The preseason No. 4 UCLA women’s gymnastics team kicks off its 2009 season tonight at Utah.
With new talent, such as freshman Canadian Olympian Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs, and experienced upperclassmen, like senior Ariana Berlin, the Bruins are looking even stronger than their 2008 squad.
This will be the sixth time in the last seven years that Utah has had a season opener against UCLA.
The Utes are currently 4-1 in the five most recent of those contests.In previous competitions, they have proven to be one of the toughest opponents the Bruins have faced, boasting an overall record of 22-2 against UCLA .
In addition to competing against a solid squad of gymnasts, the Bruins have their own internal challenges to confront.
Although the team is equipped with some very talented newcomers, the veterans are still recovering from injuries suffered during the latter part of last season.
Senior Melissa Chan will not be competing in the early matchups of the season due to having bone spurs removed from her ankle.
Team veterans junior Anna Li and redshirt sophomore Brittani McCullough also had bone spurs removed.
The Bruins even lost one of their star seniors in Kristina Comforte, who suffered a labrum tear in her shoulder. This injury ultimately led to her decision to retire from the sport.
Comforte is now serving as the team’s undergraduate assistant coach.
All troubles aside, coach Valorie Kondos Field believes that her 2009 group is better prepared than last year’s.
The team’s intrasquads, which are competitions held between members of the team, have given the Bruins an extra boost of confidence.
“We have been doing four full-event intrasquads,” Field said.
“The girls feel that that has prepared them as a team to have confidence and trust in each other.”
Olympic and college gymnastics competitions are scored differently, which translates to different approaches to competition.
Hopfner-Hibbs has experienced the pressure of performing in front of a large audience but feels that Friday won’t be the same.
“To me, the Olympics was all individual, and here at UCLA, it’s all about the team,” Hopfner-Hibbs said.
“I’m so excited about Utah, and we’re just so ready to go. I always get nervous to compete, but you’re confident at the same time, so the nerves just help me get the adrenaline and calm it down.”
The freshmen will finally see their first share of action in Utah, and they are looking forward to the matchup.
“I think just going in really, really confident and just believing that we’ve prepared well will be some key points,” freshman Aisha Gerber said.
“The freshmen are very excited,” Field said.
“There’s going to be moments when they will perform a bit tight because of the nerves, but I believe that we have prepared them well enough so that in the middle of the routine they can take a deep breath and move on flawlessly.”