Tumblers on roll after Invite
W. gym recovers from earlier losses, vaults to No. 5 rank
By Esther Hui
Daily Bruin Staff
After a roller-coaster season, the latest polls rank the UCLA
women’s gymnastics team at No. 5 in the country behind Georgia,
Alabama, Michigan, and Oregon State.
The Bruins owned a No. 4 preseason ranking, but plummeted to
19th at the beginning of February after inconsistency caused them
to lose two of their first three meets to Cal State Fullerton and
Arizona.
Things picked up at the UCLA Invite where the Bruins bettered
their highest team score by two points with a 194.225 total and
began their current four-meet undefeated streak, which will bolster
their West Regional seedings in April.
"Even though everybody says you’re crazy to focus on rankings,
you can’t help but get a little nervous when you’re dropping in the
rankings at the beginning of the season," UCLA head coach Valorie
Kondos said.
* * *
Speaking of roller-coaster seasons, freshman Kiralee Hayashi has
had her share of up and down performances. UCLA’s highly touted
recruit faltered at the beginning of the season, falling four times
in a triangular meet against Boise State in January.
Since the UCLA Invite, Hayashi recorded three strong all-around
performances in the upper 38s, including a 38.950 against Oregon
State on Feb. 16. Stella Umeh, Leah Homma and Hayashi went 1-2-3 in
the all-around last weekend, a hat-trick which harks back to the
domination of Kareema Marrow, Homma and Umeh in the all-around last
year.
"I’m gaining more confidence in myself," Hayashi said. "Each of
us plays an important part in the team, and I understand that I
need to hit. I’m taking it one step at a time."
According to Kondos, Hayashi’s recent performances are only an
indication of her true potential. Kondos believes with confidence,
Hayashi could challenge for the top spot on the team.
"I don’t think Kiralee has any idea how good she is," Kondos
said. "She is every bit the talent and beauty of Stella. She has
strength, flexibility, dance, punch. There’s no reason she’s not in
Stella and Leah’s caliber."
* * *
As far as scoring goes, Georgia is so far ahead of the rest of
the collegiate gymnastics competition, one wonders if it’s
competing in the same sport.
The Lady Bulldogs, who placed fifth at nationals last year, have
already scored 197.800 in competition (which is an average of about
9.9 per routine). The Bulldogs are nationally ranked first through
fifth on the vault, where Kim Arnold averages 9.987. During a dual
meet with Kentucky last weekend, Bulldog Karin Lichey, who is the
No. 2 gymnast on the team next to Olympian Lori Strong, scored a
perfect 40.00 in the all-around.
Gymnastics is so popular in Athens that the Bulldogs
consistently fill the 12,000 seating Georgia Dome for dual
meets.
"There are a few places in the country where gymnastics is an
entire production," Kondos said. "From the march out until the
awards. It’s really exciting to think that our sport can draw that
much attention, and to see the fans go crazy. And we’re trying to
capture that same excitement out here."
ANDREW SCHOLER/Daily Bruin
Kiralee Hayashi has scored in the 38s in the last three
all-arounds.
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