EDWARD LIN First-year gymnast Yvonne
Tousek competed in a floor exercise for UCLA last
November.
By Adam Karon
Daily Bruin Reporter
The UCLA women’s gymnastics team went to Hawaii last
weekend for a little fun, sun, and a piece of NCAA history.
The Bruins came away with a tournament victory and became the
first school to enter two teams in a meet when coach Valorie Kondos
Field sent an “A” and a “B” team into the
contest. Both teams answered the challenge, with the
“A” team taking the tournament title and the
“B” team turning in an impressive performance.
UCLA topped second place-Nebraska with a score of 196.2, while
Arizona State finished third.
“It was by far the best opening meet we’ve had in
four years,” senior Mohini Bhardwaj said. “It was one
of the highest opening scores.”
Freshman Jamie Dantzcher, a U.S. Olympian, turned in the
day’s top performance with a pair of 10s on the uneven bars
and the floor exercise. She is the first UCLA gymnast to record two
10s in the same meet, and did so in the only two collegiate events
she has competed in.
Bhardwaj also turned in a perfect 10, the first of her
career.
“It was a bit of a surprise,” Bhardwaj said of her
perfect score on the floor exercise. “Usually bars and vault
are my strengths.” She also finished second in the vault and
all-around competition.
But, according to Field, the two superstar performances were
just icing on the cake of an all-around tasty trip to the
tropics.
Just as impressive as the perfect scores was the performances of
the juniors in the all-around competition.
“It was wonderful to see these juniors jump into the
all-around and do a great job,” Field said. “Lindsey
Dong did a great job.”
Dong competed in the all-around for the first time in her
career.
“It was a little different,” she said of
participating in each event. “I was a little nervous, but you
just have to stay focused.”
Perhaps what was most rewarding was the way the “A”
and “B” squads, which were competing against each
other, interacted and supported each other throughout the
event.
“There was a real Bruin connection,” Field said.
“When someone would hit their routine, they were cheering
constantly. That made me feel good that the team bonded.”
Having enough gymnasts to field two Division I varsity teams
demonstrated UCLA’s depth.
“I was surprised we did so well for our first meet,”
Dong said. “This year we were really prepared.”
Even a 10-hour delay in the airport did not detract from the fun
that a trip to Hawaii and a tournament victory provide.
“The girls went snorkeling, bodysurfing; they were never
in their rooms,” Field said.
Unfortunately for Nebraska and Arizona State, the Bruins did
take just enough time away from the beach to show up at the gym and
turn in a masterful performance.
“Traveling is a good time to get to know each
other,” Field said of her team which features various levels
of gymnastics experience. “During the delay, we just played
Pictionary and charades.”
Three perfect 10s, a tournament victory and some Hawaiian sun
helped get the 2001 gymnastics season off to a great start.