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Show SPORTS PAGE 8 MONDAY 1/10 Daily Utah Chronicle New kid on theblock Red Rocks ruin Bruins Asad Kudlya Sports Writer Two years ago, the UCLA gymnastics team came to the Huntsman Center and snapped the Utes' 170 dual meet winning streak, which spanned 23 years. Friday night's revenge was sweet for the Utes. The Red Rocks rode the home crowd to a defeat of the top-ranked Bruins, 197.675-to197.300. The Utes' winning score was the ninth-best score in school history; however, both teams had issues throughout the meet. "[The meet] was ideal because we did well enough to win, but there were certainly some things we can talk about that we can get better with," U gymnastics coach Greg Marsden said. Freshman Ashley Postell and senior All-American Annabeth Eberle tied for the victory in the all-around with scores of 39.625 Neither team took a substantial lead throughout the meet and the outcome was in question all the way to the final event. The two teams posted near identical scores on vault. Sophomore Nicolle Ford had a misstep on her landing and her score suffered, posting a 9.80; however, the other star athletes on the team made up for it. Rachel Tidd, nursing a sore back, had an excellent vault score of 9.950, while Postell followed Tidd with a 9.925. Eberle closed the event with a strong 9.900. The Utes lost their 10th of a point overall advantage on the uneven bars. A few of the Ute gymnasts had some issues with their dismounts. Ford was one of those who had problems with her finish and only scored a 9.850. Although the Utes had problems on the bars, Eberle and Tidd came through with scores of 9.900 and 9.950 respectively. Tidd, who is normally an all-around participant for the Utes, could only compete on the bars and vault. "I am sure I could have done Postell lives up to hype in first meet PLAYER OF THE MEET Ashley Postell Joe Beatty Sports Editor The Ireshman phenom scored no worse than a 9.825 in her first collegiate meet, en route to an overall score ol 39.625. [more events], but we are trying to go about it slowly and not risk reinjuring it again," Tidd said. Marsden is anxious for her to get healthy. "I need her back on the other two events," Marsden said. "She was just almost perfect on the two events she did. We just have to listen to that back because it's gradually getting better. I just tried to remind her that it is better to start slow and finish strong." Although Ford struggled on the first two events, she caught fixe on the beam and floor. "I wasn't happy with vault or bars," Ford said. "By the time I got to beam, I was pretty mad...I was pretty happy with the way the rest of it went." Ford scored a 9.925 on the beam and Postell, who was the 2002 world champion on beam, closed the event with a 9-925While the Utes were on the beam, UCLA struggled on the floor. Not one UCLA gymnast scored a 9.900 or above on the floor and the Utes had a good chance to win the meet with a solid showing on floor. Four Ute gymnastics scored 9.900 or above on the floor, including Gritt Hoffman, Ford, Postell and Eberle. The Utes were excited about the win, but kept it in perspective. "This is just a little stepping stone to where we want to go," Eberle said. Although the Utes score was the ninth best in school history, Marsden was more concerned with how the team felt, rather than what score they finished with. "I hadn't even considered scores," Marsden said. "We had talked about scores. What I wanted was SEE R E D R O C K S PAGE 12 From the opening round-off on her vault to the end of her Michael Jackson montage floor routine, Ute freshman Ashley Postell showed why she is one of the most touted freshmen in Ute gymnastics history. The 18-year-old from Virginia tied for the meet all-around title with Ute senior Annabeth Eberle, ringing up a score of 39.625. "It's a different atmosphere," Postell said, in awe of the 10,046 fans that showed up to cheer on the Utes. "I was actually pretty scared throughout the whole competition." Eberle said the team tried to prepare Postell and the other freshmen for the raucous atmosphere, "We can tell them all day long that there's 10,000 people out there," Eberle said, "But it doesn't do it justice until you are there yourself." If she did have jitters, she didn't show it. In her first event, Postell vaulted to a 9.925, the second-highest score for the Utes in the rotation. "If that was her nervous, then I think we'll be OK," a smiling Ute coach Greg Marsden said, pleased at his top recruit's performance. Postell was the world champion in beam at the 2002 competition, and she showed why in her first collegiate try on the four-inch-wide apparatus. From the anchor spot in the rotation, Postell stuck her routine with a 9.925, putting the meet out of reach after UCLA stumbled in its floor rotation. With all the fanfare focused on her arrival and the Utes taking on the No. 1 team in the country, Postell had all the incentive she needed. But it didn't hurt that the Utes were playing UCLA. Postell had originally committed to go to Westwood and compete for the Bruins, but when complications arose with Postell's home-school status, UCLA backed off. The Bruins' loss was the Utes' gain, as Postell helped the U knock off UCLA for the second time in as many years. "[The victory] kind of makes my whole SEE POSTELL PAGE 12 Ashley Postell's first meet Freshman newcomer and U.S. National Team member Ashley Postell checks her landing on the beam as the Utes beat UCLA Friday night in the Huntsman Center. Postell scored a 9.925 on the beam and was a co-all-arounder with Annabeth Eberle, as both scored a 39.625. Runnin' Utes string together big wins over break Joe Beatty Sports Editor While the rest of the university was off caroling and drinking egg-nog, the Runnin' Utes didn't relax at all over the Winter Break. The Utes went 7-1 over the vacation, and after dropping a close contest to Arizona to begin the string, now are riding a seven-game win streak. The U's record now stands at 12-3, as the Utes enter conference play Monday night. Here is a recap of all the games you may have missed: Dec. 11 Arizona 67 Utah 62 While it was nice to stay close in a tough road game a week after getting routed at USU, this is a bout the Utes should have won. The U was leading late, until some key miscues gave the game to the Cats. Ute center Andrew Bogut led the U with 20 points and 10 rebounds, as Arizona coach Lute Olson registered his 1,000th career coaching victory. Dec. 17 Utah 81 N. Colorado 66 Bogut continued his torrid play, as he burned the Bears for 24 points and 11 rebounds, Ute guard Marc Jackson pitched in 18 points, including four threepointers as the U shot 56 percent from the field. Utah's Andrew Bogut goes up against Whitworth's J.J. Jones last Wednesday night at the Huntsman Center. Bogut finished the night with 23 points while only playing 18 minutes. Dec. 2 0 Utah 6 6 Coppln State 37 After a close first half, the Utes used a big run early in the second period to pull away from the smaller Eagles. Sticking with tradition, Bogut led all players with 28 points and 14 rebounds. The Ute defense smothered the Eagles to the tune of a 29.4 shooting percentage. MEN'S HOOPS UNLV AT UTAH (7-5) (12-3) Jan. 10,200510 p.m. © Huntsman Center COLORADO STATE AT UTAH Jan. 13,2005 7 p.m. @ Huntsman Center (9-4) (11-4) Overall: 39.625 Joe Beatty Sports Editor Utah vs. UNLV While one Ute has been getting quickly familiar with late nights, the whole team will experience one on Monday when UNLV visits the Huntsman Center at 10 p.m. Ute guard Marc Jackson's wife Brooke gave birth to son Kolbyn over the weekend, the couple's first child. "It's such a happy time in my life," Jackson said, at practice Sunday for the first time in three days. "But I wouldn't miss [UNLV] for the world." This will be the only ESPN "Big Monday" game at the Huntsman Center this season, and perhaps forever, as U athletic director Chris Hill is 90 percent sure ESPN will discontinue the late night clashes next year. "[The late tip-off] throws off your rhythm," Ute guard Tim Drisdom said, happy that the 10 o'clock tradition is coming to an end. "But you just have to come out ready to play no matter what time Monday, Jan. 10 10 p.m. at the Huntsman Center SEEBBALL PAGE 12 WOMEN'S HOOPS Beam: 9.925 Floor: 9.950 Utes battle Rebels on ESPN 'Big Monday' Playing on the road in a small, hostile gym proved rough for a half, but the Utes pulled away in the second to put away the Mustangs. All the Ute starters got in on the scoring action, including Justin Hawkins with 19, Richard Chaney with 21 and- Bogut with 23. Mustang freshman Dawin Whiten notched career highs with six three-pointers and 29 points. Dec. 22 Utah 92 Cal Poly 76 Vault: 9.925 Bars: 9.825 TV E S P N Radio Hot Ticket 7 0 0 A M it is." need to find a way to slow While Jackson's new fam- him down." ily member and the hour of Bhssingame leads the the game are getting lots of MWC in assists with 7.58 attention, the Utes (12-3) re- per game, and is third on the main focused on the task at Rebs in scoring with 11.3 per hand, beating a UNLV team contest. that was picked in the preUNLV has been burdened season to win the Mountain by a grueling non-conference West Conference champion- schedule, struggling to a 7-5 ship. overall mark. "They are really athletic The Rebels have dropped and really versatile," Ute games to nationally ranked coach Ray Giacoletti said. Oklahoma State and Texas, "That creates some defensive though both contests were issues for us." not decided until the final Giacoletti points to Rebel minutes. point guard Jerel BlassinThe Utes will counter the game as the player the Utes quick Rebels with one of need to stop most. their more unique lineups. "He's probably the quick- Drisdom will take his usual est guy we've faced since spot at the point, and will [Nate] Robinson from Washington," Giacoletti said. "We SEE BIG MONDAY PAGE 10 Ute Starters F F C G G #4 #51 #30 #11 #15 Andrew Bogut Jonas Langvad Chris Jackson Tim Drisdom Chris Grant Rebel!Starters F F" C G G SKIING UTAH AT ANCHORAGE INVITATIONAL Jan. 13-14,2005 all day @ Jackson, Wyo. #0 Odartey Blankson Romel Beck #22 Luis Amundson #3 Michael Urn eh #10 Jerel Blassingame #1 So. So. Jr. Jr. 7'0 6'9 6'F11 63 6'2 Fr. •'. • • • . 240 lbs 230 lbs 245 lbs 210 lbs 192 lbs 20.2 ppg 4.1 ppg 2.1 ppg 4.7 ppg 1.8 ppg 11.5 rpg 1.9 rpg 1.4 rpg 3.4 apg 0.8 rpg 16.9 ppg 16.8 ppg 9.6 ppg 6.9 ppg 11.3 ppg 9.1 rpg 1.8 rpg 9.2 rpg 1.4 rpg 7.5 apg . ' I . . . ' ' - 1. . : ,•..>: Sr. Sr. Jr. So. Sr, 67 67 6'9 6'2 5'10 SWIMMING/DIVING UTAH AT COLORADO STATE Jan. 13,2005 all day @ Fort Collins, Colo. • = - _ • • • 220 lbs 185 lbs 230 lbs 185 lbs 170 lbs • GYMNASTICS UTAH AT UTAH STATE (1-0) (0-0) Jan. 14, 2005 6:45 p.m. @ Logan, Utah |