On the Road to UCLA

UCLA should provide Alabama with its biggest challenge yet this season. UCLA ranks number 1 in the NCAA. They are the first team this season to break 197, with a team score of 197.5 this past weekend against Utah. Four of its members are in the top 10 on Vault, Floor, Beam and in the All Around. The large team of 18 members has incredible talent and depth. Their only problem... how to pick only 6 to compete each event.

The freshman class includes 4 Olympians from this summer's games. They include Jamie Dantzscher, Kristen Maloney, Yvonne Tousek, from Canada, and Alyssa Beckerman, an alternate for the U.S. team. Dantzscher has exploded onto the college scene, scoring 2 perfect 10's on bars and floor in her first meet, and repeated that 10 on floor last Friday against Stanford. She used two completely different routines to score the 2 10's on floor. She has also been very consistent on balance beam. Maloney competed for the first time this season in the All Around, against Utah this weekend, putting to rest any questions regarding her physical readiness. She has scored 9.925 or better in each of her three outings on beam. She has performed consistently on bars, and shown she has the power to tumble and vault with the best of them. Tousek has beautiful form on all the apparatus. On bars she has lovely extension, her strength extending from the tips of her fingers to the tips of her toes (reminds this Bama fan of our own Canadian, Natalie). Watch for her signature move on beam. The "Tousek", is a back handspring crosswise on the beam and is truly not as awkward as it sounds. She is performing a triple twist on floor, and completing the rotations. Beckerman has been limited in competition. The 2000 U.S. National beam champion has performed once and unfortunately succumbed to a fall, despite the great routine she had going. She will be performing this Sunday, but in a slightly different role, singing the National Anthem prior to the meet. Another freshman to note is Jeanette Antolin. She is a five year member of the National team, and competed in Olympic trials this summer. She has been most consistent on floor so far this season and has shown she is capable of scoring 9.9 on vault.

Sophomore Kristin Parker has also earned a 10 on floor exercise this season. She is capable of 9.9 or better on all four events, and could be a contender for the All Around title. Look for big moves on bars, and her beautiful (and big) double arabian on floor. Sophomores Malia Jones and Doni Thompson have competed in the All Around and are capable of big scores on all four events. Both are having some problems with consistency on vault.

Senior Onnie Willis is most known for her power on the vault. She was the first UCLA freshman to score a perfect 10, which was on vault. She continues to be very consistent on this event this season. Senior Mohini Bhardwaj is a total package gymnast. In the NCAA rankings she is in the top 10 on all events and has sole possession of first place All Around. She shows her power on vault by performing a Yurchenko, double twist, possibly the only college gymnast at this point to do so. She has performed her floor routine twice this season, both times scoring a perfect 10. To say she is consistent is an understatement. Not only are her routines packed with difficulty, she has technically mastered each skill and has the poise to go with them.

Head Coach Valorie Kondos is in her 11^th season with the team. It is very apparent in watching the floor and beam routines that Kondos' background is in dance. The routines are beautifully choreographed and have been UCLA's strongest events. Her recruiting abilities have been highlighted by the caliber of this year's freshmen.

Cal State Fullerton has a strong All Arounder in sophomore Kelly Mathiason. She is breaking her own school records set during her freshman year. Her highest All Around score this season is 39.225. Her strongest event is floor, and has been reliable on vault and bars. Freshman Sharon Snell has also competed in the All Around. Her strength also lies on floor. CSUF will also be depending on senior Natalie Acosta's floor routine and sophomore Jamie Moody's bar work.

Southern Utah relies on the consistency of their team captain senior Heather Slack. She is an All Around competitor who can be relied on to hit her routines. Senior Suzi Clark is also an all Around competitor with floor and beam as her strongest events.

Another exciting gymnastics meet is at hand. For the majority of us Bama fans, we will be huddled around our computers awaiting results. Let's hope Salto's gremlins will stay away from our gymnasts and from our PBA's!

UCLA vs. Alabama
Sunday, January 28, 2001
2:00 p.m.
Los Angeles, CA