UCLA gymnastics to challenge Oregon State in season opener
Redshirt senior Samantha Peszeck feels that the Bruins are heading into their first meet of the season with more momentum than in past seasons. (Daily Bruin file photo)
By Boer Fu
Jan. 12, 2015 12:45 a.m.
After years of training with the objective of being outstanding as individuals, the eight fresh faces on the UCLA gymnastics team will now become familiar with collegiate competition’s focus on team spirit.
The UCLA gymnastics team will open the 2015 season when it takes on Oregon State on Monday at 6 p.m.
The No. 5 Bruins will travel to Corvallis, Ore., to challenge the No. 11 Beavers. The overall record between the two teams is 47-20-1 to UCLA’s advantage. This is also the sixth time that the Bruins will meet the Beavers in the season opener, with the Bruins winning three out of the five previous meetings.
For the eight newcomers to the team, the meet on Monday will be their first taste of collegiate gymnastics competition as Bruins. Coach Valorie Kondos Field regards the meet as an opportunity for the Bruins to learn the philosophy of working together as a team.
“Before you get to college, even though you are rooting for your team, you still want to beat your team, because you want that gold medal,” Kondos Field said. “So this is the first time they ever really experience the whole philosophy that achieving something together with other people is far more rewarding than anything you can achieve on your own.”
Freshman Napualani Hall said she is anxious to compete in collegiate gymnastics.
“I’m just really excited. I have been waiting for it for a long time. Ever since I knew what college was, I have always wanted to compete on a college team,” Hall said. “This is honestly a dream come true. It’s just crazy that it will become a reality when I compete on Monday.”
Coming back to the team for one last season, redshirt senior Samantha Peszek noticed a change in the momentum for the first meet.
“I think the philosophy is definitely different this year. Before this year, we always started off slow, saving ourselves later for the national championship all the way through the season,” Peszek said. “But this year, we are really focusing on one meet at a time, putting ourselves in a best possible position in terms of ranking.”
Although the Olympic silver medalist is no stranger to the sensation of having her adrenaline pumped up by a crowd, Peszek said she can still feel the excitement of a season opener.
“Competing is my favorite part about the sport. When the competition season comes around, I always get a little bit more excited to be a gymnast,” Peszek said. “It being my last year, this is going to be my last first meet ever.”
