Monday, 2/24/97
Bruins work their magic in Florida competition
UCLA posts season’s highest score; Homma gets perfect 10
By Lisa Quon
Daily Bruin Contributor
It was truly a magical weekend for the UCLA women’s gymnastics
team as they traveled to Orlando, Florida to compete in the Magical
Classic.
The Bruins found tough competition in Kentucky, Florida and
fourth-ranked Michigan, but outperformed their opponents to win
with a score of 196.925.
This score is not only the highest of the season for UCLA, but
the second highest score in school history. Last year at the NCAA
Championships, the Bruins scored an impressive 197.475 to place
second nationally.
"We’re really pleased with what we’ve accomplished," senior Leah
Homma said. "Our beam performance was reminiscent of last year at
Nationals, when everyone hit on the mark."
UCLA’s closest competitor, the Wolverines, came in almost a
point lower with a score of 195.975. This high score would be
enough to win most meets, but on Friday, it seemed the Bruins could
do no wrong.
Senior sensation Homma had the best meet of her celebrated
career, scoring her first-ever perfect 10 on vault and taking first
place in bars and beam with two 9.95 scores. Homma is only the
fifth UCLA athlete to score a perfect 10, and the third to do so on
vault.
"I’m really pleased to be consistent," Homma said. "It’s a great
feeling to know that I’ll go down in the record books with other
great 10 performances."
Homma now owns school records on vault (10.0), beam (9.975), and
the all-around (39.75).
Freshman Lena Degteva turned in another great performance for
the Bruins, placing third on bars, second on floor, and third in
the all-around.
The rest of the Bruin gymnasts were steady and accurate with few
falls or mistakes. It was the collective team effort that led to
UCLA’s inspiring victory.
The Bruins will showcase their talent at home next weekend when
they host Washington, Cal State Fullerton, and Boise State at the
Bruin Classic.