Utah gymnastics: Wilson earns perfect 10 in win over Cal

Tory Wilson has been an example of consistency all season, as she has won every vault title for Utah's gymnasts.

On Saturday, she was an example of perfection.

Wilson earned a 10.0 on the vault to lead Utah's seventh-ranked gymnastics team past No. 23 Cal 197.05-192.75.

The 14,129 fans who braved the wintry conditions were rewarded by Utah's first perfect score since the 2008 season, when Ashley Postell earned two, on the vault and balance beam.

Postell is considered by many the greatest gymnast Utah has had, since she won an NCAA-record 20 All-American titles during her career.

To accomplish something that puts her on a par with Postell left Wilson, an unassuming sophomore from Albuquerque, N.M., a little stunned.

"I'm just out there trying to do my thing," she said.

Wilson entered the meet ranked first on the vault with a 9.944 average and was coming off a career-best 9.975 she posted a week ago.

That vault left little room for improvement as Wilson got the height and distance rarely seen in collegiate gymnastics.

Nevertheless, she found a way to improve Saturday. She got even more height than she did a week ago and landed with her feet planted firmly facing right at the vault.

"A 10.0 takes two things," Utah coach Greg Marsden said. "It takes an incredible performance and the judges have to be willing to let it happen, and both things were there tonight."

Wilson said she tries not to think about her streak, but admitted it's getting hard to ignore her success.

"It will be a challenge to continue the roll I am on," she said. "I just have to work with it, I guess."

The vault not only placed Wilson in the record books, but it also launched her into a career night as she won the all-around with a 39.475.

Wilson scored a 9.825 in her first bars routine, a 9.75 in the leadoff spot on the balance beam and a 9.9 on the floor.

"When I came to Utah I wanted to be in the all-around, and to reach one of my goals thrills me," she said. "I loved it."

Between Wilson's big night and other superb individual showings, such as Becky Tutka's 9.925 on the floor and Georgia Dabritz's 9.9 on the balance beam and 9.975 on the floor, the Utes lived up to their promise that they could make up for the absence of Corrie Lothrop, who tore her Achilles tendon a week ago.

Saturday's score was the first time the Utes have broken the 197 mark all year.

"We have to move forward," Marsden said. "I challenged them to not only try to replace Corrie's scores but find a way to be better at least in terms of score, and we did that tonight."

lwodraska@sltrib.com —

Utah 197.05,Cal 192.75

O IN SHORT • The Utes beat Cal for a 10th straight time, and Tory Wilson earn her first career 10.0.

Key moment • After falling off the uneven bars, Georgia Dabritz recovers to score a 9.9 on the balance beam and 9.975 on floor.

Key stat • Utah's last four performers on the floor earn 9.9s or higher. —

Individual winners

Vault • Tory Wilson (Utah) 10.0

Uneven bars • Nansy Damianova (Utah) 9.875

Balance beam • Georgia Dabritz (Utah) 9.9

Floor • Georgia Dabritz 9.975

All-around • Tory Wilson 39.475