Ferociously determined team handsprings into all-around title victory

Monday, February 1, 1999

Ferociously determined team handsprings into all-around title
victory

W.GYMNASTICS: Co-captain Moneymaker’s solid scores in tough
rotations help Bruins

By Traci Mack

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

On Super Sunday, it wasn’t a running back, receiver or
quarterback that deserved the MVP title.

That honor goes to Heidi Moneymaker.

In a John Wooden Center quad meet that included No. 15
University of Washington, No. 22 University of Maryland and UC
Santa Barbara, co-captain Moneymaker led the UCLA women’s
gymnastics team (6-2) to an inspirational victory, winning the
all-around title.

"Right now, she’s holding the team together," said head coach
Valorie Kondos.

It would seem that way, as the three-time All-American was the
only constant in a Bruin team that, at times, seemed to be coming
apart at the seams.

The Bruins racked up 192.350 points to UW’s 191.475, capping a
gutty comeback after trailing when headed into the third rotation,
144.000-143.625.

What was billed as a quadruple meet among the four schools may
as well have been a simple tussle for Pac-10 dominance, with The
Terrapins and Gauchos turning into also-rans behind the Huskies and
Bruins, who fought it out in a seesaw battle for the top spot.

The meet got off to a good start for the Bruins, who hit
difficult vaults to get the crowd into the meet early. All six
Bruins hit vaults, with Moneymaker and teammate Lena Degteva doing
so to the tune of thunderous applause from the crowd. With her
9.85, Moneymaker would run away with the event title.

In the second rotation came the first of the two killer B’s of
gymnastics – the bars and beam.

Oddly, it was the freshman who seemed to perform on the bars
with the most aplomb, while the veterans were plagued with lapses
in concentration. Following freshman Valerie Velasco’s clean
routine, senior Susie Erickson failed to grip the bar after a
release move, landing on her stomach. Then junior Lena Degteva
suffered the same mistake and result.

But then came Moneymaker. With a Tkatchev that flew several feet
above the high bar and a picture perfect landing, the NCAA 1998
bars champion righted the shaky Bruin ship, again earning top event
honors with a 9.875.

The third rotation was the most dramatic, however. Senior and
fan favorite Kiralee Hayashi, suffering from the flu, fell during a
double back handspring and then bobbled a simpler move. Both times,
she continued, until she attempted a back tuck straddle down.
Hayashi landed off center, hitting her stomach on the beam and then
rolling off. Kondos made it clear to the judges that Hayashi would
not continue, and led her off the floor, where she vomited.

Moneymaker got the Bruins back on track with a gorgeous beam
routine that would give her one more event title, but the damage to
UCLA’s score was done. The Bruins trailed by three hundreths of a
point entering the final rotation.

Then, something happened – UCLA got mad.

"They got mad that they didn’t do well on the beam," said
Kondos. "When they get mad, no one can stop them."

In an amazing display of heart and determination, the Bruins
owned the floor routine. A highlight came when freshman Kaitie
Dyson, who had never before performed a full floor set, had to take
Hayashi’s spot. She went out and performed brilliantly.

The only one who could stop Moneymaker from sweeping the event
titles was teammate Allison Stoner, who took home the floor
title.

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