Two weekends ago, after the UCLA women’s gymnastics team beat Arizona State in Tempe, the team was hoping to continue its winning streak against Stanford on Sunday.
But when a highly contagious norovirus ““ a type of foodborne illness ““ struck the entire squad while it was in Arizona, the team’s hopes of competing against its Bay Area rivals could not be fulfilled.
After the Pac-10 Conference decided to cancel the meet, the practices for the Bruins were also canceled from Monday through Wednesday of last week.
Since the Cardinal could not compete against the Bruins last Sunday, they held a meet against UC Davis at Stanford instead.
Normally, when one team cancels a meet, the hosting team charges a fee for not being able to compete. Stanford coach Kristen Smyth decided not to ask for that fee since she said it was a difficult circumstance that was out of UCLA’s control.
Unfortunately, it was impossible to reschedule the meet to another day because the gymnastics season is already halfway completed.
UCLA coach Valorie Kondos Field decided it would be a good idea to compete at Stanford next year to compensate for last Sunday.
UCLA is not currently scheduled to compete against the Cardinal for the 2009-2010 season.
“We were really disappointed to not be able to go up and compete at Stanford,” Kondos Field said. “They’re a great rival and they’re a great West Coast, Pac-10 and California rival. We always look forward to that meet. However, it was definitely in the best interest of everyone (to cancel) because (the virus) is still spreading.”
The team is expected to make a full recovery after taking a full week off practice and competition. The Bruins are expecting to compete again this weekend against Washington, Boise State and Cal State Fullerton in Pauley Pavilion.
Sophomore Brittani McCullough said she didn’t think the week off would hurt the team.
“I think it’s better because it helped us as a team as far as injuries, and the other team and for public health in general so other people don’t get sick,” McCullough said. “Now I’m just even more excited to do it this weekend at our home meet. We got to rest our bodies, rest our injuries, so I think we’re even more ready to go than we were before.”
Kondos Field said she believes there are both positive and negative aspects to the short break.
“It’s good and it’s bad,” Kondos Field said. “They’re going to be rusty gymnastically, but their bodies are actually going to be feeling better.
“Those that got sick last week could not believe how fatigued they were. They would do their floor routine without their tumbling and would just pass out on the floor afterward. But we’re looking good. Now we’re on a regular schedule. We start heavier with a lot more intensity at the beginning of the week.
“Hopefully, no one else will get sick.”