LINCOLN, Neb. ““ While introducing the gymnasts for the
2003 NCAA finals, Nebraska’s public address announcer
incorrectly pronounced Onnie Willis’ first and last
names.
It was a bad omen if ever there was one. But superstition would
not get in the way of the Bruins’ talent on Friday.
At the 2003 NCAA women’s gymnastics championships, UCLA
captured its third title in four years, scoring a 197.825 while
wrapping up improbable collegiate careers for the team’s five
seniors.
In the end, it wasn’t even that close. Alabama placed
second, with a 197.275, a full 0.55 behind UCLA. Rounding out the
top six were Georgia (197.150), Nebraska (197.125), Michigan
(196.050) and Utah (195.300).
By the time UCLA was crowned champions Friday night, they had
simply reaffirmed what everybody in the arena already knew.
“I think everyone knew UCLA was the best team,”
Alabama coach Sarah Patterson said. “I thought they were the
best team last year.”
That’s quite a compliment, coming from the head coach of
last year’s champion. Even before competition began, the
consensus was that the only way to beat UCLA was for the Bruins to
beat themselves.
“I believe that UCLA will have to miss (a routine) for
someone else to step in the door,” Arizona State head coach
John Spini said last Wednesday.
After Thursday afternoon’s performance, the Bruins left
that door open when they were forced to count a fall on beam and
failed to break 197.
But Friday night’s finals were a reality check for the
rest of the Super Six.
Yvonne Tousek suffered a rare fall on vault to open the meet for
UCLA. With the poise and desire of champions, the rest of the team
responded, coolly hitting its vault routines for a team score of
49.350.
“We compete how we train,” UCLA head coach Valorie
Kondos Field said. “You’re going to have mistakes.
That’s why they call it sport. It’s how you handle that
adversity that determines whether you have the heart of a champion
or not.”
And how did the Bruins fare on that balance beam that tripped
them up on the previous night? They scored a meet-high 49.525 on
beam to all but clinch the competition heading into floor, where
Willis, Kristin Parker, and Malia Jones would compete on the final
rotation.
It would be the final collegiate routines for each.
As Parker completed her routine, scoring a 9.875, Willis started
crying. It was not until teammate Jamie Dantzscher reminded Willis
that she still had to compete that Willis was able to regain her
composure.
“So no hugs for Kristin or Malia until I was done because
it hit me at that moment,” said Willis. “This would be
our last time competing with our team. It was just
overwhelming.”
The three NCAA championships in four years for UCLA’s
seniors is an unparalleled feat in collegiate gymnastics. According
to Kondos Field, only their character surpasses their talent.
“On paper, this is the most talented team ever assembled
in collegiate gymnastics,” Kondos Field said, a mantra she
has preached all season.
“We have had some very talented teams, but the depth of
talent and depth of character that this team had ““ no team
has ever matched that,” she added.