After a month of waiting, UCLA’s gymnastics team welcomes
back a familiar face.
All-American Jamie Dantzscher, who missed every meet this season
due to an ankle injury, will make her debut for the Bruins today at
Cal State Fullerton, and plans to take part in two to four
events.
“I’m really pumped,” Dantzscher said.
“It’s been really hard having to watch all the
competitions up to this point.”
Coach Valorie Kondos Field is happy to have her superstar back,
but remains cautious.
“It’s exciting to know she’ll be back,”
said Kondos Field. “But I’ll feel a lot better once I
see her compete.”
Kondos Field will get that chance twice this week, first today
against the Titans (2-5) and then Sunday against No. 18 Oregon
State (4-6) at Pauley Pavilion.
The No. 3 Bruins (7-2) have won seven straight meets, scoring at
least a 197.550 in all seven.
“We’re right on schedule … actually, we’re a
little ahead of schedule,” Kondos Field said.
Cal State Fullerton is coming off of a win in which junior
Annette Reyes won the all-around competition and recorded a
season-best 9.85 on the beam.
The Bruins last met the Titans 19 days ago at home, winning by a
wide margin, 197.550-191.950.
UCLA now holds a 39-24 all-time record against Fullerton.
Oregon State is coming off of a win in which they posted a
season-high score of 196.950. The meet also saw Chelsea Plourde set
an Oregon State freshman record with an all-around score of
39.525.
The Bruins last met the Beavers at last year’s Pac-10
Championships in Pauley Pavilion. UCLA won the meet by a score of
198.175-196.650 and now holds a 27-13 record against Oregon
State.
Just as she did in the team’s last meet, Kondos Field will
take the opportunity to use her reserves today in order to rest her
top performers with the season winding down.
“It’s our last opportunity to put everyone
in,” said Kondos Field. “(Today’s) meet will be a
chance for everyone who hasn’t competed to get in.”