Thursday, April 16, 1998
UCLA gym bios
Andrea Fong
Fong, a walk-on senior, competed in all-around competition for
the first time in her college career this season, doing so a total
of three times. Her career high in all-around competition is a
38.675. At Regionals, Fong set her season high on vault with a
9.775. She set the tone for the Bruins on vault, and led them to a
season-high total of 49.4. On uneven bars Fong holds a season best
of 9.65. She also holds a 9.75 on the balance beam. Fong has
competed in the lead-off spot on floor exercises in every meet. At
the UCLA Invitational Fong scored a 9.8 on floor, leading the
Bruins to a new record.
Susie Erickson
Erickson returned to the UCLA team in the middle of the season
after an injury to her foot in September. Erickson stands out for
her work on the balance beam, where she is in the leadoff position.
This junior averages a 9.725 and has a season high of 9.8. Erickson
has hit all six of her beam routines this year.
Alexis Norman
Norman has shown grace under pressure this year, stepping in for
an injured Stella Umeh at Regionals and nailing her beam routine,
scoring a career high 9.725. At the Pac-10 Championships, she
scored another career high, earning a 9.825 on her floor
exercise.
Lisa Hiley
Hiley scored a 9.6 this season on vault, the first time she
completed a pike-front with a half-twist. She went on to score her
career high, a 9.775, placing second at the Bruin Classic. On
uneven bars, Hiley averages a 9.616, mostly in a lead off position.
Her season best for 1998 is a 9.825 on bars.
Luisa Portocarrero
Junior Portocarrero suffered a foot injury in February but is
training to possibly compete on balance beam. Before her foot
injury, Portocarrero had been averaging a 9.758 on beam with a
season high of 9.825.
Lena Degteva
One of five Bruins to score a perfect 10.0 on the vault (she
averages 9.75) this year, Degteva tied her career-high in the event
with a 9.925 at Regionals. Degteva won the vault at the Pac-10
Championships earlier this season. She also earned a career high on
the floor this year, posting a 9.925 at the UCLA Invitational.
Heidi Moneymaker
Moneymaker has scored a 9.9 or better four times this season on
the uneven bars, including a 9.975. She has also made her presence
felt in all-around competition, competing nine of ten times this
year and scoring over 39 points four times. Twice this season,
Moneymaker has reached her career high of 39.375 in the all-around
competition.
Mohini Bhardwaj
A three-year member of the national team, Bhardwaj has been
hampered by injuries this season, yet consistently posts high
numbers. The two times she competed in the all-around, she scored a
38.325. This freshman from Cincinnati has one perfect 10.0 vault to
her credit this season, and received a 9.8 at Regionals despite an
ankle injury. She also boasts the Bruins’ best average on the
uneven bars with a 9.846, including a career-high 9.9 at the Pac-10
Championships.
Kiralee Hayashi
Junior Hayashi earned All-Pac-10 honors this season with a
season best of 39.275 all-around, and for her second consecutive
year has earned honors on the balance beam. On beam, Hayashi scored
career highs twice this season with a 9.9. Hayashi has scored a
10.0 on vault this year and has a season best on bars with a 9.875.
On floor exercises, Hayashi scored a career best of a 9.925 and has
scored no lower than a 9.7 this season.
Stella Umeh
Umeh, a seven-time All-American is the Pac-10 beam champion. She
also holds the honor of All-Pac-10 in the floor exercises and on
the vault. Umeh, a threat anywhere, is most dangerous in the
all-around competition. Her career high of in the all-around is
39.6, which came at this year’s Pac-10 Championships. The
all-around average is an impressive 39.030. She is most comfortable
competing on her home turf; she has won two of the three meets held
at Pauley Pavilion so far this year.DERRICK KUDO/Daily Bruin
Junior Gymnast Kiralee Hayashi performs a balancing act.