Back in January, UCLA gymnastics coach Valorie Kondos Field was
not sure how the incoming freshmen would handle the season.
Two months into the season, and on the verge of postseason
competition, the freshmen have been decent, but have left much to
be desired.
“We’ve had a lot of difficulties, but the
upperclassmen have come out and helped us,” freshman Lori
Winn said. “We definitely feel like we can step up in a big
situation now.”
Kondos Field is not as optimistic as Winn when analyzing the
freshmen.
“The freshmen have been coming along OK, but I
haven’t been in a big meet with them yet,” Kondos Field
said. “If we were going into a championship competition right
now, I honestly don’t know how they would feel or react.
“I’m hoping that between now and the Pac-10
Championships, they will gel and get it all together. We need all
of them to be able to win our fifth national
championship.”
INJURY UPDATE: On Sunday, senior Yvonne Tousek
was held out of the floor exercise due to illness.
“I was feeling pretty awful during warm-ups, but it was
Senior Night, and I really wanted to compete,” Tousek said.
“When I got to the floor (exercise), I was just totally
exhausted.”
“(Yesterday) was actually the first day I started feeling
strong and like myself again. Hopefully, I can be healthy for the
Pac-10 Championships and NCAA Nationals.”
On the other side is senior Jamie Dantzscher, who has been
feeling discomfort in the same ankle that had previously caused her
to miss most of this season.
“I still want her to do the floor exercise, even if we
have to water down her tumbling,” Kondos Field said.
“We need to clean up her dance and leaps (before the
postseason).”
“Jamie’s ankle is bothering her a little bit,”
senior Jeanette Antolin said, “but she’s dealing with
her injury really well. She’s a tough girl.”
ANTOLIN DOMINATING: Antolin is ranked No. 1 in
the nation in the all-around with a score of 39.79.
In individual apparatuses, Antolin ranks first on vault (10.0),
second on floor (9.97), third on bars (9.945) and 22nd on beam
(9.895).
“It’s exciting,” Antolin said regarding her
standing. “It’s always exciting to be ranked No. 1, but
my ultimate goal is to win a national championship with the
team.”
ATTENDANCE RECORD: The Bruins set a season-best
mark in attendance this past Sunday, with 3,457 fans coming out to
Pauley Pavilion.