Squad dominant in home competition
By Daily Bruin Staff
March 4, 2001 9:00 p.m.
1. UCLA 197.7 2. Cal 195.025 3. Utah state
192.225 4. UCSB 188.575
By Eli Karon
Daily Bruin Contributor
Krispy Kreme is in trouble. The doughnut company, who gives away
a half dozen doughnuts if a Bruin gymnast scores a perfect 10 at
home, should hope the top-ranked UCLA gymnastics team has more away
meets.
Freshmen Kristin Maloney and Jamie Dantzscher, and sophomore
Onnie Willis hit back-to-back-to-back perfect 10s on the floor
exercise. The feat earned each member of the 2,118-person crowd
half a dozen free Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
“We had a really big crowd, that’s always
fun,” Dantzscher said, adding of the three 10s, “I
don’t know if we’ve ever done that.”
Though the Bruins finished strong on the floor exercise, the
team lacked energy to begin the meet.
“We didn’t have as much energy as we would have
liked starting out,” Willis said. “But we picked it up
well and stayed focused. We were able to build energy throughout
(the meet).”
Bruin Coach Valorie Kondos Field echoed Willis’
opinion.
“I keep saying that we’re flat, that we’re
starting off slowly. Once again we didn’t have the
fire,” Kondos-Field said. “With a team as talented as
we are, even though we don’t have the fire we’re still
hitting (our exercises).”
Despite UCLA’s lack of enthusiasm, the other three teams
competing in the fifth annual Bruin Classic never stood a chance.
The quadrangular meet ended with UCLA defeating its closest
competitor, Cal, by more than two points.
Willis continued her recent surge by capturing the all-around
title with a total of 39.600. Second to Willis was sophomore
teammate Malia Jones, who competed in the all-around for the first
time since returning from tendonitis in her knee. Jones finished
with a 39.350.
Closing out the all-around top finishers was Berkeley’s
Pari Oliver (39.200), the only competitor not from UCLA to be
recognized as a top individual performer.
UCLA capitalized on its floor routine, scoring an amazing
49.850. Five Bruins either tied or set a record, with junior
Valerie Velasco tying her personal best with a 9.850 and Jones
setting a personal record of 9.925.
The three perfect 10s set a meet record, and helped the Bruins
remain the only team to ever win the Bruin Classic.
“I’ve been wanting to get a 10 on floor, so it was
exciting,” Willis said. “And the crowd was
amazing.”
Many Bruins competed well, including senior Mohini Bhardwaj, who
tied a personal best with a 9.950 on the beam apparatus. Sophomore
Kristin Parker also looked strong, turning in a 9.925 on the
floor.
This coming weekend UCLA will travel to Michigan to take on No.
7 Michigan and Michigan State.
With contributions by Adam Karon, Daily Bruin Staff.
