W. gym looks to balance skill, consistency
Ranked No. 3 all-around, Homma to defend title at Gilda Marx
Invitational
By Esther Hui
Daily Bruin Staff
Leading into this weekend’s Gilda Marx Invitational, the UCLA
women’s gymnastics team (2-2) seems to be struggling compared with
last year’s record-setting squad, which was 7-0 by this time.
But according to the gymnasts, there is not that much difference
between this year’s team and last year’s, which holds the school
record with a 196.475. If anything, this year’s Bruins have
slightly more depth, with three strong freshmen and as many as five
gymnasts able to compete all-around. What the Bruins hope to do
this weekend is combine skill level and consistency, something they
haven’t been able to do yet this season.
"We’re exactly in the same place as the last few years," head
coach Valorie Kondos said. "It’s not that we’re not doing well;
every gymnast has had moments of brilliance. The key is putting it
all together, and we need to do that every single time now."
"Last year we were undefeated going into the Invitational,"
sophomore Stella Umeh said. "But we’re not paying attention to
win-loss records. We’re doing really well with our skill level, and
everybody’s really excited, looking forward to the invite.
Hopefully, this will get the ball rolling."
In the most recent poll, 1995 defending Invitational champion
Leah Homma is No. 3 in the country in the all-around, second in the
uneven bars and in a tie for fifth on the balance beam with
Umeh.
* * *
If the women’s gymnastics team looks especially elegant in
competition, it’s because Kondos designs most of the leotards
herself.
Formerly a dancer and now a choreographer, Kondos gets her ideas
from dance magazines and working with ice skaters during the
summer. Kondos draws a picture and sends it in to have a sample
made.
"A lot of the ice skating costumes are elegant and gorgeous,"
Kondos said. "I modify those because a lot of the time they’re
backless. I like a really sleek look."
Gymnastics and figure skating are two of the most visual sports,
and are unique because part of the scoring is based on appearance.
Olympic skater Nancy Kerrigan had her costumes created by fashion
designer and bridal gown specialist Vera Wang to accentuate the
fluidity of her skating programs.
Kondos’ leotards tend to be more subdued then other collegiate
gymnastics teams’. Last year, the Bruins competed in white
sleeveless leotards with a gold swirl around the neck, and for the
Invitational this weekend, the gymnasts will march out in leotards
with dark blue bodies and sheer white sleeves. Both are leotards
which Kondos designed.
In contrast, at the 1995 NCAA championships, Florida gymnasts
wore florescent orange leotards, and Georgia’s Lady Bulldogs donned
red velvet with sequins.
"It’s very important what the gymnasts look like," Kondos said.
"I want the leotards to make them look graceful and strong, without
looking big. The color is also important, because you run the risk
of having your gymnasts look fish-belly white next to light
blue."
UCLA Sports Info
UCLA’s Stella Umeh is tied with Leah Homma for fifth place on
the balance beam.
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