DENVER (Feb. 21) - America's sweetheart of the 1980's is coming to spend a day with the college gymnastics community's Cinderella story of the new millennium.

Olympic gymnastics legend Mary Lou Retton will make a special guest appearance this Saturday, Feb. 26, for the Pioneer Classic, which matches the 11th-ranked Pioneers against No. 17 Arizona State and Air Force. The meet begins at 6 p.m. at Hamilton Gymnasium in the Daniel L. Ritchie Center for Sports and Wellness.

The University of Denver ticket office has put together a special package for Saturday's meet. For $25 a person, fans receive a ticket to the meet, as well as admission to a motivational speech by Retton at 4:15 p.m. in the Gates Fieldhouse. A light meal will be served after the motivational speech, with Retton signing autographs from 5:00-5:30 p.m. Retton will then serve as emcee for the meet.

Retton has become known as one of the most popular athletes in American history after becoming the first American woman to ever win an Olympic gold medal in gymnastics. She won the All-Around gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, and to this day remains the only American to ever win the All-Around title. Her five total medals in 1984 were the most of any athlete at the Games. Today, she continues to touch the lives of millions as a motivational speaker and ambassador promoting the benefits of proper nutrition and regular exercise.

The special ticket package, as well as meet-only tickets -- $8 for adults, $5 for children and $2 for students -- are on sale now at the Ritchie Center box office, 2201 E. Asbury; by phone at (303) 871-2336; or on the internet at www.TicketMaster.com.

Head coach Melissa Kutcher's squad is enjoying the finest season in Pioneer history, as its current No. 11 national ranking is the highest in school history since moving to Division I in 1984. The Pioneers (10-3) are the only small private school ranked in the top 25.

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