For UCLA gymnastics, Friday’s meet versus No. 2 Utah was intended to serve as the season’s first test of the squad’s potential.
It ended up being a showcase of the Bruins’ younger brood, and a demonstration of the team’s resilience after a 2008 season that ended in disappointment. The underclassmen performed 22 of the 24 routines; of the 24, 16 were freshmen.
Although the Bruins fell short of victory against the Utes by one-tenth of a point ““ 196.175 to 196.075 ““ coach Valorie Kondos Field believes this was in no way a defeat for the team, but a learning experience for its younger members.
“The freshmen did really well, and they did 60 percent of what they are capable of doing,” Field said. “It was different than anything they’ve ever competed in. In high school, it’s all about individual and it’s not about team. And they’ll tell you that when they compete as a team, it’s actually more stressful because they don’t want to let their teammates down.”
Among the Bruin freshmen that stood out was Aisha Gerber, who took home first-place honors on the balance beam, scoring a 9.9. She also placed third in the all-around with a 38.625.
“Those both felt really great,” Gerber said. “I wasn’t expecting it at all and getting off that beam and achieving that score was probably the (best) part of the meet for me.”
Also adding a high score was freshmen Vanessa Zamarripa who earned a 9.9 on vault.
“I felt really good about it even though I knew I could stick it and do really well,” she said.
During the final rotation on the balance beam, the Bruins relied on four freshmen and two sophomores to help put them ahead of the Utes. But things didn’t go so smoothly for either team. First, Zamarripa suffered two falls, then Utah’s Nina Kim fell twice on floor exercise.
Freshmen Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs then executed a strong anchor routine on beam with a 9.85 to give the Bruins a final score of 196.075. When Utah’s All-American Kristina Baskett fell on her final tumbling pass, the Utes were forced to count a fall. Fortunately for the Utes, her 9.375 was enough to give them a one-tenth victory.
“Our team did really well,” UCLA junior Anna Li said. “We did the best that we could do and we know we’re right at the top and that scores don’t matter. We’re excited to go back home and train some more, and we know exactly where we want to be”.
The Bruins now shift their focus towards their competition against Arizona, which will take place at Pauley Pavilion on Sunday.
“It’s very obvious what we need to work on,” Kondos Field said. “They have to harvest that energy and confidence and compete how they train.
“It’s a different vibe this year. It’s a vibe of confidence, it’s a vibe of trust and a vibe of them respecting each other. I think that those are three qualities that this team has earned through working hard together.”