May 20, 2011
By Lauren Seligman
Competitive Greatness
Be at your best when your best is needed. Enjoyment of a difficult challenge.
The final building block of Coach Wooden's Pyramid is Competitive Greatness. Coach wrote, "With competitive greatness, we can deliver our best when our best is needed, and at the same time make those around us better too." It is important to note that winning championships doesn't automatically equate to success and that it is possible to be successful without bringing home the gold. Overcoming challenging circumstances, rising to the occasion, and giving our best effort is what competitive greatness is all about.
Did UCLA Gymnastics reach Competitive Greatness this year? The short answer is YES!
Giving your best and making your teammates better? Check!
Sydney Sawa's vault in NCAA team finals is perhaps the best instance of momentum building in the Bruin's post season. Syd scored a career high 9.9 in the leadoff spot and set the stage for her teammates to build from it. Later that evening, the leadoff girls on bars kept the momentum flowing with a dismount rally from the very beginning.
Rising to the Occasion and Accepting the Challenge? Check!
Having returned 20 of 24 routines from last year's NCAA winning team, the Bruins began the season with high expectations. Early in the year, however, they sustained multiple season-ending injuries that left holes in the line-up. The girls stepped up their game, especially on the beam, where three of six spots were left open. Tauny, Brittany, Olivia, Sam, and Sydney proved they all had what it takes to be ready for the remaining three spots, and their confidence really showed throughout the season.
Learning to give all we have to give? Check!
Through all the ups and downs of the season, the girls made a commitment to leave NCAAs with no regrets, and that is exactly what they did. Even though they fell just short of the national title, you'd be hard pressed to find a Bruin who didn't feel the season was successful.
Our Pyramid was completed this year. Thank you, Coach Wooden, for your wisdom and guidance that became the Pyramid of Success, and thank you Miss Val, Chris, Jim and PJ for leading us through another extraordinary season.
