Senior Onnie Willis was recently named the Pac-10 Gymnast of the
Week, marking the third time she has been awarded the prestigious
designation.
Willis has performed well for the Bruins this year and is coming
off an especially impressive all-around score in the team’s
home opener last Sunday. She scored a career-high 39.8 and helped
the Bruins achieve the nation’s highest team score this year
with 198.275.
When asked how the award would affect her confidence Friday
night as the Bruins travel to Corvallis to take on No. 13 Oregon
State, Willis’ reply was a bit unexpected.
“Oh, that won’t affect my performance at all this
weekend,” Willis laughed. “I just found out about it
when you told me.”
Head coach Valorie Kondos Field has claimed several times this
season that the Bruins’ talent is the best-ever assembled in
the history of UCLA. Following a preseason No. 1 ranking, the
Bruins (6-0) are looking to continue their undefeated season.
“We set our own standards as far as what we need to do on
the floor and we want to go out and perform to our standard. If we
do that, we’ll win,” said first-year assistant coach
Chris Waller, who coached the Bruins to a rare victory in Utah
earlier this month and will again assume the lead coaching position
this weekend, as Kondos Field attends to personal matters.
“The team did an awesome job up in Utah and picked up the
slack without (Kondos Field). Our goal is to remain undefeated this
year, so we’re going to go out there, do our jobs and stay
focused.”
Freshman Kate Richardson began her collegiate career against
Oregon State in the Bruins’ first meet this season. She
finished with a 39.6, the highest all-around debut score in school
history.
Yet Richardson seeks to increase her contribution in the
Bruins’ second meet against the Beavers.
“My goal this season is to get better and better. I am
feeling more comfortable in college competition.”
Richardson then reiterated the team mantra ““ “We
want to keep the undefeated season. We hope to hit every
event.”