Anonymous | Posted: 12 Apr 2003 | Updated: 12 Apr 2003

Season Ends at Regionals

SALT LAKE -- The University of Utah took the North Central NCAA Women's Gymnastics Regional Championship by storm Saturday night, winning the meet with a score of 196.975 in the Huntsman Center.

The BYU Cougars finished sixth in the meet with a season-low 192.400, also marking season lows on bars (47.575) and the floor exercise (48.425).

"Tonight we just had a terrible meet at a terrible time," BYU head coach Brad Cattermole said. "We didn't make mistakes because we weren't trying, but because we tried too hard."

Stanford came in second with a 196.625 and will join the Utes at the national championship in Lincoln, Neb., April 24-16. Denver took third with a 195.350, California came in fourth with a 195.025 and Minnesota placed fifth with a 193.125.

Utah's Annabeth Eberle claimed the all-around title with a 39.450. Natalie Foley from Stanford took second and Denver's Michelle Kasuga placed third.

The Utes also managed to take first place on each of the individual events. Theresa Kulikowski from Utah took first on the bars with a 9.900 and on the beam with a perfect 10.0. Melissa Vituj tied for first on the vault with a 9.900 and placed first on the floor exercise with a 9.925.

One bright spot for BYU was Trisha Ashton, who tied for fifth on the vault with a 9.850 and also received BYU's highest score on the beam wit h a 9.800.

Coach Cattermole was happy with Ashton's performance.

"She's that kind of kid," he said. "We expect that kind of performance from her, that's why she was elected captain."

Despite the disappointment, Cattermole is optimistic about the future of BYU gymnastics.

"The good part in all of this is that we have some girls coming back next year that have felt this and know that it doesn't feel good," he said. "It was a good learning experience that we can build upon next year."

NCAA North Central Regional

Huntsman Center

Salt Lake City, Utah

April 12, 2003

FINAL TEAM SCORES

*1. Utah, 196.975

*2. Stanford, 196.625

3. Denver, 195.350

4. California, 195.025

5. Minnesota, 193.125

6. BYU, 192.400

* advances to NCAA Championships in Lincoln, Neb., April 24-26

VAULT

Stanford, 49.225

Utah, 49.225

Denver, 48.900

California, 48.625

Minnesota, 48.600

BYU, 48.250

BARS

Utah, 49.225

Stanford, 49.175

California, 48.800

Denver, 48.350

BYU, 47.575

Minnesota, 47.475

BEAM

Utah, 49.600

Stanford, 49.375

Denver, 48.825

California, 48.500

BYU, 48.150

Minnesota, 48.000

FLOOR

Denver, 49.275

California, 49.100

Minnesota, 49.050

Utah, 48.925

Stanford, 48.850

BYU, 48.425

TOP INDIVIDUAL FINISHERS

VAULT

1. Melissa Vituj, Utah, 9.900

Natalie Foley, Stanford, 9.900

3. Annabeth Eberle, Utah, 9.875

Glyn Sweets, Stanford, 9.875

BYU Vault Scores:

Trisha Ashton, 9.850

Lindsay Butterfield, 9.650

Jaime Mabray, 9.650

Meghan Donahue, 9.625

Megan Pessoa, 9.475

Kirsten Pauga, 9.300

BARS

1. Teresa Kulikowski, Utah, 9.900

2. Kim Allan, Utah, 9.875

Annabeth Eberle, Utah, 9.875

BYU Bars Scores:

Kari Lords, 9.675

Brogan Jacobsen, 9.650

Lisa Willis, 9.575

Lindsay Butterfield, 9.575

Jaime Mabray, 9.100

Kirsten Pauga, 8.750

BEAM

1. Teresa Kulikowski, Utah, 10.0

2. Melissa Vituj, Utah, 9.950

3. Gritt Hoffmann, Utah, 9.900

Lindsay Wing, Stanford, 9.900

BYU Beam Scores:

Trisha Ashton, 9.800

Kirsten Pauga, 9.750

Lindsay Butterfield, 9.700

Meghan Donahue, 9.600

Jaime Mabray, 9.300

Kari Lords, 9.200

FLOOR

1. Melissa Vituj, Utah, 9.925

2. Karyssa Ancellotti, Denver, 9.900

Emily Bankhead, Denver, 9.900

Alicia Opsahl, Minnesota, 9.900

BYU Floor Scores:

Brogan Jacobsen, 9.850

Candace Slater, 9.775

Kirsten Pauga, 9.700

Jaime Mabray, 9.625

Lindsay Butterfield, 9.475

Lisa Willis, 9.325

ALL-AROUND

1. Annabeth Eberle, Utah, 39.450

2. Natalie Foley, Stanford, 39.350

3. Michelle Kasuga, Denver, 39.325

BYU All-Around Scores:

13. Lindsay Butterfield, 38.400

17. Jaime Mabray, 37.675

18. Kirsten Pauga, 37.500