MARY HOLSCHER Junior Onnie Willis and
sophomore Kristin Maloney sign autographs for
their fans after the gymnastics exhibition yesterday.
By Adam Karon
Daily Bruin Staff
The UCLA gymnastics team put in a show in front of more than
1,000 fans Sunday during their annual “Meet the Bruins”
exhibition.
The event featured low-risk performances on the uneven bars,
floor and balance beam.
Fans were treated to a question and answer session, followed by
exhibition performances, capped by an autograph session.
“My favorite part is meeting the team and getting
autographs,” 11-year old Rena Hensley said.
Hensley made the two hour drive from Victorville with her gym
“Acrobrats.” Coach Karen Matthews brought more than 42
girls ages 4-12 to the event.
“The goal of it all is to get the kids interested in
college,” Matthews said.
In addition to the 2001 Bruins, former UCLA gymnast Mohini
Bhardwaj was on hand to answer questions. She did not compete
because of an ankle injury that will require surgery on Monday.
Bhardwaj, however, did compete earlier in the week.
On Saturday, she and current Bruins Jaime Dantzscher and Yvonne
Tousek travelled to Houston to compete in the Reese’s
Cup.
The women were paired with men to compete in the
entertainment-style competition.
Dantzscher, teamed with Steve McCain, finished third. Tousek and
Sean Townsend finished seventh, and Bhardwaj and Alexei Nemov
finished eighth.
“The Reese’s was fun,” Bhardwaj said.
It’s a great way to get more fans into the sport.”
According to head coach Valorie Kondos-Field, the Reese’s
provided Dantzscher and Tousek a chance to get ready for the season
a little quicker. She said that professional style competitions are
different from college events, but are still beneficial to the
gymnasts.
But for Kondos-Field and the rest of the Bruin gymnasts, the
highlight of the weekend took place in the Wooden Center.
“The only reason we do this event is for the fans,”
Kondos-Field said. “They ask us to do it, and it’s
great to see so many out here. I was surprised by how many people
we had considering the weather and the soccer game.”
UCLA gymnasts stayed after the event for more than an hour
signing autographs and talking fans.
“”˜Meet the Bruins’ is always a fun
time,” Tousek said. “We just have a fun time
interacting with the fans because we don’t get to do that
during the season.”