UCLA Bruins gymnastics team
The UCLA Bruins women's gymnastics team represents the University of California at Los Angeles and competes in the Pacific 10 (PAC-10) Conference. They currently compete in Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA. The team is coached by head coach Valorie Kondos Field. As of 2008, the team has won 5 NCAA Women's Gymnastics championships (1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004).
There had been some doubts as to the stability of women's gymnastics at UCLA after the athletic department cut the program in the fall of 1993.
In 1994, the UCLA women's gymnastics team signed Kerri Strug. Strug's letter of intent was for the season following the 1996 Olympics. After her participation in the Ice Capades and Disney on Ice, Strug announced her retirement and enrolled in UCLA. As a professional, she could not compete in NCAA gymnastics events, so she worked for a time as team manager. She later transferred to Stanford University.
Some notable former UCLA gymnasts include current stuntwoman Heidi Moneymaker and Olympic Team members Jamie Dantzscher, Mohini Bhardwaj, Kate Richardson, Tasha Schwikert, Kristen Maloney, Yvonne Tousek, Stella Umeh and Luisa Portocarrero.
2008 Canadian Olympic Gymnastics team member Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs will attend UCLA for the 2008-2009 season.
The 2007-2008 roster is as follows:
| Name | Height | Year | Hometown | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ariana Berlin | 5-2 | JR | San Diego, CA | SCEGA/South Coast Gymnastics |
| Marci Bernholtz | 5-2 | FR | Unionville, ON | ASF Gymnastics |
| Melissa Chan | 5-1 | JR | Los Gatos, CA | Airborne Gymnastics |
| Shavahn Church | 5-2 | FR | Tarzana, CA | Waller's GymJam Academy |
| Kristina Comforte | 5-4 | JR | Burr Ridge, IL | Illinois Gymnastics Institute |
| Ashley Jenkins | 5-3 | SO | Laguna Niguel, CA | SCATS |
| Talia Kushynski | 5-2 | FR | Sherman Oaks, CA | Waller's GymJam Academy |
| Anna Li | 5-4 | SO | Aurora, IL | Aerial Gymnastics |
| Brittani McCullough | 5-4 | RS FR | Corona, CA | SCEGA |
| Natalie Padilla | 5-4 | SR | San Diego, CA | SCEGA |
| Mizuki Sato | 5-2 | FR | Fair Oaks, CA | Technique |
| Jordan Schwikert | 5-4 | SR | Las Vegas, NV | Gymcats |
| Tasha Schwikert | 5-3 | SR | Las Vegas, NV | Gymcats |
| Allison Taylor | 5-3 | FR | Dallas, TX | WOGA |
| Niki Tom | 5-0 | FR | Northridge, CA | JAG |
Notable rosters (1996-1997 Championship): Lena Degteva; Anne Dixon; Susie Erickson; Andrea Fong; Kiralee Hayashi; Lisa Hiley; Leah Homma; Deborah Mink; Heidi Moneymaker; Luisa Portocarrero; Karin Silvestri; Amy Smith; Carmen Tausend; Stella Umeh.
Sources
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Last updated on Tuesday October 07, 2008 at 00:08:31 PDT (GMT -0700)
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