University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Women's Gymnastics Places Fifth at NCAAs
June 21, 1999 | Gymnastics
April 24, 1999
The second-seeded UCLA women's gymnastics team finished its 1999 season with a second consecutive fifth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. The Bruins scored a 195.85 to finish a point behind Georgia, which won its second consecutive title. UCLA was just one-tenth of a point out of third place, which went to Alabama. Michigan was second, Arizona State fourth and Nebraska sixth.
UCLA's meet turned sour early when freshman Alison Stoner, the Bruins' second performer of the night, fell on a double full in her middle pass and crashed to the floor clutching her right knee. She was unable to finish her routine and was carried off the mat and taken to the University hospital for x-rays, which confirmed a torn ACL and MCL. Stoner remained in the hospital overnight for observation. Placed in a tough situation, the remaining Bruins stepped it up. Sophomore Mohini Bhardwaj followed with a 9.75, Heidi Moneymaker performed a 9.8, Lena Degteva scored a 9.85, and Kiralee Hayashi finished with a 9.9 to bring UCLA's first rotation total to 48.975, just .425 behind leader Georgia.
The Bruins followed on vault with a team total of 49.175. Moneymaker and Bhardwaj posted scores of 9.9, and senior walk-on Lisa Hiley scored a career-high 9.85. After two events, the Bruins (98.15) trailed Georgia (98.325) by just .175 and led Michigan (98.05) and Alabama and Arizona State (97.8).
UCLA scored 49.125 on bars, led by a 9.9 from Degteva to bring its three-event total to 147.275, tied for second with Michigan and trailing Georgia by .325 going into its last event, beam. And for the second consecutive year, the beam proved to be UCLA's downfall. Although senior Susie Erickson hit a career-high 9.9 (which gave her the first event win of her career) to lead things off, two falls plus a major deduction contributed to a 48.575 score and a final score of 195.85. The Bruins, ending their meet on a bye knowing the best they could get was second place after Alabama totaled a 195.95, could only watch in the final rotation as three other teams by-passed them in the sixth rotation.
Said UCLA head coach Valorie Kondos, "We were much more prepared for this meet than we were last year. We finished the same as we did last year, but we feel so much different. We know we're leaving this season with no regrets."
"Tonight, I think it was a matter of wanting it too much and not being able to hone that energy into a positive."
Five Bruins will have 11 chances to take home individual titles Saturday night during event finals. Moneymaker will compete on all four events; Hayashi on vault, beam and floor; Degteva on vault and bars; Luisa Portocarrero on vault and Mohini Bhardwaj on bars.
