Gymnastics: Star gymnast signs on to UCLA squad

Former Olympian and two-time U.S. all-around champion Tasha
Schwikert is on her way to Westwood.

Schwikert, one of the nation’s preeminent gymnasts signed
a letter of intent on Nov. 12 and will be a member of the 2005
women’s gymnastics team.

“I’ve always thought UCLA was a great school,”
Schwikert said. “I can get a good education there, plus
I really love coach (Valorie Kondos) Field and all the girls on the
team. I think the school’s a good match for me.”

Earlier this year, few could have envisioned Schwikert as a
Bruin given the fact that her future in gymnastics was in
question.

This past May, Schwikert and her coach of 12 years, Cassie Rice,
had a falling out in which Rice kicked Schwikert out of her Nevada
gym.

Rice believed Schwikert wasn’t showing the desire that had
made her so successful, and had adopted an apathetic attitude
towards gymnastics.

However, Schwikert realized she was headed in the wrong
direction and regained her coach’s confidence by returning to
the gym with renewed spirit.

Schwikert looks back at this tumultuous period and refers to her
former self as the “old Tasha.” Kondos Field says
she’s not worried about the “old Tasha” emerging
at UCLA.

“Tasha told me that if she ever acted that way again, she
would quit gymnastics altogether,” Kondos Field said.
“I appreciate everything she stands for, and I’m very
blown away by the maturity she has shown.”

Schwikert’s maturity, perhaps, is most responsible for her
decision to come to UCLA. She surprisingly contacted coach Kondos
Field first ““ a rare move for an athlete of such high
caliber.

“I’m ecstatic. She’s the entire
package,” Kondos Field said. “Her leadership qualities
abound.”

Indeed, Schwikert has demonstrated her leadership throughout her
career, most recently leading the U.S. team to its first-ever gold
medal at the 2003 World Championships, while personally finishing
second in the all-around competition.

Aside from being a former Olympian in 2000 and U.S. all-around
champion in 2001 and 2002, Schwikert has been on the U.S. national
team for seven years, helping the team capture the bronze in
2001. At the 2001 National Championships, Schwikert won the
beam competition. The next year, at National Championships,
Schwikert won the floor and bar competition.  To top it off,
this year at Nationals she finished second in the all-around
competition.

Schwikert has been as dominant in international competition as
in national ones, winning major international competitions such as
the 2002 Pacific Alliance Championships, the 2002 Visa American Cup
and the 2001 Pan American Championships. By the age of 18,
Schwikert has already accomplished what many gymnasts don’t
experience in the entirety of their careers.

“She’ll do fine (at UCLA),” Rice said.
“Tasha’s a great athlete and is going to be a great
asset to that team. She’s been around the world and
back.”

When asked what she expects to bring to the team, Schwikert is
quick to respond.

“A good attitude and good scores,” she said.
“Hopefully I can help the team keep winning.”

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