University of Minnesota Athletics
#18 GOPHER GYMNASTS HOST #4 UTAH
1/9/2001 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Minnesota hosts Utah on Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Sports Pavilion. Utah, which finished second in the nation last year, is ranked No. 4 in the preseason coaches poll, while the Golden Gophers are ranked No. 18.
The Preseason Poll
Minnesota one of five Big Ten Conference schools listed in the preseason coaches poll. The Golden Gophers are listed at No. 18. Two- time defending conference champion Michigan leads the way with a No. 3 ranking. Penn State joins the Wolverines in the top 10, listed at No. 9. Other schools among the top 25 are Iowa (No. 22) and Ohio State (No. 24). Defending national champion UCLA is the top-ranked school, followed by Georgia and Michigan. The first regular-season poll will be released Jan. 15.
About the Golden Gophers
Minnesota opened the season with a 194.275-192.250 win over Big Ten Conference rival Ohio State on Saturday at the Sports Pavilion. The Golden Gophers recorded a three-way tie for first place on floor exercise, and a tie for first on balance beam. The Gophers outscored the Buckeyes on three of four events, as Ohio State edged the Gophers on bars, 48.400-48.300.
Beuckens Sidelined
Junior Megan Beuckens (Brandon, S.D./Brandon Valley) had surgery Dec. 19 to remove a benign cyst and did not compete Saturday against Ohio State. She will be evaluated this week.
Kelley Misses All Around
Junior MaryAnne Kelley (Barrington, Ill./Fremd) hyperextended her left elbow during uneven bars warmups on Saturday against Ohio State and did not compete on bars. It is the first time in her 29-meet career she was not an all around competitor. She is expected to compete in the all around this weekend.
Laatsch Shines In First Competition
Newcomer Annie Laatsch (Lakeville, Minn./Burnsville) tied for first place on two events in her first collegiate competition. She tied for first place on floor exercise (9.85) and balance beam (9.80). Her 9.85 score on floor exercise ties the 10th-best score in team history. Laatsch also tied for second on uneven bars with a score of 9.750.
Gopher Floor Exercise Scores High
The Golden Gophers recorded the top five floor exercise scores Saturday against Ohio State, including a three-way tie for first place. Senior Shanyn Lancaster (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Lahser), junior MaryAnne Kelley and newcomer Annie Laatsch each scored a 9.85. Lancaster and Laatsch are now both listed at No. 10 in team history for floor exercise. Kelley's career high of 9.95 set last season tied the school record.
Other Minnesota scorers on Saturday were junior Catie Christensen (Columbus, Ohio/Buckeye), who placed fourth at 9.825, and newcomer Alicia Opsahl (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake), who placed fifth at 9.80.
The Golden Gophers recorded a team floor exercise score of 49.175. Last year, Minnesota topped that score only three times but set the school record with a 49.500 on March 18.
Beam Beginnings
Minnesota scored a 48.475 on beam against Ohio State, with four of the five counting scores at least 9.725. Last season, Minnesota scored 48.475 or higher five times in 14 meets.
Dixon Leads Again On Vault
Sophomore Leigh Dixon (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./The Bishop's School) started the 2001 season where she left off in 2000. Dixon was Minnesota's highest scorer on vault against Ohio State, placing second with a 9.65. Last year, she recorded the team's top vault score in 12 of the team's 14 meets and recorded the top six vault scores of the season. She led the team with a 9.796 average in 2000.
The Newcomers
Minnesota's newcomers competed in 10 of the Gophers' 24 routines Saturday against Ohio State, and nine of their scores "counted" in the team total. Annie Laatsch and Alicia Opsahl performed on uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise. Mary Skokut (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) competed on vault and bars, while Tara Schroeder (Rogers, Minn./Rogers) competed on vault.
About Utah
Utah opened the season with a 196.375-190.85 win at home against Southern Utah on Friday. Utah scored at least 49.000 on bars, beam and floor, and a 48.500 on vault. Sophomore Theresa Kulikowski and junior Shannon Bowles each returned from injuries. Kulikowski, the 1999 NCAA all around and balance beam champion, won the bars (9.95) and tied for first on beam (9.90) after missing most of the 2000 season with an ACL injury. Bowles tied for the win on beam (9.90) and won the floor exercise (9.925) after missing the entire 2000 season with a neck injury.
Utah is the only team in the nation to qualify for all 19 NCAA Championships, winning nine. The team placed second a year ago.
Utah Connection
Golden Gopher co-head coaches Jim and Meg Stephenson coached at Utah with current Utah coach Greg Marsden prior to coaching at Minnesota. The Stephensons spent four years at Utah, with Jim Stephenson serving as the first assistant coach and Meg Stephenson serving as a consultant. During their four years, Utah won national titles in 1990 and 1992.
Last Year Against Utah
Minnesota faced Utah three times last season. The Golden Gophers lost a dual meet at No. 3 Utah on Jan. 21, Utah's 153rd consecutive home win and Utah head coach Greg Marsden's 700th career win. Minnesota scored a 46.975 on bars, the lowest score of the season on any event.
On Feb. 18, Minnesota faced No. 4 Utah in a quadrangular meet at Arizona State. The Golden Gophers placed third with a score of 195.150, ahead of Utah's 194.675. It was the first time ever that Minnesota defeated Utah.
No. 4 Utah competed in the Sports Pavilion at the NCAA Region 2 Championships on April 1. Utah won the meet and advanced to the NCAA Championships, finishing second in the nation.
Up Next
Minnesota hits the road for the first time in the 2001 season, traveling to Ann Arbor, Mich., to face Iowa and Michigan in a triangular meet Jan. 19. The Golden Gophers return home to host the Hawkeyes on Saturday, Jan. 27, at 7 p.m.
