| OCR Text |
Show Roster • Preview 16 1 0 - t i m e n a t i o n a l c h a m p i o n s Utah Gymnastics Roster Utah Roster 2008 Utah Gymnastics Roster & Pronunciation Guide Kristina Baskett, Jr. Normandy Park,Wash. Daria Bijak, So. Cologne, Germany. Jamie Deetscreek, So. Hatboro, Pa. Annie DiLuzio, So. Folsom, Calif. Jessica Duke, Sr. Sandy, Utah Jacq Johnson, Fr. West Chester, Ohio Nina Kim, Jr. Houston, Texas Front Row - Daria Bijak, Ashley Postell, Stephanie Neff, Katie Kivisto, Beth Rizzo. Back Row - Jamie Deetscreek, Nina Kim, Jessica Duke, Annie DiLuzio, Gael Mackie, Jacquelyn Johnson, Kyndal Robarts, Kristina Baskett. Katie Kivisto, Sr. Boca Raton, Fla. Gael Mackie, Fr. Vancouver, B.C. Stephanie Neff, So. Mesa, Ariz. Ashley Postell, Sr. Burke, Va. Beth Rizzo, So. Hoffman Estates, Ill. Kyndal Robarts, Fr. San Marcos, Texas Name Height Year Exp. Hometown High School/Club Kristina Baskett 5-1 Jr. 2VL Normandy Park, Wash. Mt. Rainier HS/Puget Sound Gymnastics Daria Bijak 5-2 So. 1VL Cologne, Germany Georg Buechner Gymnasium HS/Turnteam Toyota Cologne Jamie Deetscreek 5-3 So. 1VL Hatboro, Pa. Hatboro-Horsham HS /Ricochets Gymnastics Annie DiLuzio 5-3 So. 1VL Folsom, Calif. Folsom HS/Byers Gymnastics Jessica Duke 5-4 Sr. 3VL Sandy, Utah The Waterford School/Olympus School of Gymnastics Jacquelyn Johnson 5-3 Fr. HS West Chester, Ohio Lakota West HS/Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy Nina Kim 5-3 Jr. 2VL Houston, Texas Alpha Omega Academy/World Olympic Gymnastics Academy Katie Kivisto 5-0 Sr. 3VL Boca Raton, Fla. Pope John Paul II HS/American Twisters Gael Mackie 5-2 Fr. HS Vancouver, B.C. Burnaby Central Secondary/Omega Gymnastics Academy Stephanie Neff 5-0 So. 1VL Mesa, Ariz. Apache Trail HS/Carter's Gymnastics Ashley Postell 5-2 Sr. 3VL Burke, Va. Alpha Omega HS/Capital Gymnastics NTC Beth Rizzo 5-0 So. 1VL Hoffman Estates, Ill. William Friend HS/Buffalo Grove Gymnastics Kyndal Robarts 5-4 Fr. HS San Marcos, Texas Hays HS/USA Aerial Athletics Coaching Staff Head Coach: Greg Marsden (33rd year) Associate Head Coach: Megan Marsden (24th year) Assistant Coach: Jeff Graba (3rd year) Volunteer Coach: Mary Wright (5th year) Director of Operations: Cameron Linford (1st year) Pronunciation Guide Baskett......... Bas-KETT Bijak (Daria). Bee-jhack with a soft ‘j' (darr-ee-a) DiLuzio......... Da-loozy-oh (Johnson) Jacquelyn..... Jack-a-lin Kivisto............................ ka-VISS-toe Mackie (Gael)................ mack key (gail) Postell ........................... Pah-STELL Robarts (Kyndal) ........... RO-barts (Kin-dull) 1 0 - t i m e n a t i o n a l c h a m p i o n s 17 Ute Personnel Ute Personnel Picture Letterwinners Letterwinners Returning (10) Kristina Baskett, Daria Bijak, Jamie Deetscreek, Annie DiLuzio, Jessica Duke, Nina Kim, Katie Kivisto, Stetphanie Neff, Ashley Postell, Beth Rizzo. Letterwinners Lost (2) Nicolle Ford, Sarah Shire All-Americans All-Americans Returning (6) Ashley Postell (15 Career All-America Awards) 2005-All-Around (3rd), Bars (3rd), Vault^, Beam^, Floor* 2006-All-Around (2nd), Vault (8th), Bars (5th), Beam (7th), Floor^ 2007- Beam (1st), All-Around (2nd), Floor (3rd), Bars (7th), Vault* Kristina Baskett (3 Career All-America Awards) 2006-Bars (1st), Vault* 2007-Bars (4th) Annie DiLuzio (1 Career All-America Award) 2007-Vault (2nd) Daria Bijak (1 Career All-America Award) 2007-Bars (8th) Beth Rizzo (1 Career All-America Award) 2007-Floor (12th) Jessica Duke (1 Career All-America Award) 2007-Vault* ^Scratched from finals *Second Team All-American Lost (1) Nicolle Ford (8 Career All-America Awards) 2004-Bars (4th), Beam (12th), All-Around* 2005-Bars* 2006-Vault (7th), Bars (6th), All-Around* 2007-Vault (12th) Utes By Class Seniors (3) Jessica Duke, Katie Kivisto, Ashley Postell Juniors (2) Kristina Baskett, Nina Kim Sophomores (5) Daria Bijak, Jamie Deetscreek, Annie DiLuzio, Stephanie Neff, Beth Rizzo Freshmen (3) Jacquelyn Johnson, Gael Mackie, Kyndal Robarts Ute Roots Arizona (1) Stephanie Neff (Mesa) California (1) Annie DiLuzio (Folsom) Canada (1) Gael Mackie (Vancouver, B.C.) Florida (1) Katie Kivisto (Boca Raton) Germany (1) Daria Bijak (Cologne) Illinois (1) Beth Rizzo (Hoffman Estates) Ohio (1) Jacquelyn Johnson (West Chester) Pennsylvania (1) Jamie Deetscreek (Hatboro) Texas (2) Nina Kim (Houston) Kyndal Robarts (San Marcos) Utah (1) Jessica Duke (Sandy) Virginia (1) Ashley Postell (Burke) Washington (1) Kristina Baskett (Normandy Park) Kristina Baskett 2006 NCAA Uneven Bars Champion Ashley Postell 2007 NCAA Balance Beam Champion 18 1 0 - t i m e n a t i o n a l c h a m p i o n s 2008 Ute Routines 2008 Routines Kristina Baskett Round-off flick-flack on, stretched salto backward with full turn off (Yurchenko full) 10.0 Round-off flick-flack on, stretched salto backward with one and one half turn off (Yurchenko 1 1/2) 10.0 Front handspring on, layout front salto off 10.0 Round-off flick-flack on, stretched salto backward with full turn off (Yurchenko full) 10.0 Round-off flick-flack on, stretched salto backward with full turn off (Yurchenko full) 10.0 Round-off flick-flack on, stretched salto backward with double turn off (Baitova) 10.0 Round-off flick-flack on, stretched salto backward with full turn off (Yurchenko full) 10.0 Round-off flick-flack on, stretched salto backward with full turn off (Yurchenko full) 10.0 Hecht over low bar mount Cast handstand 1/1 turn Giant blind full Giant half turn to handstand Tkatchev Pak salto Cast handst. 1/2 turn Toe-on shoot to high bar Giant Layout double back dismount Shaposhnikova Cast handst. 1/2 turn Hop full Deltchev Cast handstand Shoot half to handstand on low bar Toe-on shoot to high bar Cast handstand Giant Higgins turn Double front tuck dismount Shaposhnikova Shoot half to handstand on low bar Toe-on shoot to high bar Cast handstand Giant full Tkatchev Cast handstand Giant, Giant Layout double back dismount Kip squat-on low bar Cast handstand Giant full Gienger Cast handstand Shoot half to handstand on low bar Toe-on shoot to high bar Cast handstand Giant Full twisting double tuck dismount Hecht over low bar mount Cast handstand Hop full Gienger Cast handstand Shoot half to handstand on low bar Toe-on shoot to high bar Giant Giant Full twisting double tuck dismount Shaposhnikova Pak salto Cast handst. 1/2 turn Toe-on shoot to high bar Cast handstand Tkatchev Cast handstand Giant Giant full Double tuck back dismount Side mount Flick flack-layout Tucked front-stretch jump Switch leg leap-straddle jump-straddle jump Switch side leap Round off- double twist or double back dismount Front walkover mount Flick flack-layout Switch leg leap 1/2 Split jump-tucked jump full turn Tucked front Switch leg leap-straddle jump Front full or front double dismount Side mount Round off-layout double down Front aerial walkover-wolf jump Switch leg leap-straddle jump-straddle jump Cartwheel gainer full dismount Side mount Flick flack layout Tucked front Switch side leap Side aerial Switch leg leap-straddle jump Round-off double twist dismount Step on mount Straddle jump 3/4 Flick flack layout Kickover tucked front-wolf jump Switch leg leap-straddle jump-split jump Gainer pike back dismount Side mount Flick flack-layout Tuck jump full turn-stretch jump Front tuck Switch leap Straddle jump Straddle jump Gainer full dismount Pike double back full twist or double layout Layout back 1-1/2 twist+layout front full twist Wolf jump full-popa Switch side leap-full twisting Shushanova Pike double back Tuck double front + tuck front Whip half + tuck front full Switch leap ring-switch leap 1/2 Popa-wolf jump full Layout front full + pike front Pike double back Switch leap ring + tourjete 1/2-popa Layout back 1/2 twist + layout front half twist Popa-wolf jump full Two and a half twist Tuck Arabian double front Switch side leap-Popa Layout back 1-1/2 twist +layout front Wolf jump 1-1/2 Layout back 2-1/2 twist or triple twist Pike double back Layout front+layout front full twist Switch leap ring-tourjete 1/2 Popa-wolf jump full Layout front 1 ½ twist Pike double back Tourjete 1/2-tucked jump 1-1/2 Layout front + layout front 1-1/2 twist Popa wolf jump full Layout back 2-1/2 twist Daria Bijak Jamie Deetscreek Annie DiLuzio Jessica Duke Jacquelyn Johnson 1 0 - t i m e n a t i o n a l c h a m p i o n s 19 2008 Ute Routines 2008 Routines Round-off flick-flack on, stretched salto backward with full turn off (Yurchenko full) 10.0 Round-off flick-flack on, stretched salto backward with one and one half turn off (Yurchenko 1 1/2) 10.0 Round-off flick-flack on, stretched salto backward with full turn off (Yurchenko full) 10.0 Pike front 9.9 Pike front ½ twist 10.0 Round-off flick-flack with 1/2 turn on, pike salto forward with 1/2 turn off (Podkopayeva) 10.0 Round-off flick-flack on, stretched salto backward with full turn off (Yurchenko full) 10.0 Round-off flick-flack on, stretched salto backward with one and one half turn off (Yurchenko 1 1/2) 10.0 Round-off flick-flack on, stretched salto backward with full turn off (Yurchenko full) 10.0 Round-off flick-flack with 1/2 turn on, pike salto forward (Omelianchik) 10.0 Round-off flick-flack with 1/2 turn on, tuck salto forward with 1/2 turn off 10.0 Kip squat-on low bar Cast handstand Toe-on circle Tkatchev Cast handstand 1/2 turn Shoot half to handstand on low bar Toe-on shoot to high bar, Giant, Giant Full twisting double tuck dismount Cast handstand 1/2 turn Toe-on shoot to high bar Giant blind 1/2 Jaeger Cast handstand Giant full Shoot half to handstand on low bar Squat-on Giant, Giant Double layout dismount Hecht over low bar mount Cast handstand Giant ½ turn Khorkina Cast handstand Pike Jaeger Cast handstand Shoot handstand Cast handstand Giant, Giant Layout double back Kip squat-on low bar Cast handstand Giant blind half Jaeger Cast handstand Giant full Shoot half to handstand on low bar Toe-on shoot to high bar Cast handstand Giant Giant blind half Double front tuck Hecht over low bar mount Cast handstand Toe-on circle blind 1/2 Jaeger Cast handstand Pak salto Cast handstand Stalder shoot to high bar Cast handstand Higgins turn Double front tuck with 1/2 turn dismount Hecht over low bar mount Cast handstand Giant full Tkatchev Cast handstand 1/2 turn Pak salto Cast handstand 1/2 turn Toe-on shoot to high bar Cast handstand Giant Giant full Double tuck dismount Round-off- layout mount Flick flack-layout-layout Switch leg leap-ring jump Front aerial walkover-sheep jump Switch side leap Round off-11/2 twist dismount Handstand mount Handstand step down-flick flack layout Switch side leap Tucked front Switch leap-straddle jump- straddle jump Kivisto flip Round off + tuck-1 1/2 twist dismount Side mount Switch leap + straddle jump-straddle jump Flick flack + layout Korbut Front aerial Onodi Full turn leg horizontal Round-off double twist Side mount Flick flack-layout Tuck jump full-stretch jump Tucked front Switch leg leap + straddle jump-straddle jump Layout front full dismount Side mount Stretch jump-sheep jump Tucked front Switch leg leap-full twisting Korbut Flick flack-layout Omelianchick (3/4 flick flack to handstand) Round off-back layout double twist dismount Tucked front mount Flick flack-layout straddle jump-straddle jump Switch leg leap + Front aerial walkover Front layout full dismount Side mount Front aerial Flick flack layout Side aerial Switch leap + straddle jump-straddle jump Stretch jump + tucked jump full Round-off double twist or double back dismount Layout front double twist + tuck front Switch leap ring-tourjete 1/2 Tuck double back Double cat leap Layout front 1 1/2 twist Layout back 2-1/2 twist + pike front Switch side leap-Popa Layout back 1/2 twist + layout front full twist Tuck back 1-1/2 + tuck front Pike double back full twist Layout back 1-1/2 twist + layout front Switch ring + Tourjete 1/2 Pike double back Tuck double front Tourjete 1/2-Popa Layout front + layout front + pike front Popa-wolf jump full Whip back ½ + layout front full or pike double back Tuck Arabian double front Outward double cat leap Layout back 2-1/2 twist + layout front Popa + wolf jump full Layout back triple twist Pike double back Switch leap ring-switch leap 1/2 Layout back 1-1/2 twist + layout front Wolf jump 11/2 Tuck double back Tuck Arabian double front Tuck jump double turn Layout back 2-1/2 twist + tuck front Popa-wolf jump full Pike double back Nina Kim Katie Kivisto Gael Mackie Stephanie Neff Ashley Postell Beth Rizzo Kyndal Robarts 20 1 0 - t i m e n a t i o n a l c h a m p i o n s 2008 Outlook 2008 Utah Outlook While 10 is considered a perfect number in gymnastics, Utah coach Greg Marsden wants more. Since 1995, his program has been stuck on 10 national championships. Coming off two straight NCAA runner-up finishes, Marsden is hopeful that this will be the year Utah breaks out another title. "We've had three excellent NCAA Championship performances in a row now," says Marsden. "That's the good news. The bad news is that we've had a third- and two second-place finishes. Ide-ally, we'd like to take a step forward this year and win our 11th national champion-ship. We feel good about who we are and what we can accomplish, but we also fully appreciate how hard it is to win a champi-onship against the competition out there in college gymnastics." Utah blazed to the finish line last year after sputtering during the regular season - something Marsden attributed in part to youth. "Last year was challenging with six freshmen. We were inconsistent until the last month, when we put together a nice run through regionals and nationals." If preseason training is any indication, Utah will have a better head of steam going into the championship events this coming April. "This preseason was much better than last, both in regards to team unity and consistent preparation," says Marsden. "While last year's preseason training was a struggle, this year's was fun." Contributing to the fun are three talented freshmen who will aim to pick up the routines vacated the lone graduated senior from 2007 - eight-time All-Amer-ican Nicolle Ford. "Replacing someone like Nicolle is impossible, but we have a strong freshman class that I am confi-dent will help us out immediately," says Marsden. Jacquelyn "Jacq" Johnson and Kyndal Robarts come to the Utes off the USA National and Junior Olympic teams, respectively, while Gael Mackie is a 2004 Canadian Olympian. The trio will vie for time in an ex-perienced lineup that features 15-time All-American, 2007 NCAA balance beam champion and two-time NCAA all-around runner-up Ashley Postell. Other All-Amer-icans returning include 2006 NCAA uneven bars champion Kristina Baskett and 2007 NCAA vault runner-up Annie DiLuzio, as well as Daria Bijak, Beth Rizzo and Jes-sica Duke. Postell, in particular, appears to have interesting implications in terms of Utah's national championship hopes. "It seems that as Ashley goes, so goes our team. She was third in the all-around her freshman year and second her sophomore and junior years. Let's hope she can win the whole thing this year," says Marsden. As always, Utah will have plenty of practice against the nation's top teams before the championships roll around. In fact, the Utes will open their season at home against three-time defending NCAA champion Georgia on January 11. Other 2007 NCAA Championship qualifiers on the schedule are Nebraska, UCLA, Oregon State, Florida and Michigan. "We intentionally schedule as many of the top teams as we can each year," says Marsden. "We feel it's important to give our team the opportunity to compete against other national contenders so that we can gain confidence and experience the type of competitive atmosphere we'll see in the postseason." Here's a preview of the 2008 Utah gymnasts and what Marsden has to say about them. Ute Seniors Headlining the senior class is defend-ing NCAA balance beam champion Ashley Postell (Burke, Va.), who placed second in the nation in the all-around the past two years after taking the bronze as a fresh-man. The senior has never lost in head-to-head all-around competition at the NCAA Championships and her 15 All-America awards (13 first team) are the most pos-sible. Utah's three-time MVP is capable of winning national titles on every individual event and in the all-around, placing her in rare company. "Ashley worked really hard in the preseason and I've never seen her look bet-ter. She seems to be on a mission to have her best season yet, which is really saying something." Kristina Baskett, the 2006 NCAA uneven bar co-champion, is a three-time All-American. 1 0 - t i m e n a t i o n a l c h a m p i o n s 21 2008 Outlook 2008 Utah Outlook Jessica Duke (Sandy, Utah) earned second-team All-America honors on the bars last year - missing the cut for event finals by one place. Extremely reliable, she has hit 94-percent of her career routines, with her biggest scores coming on bars and vault. "Jessica is the type of role player every team needs. I can see her competing on each event at times throughout the season, although bars has to be considered her strength." Utah's Most Inspirational Gymnast a year ago, Katie Kivisto (Boca Raton, Fla.) has emerged as a team leader. While most of her contributions have come on bars and floor, she hopes for a chance to show off her signature balance beam move - the ‘Kivisto' - in her final season. "Katie really turned it around last season and took on a leadership role. She is going into this season well prepared, strong, confident and ready to contribute on bars, beam and floor." Ute Juniors Three-time All-American Kristina Baskett (Normandy Park, Wash.) won the NCAA uneven bars championship as a freshman in 2006 and she's produced some of the best scoring vaults in the Super Six. Baskett can easily match skills and scores with the nation's best all-arounders when she puts together a complete meet. "Kris is right there with anyone in the nation on every event, and can win it all when she hits all four events on a given night. She will be a critical part of our all-around lineup." Nina Kim (Houston, Texas) went all-around as a freshman and her goal is to regain that status. Kim has a 9.90 or better on every event, but has yet to compete to her potential week in and week out. "Nina is the type of athlete that could bust out at any time and compete well on every event. We're hoping this will be the year she does that on a regular basis." Ute Sophomores Annie DiLuzio lived up to her reputa-tion as one of the world's best vaulters as a freshman when she finished second at the NCAA Championships. All that holds her back from similar success in the all-around is a nagging elbow injury that restricts her training on the bars. "Annie showed signs last year of her potential, but is in a much better position to have a breakout year as a sophomore. She is really as strong as anyone in the nation on vault, floor and beam." Injuries kept Daria Bijak (Cologne, Germany) from taking the college gymnas-tics scene by storm as a freshman, although the two-time German all-around champion did win first-team All-America honors on the uneven bars. If she stays healthy, her innovative skills will make her a national contender on every event. "A healthy Daria is as strong as any all-arounder we have. To get the most out of her, we might have to pick and choose when we use her on vault and floor, even though those are very strong events for Daria." Watch for Jamie Deetscreek (Hatboro, Pa.) to go from alternate to starter this year after a great preseason. The most noticeable changes are to Deetscreek's conditioning, strength and confidence - transformations that could land her a position in the beam and bar lineups. "Jamie had a great off-season and has really improved, especially on beam and bars. I see her making strong contributions on those two events and pushing for a posi-tion on the others." Stephanie Neff (Mesa, Ariz.) goes into her sophomore season light years ahead of a year ago, when she missed virtually all of preseason training due to injuries. She has big tumbling skills and the extra gym time should mean more consistent landings. "Her ability to train in the preseason this year has allowed Steph to re-emerge as an option for us on all four events. I think she'll compete on floor at the beginning of the season and other events later on." Beth Rizzo (Hoffman Estates, Ill.), a walk-on who redshirted in 2006 to work on upgrading her skills, went on to win first-team All-America honors on the floor exercise in her first year competing. She's set her sights even higher this year. "Beth is one of the great stories in Utah gymnastics history. For a walk-on to ac- 2007 NCAA balance beam champion Ashley Postell was the NCAA all-around runner-up in 2006 and 2007. 22 1 0 - t i m e n a t i o n a l c h a m p i o n s 2008 Outlook 2008 Utah Outlook complish what she did last year is remark-able, and now she's challenging for a spot in the vault and beam lineups as well." Ute Freshmen Two-year U.S. National Team member Jacquelyn "Jacq" Johnson (West Chester, Ohio) was on everyone's wish list coming out of high school. Her best events are bars and floor, but she has plenty to offer on the other two events as well. "Due to a series of relatively minor injuries, Jacq will simply not be at her best at the beginning, but we are hopeful that her role and contribution will increase as the season progresses. She certainly has the credentials to do that." Gael Mackie (Vancouver, B.C.), a 2004 Canadian Olympian, originally planned to defer enrollment in order to train for the 2008 Olympic Games. An injury (since healed) and Canada's failure to qualify a team proved fortuitous for the Utes. Mackie joined the team after Christ-mas break. "Gael has a wealth of big meet experi-ence and is very talented on every event. Since she wasn't here for the preseason, we're not sure what her role will be initial-ly, but eventually we expect her to contend for an all-around spot on a team filled with strong all-arounders." An Insider's Guide to the Utes All-Around Ashley Postell.................................................... Two-time NCAA runner-up placed third as a freshman Kristina Baskett.................................................. Key is hitting all four events at the NCAA Championships Daria Bijak ......................................................... Two-time German champion was eighth in the World in 2005 Gael Mackie....................................................... 2004 Canadian Olympian Kyndal Robarts.................................................. Two-time Junior Olympic runner-up Vault Annie DiLuzio .................................................... 2007 NCAA runner-up as a freshman Ashley Postell.................................................... Three-time All-American has the difficulty and power to strike gold Kristina Baskett.................................................. All-American was the 2007 NCAA regional champ Daria Bijak ......................................................... 2005 German champ could not vault last year due to injury Gael Mackie....................................................... 2007 Friendship Games gold medal Uneven Bars Kristina Baskett.................................................. 2006 NCAA champion and two-time All-American Ashley Postell.................................................... Three-time first-team All-American Daria Bijak ......................................................... 2007 All-American and 2006 German champion Gael Mackie....................................................... Third at the 2007 Canadian Nationals Balance Beam Ashley Postell.................................................... 2007 NCAA champion and 2002 World champion Nina Kim............................................................ Outstanding in pressure situations Jamie Deetscreek.............................................. 2002 and 2004 Junior Olympic champion Gael Mackie ...................................................... 2007 Friendship Games gold medal Floor Exercise Ashley Postell.................................................... Three-time All-American placed third in 2007 Daria Bijak ......................................................... 2005 German national champion Beth Rizzo ......................................................... First-team All-American as a freshman in 2007 Kyndal Robarts.................................................. Two-time Junior Olympic champion Kristina Baskett.................................................. 2005 Junior Olympic champion Annie DiLuzio .................................................... 2003 Junior Olympic champion Daria Bijak, an All-Ameican on the uneven bars as a freshman in 2007, is equally talented on all four events. Utah's coaches felt that Kyndal Robarts (San Marcos, Texas) was a recruiting coup, but even they were stunned by her abilities once she got in the gym. Robarts' athleti-cism, strong tumbling and consistency have the coaches ready to write her name on the lineup card in permanent marker. "In my opinion, Kyndal is right there with Ashley (Postell) and Kristina (Baskett) in the all-around. I think she'll be one of the strongest freshman gymnasts in the na-tion this season." Annie DiLuzio was the 2007 NCAA vault runner-up. |
