M. gymnastics returns
for UCLA Invitational
By Esther Hui
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
All eyes in the gymnastics world are looking toward Pauley
Pavilion, the site of this weekend’s UCLA-Gilda Marx gymnastics
invitational.
The annual event is traditionally one of the country’s largest
collegiate gymnastics competitions of the year, and while 1995
marks the 28th appearance of the women’s team, the Feb. 11 meet
will also showcase the UCLA men’s club gymnastics team and an
alumni team in an event it started 41 years ago.
"It’s a special event," UCLA men’s gymnastics coach Art Shurlock
said. "The men originated the UCLA invite and we’re happy to be
competing. It’s a lot of fun for spectators, they’ll get to see a
lot of good gymnastics. Most of the past men’s Olympic athletes
have competed in the Invitational at one time."
Competing on the alumni team will be current national team
members Chainey Umphrey, Scott Keswick and Chris Waller, as well as
1984 and 1988 Olympian Tony Pineda. On the club team will be the
defending UCLA invitational all-around champion Jim Foody, as well
as current national team member Steve McCain.
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UCLA men’s gymnastics alumni continue to be dominant in the
post-collegiate competitions, as 1995 gave witness to berths by
Keswick, McCain and Umphrey on the Pan-American team. Keswick and
McCain are ranked first and third in the country, respectively. And
with Umphrey winning the 1995 Winter Cup nationals, the Bruin
showing in Argentina will be impressive.
"That three of the seven gymnasts competing are from UCLA is a
tremendous representation for the school," Shurlock said.