JaNay Honest steps between the white tape and centers herself, waiting for the signal to start her floor routine. As the drum beat sounds, the sophomore turns towards her teammates cheering on the outskirts of the mat. She crosses her arms and discreetly raises three fingers on her left hand to form a “W” as […]
Author Archives: TuAnh Dam
UCLA gymnastics wins Pac-12 championship
Halfway through the Pac-12 championships Saturday, .175 separated No. 9 UCLA gymnastics from a three-way scrum for second place between No. 5 Utah, No. 11 California and No. 14 Oregon State. With a tenuous lead, leadoff Mikaela Gerber took a deep breath before mounting the balance beam. Smooth full twists, precise aerials and a stuck […]
Gymnastics ends regular season with close meet against No. 1 Oklahoma
The score was deadlocked 49.05 apiece and one gymnast remained for each team on the first rotation. Top-ranked Oklahoma (20-1) put up a meet-winning 9.95 on bars to give themselves a .225 lead and No. 8 UCLA (6-5, 5-2 Pac-12) could not close the gap, falling to the Sooners 197.950-197.200 Sunday afternoon. After two events, […]
UCLA women’s gymnastics keeps focus heading into tri-meet
No. 7 UCLA (6-2, 5-1 Pac-12) has been one of the standard bearers for floor and balance beam routines since coach Valorie Kondos Field arrived in Westwood. This season has been no different. But this weekend, the Bruins shift their focus to vault and uneven bars when two top-20 teams roll into Pauley Pavilion for […]
Gymnastics coach Valorie Kondos Field shapes more than just routines
Perched on a worn stool in the corner of Yates Gymnasium, Valorie Kondos Field bobbed her head in tune with the array of sounds blasting out of the stereo next to her. The music stopped and the gymnastics coach turned to face the chalk-covered gymnasts surrounding her, leaning in as they gestured their powdered hands […]
Young gymnasts to use Arizona State meet to gain experience
A three-meet home stand in Pauley Pavilion will feature new faces for the UCLA gymnastics team. When the No. 6 Bruins (5-2, 4-1 Pac-12) face a shorthanded Arizona State Sun Devils squad (1-8, 0-5 Pac-12) Saturday afternoon, they’ll take advantage of an injured conference foe and rest their own gymnasts. The coaches said they see […]
Gymnastics mounts challenge of balancing injuries, success
The stage lights are off, the television appearances are on hold and UCLA gymnastics returns to Pauley Pavilion ready to practice and perform at the highest level they can. The No. 7 Bruins (4-2, 3-1 Pac-12), set to face Washington (1-5, 1-2 Pac-12), are using the halfway point of the season to make adjustments to […]