| OCR Text |
Show THE DAILY IP tff "PT UTAH jfll faH fil .u' RORY BRUNNER Chronicle Asst. Sports Editor CHRONICLE the competition ended. Still, that jolt wasn't enough to pull the Utes out of their championship drought. Utah ended in a tie for fifth out of the Super Six, equaling the effort of Nebraska (196.025). UCLA's "dream team," including four former Olympians, repeated as NCAA Champions with an overall score of It was the third national championship for the school in the last five years. Georgia challenged the Bruins, but ended up in second (197.400). Michigan claimed third (197.275) and Alabama finished in fourth (196.550). A tough can be attributed to the poor fate of the U. Although the Red Rocks entered the postseason as the No. team in the nation on the beam, no team wants to open a multi-teacompetition let alone an NCAA Championship on what is potentially the most g event. But thus was the fate of the Utes. Kylee Wagner, who had not fallen off the beam all year, was the first to go down. She opened up the championships for the Utes with a 9.300. Melissa Vituj followed, delivering a 9.850. Theresa Wolf was the next to spill. Wolf's 9.325 had to be counted. It didn't help the U that regional favorites Alabama and Georgia competed at the same time during the opening event. It was evident that the 8,245 people at Stegeman Coliseum got to Wagner and Wolf. Deidra Graham overcame the obstacles for a 9.850, but standout Theresa Kulikowski wobbled to a 9.750. Shannon Bowles closed out the disappointing event with a strong 9.900. The U opened the last team competition of the year of the year. with a 48.675, tied for the second-worAfter a bye, Utah next took to the floor. Vituj shincd with a team-hig9.900 in the event, Bowles had a 9.875, and Wolf and Lindsay Tanner each performed 9.850 routines, but Graham chunked her pike double backher first fall of the year in a floor exercise. The Utes' 49.300 kept thcrn in sixth at 97.975. UCLA led by nearly a point at 98.875, and ' JJ j jf six-ye- ar With an NCAA Championship field studded with former Olympians, the Utah gymnastics team realized it would team effort to regain the NCAA title for take a the first time since 1995. But the Red Rocks' quest for its unprecedented nth National Championship was over just after it began. Unlike its previous championship trip to Athens, Ga., in 1995, the Utes fell out of contention early and could never recover. After two falls on the beam to open competition, the Utes never climbed out of last place until 10 minutes after near-perfe- ct l97-57- luck-of-the-dr- 1 m nerve-wrackin- MVi; V: st Theresa Kulikowski added to her reputation by winning another NCAA crown on the balance beam. see gymnastics, 'page 17 status, but the Senior Theresa Wolf won U finished fifth. Smith Early in NFL Draft D yson, ERIC WALDEN Chronicle Sports Editor NFL executives realize that a bad year for a team is not necessarily indicative of bad players. Don't think Andre Dyson and Steve Smith aren't grateful for that recognition.. The two former University of Utah football players became the Utes' newest inductees into the professional league when each was taken on Saturday, April 21, the first day of the seven-roun- d Draft. In what may be a family plot to slowly take over Nashville, Tenn., Dyson will join his older brother Kevin (who was the 16th overall pick in the '98 Draft) on the Tennessee Titans after being selected with the 29th pick of the second round (No. 60 overall). Smith didn't have to wait much longer before joining his in the pro ranks, as he was taken by the Carolina Panthers with the 12th pick of the third round (74th overall). Both Dyson and Smith benefitted from a draft that was especially stocked with quality players at their respective positions, cornerback and wide receiver. With NFL general managers taking players at those positions early and often, Dyson and Smith saw their relative value rise. Apparently, their stock rose enough to make up for the Utes' disappointing 7 season last year and the players' lack of height. With Dyson listed at both were and Smith considered too short to be prospects at their positions. However, their individual accomplishments in college and in the pro combines and team workouts proved good enough for the Titans and Panthers to take a chance on them. Dyson's best year came in '99 as a junior, when he recorded 41 tackles, 17 six interceptions and pass break-uptwo touchdowns (one on an INT 4-- SOFTBALL Southern Utah vs Utah 424 8 Ute top-flig- ht s, see DRAFT, page hosts receiverreturner Steve Smith went Utah at MWC Title Meet 426-2- 9 Eccles Tennis Center CHRONICLE U Utali 426-2- Field Former W-TEN- NIS MWC Title Meet 4 p.m. 18 Ft. 8 Collins, Colo. in the third round of the NFL Draft to the Carolina Panthers. BASEBALL SOFTBALL UNLV UtalT at vs Utah UNLV 427 427 & 1:30 p.m. 8:05 p.m. Ute Field Las Vegas, Ncv. SPORTS EDITOR ERIC "WALLY" WALDEN EWALDENCHRONICLE.UTAH.EDU 581-704- 1 |
