The No. 1 UCLA gymnastics team (9-1-1) will host No. 16 Arizona
(4-5) this Sunday in Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins hope to build on
what has been an impressive season, as the team has posted an
average score of 197.253 thus far.
Head coach Valorie Kondos Field recognizes the main formula of
success for the team is centered in the health of the gymnasts.
“We really need to go out and keep hitting,” she
said, “be extremely clean and stay healthy.”
Several Bruins have sustained injuries this season, but none
have held the team back. Last weekend at Arizona State, the Bruins
beat a team score of 198 for the fourth time this season, and the
sixth time ever. UCLA is the only school in the nation averaging a
team score above 197.
In their last 46 meets, the Bruins have only lost to the
Wildcats twice. However, one of the losses came last year in a dual
meet in Tuscon.
With six Pac-10 teams in the top 20, Kondos Field stresses that
each conference meet is critical, since UCLA will host the Pac-10
championships in five weeks.