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Show CM raw X k iv. . - Gymnastics champs want another shot at title Senior trio of Metz, Wolsey and Trepanier give thelites hope for ninth NCAA crown BY PATRICK SHEITRA Clironide Assistant Sports Editor Richard, gymnasts so successful, they deserved a trophy case of their own in theJHC. Coaches and players firmly believe that championships are won in the offseason. Practice, dedication and discipline should and often do lead to increased performance. How much one works in the offseason will dictate how good they are in the postseason. The 1994 University of Utah gymnastics team decided (albeit unintentionally) that they were going to go about winning an eighth NCAA tide in a different fashion. Yes, they practiced and were dedicated and disciplined. They were also banged up going into the season. A list of injuries suffered in die preseason as well This year, the Utes face a similar prob- lem Two gymnasts who added so much to the chemistry of the team, Meredith are gone. King and Missy "What they did behind the scene was greater than what they did on the floor," said Marsden. Their greatest contributions were not always on the score sheet? Therein lies the good news for Marsden and his 1995 team. Whereas talent can't be obtained by simple observation, leadership is developed by watching and doing what others are doing. "I'm really encouraged by the growth in our three seniors," Marsden said. "They are going to be great leaders on and off the floor." The three seniors that Marsden is referring to are Suzanne Metz, Aimce Wells-Taylo- r, : Trepanier and Kelli Wolsey. The only thing capable of stopping this talented trio are injuries, which, unfortunately, happen all too often in the sport. Injuries had little, if any, effect on Metz last year. She competed in every event of every meet last year and was the last year as well as U.'s top in die country. die best being one of With a healthy season, Metz showed everyone what she is capable of doing. honors nine times in She took 12 meets and established herself as die best performer on die team. Strong in all four events and with no apparent weak39.60 nesses, she scored a career-higagainst Utah State. Having stood in die shadows of Missy Marlowe Kenoyer, Richard and others, Metz carved her own identity last year and has established herself as one of the U.'s best. She will add to that legacy this h f n Alysa Frenz The Ute gyni?&&lHiftcTCfafecidf to rewrite the script and steal the show. When the scores were tallied up, the U. claimed an eighth national tide. "The kids overachieved the entire season," said U.i gymnastics coach Greg Marsden. "Championship week was a reflection of the season." Indeed, it was a season in which overwhelming talent took a backseat and character and a desire to win took the stage. Last year, the Utes were trying to find replacements for Kenoycr and Tracy If Metz is tops on the team, then Trepanier is 1A. Maybe they switch the tide of "Best Gymnast on the best team" every week to keep one another happy. Any way you look at it, Trepanier and Metz form a "great 2 punch," according to Marsden. Trepanier developed herself into a solid competitor by adding a vault to a program that consists of a dynamite floor exercise and a consistent bars routine where she was on both last ySSA better vault (she hit 9.7 only twice all year) would make her more dangerous than she already is. "I don't know if I can expect more out of Suzanne and Airnee," said Marsden about their routines. Wolsey could turn a dynamic duo into a terrific trio if she can stay healthy. Ankle surgery in the preseason, followed by a broken toe midway through the season, prevented Wolsey from ever getting into a groove. Even with the bad toe, Wolsey competed in the team and individual finals Women's Gyrcsastks Meet Schedule 1 995 DATE OPPONENT TIME jM.lt SMITH'S CHALLENGE CUP (ArizoM State) IfM. Jo SIZZLES SUPERJREET 23 (U. if WosUigtM) 7pj. University of Arizona Ml 3 Fob. 7p.m. BYUJUnrwrsily of Georgia 6 7 p.m. FIRST SECURITY INVITATIONAL Jfjm. (KUMtMti,UtoliSt.tS.Utoii) Ptnn State University UNIVERSITY PARK HOTEL CLASSIC II fib. 20 Fab. (tWvenity MarchS Oregon State, Minnesota Utah State University MardiW Urwtrsly of Florida Jrcfc25 SPARTAN JEEP-EAG- t I 7p.m. 7pj. UCLA) Son Jose Slate 7 pm 7p.m. 7 p.m. SHOWDOWN 7pm. (ITU) April April ... if Kktyai March 11 . 20-2- 2 . . n' year. as during the season would take a good portion of space. They couldn't prepare themselves for the scoring changes designed to decrease the number of 10s given (blame former Ute Kristcn Kenoy-e- r for that one). None of it mattered anyway. Georgia and Alabama were better teams, had more talent and would take the top two spots at the NCAA Championships in the Huntsman Center. Jan. 27 CHRONICLE PHOTdttmH Mm Ute gymnast Suzanne Metz, the hits just kept on coming last season to Putting on the Metz: For high-flyithe tune of 9.9s throughout the year. Metz is back for her senior year, looking to lead the defending national champion Utes to their ninth NCAA crown next spring. MCAAhomJ(locimwTBA) imttompiamhips(Arlie uoai cars pwuiKaitf wieawawiCBiTa .... 7p.m. , TEA . w...--. .. previous best of 9.925. Her beam and floor exercises (9.775 After and 9.850) equaled season-highis and she the best vaulter team's Metz, Metz has never hit higher than 9.5. All she needs is a bars routine. and surprised everyone. She turned in her best performances of the season on the vault and bars (9.875 on both) and - on the floor (9.8), scores that were crucial to Utah's tide hopes. The next night, she scored 9.825 on honors. What bars to earn looked to be a disappointing season for Wolsey had promise in it after all. "I really hope for Kelli to be healthy," said Marsden. "She is capable of . Despite having competed in fewer routines than either Frenz or Caudle, Jennifer Merrier, along with Woolsey, were the only sophomores to go last year. She only made one (last year's meet attempt at against Minnesota), but scored a respectable 38.475, good for third in that meet Marsden says that Merrier is in great shape, having run 10K races in the . depth ai id it is in the junior class where Marsden's depth is found. Sandy Woolsey battled sore ankles and shins the entire year and much like Wolsey, saved her best for when it count-- : cd most. Excellent on bars for the entire season, Woolsey scored a 9.9 in the team competition and finished her season as the U.'s only individual winner by tying score of 9.925, placing her career-higher in a tie for first with Michigan's Beth Wymer. "Sandy is another one that can go if we can keep her healthy" said Marsden. Alysa Frenz is either a) the dream of every coach, because she is so talented, or b) the nightmare of every coach, because she can be inconsistent Take Grcatxcams-hav- e h - your pick. "You never knew what part of her was going to show up," said Marsden. "Sometimes she has good control of her anxiety level, other times not" That aside, Frenz is more than able on bars, beam and floor, carding career-high- s of 9.85 or better in all three events.. If she can develop a vault and some con-- : "V sistency, watch out. : Q - You have to like the progress Megan Caudle made in her second year on the team and like so many around her, performed at her best when the team needed it Her 9.975 on vault in the team competition was huge and shattered her , Aimee Trepanier summer to get ready for this season. If not for a sprained ankle suffered during the season, Kelley Delaney would have seen more action than she did. Her only extensive action last year saw her score against compile a 38.35 Utah State. Preseason performance will determine how much she participates. To keep his program among the best in the country, Marsden brought in two freshmen that he believes will contribute this year. Monica Shaw and Tracy Summer both have gobs of experience, having competed for the U.S. national team. Shaw is already a master of the bars, as she has a move named for her in the judges scoring book. - Ankle surgery has left her with scar tissue buildup, hampering her ability to practice. Regardless of that, Marsden says she will compete on bars and hbpes she can go on vault and floor. . The scouting report on Summer is that she is "very athletic and will really appeal to the fans," said Marsden. At 4'9 , Marsden says her diminutive size will turn crowds in her favor. The talent is there for a run at a ninth NCAA crown, but the Utes will have to walk a minefield to get there. Of the 11 other teams to qualify for the NCAAs, Utah will compete against eight of them in the regular season. There is also a road trip to Penn State, maybe the best team not b Salt Lake City last year. " It gets worse. A against BYU and Georgia in Provo, a trip ' to Gainesville, Fla., to meet the University of Florida in a dual meet and the University Park Hotel Classic when Marsden and his Utes host Michigan and UCLA. And the NCAA finals are held in Athens, Ga. this year, home of the University of Georgia. The schedule will be good for us" Marsden said "We want a decent record and we can't let down at all." - |