UCLA Gymnast Heidi Moneymaker Just Misses Spot on US National Team
August 26, 1999 | Gymnastics
Aug. 26, 1999
Sacramento, Calif. - In an attempt to become just the second collegiate gymnast this decade to make the U.S. National Women's Gymnastics Team, UCLA senior Heidi Moneymaker (Santa Rosa, CA) fell just .087 short, placing 21st at her first-ever USA Gymnastics Championships.
The 21 year-old Moneymaker, who competed under a more difficult code of points in this meet than she does in collegiate gymnastics, recorded a 34.75, less than a tenth of a point out of the Top 20. The U.S. National Team consists of the Top 20 finishers at the Championships. Moneymaker's top-scoring event was a 9.075 on vault, the event on which she is the reigning NCAA champion. She began the meet by scoring an 8.675 on beam. Her other scores were 8.425 on floor and 8.575 on bars.
Kristen Maloney won her second consecutive national title with a score of 38.687.
Despite not making the Top 20, it has been quite a successful summer for Moneymaker. In July at the World University Games, she was the Top U.S. competitor, placing ninth in the all-around during team competition and 16th in the all-around finals. Her scores at the World University Games allowed her to petition for a spot in the USA Championships, where she was the only collegiate gymnast to compete.
Moneymaker, an eight-time All-American and last year's Pac-10 and Region 1 all-around champion, will return for her senior season at UCLA. The Bruins will begin competition January 7, 2000 at the SEC Challenge in Georgia.
