Sophomore standout Lori Winn made her return to competition for
the UCLA gymnastics team last week at Michigan after serving out a
four-meet suspension due to a violation of team rules. Ranked 23rd
in the nation on bars prior to her suspension, Winn certainly did
not start out where she left off. In her return, Winn competed in
three events and showed definitive signs of rust, recording a 9.075
on floor, 9.525 on beam and an excruciating 9.1 for her usually
dependable bar performance. So low were Winn’s marks that the
team was forced to drop her floor and bar scores in order to stay
competitive in the meet. Despite Winn’s uncharacteristically
poor performance, UCLA coach Valorie Kondos Field stood by her
decision to use Winn in three events despite having missed the
majority of the season. “I definitely don’t regret my
decision,” Kondos Field said. “Those were three events
that she’s been hitting in practice, and the numbers she put
up aren’t consistent with what she’d done in practice.
“I think fear just sabotaged her performance in the
meet.” Despite the difficulties she experienced in Michigan,
Winn is expected to strengthen a Bruin squad which has recently
been plagued by injuries.
LACK OF CONFIDENCE: After starting the season with scores of at
least 197 in three of their first four meets ““ and winning
four out of five during that stretch ““ the Bruins (6-2) have
averaged just 194.7 in their last two outings. While injuries have
hit the team from all sides, UCLA believes there’s another
reason for the team’s recent struggles. Junior Kate
Richardson said after Friday’s meet that the team was
doubting itself and needed to be more relaxed. Kondos Field offered
a similar take. “The team’s trying to be perfect, but
they’re still not sure they can hit all their
routines,” Kondos Field said. “If they don’t
change their ways, then this is as good as they’re going to
get.” One sign of hope for the Bruins is that last
year’s team experienced these same types of problems and was
still able to end its season with a national championship.
“That team didn’t really come together until the week
before the NCAA Championships,” Kondos Field said.
“With this team, it’s just a matter of them finding a
groove and settling in eventually.”
BRUIN RECEIVES HONOR: Senior Kristen Maloney was named the
Pac-10 Conference Gymnast of the Week for her performance against
No. 2 Michigan last week. Perhaps the only bright spot for the
Bruins was Maloney’s performance, as she won the all-around
competition with a final score of 39.575. Undoubtedly UCLA’s
most consistent performer this season, Maloney is currently ranked
No. 1 nationally in the all-around and bars, No. 2 on beam and No.
3 on vault.