Defeat doesn’t faze Bruins
The Jan. 26 loss at Arizona State had no effect on the UCLA
gymnasts. The Bruins remained atop the national rankings with a
season average of 196.825. The No. 2 team in the nation is Alabama,
whom the Bruins defeated handily last weekend. Alabama remains more
than five-tenths of a point behind UCLA after the Bruins’
decisive victory on Super Bowl Sunday.
Bhardwaj tops in nation
UCLA’s Mohini Bhardwaj owns the No. 1 ranking in the
nation with a 39.642 average in the all-around competition. In
addition, Bhardwaj is averaging a perfect 10 on the floor routine,
also first in the nation. She is third on vault and sixth on bars,
with a 9.881 and a 9.906, respectively.
She was named the Pac-10 Gymnast of the Week for Jan. 22-28
after her stellar performance against Alabama, Cal State Fullerton
and Southern Utah. The honor is Bhardwaj’s second in as many weeks
this season, and the third of her career.
Seven from heaven
An amazing seven Bruins are nationally ranked on the uneven
bars. Freshman Jamie Dantzscher is tops in the nation with an
average score of 9.969, followed by Yvonne Tousek (9.908) and
Mohini Bhardwaj (9.906). The seven ranked Bruins are even more
impressive considering only six Bruins compete during each
meet.
Floor routines lift Bruins
UCLA’s amazing floor performances are no coincidence. With
the dance influence of coach Valorie Kondos Field spicing up each
routine, UCLA has the top three performers in the nation. Mohini
Bhardwaj is perfect this year, freshman Kristen Maloney is
averaging a 9.937, and freshman Yvonne Tousek has a 9.925 average.
Kristin Parker (9.883) and Jeanette Antolin (9.875) are also ranked
on floor.
Oh say can you sing…
Alyssa Beckerman is multi-talented; not only is she a top-flight
gymnast, but the UCLA freshman can sing as well. Beckerman led the
Bruins into their Super Bowl Sunday quadrangular meet with a
stirring rendition of the National Anthem. The Bruins are
undefeated in meets when Beckerman has sung the National
Anthem.
Notes compiled by Eli Karon, Daily Bruin
Contributor.