Gymnastics introduces fresh lineup in victory over Arizona State

The UCLA gymnastics team appeared to be switching up the lineup all over the place, but it was part of a plan.

The meet against Arizona State on Saturday included a few noticeably altered lineup lists, which introduced some new faces on most events. While some of UCLA’s consistent starters were still in play, the team displayed its flexibility by extending starting roles to its reserves.

This allowed the team to rest its gymnasts and gave the newcomers a chance to experience the taste of the collegiate competition. Capitalizing on its depth, No. 10 UCLA grabbed its fifth consecutive win against Arizona State on Saturday with a new season-high total of 197.350.

“We are not experimenting. We just decided to rest people … strategically,” said coach Valorie Kondos Field. “It is a strategic re-resting (of) people.”

In the second rotation of vault, redshirt sophomore Christine Peng-Peng Lee made her collegiate vault debut. Although Lee has been a consistent performer on uneven bars and balance beam, she did not compete on vault because of her previous knee injury. However, she finally made her vault debut Saturday and received a solid score of 9.875 and contributed to earning the team’s season-high vault score of 49.5.

Another familiar face in a new place was freshman JaNay Honest. Honest has been consistent on vault as she led off this meet with her own career best of 9.85, but in this meet she also competed in the floor exercise for the first time and notched a 9.8. While Honest has been present here and there, fellow freshman Napualani Hall competed for the first time in her collegiate career Saturday.

“It felt great. It was nice that I could show off that hard work,” Hall said.

Although it was her first event, Hall easily translated her training in the gym to a competition with a 9.775 in the floor, and said she hopes to use that mark as a foundation for improvement.

“I’m really happy that I did well, but I want to do better,” Hall said. “I want to be that floor competitor that I am capable of being.”

Meanwhile, one of UCLA’s most consistent freshman starters – Sonya Meraz – was presented in three events Saturday. She scored a 9.8 on the Bruins’ first event – uneven bars – and followed up with a 9.825 in the floor exercise and a 9.85 as the Bruins’ leadoff performer on the balance beam.

“I try to put in 100 percent every single day, and it just pays off when I come to the meet. I feel prepared and ready,” Meraz said. “I just come in and feel confident in my skills and what I do.”

UCLA’s depth allowed the team to rest its key gymnasts, but it also provided experience for the team’s future. As the season heads to its end, Kondos Field attributed the Bruin’s newest season total score to the buildup of the the gymnasts’ work over the season.

“(It is the) training, determination and clear focus and clear goal.” Kondos Field said.