Team posts wins over Stanford, Utah

  Kristin Parker executes her floor
exercise during a meet against the Cal State Fullerton Titans last
week. Parker put up a perfect 10 against Stanford on Friday,
leading the Bruins to a come-from-behind victory.
UCLA 196.265 Stanford 194.675
UCLA 197.50 Utah 195.70

By Eli Karon
Daily Bruin Contributor

PALO ALTO, Calif. “”mdash; The UCLA women’s gymnastics team
took a huge step toward their goal of an undefeated season with a
weekend sweep of No. 5 Stanford and top-ranked Utah.

Friday evening the Bruins got quite a scare from the Stanford
Cardinal before 2,150 spectators at Maples Pavilion.

“We got off to a slow start up at Stanford,” said
Bruin head coach Valorie Kondos Field.

Trailing by 0.025 points after the first two rotations, UCLA
received the spark it needed from sophomore Kristin Parker. With
her perfect 10 on the floor exercise, Parker led the Bruins to a
strong 49.350 team score on the floor exercise. The perfect score
was the first ever for Parker, helping her win her first-ever
all-around title with a score of 39.5.

“I was absolutely shocked,” Parker said. “My
first feeling was excitement, because it was my first-ever ten and
we needed a jumpstart. It feels good personally and for the
team.”

Freshman Jamie Dantzscher provided an additional spark with a
flawless routine of her own, her third perfect 10 of her short
Bruin career.

The first two rotations were extremely close, with the
spring-loaded floor taking a toll on the Bruin gymnasts.

“That floor will drive you crazy,” Kondos Field
said. “It cuts your bounce. It may be fine for basketball,
but for gymnastics it’s absolutely horrendous.”

Finding themselves in the unfamiliar position of trailing, the
Bruins were able to rally in the final two rotations to beat the
Cardinal 196.625-194.675.

Sunday afternoon, UCLA faced the menacing task of competing
against the top-ranked Utah Utes at Pauley Pavilion. Before a
raucous home crowd of 3,749, the Bruins showed why they are the
defending national champions.

Posting the highest score in the nation this year, the Bruins
crushed the Utes 197.5-195.7.

Senior Mohini Bhardwaj brought the crowd to their feet with a
dominating win in the all-around competition, which included a
personal best on the balance beam and a perfect 10 on the floor
exercise.

“I think that’s the biggest crowd we’ve
had,” Bhardwaj said. “It’s really nice knowing
all those people are there supporting you.”

The Bruins never trailed in the meet, and seem to build momentum
as the meet went on. Freshman Kristen Maloney, competing for the
first time in the all-around competition, finished a close second
to Bhardwaj. Maloney recorded personal bests on the vault, uneven
bars, and floor exercise en route to her second-place finish, with
a 9.8, 9.9 and a 9.925 respectively.

Competing in Pauley Pavilion was as big an inspiration to the
gymnasts as the powerful Utah team.

“It was our first meet in Pauley Pavilion. We don’t
take this place for granted,” Kondos Field said.

While Kondos Field felt the team started flat, she was glad the
team was able to put aside the pressure of performing in Pauley and
finish strong.

UCLA dominated the meet, winning each individual event. On
vault, sophomore Onnie Willis tied with freshman Veronique Leclerc
of Utah for the top score of 9.9, despite a sore foot. On the
uneven bars Dantzscher remained undefeated on the season, barely
missing another perfect 10 with a score of 9.975.

The Bruins showed their depth and versatility, changing their
starting lineup once again.

“Every single meet we’ve competed different
athletes,” Kondos Field said.

“With a team this deep you have to be ready to compete in
an instant. You have to give 100 percent regardless of what
you’re asked to do,” she continued.

UCLA was definitely up to the challenge, handing Utah its first
loss of the year and catapulting the Bruins to the top of the
standings.

With contributions by Adam Karon, Daily Bruin Staff.