Signing day adds Olympian to Bruins’ gymnastics
lineup The UCLA gymnastics team has signed Tasha Schwikert
and Lindsey Vanden Eykel to national letters of intent. Schwikert,
from Las Vegas, is a 2000 Olympian and 2003 World Championship gold
medalist, and Vanden Eykel, from Plano, Texas, is a former junior
national champion. “The first time I saw Tasha Schwikert at
the Olympic Games and then consecutive years after that, it was so
apparent that she was born to be a Bruin, and I was very excited
when I heard she felt the same way,” said UCLA coach Valorie
Kondos Field in a press release. “From the first phone call I
had with Lindsey, I felt she was perfect fit for program,”
Kondos Field said.
WOMEN’S TRACK: Long Beach Poly’s
Shalonda Solomon, perhaps the nation’s best prep sprinter and
UCLA’s No. 1 recruiting target, will sign with South
Carolina, the Long Beach Press Telegram reported. Solomon, the
nation’s top returnee in the 100m and 200m, is the second top
Southern California sprinter whom the Gamecocks have signed in
recent years. Solomon’s prep teammate Jasmine Lee ““
another UCLA target ““ will sign instead with USC.
MEN’S TRACK: Dominguez sprinter Lionel
Larry also will sign with the Trojans, the Press Telegram reported.
Larry, who is believed to be the Bruins’ top target, had
pared his list of schools down to UCLA and USC.
MEN’S GOLF: Two-time Foothill league MVP
Brandon Christianson said he has signed his national letter of
intent to go to UCLA. “I decided to go to UCLA because of the
strength of the school, its golf program and its great
coach,” Christianson said. UCLA could not confirm it had
received the letter at press time and, due to NCAA rules, could not
comment on Christianson or any other golf recruits.