UCLA Places Third At Super Six Challenge
January 11, 2002 | Gymnastics
Jan. 11, 2002
Gainesville, Fla. - The two-time defending NCAA champion UCLA gymnastics team opened its 2002 season with a third-place finish at the Super Six Challenge at the University of Florida's Stephen C. O'Connell Center Friday night. UCLA totaled a 195.65, while Georgia took first place with a 196.525. Alabama was second with a 195.725. Florida finished in fourth with a 194.6, LSU was fifth with a 193.825, and Penn State was sixth with a 193.375.
The Bruins opened with a strong 49.4 on vault, led by a career-best 9.95 from Jamie Dantzscher. Kristin Parker contributed a 9.925, and freshman Michelle Conway hit for a 9.825 on her first collegiate routine.
After Georgia tallied a 49.325 on floor in its first rotation, the Bruins moved to bars with a .075 lead. The two teams stayed neck and neck in their second rotation, with the Gym Dogs scoring 49.15 and UCLA recording a 49.1. Dantzscher scored a 9.975 to lead the Bruins, and Onnie Willis contributed a 9.9 to give UCLA a two-event total of 98.5 to Georgia's 98.475.
On beam, Doni Thompson started with a 9.75, but the Bruins suffered two falls to drop out of first place. UCLA totaled a 48.225, with high scores of 9.825 coming from Yvonne Tousek and Willis. The Bruins entered the final rotation with a three-event total of 146.725, just .05 ahead of Alabama (146.675) and .475 behind first-place Georgia (147.2), which totaled a 48.725 on bars.
Injuries to sophomore Malia Jones during warm-ups and to freshman Christie Tedmon on her balance beam dismount forced a lineup shuffling on floor, but alternates Valerie Velasco and Conway filled in beautifully, with Velasco scoring a 9.775 in the leadoff position and Conway receiving a 9.75. But the Bruins' team total of 48.925 wasn't enough to overtake Georgia, which hit 6-6 on beam for an apparatus total of 49.325, or Alabama, which totaled a 49.05 on bars.
Dantzscher tied for top honors on vault with a 9.95 and placed first on bars with a meet record 9.975. She also received the Ernestine Weaver Award for most outstanding performance in the meet.
UCLA Scores
Vault - 49.4
Yvonne Tousek - 9.85
Valerie Velasco - 9.475
Michelle Conway - 9.825*
Onnie Willis - 9.85
Kristin Parker - 9.925
Jamie Dantzscher - 9.95*
Bars - 49.1
Valerie Velasco - 9.675
Kristin Parker - 9.7
Onnie Willis - 9.9
Yvonne Tousek - 9.75
Doni Thompson - 9.775
Jamie Dantzscher - 9.975
Beam - 48.225
Doni Thompson - 9.75
Christie Tedmon - 8.9
Valerie Velasco - 9.05
Kristin Parker - 9.775
Yvonne Tousek - 9.825
Onnie Willis - 9.825
Floor - 48.925
Valerie Velasco - 9.775
Michelle Conway - 9.75*
Kristin Parker - 9.7
Yvonne Tousek - 9.775
Onnie Willis - 9.35
Jamie Dantzscher - 9.925
*career high
Individual Winners -
Vault - Jamie Dantzscher (UCLA), Shanyn MacEachern (LSU) - 9.95
Bars - Jamie Dantzscher (UCLA) - 9.975
Beam - Cory Fritzinger (Georgia) - 9.9
Floor - Nicki Arnstad (LSU) - 10.0
All-Around - Kinsey Rowe (Georgia) - 39.425
