W. gym garners Pac-10 honors
By Esther Hui
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
The UCLA women’s gymnastics team enjoyed a stellar weekend in
Arizona at the Pac-10 championships March 25.
The Bruins beat host Arizona State to win the team championship
(195.4), and freshman Stella Umeh brought home first place in the
all-around (39.375), floor exercise (9.9), beam (9.875) and uneven
bars (9.925). In addition, sophomore Leah Homma and UCLA head coach
Valorie Kondos have been named 1995 Pac-10 Woman Gymnast and Coach
of the Year, respectively.
"It’s a great honor for Leah to be picked Pac-10 Gymnast of the
Year," Kondos said. "To win this award is not just gymnastics, it’s
what you as a person, along with your ability, and talent and hard
work, give back to the sport. I think that the coaches realized the
aesthetic quality that Leah brings to the sport above any other
gymnast in the NCAA. She brings a certain amount of respect because
of her poise. She’s like Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly; she’s a
lady and yet incredible at her craft."
Homma, who was 1994 Pac-10 all-around champion, beat out
teammate and 1993 Pac-10 all-around champion Kareema Marrow and
ASU’s top all-arounder Tina Brinkman for the award.
"It’s a big deal for me," Homma said. "I remember last year when
Chari Knight (from Oregon State) won. I thought that was
incredible; she was the most beautiful gymnast I’d ever seen."
It is Kondos’ fifth year at the helm of Bruin women’s
gymnastics, and her first conference award as solo head coach.
Kondos was awarded West Regional Coach of the Year honors along
with Scott Bull in 1993.
"I think the biggest job of the head coach is to hire people to
administer things who you know will do a good job," Kondos said.
"Anyone who thinks they can be a head coach and be a one man show
is out of their mind. To be awarded Pac-10 Coach of the Year means
to me that 100 percent, I’ve surrounded myself by the right
people."