The Bruin gymnasts lined up on the side of the floor exercise mat, cheering on their teammate who was performing a floor routine. The atmosphere in Yates Gymnasium on Thursday was just like that in Pauley Pavilion on a meet day.
The No.10 UCLA gymnastics team will travel to Tempe, Ariz. to compete against Arizona State on Saturday at 11 a.m. The all-time record between the two teams is 55-23 to the Bruins’ advantage.
“They’re in a really, really good place, very motivated,” said coach Valorie Kondos Field. “Our training sessions we’ve been having in the week are much more energized than normally.”
Kondos Field said the gymnasts are usually tired in midweek practices, which she said is a result from their focus on schoolwork. This week, that lack of energy was completely absent in training sessions.
“They’re just very self-motivated and they are having a lot of fun,” Kondos Field said. “Like they do on the competition on floor. They’re cheering each other on. When they’re not competing, they’re totally involved with their team.”
Last week’s win over No. 7 Nebraska was the first time this season UCLA scored higher than a top-10 opponent. Although the Sun Devils are not a nationally ranked team, Kondos Field said that this fact wouldn’t have any effect on the Bruins’ preparation for the meet.
“We need to create our own energy. We need to create our own goals, regardless of who we’re competing against, ” Kondos Field said. “We have scored well the last few meets, but we haven’t really hit a meet yet.”
To achieve that goal, Kondos Field said the UCLA gymnasts need to hit all 24 routines performed in a four-rotation meet and stick at least 50 percent of the dismounts. According to the coaching team, the athletes have already achieved their goal of 50 percent dismounts in competition and their next goal is to reach 60 percent.
“We’ve been sticking everything. Now it’s just normal for us to stick every time,” said freshman Sonya Meraz. “I think each meet we get better.”
Redshirt sophomore Christine Peng-Peng Lee said she noticed the changed spirit in practices as well. Winning two events in the last meet, Lee was named Pac-12’s Freshman/Newcomer of the Week for the first time in her debut season after a two-year injury break.
“We’ve been trying to keep the energy up. Everyone’s doing a fantastic job and everyone’s really motivated. And that’s what’s getting everyone through the week,” Lee said. “So we’re just gonna do what we’re doing, just bring it to Arizona with us.”