Women’s gymnastics mashes Boise State
By Daily Bruin Staff
Jan. 21, 1996 9:00 p.m.
Women’s gymnastics mashes Boise State
By Esther Hui
Daily Bruin Staff
Inconsistency reared its ugly head for the UCLA women’s
gymnastics team Friday night in its fifth straight defeat of Boise
State (192.325-191.050). Sandwiched between flashes of brilliance
and solid if not perfect routines, were seven falls, and quite a
few wobbles.
The Broncos improved almost 10 points from last year’s team
total against the Bruins, but UCLA’s biggest competitor thus far in
the season is itself.
"We had quite a few falls," sophomore Stella Umeh said. "And
it’s not because of lack of difficulty but because of lack of
consistency. We need to tighten up in that area and we’ll be
fine."
Umeh rebounded from a disappointing competition at Fullerton to
win the all-around (39.750). Umeh placed second in bars to Leah
Homma (9.875), and competed full difficulty on the balance beam
(9.9), winning the event in what UCLA head coach Valorie Kondos
described as, "the best balance beam routine I’ve ever seen her
do." Umeh’s fall on her front tumbling pass on floor (9.350) was
her only major error of the evening.
Senior Dee Fischer competed three solid routines for the Bruins,
placing second on floor to teammate Kiralle Hayashi (9.725), third
on the vault (9.775), along with a 9.675 on beam, despite competing
with a swollen finger.
Homma continued to turn in flawless routines after last
weekend’s spectacular performance in the all-around against
Fullerton. Homma competed in three events, winning the vault
(9.875) and took a slight hop on the dismount on the uneven bars to
win with a 9.950.
But Homma’s fall on beam (9.350) was one of three UCLA falls on
the event, reaffirming the Bruins’ biggest problem of the early
season – inconsistency.
Most demonstrative of this weakness was the unpredictability of
the freshman, Hiyashi. Hiyashi competed three solid routines
against Fullerton,but faltered against the Broncos in her first
collegiate all-around competition, scoring only an 8.50 on bars and
an 8.60 beam.
Hayashi’s effort on vault (9.75) and first place performance on
floor (9.75) gives credence to the potential of UCLA’s most
heralded recruit, yet emphasizes the importance of solid routines
for the Bruins, especially once the regional and national
championships roll around.
"Even though we are not concerned with win-loss records, the
team did not enjoy losing last week (against Fullerton)," Kondos
said. "And they weren’t going to let that happen again. The team as
a whole did great, but it’s very obvious we as coaches are looking
at this different than (the gymnasts) are. Even though they won
against Boise State, they weren’t thrilled with the scores."
The Bruins will head to Arizona this weekend to compete in a
three-way meet against Arizona and Stanford, both of which UCLA
beat handily last year. This will be the last competition for the
Bruins before the annual UCLA invitational on Feb. 10, where they
hope to be performing full difficulty.
PATRICK LAM
Leah Homma won the vault and uneven bar competitions.Comments to
[email protected]
