After a season full of battles, the UCLA gymnastics team’s
struggles finally came to a head. On Saturday it became too much to
handle, as the Bruins finished third at the NCAA South Central
Regionals, failing to qualify for the NCAA Championships for the
first time since 1991.
The Bruins had to count two falls, one on bars and the other on
beam, and finished the meet with a score of 195.175, a mark well
below their season’s best.
Florida (196.375) and Arkansas (195.4) quickly capitalized on
these mistakes as they secured their spots at the NCAA
Championships by placing first and second, respectively.
“We had had a tough season, and we had a lot of tough
breaks. It’s just been rough and it’s one thing after
another. On Friday it was Ashley (Peckett’s) ankle that
suddenly got hurt,” coach Valorie Kondos Field said.
“I always talked about getting to that place where
we’re confident and calm. But you can’t get there
unless you’ve thoroughly prepared as a team. With Ashley out,
there were a few people who had to come in who did not feel
confident. It was disappointing, but I still feel that it was a
very rewarding year.”
Despite it all, there was some good news for the team, as both
senior Kate Richardson and freshman Kristina Comforte qualified for
the individual all-around competition at Corvallis, Ore., in two
weeks.
Richardson and Comforte finished first and third, respectively,
and as the top two individuals on a non-qualifying team, they will
get to represent the Bruins and attempt to accomplish what their
teammate, sophomore Tasha Schwikert, did last season.
“I’m glad I get to go and that I’m not done
yet, but it’s not the same unless your team is there because
that’s what we put our heart into all season. But I’m
glad that three of us get to go and represent UCLA,”
Richardson said.
It was a tough season for the Bruins, though, one that they
would most definitely like to forget.
The troubles started last September, when Richardson suffered a
fractured tibia. From there it went downhill for the Bruins as they
saw defending NCAA all-around champion Tasha Schwikert, along with
Jordan Schwikert, Michelle Selesky, Melissa Chan and Jalynne
Dantzscher all suffer from injuries at some point during the
season.
However, at the Pac-10 Championships, the Bruins finally had
their full lineup, and after getting a glimpse of their tremendous
potential the team had high hopes for the weekend.
But the hope was short-lived, as freshman Ashley Peckett
suddenly found herself unable to walk on Friday afternoon after a
routine stretch during the team’s practice. Peckett, who has
been the most consistent member of the team, had to sit out the
meet.
And from there the news only got worse.
“It was just so indicative of our season. And then (at the
meet) we just shot ourselves in the foot. We had too many cracks in
our foundation, and luck was not going to get us there. A good
portion of the team had gotten themselves prepared, and there were
a few that hadn’t. As a coach I take responsibility for
that,” Kondos Field said.
But looking back on the season, there is a lot that this young
team has to look forward to. Seven of the team’s 13 members
were freshmen this year, and Richardson is the only graduating
member of the team.
Due to the team’s various injuries this season, the
freshmen gained a lot of experience that will carry them forward
and will likely only make them better in the future.
“Starting today, it’s the start of our new season.
They are no longer freshmen, and we don’t have a young team
anymore. We’re going to be back next year, and we’ll be
stronger for it. This will only make us stronger,” Kondos
Field said.