After a well-deserved two weeks away from action, the Bruins began a new struggle with a familiar foe ““ injury.
Despite a great effort by the team’s makeshift lineup, the girls landed a little short of the mark, losing by one-tenth of a point to Denver, 194.900-194.800.
“We were excited to get back after a couple weeks off but it was a little rough. We had a smaller lineup due to injuries and had to manage with what we had,” senior Michelle Selesky said.
Going into the meet, the team was already without Kristina Comforte, who has an ankle injury, and Janelle Dantzscher, who has a stress fracture in her foot. In addition to that, Tasha Schwikert, the Bruins’ leading all-around scorer, was limited to just vault and bars, while Ashley Jenkins only competed on the beam.
“We should be prepared regardless. Injuries are not an excuse. We should be able to put in our B team and still come through,” sophomore Ariana Berlin said.
Berlin did her part, giving the team a major boost with a career-high score in the all-around of 39.25. She finished second in the all-around, only 0.025 points behind Heather Huffaker of Denver.
The Bruins stayed close through the first three rounds and entered the final round on the balance beam behind by only 0.075 points. However, the beam proved to be a challenge on Saturday. Jordan Schwikert fell on a jump and scored 9.3. Freshman Anna Li followed this with a fall on her dismount that also left her with a strained knee and ankle. Li will be evaluated this week.
“Li’s fall was the real downer of the evening,” coach Valerie Kondos Field said. “She was having a great meet up to that point. But she is used to being injured and she is used to competing injured so hopefully she will be fine.”
Nonetheless, it was exciting for the team to see many of the other gymnasts get a chance to perform. Natalie Padilla competed on the bars, the beam and the floor for the first time, hitting all three of her routines. Berlin also performed on the floor for the first time this season, marking the first time she completed the all-around.
“It has been different this year. The rod in my leg has been causing pain so I haven’t been able to train as much. I am slowly getting better but I already feel like I am better this year than I was last year,” Berlin said.
Despite their loss in Denver, the team remains enthusiastic about the remainder of the season. All of the girls met after the meet to talk and discuss what they need to do for them to get to where they want to be.
“I think we need to be mentally stronger,” Kondos Field said. “It’s not that they don’t care to win. They are not playing soft but they are playing tight. There is no reason for them to be tight because they are well-prepared and in great shape.”
As the team gets back its members and returns to full health, the Bruins hope to hit their peak just as they enter into the month of March and the postseason competitions that lie ahead.