It will be deuces wild this weekend for the UCLA gymnastics team as the No. 2 Bruins prepare for a Southern California doubleheader.
“You try to balance two things,” assistant coach Chris Waller said. “You want to keep improving your own game, and we want to get better every weekend, and we’ve done that so far. If we do that we will achieve the other goal, which is to keep improving our ranking of second in the country.”
UCLA (1-1) will travel to Cal State Fullerton (1-1) tonight and then return to Westwood to host UC Berkeley (0-4) on Sunday.
“The goal is to come out of this weekend being ranked as high as possible and improving on our previous competition,” Waller said. “We will take whatever steps necessary to do that.”
The Bruins recently moved up the rankings after their defeat of Arizona 196.375-193.675. The team ranks third in the nation in the balance beam, fourth in the vault and floor exercise, and tenth in the uneven bars.
UCLA has been working in practice this week to add a little extra to their routines in order to move into the top national spot.
“We’re not really focused on other teams,” said junior Anna Li, who won the bars last week with a 9.875. “We’re doing what we know how to do. We are adding little tenths so we can get better. If every person adds half a tenth that ends up being a lot.”
The Cal State Fullerton Titans are led by sophomore Alaina Baker, who ranks sixth on the floor routine and helped earn a season high 192.275 for the team in their last contest.
UC Berkeley is struggling with injuries this year and has only competed a full lineup of six athletes in two events.
The Bruins are coming back from their own set of injuries. Li will compete in two events this weekend after coming back after having a bone spur removed. A bruised knee has kept senior Ariana Berlin out of the all-around but her 46-meet streak is still alive.
Despite the injuries, there is no worry about athletes competing in two meets in three days.
“Gymnastics is one of those sports where it’s not easy to compete back-to-back,” Waller said. “It is tough. The great thing is we have a deeper team than I have experienced in the seven years I have been here. If we need to rest someone one of those days, we can do it.”
Over ten gymnasts recorded scores in the meet last weekend.
The home meet on Sunday afternoon will also be a Breast Cancer Awareness event. This third annual meet will feature the team dressed in pink accents. Pink shirts will be on sale, with the proceeds going to the Revlon/UCLA Breast Center. The coaches and athletes hope this will draw more fans into Pauley Pavilion.
“It was a great event our first meet in Pauley, and I’m looking for more and more people to show up and fill in the stands,” Waller said.