MAIYA HOLLIDAY Sophomore Alyssa
Beckerman performs on the balance beam.
By Eli Karon
Daily Bruin Contributor
Ladies and gentlemen, start your ovens. The folks at Krispy
Kreme Doughnuts are doing just that as the UCLA gymnastics team
competed at home for the first time in the 2002 season.
The company’s promotion with UCLA guarantees half a dozen
free doughnuts to each fan for any perfect 10 score by a UCLA
gymnast during home meets. Krispy Kreme almost got by
without giving away a single doughnut on Sunday.
Jamie Dantzscher, the final competitor on the final exercise for
UCLA during the dual meet against Arizona State, completed a
flawless floor routine to satisfy the hunger of the 1,347 fans in
Pauley Pavilion.
“We were a little tired competing back to back this
weekend and last weekend,” Dantzscher said. “We still
have room for improvement.”
The score made an otherwise normal meet particularly special for
the Bruins, who outscored the Sun Devils 195.325-192.125. The Sun
Devils were forced to count several falls on the beam, as the
Bruins tumbled their way to a comfortable lead on the floor
routine.
The final three competitors on floor for UCLA produced
captivating routines, led by Dantzscher. Kristin Parker’s
score of 9.850 preceded Yvonne Tousek’s 9.825, which preceded
Onnie Willis’ 9.975. This set the table for
Dantzscher’s perfect 10.
Immediately following the meet, the Sun Devils were nowhere to
be found, possibly because the post-meet awards ceremony did not
feature a single Sun Devil gymnast. Willis and Dantzscher tied
for the all-around title, with each compiling a
39.300. Dantzscher was also the high scorer on beam for the
meet with a 9.925. On bars, Willis tied for top honors with Malia
Jones with a 9.850. Parker had the high score on beam with a
9.850.
“I felt pretty good, but I didn’t do as well as I
had hoped on beam,” Willis said. “I was happy on bars
because I added a new skill. I did it on Friday night and I was a
little nervous about doing it today.”
Sunday’s win capped a successful weekend for the Bruins,
who defeated Cal State Fullerton and Boise State in a triangular
meet at Fullerton. The Bruins’ lowest score of the year
(192.775) was still enough to knock off Fullerton (191.95) and
Boise State (189.4).
The Bruins competed freshmen Michelle Conway, Natasha Desai and
Trishna Patel over the weekend. It was the first competitive action
for Patel and Desai at UCLA.
Sophomore Christy Erickson also had a productive weekend,
setting career highs on vault and floor.
“Our goal this meet was just to go out there and have fun,
put on a good show for the fans,” UCLA assistant coach Milo
Johnson said. “And to come away with a win,
obviously.”
The Bruins will travel to Arizona next weekend to take on the
Wildcats, giving Krispy Kreme a break for at least one weekend.