Gymnastics: The nation’s best teams come to Pauley

Parity is a word that is thrown around quite a bit in the world
of sports. In fact, it’s probably even overused. And
undoubtedly, when it’s national championship time, talk of
parity begins anew, as coaches, athletes and pundits alike analyze
the chances of the haves and have nots. The buzz before the
beginning of today’s NCAA Women’s Gymnastics
Championships, which will take place at Pauley Pavilion in two
sessions of six teams each, is no different from any other year.
But in the sport of gymnastics, there are only a couple of haves
and a much larger number of have nots. In fact, only four teams,
UCLA, Utah, Georgia and Alabama, have won national championships
since the first one was held in 1982. “I think it will take
something extraordinary to break the top four,” Nebraska
coach Dan Kendig said. One gets the sense that those same four
teams are here to win, while the rest would simply be happy
qualifying for the Super Six. Case in point, the Iowa Hawkeyes.
“We want to go out and have more fun on the floor than
everybody else,” said coach Mike Lorenzen, whose Hawkeyes are
making their second consecutive championship appearance, as well as
second all-time. Compare that to Alabama, who has made the
championship for 22 consecutive years. And compare that to Georgia,
winner of five national championships. On Wednesday, senior gymnast
Kinsey Rowe made it clear that she would not compete on bars until
Friday. The problem with that, of course, is that the Bulldogs have
to place in the top three of tomorrow’s first session to even
make it to Friday. After a slight nudge from her coach, Suzanne
Yoculan, Rowe amended her statement. “If we make it to
Friday, I mean.” But that’s the thing. Georgia believes
they will make it to Friday, because that’s simply what they
do. It’s no surprise that entering today’s competition,
UCLA, Utah, Alabama and Georgia are one through four in the
national rankings. “I think those four are still ahead of the
rest,” Lorenzen said. Though many would be surprised to see a
team other than one of the Big Four take home the championship, the
other eight teams aren’t ready to just hand over the title.
LSU coach D-D Breaux, though complimentary of the success of the
four champions, would like to see the 22 years of dominance change.
And she’d like to see it change soon. “We’d like
to see it in 48 hours,” she said jokingly. But the first step
for everyone is making it to the second day of competition. The top
three from each session advance to the Super Six, who will compete
for the championship Friday night. And in each session, there are
storylines galore.

Session One, 1 p.m. Georgia is the only team competing in
session one that has won a championship. Joining the Bulldogs are
Stanford, Florida, Iowa, Nebraska and Oklahoma. Florida brings a
UCLA connection to Pauley, in the form of coach Rhonda Faehn. She
competed as a UCLA gymnast from 1990-1992 and was happy to be back
in Westwood. “It’s so beautiful,” Faehn said.
“Competing in Pauley was always so magical for every
Bruin.” Georgia also has fond memories of Pauley Pavilion.
The Bulldogs won the last national championship that was held in
Westwood, back in 1998. “We have great memories here at
UCLA,” Yoculan said. “We feel very confident right
now.” Oklahoma’s presence in today’s championship
might be the most surprising. Of the 12 teams competing today, 11
of them were in Lincoln, Neb. last year for the national
championship. Oklahoma, however, was not. “Oklahoma is kind
of the Cinderella of the group,” Sooner coach Steve Nunno
said. Session Two, 7 p.m. This session is stacked, and one
can’t help but feel for fifth-ranked LSU. To qualify for
Friday, the Tigers will have to knock off either UCLA, Utah, or
Georgia. Michigan and Arizona State round out the group.
“I’m just wondering who at the NCAA hates us, because
sometimes it sure feels that way,” Breaux said. Utah, winner
of nine national championships, has dominated college gymnastics
more than any other team. But the Utes remain humble. “Each
time you (make it to the championship), you begin to appreciate it
more and more,” Utah coach Greg Marsden said. And lest we
forget UCLA, the defending NCAA champions and arguably the most
dominant gymnastics program of the last four years. In those four
seasons, the Bruins have won three championships. Arizona State
coach John Spini understands what this Bruin team brings to the
table. “I think they might have to stumble for someone else
to get in the door,” Spini said. But if the Bruins do
stumble, there are likely three other teams that will be more than
happy to knock that door down.