UCLA gymnastics loses balance on beam, places third in national semifinal
Redshirt senior Brittani McCullough competes on balance beam at NCAA Championships in Cleveland on Friday. The Bruins were forced to count McCullough’s score of 9.150 after multiple falls on beam in the final rotation, but still advanced to the Super Six, the team finals, by placing third in the afternoon session.
By Mansi Sheth
April 15, 2011 12:51 p.m.
CLEVELAND — The UCLA gymnastics team looked in complete control on Friday until the final rotation of the competition. Averaging a 49.375 on their first three events, the Bruins struggled on balance beam and were forced to count a 9.150.
The team placed third with a 196.500 behind winner Oklahoma (196.775) and Michigan (196.700).
Arkansas, Georgia and Illinois were eliminated.
Although they advanced to the Super Six, the competition ended on a disappointing note for the Bruins, who were on pace to win their semifinal.
Coach Valorie Kondos Field opted to put Brittani McCullough into the beam lineup although the redshirt senior had never competed in the event at nationals. McCullough fell off the beam during the middle of her routine and the Bruins were forced to count her score after junior Tauny Frattone stumbled on the apparatus.
Kondos Field may opt to change her beam lineup for the Super Six competition on Saturday, placing Olivia Courtney in the mix depending on how the freshman’s hamstring feels.
Five Bruins qualified for the individual event finals during the semifinal competition: McCullough (vault, floor), Monique de la Torre (bars), Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs (bars), Aisha Gerber (beam), and Samantha Peszek (beam).
