The news on Bruin gymnast sisters Jordan and Tasha Schwikert is
getting better. Following shoulder surgery, Tasha Schwikert is not
expected to miss the whole season; rather, she’ll remain out
for only another two months. Jordan Schwikert, who underwent the
same surgery a few weeks before her sister, is also doing well and
expected to compete this weekend. Minor injuries could also
influence the lineup for this weekend. Coach Valorie Kondos Field
does not believe every member of the team will compete on Friday
and Sunday. “Some of the girls have bad ankles, so we will be
careful with that,” Kondos Field said. “We want to be
healthy and the season is young, so some of the girls might be
rested on Sunday or on Friday.” The team is back in the
training room looking forward to its upcoming competition in
Seattle against Washington on Friday. The Bruins will return to
campus for a meet against Oregon State on Sunday. Since losing to
Utah just over a week ago, the team has been working on
consistency. “We have switched some parts of our routine and
re-sharpened our focus,” said Kondos Field. UCLA and
Washington have already met, at the Hawaiian Classic in early
January. The Bruins won the event, while the Huskies finished
fourth. The team can count on senior members, including Kate
Richardson, to help balance any mental advantage a more experienced
team might have. Richardson has been consistently efficient since
the beginning of the season, scoring high throughout the
competition against Utah. With Tasha Schwikert recovering,
Richardson is the highest point-marker on the UCLA team, ranking
14th nationally in average overall score.
GAINING EXPERIENCE: Several freshman gymnasts
got their first chance to shine in the spotlight against Utah due
to an injury-plagued lineup, and will use the experience to
UCLA’s advantage. “Some of the girls told me they had
been waiting six years to compete in Pauley Pavilion,” Kondos
Field said. Despite being defeated, Kondos Field believes the
experience was valuable for the members of the team and anticipates
they will grow from it in upcoming meets. “It was a real
eye-opener for the team, (which) is young and therefore not used to
compet(ing) at the college level yet,” Kondos Field said.
“They had a sense of reverence when competing in the Pavilion
for the first time.”
RISING AND FALLING: Although the team started
the year in the top 10, its ranking quickly dropped. The Bruins
went down seven spots after their loss to the Utes, falling from
No. 9 to No. 16. Alabama surpassed the Florida Gators as No. 1,
jumping up from the No. 5 position.