Umeh’s health sparks doubt for w. gym

Wednesday, April 17, 1996

Portocarrero may have to fill void if top all-arounder can’t
compete at NCAAsBy Esther Hui

Daily Bruin Staff

The final regional qualifying scores are out and four of the 12
teams traveling to Tuscaloosa, Ala. next week for the NCAA
Championships represent the Pacific 10 Conference.

UCLA got the only Pac-10 automatic bid after winning the West
Region with a 195.450, with two other West Regional teams, Oregon
State (195.000) and Stanford (194.700) getting provisional
bids.

Even after winning the West Region, the Bruins are still seeded
behind Arizona (195.750) which came in second place in the Midwest
region to defending national champion Utah (196.675).

Blowing away the rest of the country was Alabama, which won the
Central region and catapulted itself into a No. 1 seed ­ in
what will be a home meet ­ with a 198.075 (an average of 9.90
for each of the 20 routines). Michigan followed in second
(196.2750), while Georgia won the Southeast region with a 196.950,
garnering the No. 2 seed.

Rounding out the 12 teams are Florida (195.3750), Nebraska
(195.300), BYU (194.925) and Penn State (193.650).

* * *

If the Bruins hope to carry the momentum of winning the West
Region into the NCAA Championships and improve on last year’s
fourth-place team finish, a lot will depend on the health of Stella
Umeh.

Umeh, one of UCLA’s top two all-arounders, sat out Saturday’s
Regional qualifier with a broken bone in her right foot and an
infection in the outer ear drum, which has been bothering her for
weeks. According to head coach Valorie Kondos, if anything it will
be the ear infection rather than the broken foot that will keep
Umeh from competing at the NCAAs.

Almost all of Umeh’s falls and balance problems this season on
beam have been to the right, and her foot injury was caused by a
misjudgment on a mount, which were errors probably caused by the
infection.

"Hopefully she’ll start doing a little (Tuesday)," Kondos said.
"It will depend on A: whether there’s dizziness, and B: if she can
put pressure on her foot. At this point we have absolutely no idea
if she can compete."

* * *

With an injured Umeh sitting out on Saturday, the team looked to
Luisa Portocarrero to fill in on two events she hasn’t competed all
season. She scored a 9.675 on bars and a solid 9.725 on floor, as
well as a 9.875 on her signature beam routine.

Kondos planned to use Portocarrero on bars earlier in the season
to replace Susie Erickson, whose routine doesn’t start from a 10.0,
but hadn’t because of Erickson’s consistency. When Umeh pulled out,
Kondos decided to try Portocarrero on floor as well.

"Having the experience she has, there was no doubt in my mind
she could compete floor," Kondos said. "I called Leah and Stella
over and asked what they would feel about putting her in, and there
was no hesitation. I felt real confidence putting her in."

Portocarrero hasn’t made a major error in the seven times she’s
competed beam for the Bruins this season, which included a 9.90 at
BYU at the end of March. With Umeh’s situation for the national
championships uncertain, Portocarrero may find herself worked into
the lineup on more than one event at the national
championships.

"She loves to compete," Kondos said. "There’s nothing that will
stand in her way. Fear is never a problem as far as she’s
concerned, she gets nervous, but that can never be classified as
fear."