For the UCLA women’s gymnastics team, it could have been
the ideal winter break. After all, who would turn down a chance to
be in Corvallis, Ore. in late December?Â
Instead, No. 1 UCLA faced off against No. 13 Oregon State in
Hawaii to kick off the collegiate gymnastics season.
In traveling to the tropics, UCLA posted a school-record opening
season score with a 197.6 in the first meet of 2003. In addition to
being the best-ever season opening score, it was UCLA’s
seventh-best all time.
The Bruins were led by 2001 all-around national co-champion
Onnie Willis, who recorded an all-around score of 39.65 and
captured first place on vault (9.95) and bars (9.95). She also tied
her career high on beam with a 9.925.
Willis’ all-around score was second only to UCLA junior
Jamie Dantzscher, last year’s all-around champion.
Dantzscher’s 39.775 included a perfect 10 on the floor
routine, her 18th career perfect 10. Perhaps most impressive was
Dantzscher’s score on beam, a career-high 9.925.
The disparity in talent between Oregon State and UCLA was
clearly evident, although the Beavers posted a respectable
opening-meet score of 195.675.
However, UCLA was too much to handle, claiming the top three
all-around spots. Freshman Kate Richardson rounded out the top
three with a 39.6 in her first ever meet as a Bruin. Richardson
placed first on beam with a 9.95 and second on floor with a
9.95.
The Bruins entered the meet as the preseason No. 1 team in the
nation, and did everything in their power to assure the world of
gymnastics that it was a well-deserved rank.
The Bruins will travel to Salt Lake City Jan. 10 to face No. 4
Utah, one of five top-25 teams UCLA will face this year.