May 24, 1999

The USA Gymnastics contingent at the World University Games will have a distinctive UCLA-feel to it, as two Bruin gymnasts and a coach will represent the U.S. in the July 1-13 competition in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

Junior Heidi Moneymaker (Santa Rosa, CA) automatically qualified for the team by virtue of her showing at the NCAA Championships in April. Sophomore Mohini Bhardwaj (Cincinnati, OH) earned a spot on the USA team by placing second at the World University Games Trials held May 16 in Austin, TX. This will be Moneymaker's first time representing the USA in international competition. Bhardwaj was a member of the U.S. National Team from 1992-98 and placed fifth on vault at the 1997 World Championships, her last international competition.

Also earning a spot on the team at the trials were Oregon State senior Megan Murphy-Barcroft, Kentucky incoming freshman Julia Gore and Arizona State senior Wendy Ellsberry. UCLA's Kiralee Hayashi finished one spot out in fifth place.

UCLA assistant coach Steve Gerlach was named the head coach of the U.S. team. Gerlach is no stranger to USA Gymnastics. He was the U.S. Coach of the Year in 1985 and coached the U.S. at the 1978 and 1985 Chunichi Cup; 1985 and 1986 American Cups; and the 1978 and 1986 World Cups. Assisting Gerlach will be Capital Gymnastics coach Cheryl Jarrett, Gore's club coach and the 1993 head coach for the World University Games.

Moneymaker and Bhardwaj will become the first Bruin gymnasts to compete at the World University Games since Jill Andrews in 1987.