Gymnastics: Gymnasts held to higher standard
By Nina Basu
April 6, 2005 9:00 p.m.
In her 14-year stint as head coach of the women’s
gymnastics team, Valorie Kondos Field has consistently kept her
squad at the top of the podium, adopting various creative
strategies to motivate and encourage her gymnasts. Kondos
Field’s latest approach puts the Bruins’ training
regimen in her gymnasts’ hands, allowing the squad to tailor
and schedule its next week of practice. “The more you involve
them in that decision, the more ownership they take in the
decision,” said Kondos Field, noting that in the past, the
team has trained tougher under its own regimen than the standards
set by the coaches. The team’s impressive work ethic can be
credited to Kondos Field’s philosophy of her role as coach,
saying that holding the squad to the highest expectations shows
them the utmost respect. While other coaches focus on befriending
their gymnasts, Kondos Field knows that her relationship with the
team is different. “I think that I’m a strong mentor
that encourages honesty and integrity in my team,” Kondos
Field said. “They’re young women under my mentorship
and my leadership.” MALONEY NAMED GYMNAST OF THE YEAR: Sports
Illustrated On Campus has named Kristen Maloney as its National
Player of the Year in women’s gymnastics, following a stellar
season in which the senior led the nation in the all-around
throughout 11 weeks of competition. She is the second Bruin to be
recognized in the same category in as many years. Jeanette Antolin
was honored last year.
INJURY REPORT: While Kate Richardson’s recovery from a
functional rupture of her ulner collateral ligament has gone as
expected, she will not be competing in the vault in the coming
weeks. She will still compete in the other three rotations. … The
Bruins may have suffered another setback, though, as freshman
Lindsay Vanden Eykel jarred her back on an uneven bars dismount.
Her status for this weekend’s Regionals meet in Seattle is
unknown. However, Kondos Field expects her to compete in the NCAA
Championships on Apr. 21-22 in Auburn, Ala.
