Red Rocks post 10th highest score in team history
Postell's perfect vault highlights the record-setting night
By: Jon Gilbert
Issue date: 2/1/08 Section: Sports
After the first meet of the season, Georgia head coach Susan Yoculan complimented the U gymnastics team on its one-two punch consisting of Ashley Postell and Kristina Baskett. She went on to remind everyone that it takes than that to win a national championship. It takes a full lineup.
The Red Rocks provided more evidence Friday night that that is exactly what they have.
The Red Rocks scorched the Minnesota Golden Gophers 197.750-194.100 in the Huntsman Center Friday night.
Both Postell and Nina Kim posted career-high all-around performances and did their part to lead the Utes to the 10th best team score in school history.
Postell's night started with a bang when her flawless vault routine earned her a perfect 10.0 and brought the crowd to its feet. She ended the night with a 39.80 and her fourth all-around title in four meets this season.
Postell's 10.0--the first perfect score of her career on vault--ended a span of more than two years without a perfect score for Utah. Postell and Annabeth Eberle achieved the last two perfect scores on March 18, 2005. Postell earned hers on the balance beam while Eberle did it during the floor exercise.
Kim's all-around performance spoke to Utah's depth. She had not competed in all four events since the 2006 NCAA Championships. She bounced back from her hiatus with a 39.550.
"I'm excited that Greg gave me the opportunity to be in the all-around," Kim said.
She turned down that opportunity last week because she didn't feel she was quite ready.
On Friday, every Utah gymnast seemed ready to compete.
"Not only are the people in the lineup doing a great job but the people in exhibition are doing a great job," head coach Greg Marsden said.
The lineup has changed with each meet this season. Four different gymnasts (Kristina Baskett, Daria Bijak, Kim and Postell) have competed in the all-around. Baskett took second in the all-around competition with a 39.600.
Sophomore Jamie Deetscreek earned a career high 9.875 on the balance beam, an improvement on the 9.825 she scored against Nebraska earlier this year.
The Red Rocks provided more evidence Friday night that that is exactly what they have.
The Red Rocks scorched the Minnesota Golden Gophers 197.750-194.100 in the Huntsman Center Friday night.
Both Postell and Nina Kim posted career-high all-around performances and did their part to lead the Utes to the 10th best team score in school history.
Postell's night started with a bang when her flawless vault routine earned her a perfect 10.0 and brought the crowd to its feet. She ended the night with a 39.80 and her fourth all-around title in four meets this season.
Postell's 10.0--the first perfect score of her career on vault--ended a span of more than two years without a perfect score for Utah. Postell and Annabeth Eberle achieved the last two perfect scores on March 18, 2005. Postell earned hers on the balance beam while Eberle did it during the floor exercise.
Kim's all-around performance spoke to Utah's depth. She had not competed in all four events since the 2006 NCAA Championships. She bounced back from her hiatus with a 39.550.
"I'm excited that Greg gave me the opportunity to be in the all-around," Kim said.
She turned down that opportunity last week because she didn't feel she was quite ready.
On Friday, every Utah gymnast seemed ready to compete.
"Not only are the people in the lineup doing a great job but the people in exhibition are doing a great job," head coach Greg Marsden said.
The lineup has changed with each meet this season. Four different gymnasts (Kristina Baskett, Daria Bijak, Kim and Postell) have competed in the all-around. Baskett took second in the all-around competition with a 39.600.
Sophomore Jamie Deetscreek earned a career high 9.875 on the balance beam, an improvement on the 9.825 she scored against Nebraska earlier this year.
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