Doni Thompson performs on the balance
beam in UCLA’s victory over Utah last week at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA
won their quadrangular meet Sunday, which included a dominating
performance over No. 2 Alabama, Cal State Fullerton, and Southern
Utah. 1. UCLA 197.5 2. Alabama 196.5 3. Fullerton
194.4 4. So. Utah 191.525
By Eli Karon
Daily Bruin Contributor
It was a weekend of emotional ups and downs for the UCLA
gymnasts. With their undefeated season still intact, the Bruins
traveled to Arizona Friday to take on the Arizona State Sun
Devils.
Competing against the Sun Devils on the road is never an easy
feat, as ASU has won 20 consecutive home meets. UCLA took a
four-tenths lead into the final rotation, but were unable to hold
their lead. The Bruins were forced to count a fall on the beam,
bringing their total score to 196.0, just shy of ASU’s
196.35.
UCLA took the loss as a learning experience and as motivation
for the Alabama meet.
“I didn’t really feel we were defeated,” Bruin
freshman Jamie Dantzscher said.
Though the loss was frustrating and tough to swallow, the
motivation the loss provided was tremendous.
On Sunday the Bruins bounced back with a vengeance, posting the
nation’s highest score of the year with a 197.500.
UCLA beat Alabama (196.975), the No. 2 team in the nation, Cal
State Fullerton (197.400), and Southern Utah (191.525) in the
quadrangular meet.
“Every weekend our goal is to improve and learn something
from each meet,” sophomore Onnie Willis said.
Willis, who has been hampered by a foot injury for the past few
weeks, turned in a strong floor performance for the Bruins with a
9.925. Kristen Maloney was also masterful, recording a
personal-best 9.950.
However, the story of the day for UCLA was senior Mohini
Bhardwaj. She not only turned in a meet-high score in the
all-around, but set the school record as well. Her 39.800 was as
close as any Bruin has come to perfection.
“It’s important for everyone on the team to see that
competitiveness come out,” Kondos Field said.
Bhardwaj’s electrifying performance featured two perfect
10s, on bars and floor. She capped UCLA’s strong performance,
bringing the crowd of 1,280 to its feet with her exciting floor
routine. After the meet Bhardwaj acknowledged the crowd.
“Thank you all for coming out here to support us,”
she said. “Especially during the Super Bowl.”
Although the attendance was considerably smaller than last
week’s record crowd, the Bruins stayed focused to post an
even higher score against a strong Crimson Tide team.
Kristin Parker also demonstrated UCLA dominance in the
all-around. With a personal-best 9.975 on the uneven bars and a
meet high 9.9 (four-way tie) on vault, Parker finished second to
Bhardwaj with a personal best of 39.675 in the all-around.
“It all came together. It is the first time I have ever
placed in a home meet,” Parker said. “Personally it was
really rewarding, but even more so as a team, to be able to bounce
back like we did.”
Even though UCLA’s goal of an undefeated season was
destroyed, the weekend proved a success.
Wins against Alabama and Utah give the Bruins victories over two
of the three elite programs in the country.
The third, Georgia, will have to wait until mid March.
“We’re going to get a 198 this year,” coach
Kondos Field said of the score, which has only been achieved once
in the history of the sport.
That should be enough to beat Georgia, or any other team in the
nation.
With contributions by Adam Karon, Daily Bruin Staff.