• MELISSA VITUJ

Biography

UTAH: Six-time All-American … part-time all-arounder last year will vie for full-time role as junior … has "hit" 89-95 (94%) of her career routines … loves to compete under pressure.
2002: Repeated as three-time All-American, winning first-team honors on floor and making second team on vault and beam … 9.90 on floor both nights of team competition at NCAA Championships … won first-ever collegiate all-around competition, scoring 39.575 vs. Arizona on Jan. 18 … career-best 39.625 on Mar. 23 is tied for ninth in school history … placed eighth all-around at regionals with 39.300 … 5 wins … "hit" 49-53 routines.
2001: Sensational freshman campaign culminated in first-team All-America honors on beam and floor and second-team status on vault … finished third in the nation on beam and ninth on floor … scored 9.90 on floor both nights of team competition at nationals … "hit" all 8 routines at NCAA Championships … three-event regular "hit" first 20 routines of her college career before falling on vault landing on Feb. 23 ... won floor exercise competition at Minnesota ... "hit" 40-42 routines.
CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL: Won balance beam and placed second on floor and vault and fifth in all-around at the 1999 Junior Olympic Level 10 nationals ... 1998 Level 10 J.O. national champ on beam and floor ... at 1999 region 5 meet, won all-around, beam and floor titles ... won region titles on beam and floor in 1998 ... three-year member of region 5 Junior Olympic National Champion team (1997-99) ... trained for Kentwood USA Gymnastics (coach John Figueroa) ... graduated from Forest Hills Central High School, where she earned four letters in cross country.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Carol and Bill Vituj (pronounced vee toy) ... one brother (Chris) ... has skill on beam named after her, "the Vituj," which features a wolf one and a half jump ... enjoys skiing, camping, water sports and performing for others by quoting lines from movies … played costumed "guest" mascot at Utah men's basketball game last year and dunked a basketball off mini-tramp … health promotion and education major ... nickname is Mel … full name is Melissa Lynn Vituj ... born May 2, 1982.
Vituj's Career Highs
A-A 39.625 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 23, 2002
Vault 9.950 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 1, 2002
Bars 9.850 vs. Arizona, Jan. 18, 2002
9.850 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 23, 2002
Beam 9.950 vs. BrighamYoung, Mar. 23, 2002
Floor 9.950 vs. Brigham Young, Mar. 23, 2001
9.950 vs. Michigan, Feb. 22, 2002

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