UCLA’s gymnasts are looking to end their season in a
different way than they started it. They hope to finish with a
win.
No. 1 UCLA (9-4) concludes its regular season today by traveling
to Gainesville to take on No. 7 Florida (13-5) in a dual meet at
the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
Interestingly enough, today’s meet will be a reunion of
sorts for members of both teams.
UCLA senior Yvonne Tousek’s sister, Chantelle, is a
freshman on the Florida team.
“I think it’ll be fun,” Tousek said.Â
“I’ve competed against her before, but never in
college.”
Although it’s the sisters’ first collegiate meeting,
Tousek insists this meet isn’t any different than others.
“Of course I want to see her compete and see how
she’s doing, but I’ll be focused on our team and what
I’m doing,” Tousek said. “I don’t think
there’s any rivalry.”
Coach Valorie Kondos Field will also find herself reuniting with
old acquaintances, Florida coaches Rhonda Faehn and Randy Lane.
Faehn, a former gymnast for Kondos Field, competed at UCLA from
1990-1992. Faehn was later an assistant coach under Kondos
Field from 1993-1994.
Lane was an assistant coach under Kondos Field twice. His
first tenure with the Bruins went from 1992-1994, and he then
returned to the team for a second stint from 1998-2001.
Lane was a part of the 2000 and 2001 NCAA Championship Bruin
squads and won the 2000 National Assistant Coach of the Year
Award.
“We’re just so much of a family,” Kondos Field
said. “It’ll be fun seeing Randy and Rhonda
again.”
The Gators are led by junior All-American Erinn Dooley, who was
recently named the Southeastern Conference Gymnast of the
Week.Â
The last meeting between UCLA and Florida came during the 2000
season and saw the Bruins edge out their opponent by a score of
193.225-193.025. UCLA holds a 5-1 all-time record against
Florida.Â
“Our main focus for this meet is to go in there and have
the East Coast say, “˜Yeah, they are legitimate,'”
Kondos Field said.
“We want to go out there and be really consistent,”
senior Jeanette Antolin added. “We still have things we
can improve on.”