The UCLA gymnastics team has a passion to compete unlike any they’ve had in the last few years.
Combine that competitiveness with a roster full of both solid returners and new talent, and the season outlook could not be brighter.
“I’ve seen a fire and a competitiveness that we’ve been lacking as a unit for the last three years,” coach Valorie Kondos Field said. “They have that “˜bring us anything you’ve got; we’ll take you on anytime, anywhere’ mentality. I was thrilled to see that at our first meet.”
With a dominant performance in the Lady Luck College Invitational to start the season, the Bruins (2-0) demonstrated not only their energy level, but another contrast from last year: their health.
Whereas the Bruins were plagued with injuries throughout all of last season, the team is starting this season with all of its top competitors ready to contribute.
Redshirt freshman Brittani McCullough and junior Kristina Comforte are back in the lineup after suffering early season-ending injuries last year.
“Last year we had so many of our key players out, and it’s so exciting to have your A-team out there competing instead of sitting on the bench,” Kondos Field said. “Brittani lights up the room every time she competes, and she was out. Kristina, one of our best competitors, was out. Having everyone back now ignites the gym every day.”
Even with injuries affecting almost every athlete at some point last season, the Bruins were able to capture a fourth place finish in the NCAA Championships. While that mark was better than expected last year, the team has higher aspirations this season.
“We had the smallest team at the NCAAs last year, but we did exceptionally well in finishing fourth,” senior Tasha Schwikert said. “But now that everyone’s healthy, our ultimate goal is to win the NCAA Championship, which we have a very good chance of this year if we stay healthy.”
The Bruins have the talent to propel them to their goal of a championship, and they showed it at the Lady Luck College Invitational.
Sophomore Anna Li won the all-around with a score of 39.45, and McCullough took second. UCLA was competing against Oregon State and Arizona State.
The Bruins will also be looking for strong contributions from 2005 NCAA all-around champion Tasha Schwikert, Jordan Schwikert and Natalie Padilla, all of whom are seniors in their final year of competition.
In addition to this season’s returners, the Bruins welcome six freshmen to the team. But, according to Kondos Field, their maturity makes it difficult to even recognize them as freshmen anymore.
That’s helped eliminate any growing pains they might experience and led to a strong team chemistry.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a senior or freshman on the team because we all feel like we have bonded,” freshman Talia Kushynski said. “We are all here to accomplish the same things, so we’re helping each other out all the time.”
Kondos Field was impressed with the talent and personal growth of all the freshmen at the Lady Luck College Invitational, especially that of Kushynski.
“Talia has matured five years since she has been here the last four months,” Kondos Field said. “Her gymnastics have improved, and she has improved as an athlete and competitor unlike anyone I’ve ever known or coached.”
With a solid freshman class joining healthy returners, the future looks promising.
“This year we could compete with the best teams in the country for a championship,” Kondos Field said. “We are good. We are a very good team.”