACGC Scholas- tic All-American. 1999–NCAA all-around and champion ... NCAA runner- up on vault and floor ... five-time first-team All-American ... first Ute freshman to win an NCAA all-around title since 1982 ... region bar and beam champion and all-around runner-up ... team-high 37 wins ... four 10.0s ... “hit” 51-54 routines … NACGC Scholastic All-American.

CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: 1995-96 U.S. National Team member ... first alternate for the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team placed eighth at Olympic Trials ... senior international elite ... competed for third place U.S. team at 1995 World Championships in Japan and for gold medal team at 1996 Senior Pacific Alliance Championships in Malaysia ... 1993 Junior National Team member ... trained for Colorado Aerials Gymnastics Club (coaches Tom and Laurie Forster) ... 4.025 GPA at Palmer High School.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Franny Kulikowski and Tom Kulikowski ... nickname is Kulio or Kuli ... has two sisters … graduated with bachelor’s degree in exercise and sport science and psychology last May with 4.0 GPA ... currently fulfilling final pre-requisites for admittance to physical therapy program ... born Jan. 23, 1980 in Tacoma, Wash.

Kulikowski’s Career Highs A-A 39.800 vs. Utah State, Feb. 15, 2002 39.800 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 23, 2002 Vault 9.950 vs. Utah State, Feb. 15, 2002 9.950 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 23, 2002 Bars 10.00 vs. Utah State/Boise State, Feb. 26, 1999 10.00 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 27, 1999 10.00 vs. Brigham Young, Feb. 9, 2001 10.00 vs. Michigan, Feb. 23, 2001 10.00 vs. Arizona, Jan. 18, 2002 10.00 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 25, 2002 Beam 10.00 vs. New Hampshire, Mar. 20, 1999 10.00 vs. Utah State, Feb. 6, 2001 10.00 vs. Utah State, Feb. 15, 2002 10.00 at NCAA Regionals, Apr. 6, 2002 Floor 10.00 vs. Utah State/Boise State, Feb. 26, 1999

10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM 23 GYMNAST BIOS • KYLEE WAGNER

UTAH: All-American received an additional year of eligibility from the NCAA for medical hardship … three-event specialist (vault, beam and floor) in the past hopes for all-around position after KYLEE WAGNER summer shoulder surgery ... member of Student-Athlete Mentors (SAMS). Senior, 5’2" 2002–Severe ankle sprain in first meet caused her to miss remainder Salem, Ore. of the season … prior to injury, which happened on first floor pass, Regis HS scored 9.70 on vault and 9.775 on beam … NACGC Scholastic All- Behavioral Health & Science/Psychology American. Jan. 3, 1980 2001–NCAA balance beam All-American (second team) … “hit” 5-6 routines at nationals, including 9.85 score on beam during team qualifying competition … five scores of 9.80 or better in two days competing at NCAA’s … scored 9.90 or better on floor in five meets ... set personal best on all three events against Brigham Young ... “hit” 35-37 routines … NACGC Scholastic All-American. 2000–Three-event performer missed postseason due to mononucleo- sis ... best meets came against UCLA (9.80 on vault, 9.825 on beam and 9.90 on floor) and Utah State (9.80 on beam, 9.875 on floor and 9.75 on vault) ... season-best 9.85 on beam vs. Arizona ... season-best 9.875 on vault vs. Washington ... NACGC Scholastic All-American. 1999–Made floor lineup in 10 meets ... led off Utah’s floor set at nationals and scored 9.80 ... also vaulted at NCAA Championships, scoring 9.75 ... first Ute competitor at regionals scored 9.80 on floor ... best floor score of season was 9.90.

CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Placed 10th all-around at 1998 Junior Olympic Championships ... fourth on floor ex and eighth on vault at 1998 J.O. meet ... third all-around, first on beam, third on vault and floor and fifth on bars at 1998 J.O. regionals ... 1998 state all-around champion was also first on vault and floor, second on bars and third on beam ... qualified for 1998 region team that competed against Mexico ... trained at Salem YMCA (coaches Paul Pinter, Meg Doxtator and Tina Welle)... member of National Honor Society.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Jacque and Walt Wagner ... both parents coach gymnastics ... majoring in behavioral health and science and psychology ... born Jan. 3, 1980.

Wagner’s Career Highs Vault 9.925 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 23, 2001 Beam 9.875 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 23, 2001 Floor 9.950 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 23, 2001

24 10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM GYMNAST BIOS • VERONIQUE LECLERC

UTAH: Former Canadian National Team member is a two-time NCAA All-American … ready to emerge as one of team’s best all- arounders … 15 career victories … has “hit” 73-82 career routines. VERONIQUE LECLERC 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 Junior, 5’0" and 9.80 on beam … Super Six bars score tied for third and vault St. Hubert, Quebec score tied for fourth … tied for 14th on floor in event finals with Andre-Laurendeau HS 9.825 … went all-around nine times, winning at LSU (39.275) … Anthropology/Exercise & Sport Science season all-around best was 39.525 on Jan. 18 … set or tied career June 23, 1981 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 … hit 3 of 4 routines at nationals, with best score 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 colle- giate meet ... “hit” 30-33 routines ... NACGC Scholastic All-Ameri- can (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 Championships 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.

Leclerc’s Career Highs A-A 39.675 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 23, 2001 Vault 9.975 vs. Oregon State, Mar. 10, 2001 Bars 9.950 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 23, 2002 Beam 9.900 vs. Washington, Feb. 8, 2002 Floor 9.950 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 23, 2001

10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM 25 GYMNAST BIOS • MELISSA VITUJ

UTAH: Six-time All-American … part-time all-arounder last year will vie for full-time role as junior … has “hit” 89-95 (94%) of her career routines … loves to compete under pressure. MELISSA VITUJ 2002–Repeated as three-time All-American, winning first-team honors on floor and making second team on vault and beam … 9.90 Junior, 5’0" on floor both nights of team competition at NCAA Championships Ada, Mich. … won first-ever collegiate all-around competition, scoring 39.575 Forest Hills Central HS vs. Arizona on Jan. 18 … career-best 39.625 on Mar. 23 is tied for Health Promotion and Education ninth in school history … placed eighth all-around at regionals with May 2, 1982 39.300 … 5 wins … “hit” 49-53 routines. 2001–Sensational freshman campaign culminated in 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” first 20 routines of her college career before falling on vault landing on Feb. 23 ... won floor exercise competition at Minnesota ... “hit” 40-42 routines.

CLUB, HIGH SCHOOL: Won balance beam 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) ... has skill on beam named after her, “the Vituj,” which features a wolf one and a half jump ... enjoys skiing, camping, water sports and performing for others by quoting lines from movies … played costumed “guest” mascot at Utah men’s basketball game last year and dunked a basketball off mini-tramp … health promotion and education major ... nickname is Mel … full name is Melissa Lynn Vituj ... born May 2, 1982.

Vituj’s Career Highs A-A 39.625 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 23, 2002 Vault 9.950 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 1, 2002 Bars 9.850 vs. Arizona, Jan. 18, 2002 9.850 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 23, 2002 Beam 9.950 vs. BrighamYoung, Mar. 23, 2002 Floor 9.950 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 23, 2001 9.950 vs. Michigan, Feb. 22, 2002

26 10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM GYMNAST BIOS • ANNABETH EBERLE

UTAH: U.S. National Team member lived up to her all-star billing as a freshman … should contend nationally on all four events in coming years … extremely powerful. ANNABETH EBERLE 2002–All-arounder peaked in postseason competition, “hitting” all 12 routines at regionals and nationals … topped 39.00 all three nights of Sophomore, 5’5" team competition in postseason and placed sixth all-around at Reno, Nev. regionals with career-best 39.325 … scored 39.075 in opening Galena HS session of NCAA Championships (11th) and improved to 39.225 in Exercise & Sport Science/Physical Therapy Super Six … NCAA West Region vault champion had career-best April 14, 1983 9.925 … great vaulter scored 9.90 or better five times … 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 Gymnas- tics … member of National Honor Society.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Bindee Eberle and Joe Eberle (pro- nounced eb-er-lee) … father ran track at University of Nevada … mother was a cheerleader at Nevada … mother 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 39.325 at NCAA Regionals, Apr. 6, 2002 Vault 9.925 at NCAA Regionals, Apr. 6, 2002 Bars 9.900 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 1, 2002 Beam 9.925 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 1, 2002 Floor 9.950 vs. Florida, Mar. 16, 2002

10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM 27 GYMNAST BIOS • GRITT HOFMANN

UTAH: German National Team member didn’t arrive on campus until late last December, a month after competing for Germany in the 2001 World Championships … has recovered from back and shoul- GRITT HOFMANN der injuries that kept her from competing for Utah most of last year. 2002–Before back injury ended season, she made vault lineup in Sophomore, 5’1" second meet … NACGC/W Scholastic All-American had 4.0 GPA Berlin, Germany her only semester. Werner Seelenbinder HS Architecture CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Member of German National Team since August 17, 1980 1994 … competed at 2001 World Championships … at 2000 German Championships, placed first on floor, second on beam and fourth in all-around … 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 Alexander Hofmann … born Aug. 17, 1980.

Hofmann’s Career Highs Vault 9.20 vs. Arizona, Jan. 18, 2002

28 10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM GYMNAST BIOS • DOMINIQUE D’OLIVEIRA

UTAH: South African National Team Member will compete for Utah while training for a shot at representing her country in the 2004 Olympics. DOMINIQUE D’OLIVEIRA CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Member of South African National Team Freshman, 5’5" since 1998 … fifth in all-round at 2002 Como Cup in … in Johannesburg, South Africa 2001 SA International Cup, placed second all-around, first on bars Redhill HS and second on vault … South Africa’s top finisher at 2001 World Undeclared Championships in Ghent, Belgium … at 2000 South African Nation- January 19, 1984 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 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 career in forensics and criminal investigation … born Jan. 19, 1984 in Cape Town, South Africa.

“I’m very excited about Dominique’s potential to contribute this year. She’s very powerful and has a good competitive background, yet she readily admits she has a lot to learn,” says Marsden. “She already has big skills, so the key will be her ability to improve her execution. Dominique will contend for a place in the all- around if she improves as much as I think she will.”

Head Coach Greg Marsden

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10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM 29 GYMNAST BIOS • CRYSTAL GILMORE

UTAH: Member of the 2000 Canadian Olympic Team is expected to have immediate impact on Utah’s all-around lineup … committed to Utah in 2001, but held off coming to school for a year while she CRYSTAL GILMORE continued to train and compete for Canadian National team.

Freshman, 5’2" CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Olympian helped Canada to best-ever Cambridge, Ontario/ ninth-place team finish in the 2000 Summer in Jacob Hespeler HS Sydney, Australia … placed 33rd on beam at 2000 Olympics … Undeclared competed for Canada at 2001 World Championships … Canada April 8, 1983 finished 10th at 2001 World Championships … member of Canadian National Team since 1998 … fifth in all-around at 2000 Canadian Championships … sixth on floor at 2000 World Stars meet … helped team to gold medal in 1999 Canada vs. USA Team Challenge … at 1998 Commonwealth Games, placed seventh in all- around and team took bronze … other international competitions included 2000 Team Challenge and Mixed Pairs in France and 1998 World Youth Games in … trained at Cambridge Kips Gym- nastics Club for coaches Elvira Saadi and Vladimir Kondratenko, both former Soviet gymnasts and coaches … honors student at Jacob Hespeler High School … grade 8 French award.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Brenda and Derek Gilmore … mother participated in figure skating … two sisters, Ashley and Megan, both play volleyball … enjoys water skiing, tubing, boating, golfing, swimming and roller blading … interested in a career in psychology or nutrition … nickname is Sparky or Spark … born April 8, 1983.

“Crystal has all of the qualities you want in a gymnast. She has difficult skills, good execution, international experience and a unique style. Her floor routine has some of the most interesting choreography that will be performed on the college scene this year. She is an excellent balance beam worker and also excels on bars. If she has a weakness, it’s vaulting, but she is determined to improve and contribute on that event as well.”

Head Coach Greg Marsden

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30 10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM GYMNAST BIOS • NATALIE NICOLOFF

UTAH: Level 10 gymnast could make Utah’s starting lineup … best events are vault, beam and floor.

NATALIE NICOLOFF CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Two-year Level 10 national qualifier … 2002 Level 10 region balance beam champion also placed third on Freshman, 5’1" floor … 2002 Level 10 Ohio state all-around, beam and floor cham- Hermitage, Pa. pion (second on vault and third on bars) … 1999 state floor exercise Hickory HS champ and 2001 state balance beam champ … Pennsylvania resident Undeclared trained for club team Flytz USA Gymnastics in Cuyahoga Falls, May 22, 1984 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.

“We were immediately drawn to Natalie as a result of the way she performs her skills. She has a beautiful line and great execution. Natalie is still a bit of a work in progress when it comes to skills, but she is a quick learner. She could be one of the pleasant surprises in college gymnastics this season.”

Head Coach Greg Marsden

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10-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • WWW.UTAHUTES.COM 31 GYMNAST BIOS • KRISTEN RIFFANACHT

UTAH: International Elite will challenge for position on all four events … outstanding vaulter.

KRISTEN RIFFANACHT CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Three-year qualifier to Junior Olympic national championships … two-year International Elite qualifier … Freshman, 5’3" ninth all-around and second on vault at 2002 J.O. national champi- Cheshire, Conn. onships … 2002 region all-around, vault, bars and beam champion Cheshire HS was runner-up on floor … 2002 state all-around, vault and beam Undeclared champion placed second on floor … third all-around, second on bars March 25, 1984 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 … hopes for career as physical therapist … enjoys volleyball, watching tennis and art … nickname is Riff … full name is Kristen Blair Riffanacht … born March 25, 1984.

“Kristen is power personified. If I had to compare her to someone on the team, it would be Annabeth Eberle— no question. Kristen is strong and powerful, yet can perform with elegance. She doesn’t have a weak event and should make an immediate impact everywhere.”

Head Coach Greg Marsden

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