DEPARTMENT OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS
Gymnastics SID: Liza David
SID Phone: (310) 206-8140
For Immediate Release:
April 13, 2005
UCLA Web Site — www.uclabruins.com
UCLA GYMNASTICS TEAM SEEKS THREE-PEAT AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Second-seeded Bruins have won four of the last five titles.
2005 UCLA Gymnastics Schedule
Date Opponent
1/7
at Utah
Time/Result
L 197.3-197.675
1/14 at Oregon State W 194.5-192.875
1/17 NEBRASKA
W 197.05-192.65
1/23 CAL, CSUF, SAC ST. 1st, 197.15
1/28 at Arizona State W 194.275-193.4
2/4
at Michigan
L 195.25-196.25
2/11 at CS Fullerton
W 191.4-189.825
2/13 WASH.
W 196.575-192.6
2/18 at Stanford
W 196.3-194.625
2/27 GEORGIA, ARIZ.
3/6
FLORIDA
2nd, 196.1
W 197.85-196.65
3/19 at Arkansas, w/OSU, Neb. 1st 196.85
3/26 @Pac-10 Championships 1st 197.1
4/9
@ NCAA Regionals
1st, 197.025
4/21 @ NCAA Championships
7 pm
4/22 @ NCAA Championships
7 pm
4/23 @ NCAA Championships
7 pm
Home meets in BOLD FACE CAPS
Home meets held at Pauley Pavilion
All times local to meet site
NCAA Championships - The second-seeded and second-ranked UCLA gymnastics team (20-3) will attempt the first three-peat in nearly 20 years when it
competes at the NCAA Gymnastics Championships April 21-23 in Auburn,
AL. UCLA begins competition on Thursday, April 15 at 7:00 pm CT in the
evening team preliminary session. The Bruins will battle Alabama, Florida,
BYU, Iowa State and Georgia for three spots in the NCAA Super Six Team
Finals. LSU, Utah, Michigan, Nebraska, Penn State and Oklahoma will meet
in the afternoon session at 1:00 pm CT.
Competition Format — The three-day competition begins on Thursday, Apr.
21 with two sessions (1:00 pm and 7:00 pm CT) of preliminary team competition. The Top 3 teams from each Thursday session will advance to the team
finals (The "Super Six"), which will begin at 7:00 pm on Friday, Apr. 22. The
individual event finals competition will be held Saturday, Apr. 23 at 7:00 pm.
The all-around champion and individual event finalists will be determined
during the preliminary competition. Individuals qualify for event finals by
placing in the top four (including ties) of that particular event during their own
preliminary session.
The Championship Field - Competing for the NCAA team championship
will be regional winners UCLA, LSU, Utah, Alabama, Michigan and Florida,
as well as regional runners-up Penn State, Oklahoma, BYU, Iowa State, Nebraska and Georgia.
Rotation Order - UCLA will begin the meet on the uneven bars, the move to
beam, a bye and floor exercise before ending vault. The Bruins will have a bye
in the sixth and final rotation. Rotation order for the championship meet was
determined by blind draw by the NCAA committee.
Session I
V
Bye
UB
BB
Bye
FX
I
NEB
MICH
UTAH PSU
OKLA
LSU
II
LSU
NEB
MICH UTAH PSU
OKLA
III OKLA LSU
NEB
MICH UTAH
PSU
IV PSU
OKLA
LSU
NEB
MICH
UTAH
V
UTAH PSU
OKLA LSU
NEB
MICH
VI MICH UTAH
PSU
OKLA LSU
NEB
Session II
V
Bye
UB
BB
Bye
FX
I
UGA
BYU
UCLA ISU
ALA
FL
II
FL
UGA
BYU
UCLA ISU
ALA
III ALA
FL
UGA
BYU
UCLA
ISU
IV ISU
ALA
FL
UGA
BYU
UCLA
V
UCLA ISU
ALA
FL
UGA
BYU
VI BYU
UCLA
ISU
ALA
FL
UGA
Meet Coverage - Live scoring will be provided on the Auburn website at the
following address: http://www.auburntigers.com/2005NCAAGym/
livestats.shtml. The meet will be televised by CBS on Sunday, May 1 from 13 pm ET. Bonnie Bernstein and Olympic gold medalist Amanda Borden will
call the action, with Tracy Wolfson serving as sideline reporter.
UCLA At The NCAA Championships — The Bruins have won four of the
last five NCAA Championships and have won five titles overall (1997, 2000,
p. 1 of 8
2001, 2003, 2004). UCLA won its fifth title last season with an NCAA Championship record score of 198.125 in front of a home crowd at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA
clinched the meet after the fifth rotation, sitting out the sixth and final rotation on a
bye with the title in hand after a 49.6 on beam. The Bruins were the only team to
score 49.5 or higher on an event, and they did it three times - on vault, beam and
floor. At Lincoln, Neb. in 2003, the Bruins utilized a stellar beam rotation (49.525) to
take a .475 lead heading into their final event and solidified the championship with a
49.5 on floor to close the meet. In 2001, UCLA needed a near-perfect beam set to
stave off host Georgia in the two teams' final rotation and responded in style with a
49.575 (9.915 average) to capture the title with a team total of 197.575, .175 ahead
of the Gym Dogs. The Bruins won in 2000 on the strength of a 48-for-48 performance over the two days of the championships. UCLA won its first-ever NCAA
Championship in 1997, breaking the Utah-Georgia-Alabama triumvirate which had
won all the other previous titles.
This is UCLA's 14th consecutive and 22nd overall appearance in the 24 NCAA Championships. UCLA and Georgia are the only two teams to qualify for every Super Six
since its inception in 1993.
Richardson Will Try To Reclaim NCAA Beam Title — UCLA junior Kate
Richardson will attempt to reclaim the NCAA balance beam title she won in 2003 as
a freshman. Richardson also won a share of the uneven bars title but will be unable to
compete on bars due to a thumb injury. Other former NCAA champions competing
at the national championships are three-time champion Ashley Miles from Alabama
(2003, 2004 vault; 2004 floor), three-time champion Elise Ray from Michigan (2001
all-around, 2002 beam, 2004 bars) and 2004 floor exercise co-champion Courtney
Bumpers from North Carolina. 2003 all-around and floor champion Richelle Simpson
of Nebraska is questionable for the meet after suffering a knee injury on her final
floor exercise pass at the Regional meet.
Individual NCAA History — Eleven Bruins have won 22 NCAA titles to tie for
second amongst all teams. UCLA's NCAA champions are: Kim Hamilton (1987-8889 floor, 1989 vault), Jill Andrews (1988 vault, 1989 beam), Stella Umeh (1995 and
1998 floor), Heidi Moneymaker (1998 bars, 1999 vault), Kiralee Hayashi (1999
beam), Mohini Bhardwaj (2000 bars, 2001 floor), Lena Degteva (2000 beam), Onnie
Willis (2001 all-around); Yvonne Tousek (2001 bars), Jamie Dantzscher (2002 allaround, vault and floor; 2003 bars) and Kate Richardson (2003 bars and beam). Two
other Bruins won AIAW national titles - Sharon Shapiro (1980-81 all-around and
vault, 1980 bars, 1980 beam, 1980 floor) and Diane Dovas (1981 bars). Shapiro
remains the only gymnast ever to sweep the all-around and all four events in one year
at a national championships. Hamilton is the only woman to win three consecutive
floor titles. UCLA has won at least two individual titles in six of the last seven years
and three titles in three of last four years.
The 2004 Championship — Competing in front of a home crowd at Pauley Pavilion, UCLA won its fifth NCAA title with a record-breaking performance. The Bruins
headed into the Championships on a bit of a mini-slump, having lost the Pac-10
Championships and having to count a fall in the final rotation at Regionals. Once at
the NCAA Championships, however, the Bruins cast aside any doubt. UCLA qualified to the Super Six after a first-place showing in the team prelims and then put
together a near-perfect display of gymnastics in the Super Six, hitting 24-for-24 routines, with 15 scores of 9.9 or higher to set an NCAA Super Six record of 198.125.
UCLA scored 49.5 or higher on three of the four events, including a 49.6 on beam in
its final rotation to sew up the victory with one rotation still to be completed. Lori
Winn kicked things off with a 9.875, setting her teammates up for big scores. Christie
Tedmon followed with a 9.85, Jeanette Antolin and Kate Richardson stepped up for
scores of 9.95, Yvonne Tousek scored a 9.9, and Kristen Maloney slammed the door
shut with a 9.925.
The 2003 Championship — With perhaps the greatest collection of gymnasts ever
assembled on one collegiate team, UCLA claimed its third title in four years in Lincoln, Neb. The Bruins pulled away from a tight competition with a sparkling beam
rotation. After struggling on beam in the preliminaries, Bruin head coach Valorie
Kondos Field employed a brilliant strategy, putting in the extremely consistent Onnie
Willis as the leadoff competitor. In the first leadoff beam performance of her career,
UCLA'S PAST NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
Year
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1985
1984
1983
1982
Finish
1st
1st
3rd
1st
1st
5th
5th
1st
2nd
4th
5th
4th
9th
–
4th
2nd
3rd
3rd
7th
–
2nd
6th
6th
Winner
UCLA
UCLA
Alabama
UCLA
UCLA
Georgia
Georgia
UCLA
Alabama
Utah
Utah
Georgia
Utah
Alabama
Utah
Georgia
Alabama
Georgia
Utah
Utah
Utah
Utah
Utah
UCLA'S NCAA CHAMPS
Team Championships:
1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004
All-Around Champions:
Onnie Willis, 2001
Jamie Dantzscher, 2002
Vault Champions:
Jill Andrews, 1988
Kim Hamilton, 1989
Heidi Moneymaker, 1999
Jamie Dantzscher, 2002
Bars Champions:
Heidi Moneymaker, 1998
Mohini Bhardwaj, 2000
Yvonne Tousek, 2001
Jamie Dantzscher, 2003
Kate Richardson, 2003
Beam Champions:
Jill Andrews, 1989
Kiralee Hayashi, 1999
Lena Degteva, 2000
Kate Richardson, 2003
Floor Champions:
Kim Hamilton, 1987-89
Stella Umeh, 1995, 1998
Mohini Bhardwaj, 2001
Jamie Dantzscher, 2002
p. 2 of 8
Willis was not only steady but spectacular, scoring a 9.925 to
set the table perfectly for her teammates, who responded by
totaling a 49.525 to take a .475 lead over second-place Georgia
after the fourth rotation. Alabama closed to within three-tenths
of a point during rotation five, and the Bruins moved to floor
with the chance to close it out. Jeanette Antolin led off with a
9.85. Seniors Kristin Parker and Malia Jones finished their careers with standout performances, scoring 9.875 and 9.9, respectively. A fall by Kate Richardson put pressure on the Bruins, but there was little doubt that the final two competitors
would not respond like champions, and they did just that. Willis,
the eventual Honda Award winner, scored a 9.9, and Jamie
Dantzscher clinched the win with a 9.975. Individually,
Richardson claimed the beam title and tied with Dantzscher for
the bars title.
The 2001 Championship — The Bruins successfully defended
their NCAA title with a gritty performance on balance beam in
the final rotation. Leading second-place and host-team Georgia by just one-tenth of a point heading into their final rotation,
the Bruins needed a near-perfect beam set to hold off the Gym
Dogs, which ended on vault, one of their best events. Georgia
put the heat on by posting a vault total of 49.5, meaning the
Bruins needed a 49.425 or better to hold the lead. Doni Thompson started things off with a career-high 9.9 to set the table
for an amazing 49.575 performance and a repeat championship. Individually, all eight competing Bruins earned AllAmerica honors, with Onnie Willis (all-around), Yvonne Tousek
(bars) and Mohini Bhardwaj (floor) capturing NCAA titles on
their respective events. Valorie Kondos Field was honored as
the Head Coach of the Year for the fourth time, and Bhardwaj
earned the Honda Award as the nation's top gymnast.
The 2000 Championship — UCLA hit 48-for-48 routines
throughout the two-day competition and won its second NCAA
title with a final score of 197.3. In the team finals, the Bruins
led throughout the competition and never let any competitor
within four-tenths of a point after two events. Four Bruins placed
in the Top 10 in the all-around, with Mohini Bhardwaj placing
second, Heidi Moneymaker fourth, Lena Degteva fifth and
Kristin Parker 10th. UCLA shined in the individual event finals as well, with Degteva first winning the beam, just ahead of
Bhardwaj, and then Bhardwaj winning the bars, with Degteva
third. The Bruins also placed three athletes in the Top 5 on
vault. Bhardwaj, Moneymaker, Degteva, Parker and Onnie
Willis combined to earn a school-record 18 All-America honors. The coaching staff was honored as well, with Valorie
UCLA Season/Career High Scores
Gymnast
Auld
Maloney
Peckett
Richardson
J. Schwikert
T. Schwikert
Selesky
Tedmon
V
9.75
9.875
9.975
10
9.875
9.95
9.95
10.0
9.9
9.9
9.975
9.975
8.9
8.9
9.85
9.85
Vanden Eykel
Walker
9.85
9.85
UB
BB
FX
AA
10
10
9.8
9.925
9.975
9.975
9.925
9.925
10
10
9.975
10
9.75
9.825
9.975
10
9.925
9.925
9.975
9.975
39.825
39.825
38.575
38.575
39.625
39.85
39.5
39.5
39.825
39.825
8.7
9.25
9.925
9.925
9.75
9.725
9.85
9.9
9.85
9.85
9.3
9.3
9.975
10
9.8
9.95
9.925
10
9.875
9.875
10
10
9.525
9.7
9.85
9.85
9.675
9.675
9.875
9.875
37.3
38.45
38.15
38.15
Career-high scores in bold italics
Kondos Field earning Co-Head Coach of the Year honors, her
third in five years, and Randy Lane earning Assistant Coach of
the Year acclaim.
The 1997 Championship — UCLA entered the 1997 season
as the pre-season No. 1, saw Georgia assume the role of favorites during the regular season, then proved they were worthy of
the No. 1 ranking by winning the school's first-ever NCAA Gymnastics title. Georgia opened the door early for UCLA, counting two falls on beam while the Bruins were on a first-rotation
bye. In contrast, the Bruins scored a 49.2 on beam to stay in
contention. Going into the final rotation, UCLA and Michigan
trailed Arizona State, which ended its meet with a final score of
196.6. The Bruins and Wolverines needed a 49.25 in the final
rotation to overtake the Sun Devils. While Michigan could only
score 48.875 on floor, UCLA recorded a school-record 49.525
to win the crown with a final score of 197.15.
NCAA Championship Notes —
• Only four teams have ever won the NCAA title in the 23 years
of the Championships - Utah (9), UCLA (5), Georgia (5) and
Alabama (4).
• Nine schools return from the 2004 NCAA Championships,
including five Super Six teams - UCLA (1st place), Georgia
(2nd), Alabama (T-3rd), Florida (5th) and Utah
(6th). The other returning qualifiers are LSU
2005 UCLA Gymnastics Roster
(7th), Michigan (8th), Nebraska (10th), and
Name
Ht.
Yr. Hometown (Club)
Oklahoma (11th). BYU, Iowa State and Penn
Kisha Auld
5-2
Sr. Corona, CA (Junior Elite Gymnastics)
State all return to the Championships for the
Emily Hanson
5-7
So. Copper Canyon, TX (Achievers Gymnastics)
first time since 2000.
Kristen Maloney
5-0
Sr. Pen Argyl, PA (Parkettes)
Ashley Peckett
5-1
So. Mississauga, ON (Gymnastics Mississauga)
• UCLA is tied with Utah for second amongst
Kate Richardson
5-0
Jr. Coquitlam, BC (Abbotsford Twisters)
all schools with 22 individual titles. Georgia
Jordan Schwikert
5-4
Fr. Las Vegas, NV (Gym Cats)
leads all teams with 26.
Tasha Schwikert
5-2
Fr. Las Vegas, NV (Gym Cats)
Michelle Selesky
5-6
So. San Juan Capistrano, CA (NGTC)
• The Bruins have won more individual titles
Jennifer Sutton
5-4
Jr. Downey, CA (Lakewood YMCA)
in the last seven years (15) than any other team.
Christie Tedmon
5-0
Sr. Carmichael, CA (Pozsar’s Gymnastics)
Lindsey Vanden Eykel
4-10 Fr. Plano, TX (WOGA)
• UCLA is the only Pac-10 Conference repreCourtney Walker
5-2
So. Santa Monica, CA (All-Olympians)
sentative, marking the first time only one PacHead Coach: Valorie Kondos Field (15th year)
10 squad has qualified in the 24 years of the
Assistant Coaches: Chris Waller, Marshall Nelson, Christy Erickson (undergraduate)
Championships. A record six Pac-10 teams
p. 3 of 8
Bruins In The Top 25 National Rankings
Gymnast
Maloney
J. Schwikert
T. Schwikert
Richardson
Team
AA
1st
21st
2nd
–
3rd
V
3rd
–
7th
13th
1st
UB
5th
22nd
1st
–
1st
BB
3rd
–
9th
6th
3rd
FX
3rd
–
1st
11th
5th
competed in the 1992 Championships.
Championships To Be Held On Podium — The 2004 NCAA
Gymnastics Championships will be held on a podium for the
second consecutive year. The gymnasts will be competing on a
three-foot high elevated surface similar to what is used at the
Olympic Games, World Championships and U.S. Championships.
UCLA vs. 2005 Field — The Bruins have defeated Florida,
Penn State and Nebraska (twice) this season and have losses to
Utah, Michigan and Georgia.
Bruins Win West Regional, Earn NCAA Berth — Needing
to place in the Top 2 at Regionals to qualify for the NCAA
Championships, UCLA won the NCAA West Regional at the
University of Washington with a score of 197.025. Penn State
was second with 195.375. Tasha Schwikert won the all-around
(39.725) and tied for first on vault (9.95), bars (9.9) and floor
(9.95). Kristen Maloney won the beam outright (9.975) and
tied with Schwikert on vault and floor. Schwikert, Maloney and
Jordan Schwikert went 1-2-3 in the all-around.
Maloney Honored As SI On Campus National Gymnast of
the Year, Pac-10 and West Region Gymnast Of The Year Senior Kristen Maloney was honored by Sports Illustrated On
Campus as the national gymnast of the year and by the West
Region and Pac-10 Conference as the Gymnast of the Year for
2005. The senior from Pen Argyl, Pa. has had an exceptional
year, ranking No. 1 in the nation in the all-around since Jan. 24.
Maloney posted a national season-high all-around total of
39.825 on Mar. 6 and made history at that meet by becoming
the first Bruin gymnast ever to score a perfect 10 on every event
in her career. Her 10.0 on uneven bars completed her set of
10.0s. She had previously scored perfect marks on vault in 2004
and balance beam and floor exercise in 2001. Only three other
gymnasts in NCAA history have ever scored 10s on all four
events - Georgia's Karin Lichey and Heather Stepp and Utah's
Missy Marlowe.
Maloney has scored 9.9 or higher on 33 of 50 routines competed and 9.8 or higher on 47 of 50 routines. She has even
upgraded her already difficult floor exercise routine, throwing
a triple twist as her last tumbling pass since Mar. 6. Maloney's
floor passes are double layout, whip to immediate double pike
and triple-twist. The first and last passes are E elements, and
the middle pass is a B+D, which holds .3 bonus.
Maloney continues to be an inspiration since her return to gymnastics in 2004 after a two-year battle with leg injuries. As a
freshman, she helped the Bruins win the 2001 NCAA Championship, then she sat out the 2002 and 2003 seasons to heal her
injured leg. She returned with a vengeance in 2004 and again
helped the Bruins win the NCAA title, scoring a meet-high
39.725 in the all-around at the team finals.
Schwikert Named Pac-10 Freshman Of The Year - Freshman Tasha Schwikert was selected the Pac-10 Freshman of the
Year in a season during
Top 25 Rankings (by RQS)
which she tied for the
Rank School
Avg.
conference all-around
championship and won
1
Utah
197.320
2
UCLA
197.090
the uneven bars title
3
LSU
197.025
with a perfect 10.
4
Alabama
196.815
Schwikert is No. 2 be5
Georgia
196.800
hind only Kristen
6
Nebraska
196.750
Maloney in the national
7
Florida
196.685
all-around rankings and
8
Michigan
196.595
9
Iowa State
196.260
No. 1 on the uneven
10
Oklahoma
196.130
bars and floor exercise.
11
Penn State
195.900
She has scored a na12
Oregon State
195.715
tional-best four perfect
13
BYU
195.625
10s this year - two each
14
Central Michigan
195.540
15
Arkansas
195.510
on bars and floor.
16
Utah State
195.370
Schwikert has not only
17
Denver
195.310
provided UCLA with
18
Arizona
195.300
19
Missouri
195.235
spectacular routines,
20
Minnesota
195.185
but she has also been
21
Auburn
195.180
very consistent, averag22
Southern Utah
195.155
ing over 9.84 on every
23
Kentucky
195.070
event. She has scored
24
Washington
195.030
9.9 or higher on 30 of
25
North Carolina
195.000
52 routines (58%) and
9.8 or higher on 45 of
52 routines (87%). She ranks second on the team with 24 individual victories and is first with 50 Top 3 placements. She has
competed in the all-around in 13 of UCLA's 14 meets this year.
Kondos Field Selected West Region Coach Of The Year UCLA head coach Valorie Kondos Field was honored by her
peers as the West Region Coach of the Year. Kondos Field led
a young squad to dominant victories at the Pac-10 and West
Regional Championships despite being in a supposedly rebuilding mode due to the graduation of two former NCAA champions and a National Gymnast of the Year. Kondos Field has
UCLA peaking in the post-season once again, as the Bruins
have hit 24-for-24 in their last two meets.
UCLA Wins 12th Pac-10 Title - UCLA reclaimed the Pac-10
Conference title, winning easily in Berkeley on Mar. 26 with a
score of 197.1. Kristen Maloney and Tasha Schwikert dominated the meet, tying for the all-around title with scores of 39.7.
Maloney also won the vault, beam (tied with ASU's Ashley
Kelly) and floor, while Schwikert won the bars with a perfect
10. UCLA hit 24-for-24 routines en route to the victory.
Bruins Earn 13 All-Pac-10 Honors - UCLA gymnasts earned
13 of the maximum 18 All-Pac-10 Conference honors to set a
new school record. Kristen Maloney became just the second
Pac-10 gymnast ever to receive the five honors (all-around,
vault, bars, beam, floor). Tasha Schwikert earned four (allaround, vault, bars, floor), and Jordan Schwikert earned allaround acclaim. Junior Kate Richardson was selected to the
vault, beam and floor teams to increase her career total to a
school-record 10.
Four Bruins Named To Pac-10 All-Academic Team - Bruin
gymnasts excelled in the classroom as well as on the competition floor, with four student-athletes being named to the Pac10 All-Academic Team. Senior Christie Tedmon and junior Kate
Richardson received first-team acclaim, while senior Kristen
Maloney and sophomore Ashley Peckett were named to the
p. 4 of 8
honorable mention team.
Tedmon, a three-time
NACGC Scholastic AllKristen Maloney
American, has amassed a
Vault - 4/3/04 at NCAA Regionals
Bars - 3/6/05 vs. Florida
3.72 GPA in Psychology.
Beam - 2/16/01 at Oregon State
Richardson, a third-team
Floor - 3/4/01 - Bruin Classic
Academic All-American
Kate Richardson
as a sophomore, holds a
Vault - 1/25/04 at Minnesota
3.78 GPA in Physiological
Beam - 1/19/03 - Bruin Classic
Science. Both were sec2/16/03 at Arizona State
ond-team picks a year ago,
1/10/04 vs. Utah
and Tedmon was also an
2/1/04 vs. ASU, CSUF
Floor - 2/2/03 vs. Arkansas
honorable mention selec3/29/03 - Pac-10s
tion in 2003. Maloney
2/1/04 vs. ASU, CSUF
earns her second honor2/22/04 vs. Oregon State
able mention nod, while
3/20/04 at Pac-10s
Peckett receives her first
Tasha Schwikert
in her first year of eligibilBars - 1/17/05 vs. Nebraska
ity. To be eligible for se3/26/05 at Pac-10s
lection to the academic
Floor - 1/23/05 - Quad meet
team, a student-athlete
3/6/05 vs. Florida
must have a minimum 3.0
overall grade point average and be either a starter or significant
contributor.
Career Perfect 10s
UCLA In The Rankings: Maloney, Schwikert 1-2 In AllAround - The Bruins are ranked No. 2 in the national rankings,
which are based on regional qualifying score (RQS). UCLA
holds an RQS of 197.09. RQS is totaled by taking the team's
top six scores, three of which must be away, throwing out the
high score and averaging the remaining five.
UCLA is ranked in the Top 4 on all events - No. 1 on vault
(49.380 RQS) and bars (49.295), No. 3 on beam (49.285) and
No. 5 on floor (49.345). Senior Kristen Maloney and freshman
Tasha Schwikert have been 1-2 in the all-around two months.
Maloney, who has been ranked No. 1 since Jan. 24, holds an
RQS of 39.640, with a national season-best 39.825 earned last
month. Schwikert, who also scored a 39.825 last month, is right
behind with a 39.615. Freshman Jordan Schwikert joins them
in the Top 25 at No. 21 (39.315). Maloney is ranked in the Top
5 on all four events - No. 3 on vault (9.930), beam (9.935) and
floor (9.935) and No. 5 on bars (9.905). Tasha is ranked No. 1
in the nation on bars (9.94) and tied for No. 1 on floor (9.95).
She is also ranked No. 7 on vault (9.92) and No. 9 on beam
(9.9). Younger sister Jordan is now ranked No. 22 on bars
(9.865), and Kate Richardson ranks No. 6 on beam (9.920),
No. 11 on floor (9.91) and No. 13 on vault (9.9).
Bruins Score National Season-Best 197.85 - UCLA scored a
national season-high 197.85 in its final home meet of the season on Mar. 6 to defeat Florida, which recorded a season-high
away score of 196.65. The Bruins led by just two-tenths at the
halfway mark but pulled away with huge scores on balance beam
and floor exercise (49.575 on each event). Senior Kristen
Maloney and freshman Tasha Schwikert tied for first in the allaround with career-highs of 39.825. Each gymnast scored a
perfect 10 - Maloney with her first ever on bars and Schwikert
with her second on floor.
Richardson Back On Three Events - Junior All-American
and two-time Olympian Kate Richardson has returned to competition after sitting out the Feb. 27 meet against Georgia and
Arizona. Richardson suffered a functional rupture of the ulnar
collateral ligament of the thumb during warmups at Stanford
on Feb. 18. Despite the injury, she competed in that meet and
won all three events on which she performed - vault, beam and
floor. After resting for one week, she returned on two events on
Mar. 6 against Florida and tied for first on balance beam with a
season-best 9.975 and was third on floor with a season-high
tying 9.925. Richardson returned to the vault lineup on Mar. 19
and scored a 9.85. She also won beam at that meet with a 9.925
and scored a 9.775 on floor. The injury has forced alterations
to her beam routine. She has taken out her signature handstand
mount to two layouts and is now doing two front aerials for her
flight series. Her floor exercise routine and vault remains the
same. Richardson's Olympic experience has helped her adjust
to the new beam routine, as she competed several of these new
elements in her 2004 Olympic routine. Richardson qualified
for the all-around and floor finals in Athens, placing 18th in the
all-around and seventh on floor.
Sister Act - Freshmen Tasha and Jordan Schwikert are the first
pair of sisters to compete concurrently for UCLA's gymnastics
team. Tasha, 20, deferred enrollment in college to train towards
an Olympic berth. Jordan, 18, graduated in the spring from Centennial HS in Las Vegas, NV. The two sisters trained together at
Gym Cats and were both U.S. National Team members. Tasha
was a member of the 2000 Olympic squad and captain of the
2003 World Championship gold medal-winning team. She won
six U.S. National titles in her career and was an alternate for
the 2004 Olympic Games. Jordan was a rising star who made
the National Team from 2001-02, but a back injury kept her out
in 2003, and she returned in 2004 as a Level 10 champion.
Both Schwikerts are ranked in the Top 25 nationally in the allaround, with Tasha second and Jordan 21st.
By The Numbers - Tasha Schwikert has hit 40 consecutive
routines, with her lowest mark being a 9.75. Twenty-five of
those routines have scored 9.9 or higher, including her last nine
in a row ... Kristen Maloney has competed 30 straight meets
and 106 routines without suffering a fall, a streak that dates
back to 2001 ... Ashley Peckett has hit 27 routines without a
fall, Kate Richardson has hit 19 straight, and Jordan Schwikert
has hit 17 straight ... Tasha Schwikert and Maloney have split
amongst themselves every event and all-around title in UCLA's
last two meets.
Perfect Bruins - Despite the stricter scoring system this year,
UCLA gymnasts have still seen their share of perfect 10s. Freshman Tasha Schwikert leads the nation with four perfect 10s this
year - two each on uneven bars and floor exercise. Senior Kristen
Maloney also received a 10 this year on the uneven bars, giving
her perfect 10s on all four events in her storied UCLA career.
Junior Kate Richardson, who has scored 10 10.0s in her career,
has come close twice this year, scoring a 9.975 on bars on Jan.
17 and on beam on Mar. 6. Maloney has also had a few nearmisses, scoring 9.975 three times on beam, once on vault and
once on floor. She also had a 9.95 on floor Mar. 6 with one
judge giving her a perfect 10. Schwikert has three 9.975s in
addition to her three 10s.
UCLA Loaded With Elite Talent - Six of UCLA's 12 team
members have been members of their countries' national teams,
while three were on Olympic teams and four were on World
Championship teams. UCLA's Olympians are Kristen Maloney
(2000 U.S. team), Kate Richardson (2000 and 2004 Canadian
team) and Tasha Schwikert (2000 U.S. and 2004 U.S. alternate). Ashley Peckett competed at two World Championships
for Canada.
p. 5 of 8
Four Bruins have won a total of 16 National Championships
for their respective countries - Maloney (1998 and 1999 allaround, 2000 vault and floor), Peckett (2002 beam), Richardson
(2000 vault and 2001 all-around, vault, bars and beam) and
Schwikert (2001 all-around and beam; 2002 all-around, bars
and floor; 2004 bars).
Waller, Bhardwaj Team Up For Olympic Triumph - Bruin
assistant coach Chris Waller played a significant role in the
2004 Olympic Games, coaching U.S. team captain and former
Bruin Mohini Bhardwaj, who led the USA to a team silver
medal. Bhardwaj also found individual success, qualifying for
the floor exercise finals and placing seventh and placing eighth
in all-around in preliminaries (she was unable to compete in
the all-around finals, however, due to the two-per-country rule).
Comforte, Chan, Dantzscher Twins To Join Bruins In 2006
- UCLA has signed U.S. National Team member Kristina
Comforte, Level 10 national all-around champion Melissa Chan
and former international elites Jalynne and Janelle Dantzscher
to national letters of intent. The four standouts will join the
Bruin squad for the 2006 season.
Comforte, from Burr Ridge, IL (Illinois Gymnastics Institute)
was the national vault runner-up in 2003 and the junior national champion in 2002. She is a two-time national team member. Chan, a former U.S. junior national vault champion from
Los Gatos (Airborne Gymnastics), won the 2004 Level 10 (Senior C) national titles in the all-around, vault and beam. The
San Dimas-based Dantzscher twins are the younger sisters of
former Bruin superstar Jamie Dantzscher and train at SCEGA.
Jalynne won the 2004 Level 10 (Senior A) national all-around
and floor exercise titles. Janelle placed 11th in the all-around,
third on vault and fifth on beam at the Regional Championships in 2004 and was the all-around, beam and floor regional
champion in 2003.
UCLA On Vault:
• All six Bruin regulars compete 10.0 start value vaults - Kristen
Maloney, Tasha Schwikert, Kate Richardson, Jordan Schwikert
(Yurchenko layout full); Ashley Peckett (Yurchenko half front
layout); and Kisha Auld (Tsukahara layout full).
• UCLA ranks No. 1 in the nation on vault with an RQS of
49.380.
• Five vaulters average 9.8 or better - Maloney (9.913), T.
Schwikert (9.89), Richardson (9.87), J. Schwikert (9.825) and
Peckett (9.806). Maloney ranks third nationally with an RQS
of 9.93. T. Schwikert is seventh (9.92), and Richardson is 13th
(9.9).
• UCLA scored a season-high 49.5 at the West Regionals.
• The Bruins have scored 49.175 or higher in their last seven
meets.
• Maloney and Richardson each have one perfect 10 on vault,
both achieved last season.
• Maloney and T. Schwikert are the NCAA West Regional vault
champions, and Maloney is the 2005 Pac-10 vault champion.
• Maloney leads the team with eight vault victories this season.
• Richardson placed ninth on vault at the 2004 NCAA Championships, averaging 9.5875.
• Richardson won the Canadian vault championship in 2000
and 2001. Maloney won the U.S. title in 2000.
UCLA On Bars:
• UCLA is the top-ranked team in the nation on bars with an
RQS of 49.295.
• Three UCLA gymnasts rank in the Top 25 on bars - No. 1
Tasha Schwikert (9.940), No. 5 Kristen Maloney (9.905) and
No. 22 Jordan Schwikert (9.865).
• UCLA set a season-high of 49.725 on Jan. 17 against Nebraska, with a perfect 10 from T. Schwikert, a 9.975 from Kate
Richardson, a pair of 9.925s from J. Schwikert and Lindsey
Vanden Eykel and a 9.9 from Maloney.
• T. Schwikert is the NCAA West Region bars co-champion
and won the Pac-10 Conference title with a perfect 10.
• T. Schwikert has two perfect 10s on bars (Jan. 17 and Mar.
26). Maloney scored the first of her career on Mar. 6.
• T. Schwikert leads the team with five uneven bars victories
and 12 Top 3 finishes. Maloney and Vanden Eykel each have
two bar victories, and Kate Richardson and J. Schwikert have
one each.
• Richardson won a share of the 2003 NCAA uneven bars title
with teammate Jamie Dantzscher. She will not be competing on
bars this year, however, due to injury.
• Maloney was the 2004 NCAA runner-up on bars, and
Richardson placed right behind her in third.
• T. Schwikert won U.S. uneven bars titles in 2004 and 2002.
Vanden Eykel won two U.S. junior titles on bars (1999, 2000).
Richardson is a former Canadian bars champion (2001).
• Maloney has a move on bars named after her in the international code of points. A "Maloney" is a toe-on Shaposhnikova.
UCLA On Beam:
• UCLA ranks third in the nation on beam with an RQS of
49.285. Kristen Maloney ranks third (9.935), Kate Richardson
sixth (9.92) and Tasha Schwikert ninth (9.9).
• The Bruins scored a season-high 49.575 on Mar. 6 vs. Florida,
receiving scores of 9.975 from Maloney and Richardson, 9.925
from T. Schwikert, 9.85 from Christie Tedmon and Lindsey
Vanden Eykel and 9.825 from Jordan Schwikert.
• Maloney won the NCAA West Regional title, scoring her third
9.975 score of the year. Maloney also claimed a share of the
Pac-10 beam title with a 9.95.
• Maloney has scored 9.9 or higher on nine of 13 routines.
• Maloney leads the team with eight beam victories. Richardson
is close behind with six wins. T. Schwikert has two.
• Richardson is the 2003 NCAA beam champion, winning the
title with a score of 9.938. In 2001, Maloney tied for third.
• Three Bruins won national champions for their respective
countries on beam - Richardson for Canada in 2001, Ashley
Peckett for Canada in 2002 and T. Schwikert for the U.S. in
2001.
UCLA On Floor:
• UCLA scored a season-high 49.6 on floor on Jan. 23. Tasha
Schwikert scored a 10.0, Kristen Maloney a 9.95, Kate
Richardson a 9.925, Courtney Walker a 9.875 and Christie
Tedmon a 9.85.
• The Bruins have scored 49.15 or better in their last seven
meets.
p. 6 of 8
• UCLA is ranked No. 5 nationally with an RQS of 49.345. T.
Schwikert is tied for first (9.95), Maloney ranks third (9.935),
and Richardson is 11th (9.91).
• Richardson has scored four perfect 10s on floor in her career,
while T. Schwikert has earned two this year (Jan. 23 and Mar.
6), and Maloney has scored one (2001).
• Maloney is the 2005 Pac-10 floor champion and tied with T.
Schwikert for the West Regional floor title. Kate Richardson
won Pac-10 floor titles in 2003 and 2004 with perfect 10s and
also tied for fifth at the 2003 NCAA Championships.
• Maloney won a U.S. title on floor in 2000, and T. Schwikert
won in 2002.
ALL-AROUND ACTION:
• Seven Bruins have competed in the all-around this season Kristen Maloney, Tasha Schwikert, Jordan Schwikert, Kate
Richardson, Ashley Peckett, Courtney Walker and Christie
Tedmon.
• UCLA's top four all-arounders have scored 39.5 or greater
this year: Maloney and T. Schwikert (high of 39.825, highest in
the nation this year), Richardson (39.625) and J. Schwikert
(39.5)
• T. Schwikert leads the team with seven all-around victories,
followed closely by Maloney with six. Richardson has two wins,
and Walker one.
• A Bruin has won the all-around in every meet this year except
the season opener at Utah.
• T. Schwikert won the West Regional all-around title and tied
with Maloney for the Pac-10 all-around crown.
• Richardson placed third in the all-around at the NCAA Championships in 2003 with a 39.525 and was tied for fourth in 2004
with a 39.575. Maloney tied for eighth with a 39.525 in 2004.
• Maloney and T. Schwikert are two of just six U.S. gymnasts
to win back-to-back all-around titles. Maloney did it in 199899, Schwikert in 2001-02.
UPDATED BIOGRAPHIES
Kisha Auld - Competed in seven meets, with a season-best of
9.75 set Mar. 26 at the Pac-10 Championships ... Recorded a
9.7 at the Regional meet ... Scored a 9.7 at Cal State Fullerton
to place third, her highest placement in any meet in her twoyear career ... Averages 9.661 on the year ... Performed an exhibition on floor exercise in her final home meet Mar. 6 and
scored a 9.75.
Kristen Maloney - SI on Campus National Gymnast of the
Year ... West Region and Pac-10 Gymnast of the Year ... West
Regional vault, beam, floor champion ... Pac-10 all-around,
vault, beam and floor champion ... Second gymnast in UCLA
and Pac-10 history to earn the maximum five All-Pac-10 honors in one year ... Ranked No. 1 in the nation in the all-around
since Jan. 24 ... Also ranked in the Top 5 on all four events No. 3 on vault, beam and floor and No. 5 on bars ... Tied for the
all-around at the Pac-10 Championships with a score of 39.7 ...
Won vault with a 9.925 and floor with a 9.975 and tied for first
on beam with a 9.95 ... Clinched the team victory at the Arkansas quad with a near-perfect 9.975 on vault and also won the
all-around with a 39.6 ... Scored a national season-high and a
personal-best 39.825 on Mar. 6 against Florida ... She bettered
her previous national-best mark of 39.75, set Jan. 23 ... Aver-
UCLA Accolades
Kristen Maloney
SI on Campus National Gymnast of the Year
West Region Gymnast of the Year
Pac-10 Gymnast of the Year
All-Pac-10 (all-around, vault, bars, beam, floor)
Honorable mention Pac-10 All-Academic
Pac-10 Gymnast of the Week (4x)
Ashley Peckett
Honorable mention Pac-10 All-Academic
Kate Richardson
All-Pac-10 (vault, beam, floor)
First-team Pac-10 All-Academic
Pac-10 Gymnast of the Week (Feb. 14)
Jordan Schwikert
All-Pac-10 (all-around)
Tasha Schwikert
Pac-10 Freshman of the Year
All-Pac-10 (all-around, vault, bars, floor)
Pac-10 Gymnast of the Week (Jan. 18)
Christie Tedmon
First-team Pac-10 All-Academic
aging 39.558 in 12 all-around appearances ... Has placed first
in the all-around in six meets and in the Top 3 11 times ... Scored
a perfect 10 on bars on Mar. 6 to become the first UCLA gymnast ever and only the fourth gymnast in NCAA history to score
a perfect 10 on all four events in her career ... Has scored 9.9 or
higher on 33 of 50 routines (66%) and 9.8 or higher on 47 of 50
routines (94%) ... Averages 9.85 or higher on all four events 9.913 on vault, 9.863 on bars, 9.885 on beam and 9.896 on
floor ... Four-time Pac-10 Gymnast of the Week (Jan. 18-24,
Feb. 1-6, Mar. 1-6, Mar. 15-20) ... Honorable mention Pac-10
All-Academic ... Leads UCLA with 28 individual victories, including team-highs of eight on vault and beam ... Also has two
wins on bars and four on floor ... Second on the team in Top 3
placements with 49 - 12 on vault, 11 in the all-around, 10 on
beam and floor and 6 on bars.
Ashley Peckett - Has competed on at least two events in all 14
meets ... Averaging 9.806 on vault with a season-high of 9.875
set at the NCAA West Regionals (fourth-place showing) ... Has
scored 9.8 or higher on vault in nine of 13 meets ... Placed
second on vault on Jan. 14 at Oregon State with a 9.85 ... Recorded a season-best 9.8 on bars at the Pac-10 Championships
... Tied for sixth on bars at the West Regionals ... Competed on
beam five times with a high of 9.75 at Arizona State ... Scored
season-bests of 9.8 on floor three times ... Earned a third-place
showing on floor on Jan. 17 against Nebraska ... Placed third in
the all-around at Oregon State with a 38.575 ... Honorable
mention Pac-10 All-Academic.
Kate Richardson - All-Pac-10 selection on vault, beam and
floor ... First-team Pac-10 All-Academic selection ... Competing with a functional rupture of the ulnar collateral ligament on
her thumb, an injury suffered during warmups at the Feb. 11
meet at Stanford ... The injury will prevent her from competing
on bars the rest of the year ... Despite the injury, she still competed on three events at Stanford and won all three, scoring
9.925 on vault, 9.9 on beam and 9.925 on floor ... Also won
beam on Mar. 6 against Florida with a season-high 9.975 and
placed third on floor with a season-high tying 9.925 ... Placed
second on floor and fourth on beam at the Pac-10 Championp. 7 of 8
10 selection in the all-around and on vault,
bars and floor ... Ranked second in the na(*note: avg. scores are for team competition only)
tion in the all-around, as well as No. 1 on
floor and bars, No. 7 on vault and No. 9
Kristen Maloney
on beam ... Averages 39.5 in 13 all-around
Year/Session
V
UB
BB
FX
AA
01 Prelims
--9.9
--appearances and scored a career-high and
01 Super 6
9.825
-9.925
9.8
-national season-best 39.825 on Mar. 6
01 Event Finals
--9.9 (3T)
--against Florida to set a new UCLA fresh04 Prelims
9.9
9.925
9.85
9.85
39.525 (8T)
man record ... First in the nation with four
04 Super 6
9.95
9.925
9.925
9.925
39.725
perfect 10s this season - two each on floor
04 Event Finals
-9.9375 (2) ---Average
9.892
9.925
9.9
9.858
39.625
and bars ... Second on the UCLA squad
with 24 individual victories, including a
Ashley Peckett
team-high seven on floor and the allYear/Session
V
UB
BB
FX
AA
around ... Also has five wins on bars, three
04 Prelims
9.85
9.8
-9.85
-04 Super 6
9.875
9.85
-9.85
-on vault and two on beam ... First on the
Average
9.863
9.825
-9.85
-squad with 50 Top 3 placements, including 12 each on bars and the all-around ...
Kate Richardson
Year/Session
V
UB
BB
FX
AA
Has scored 9.9 or higher on 30 of 52 rou03 Prelims
9.825
9.875
9.925
9.9
39.525 (3)
tines (58%) and 9.8 or higher on 45 of 52
03 Super 6
9.9
9.2
9.95
9.275
38.325
routines (87%) ... Averages over 9.825 on
03 Event Finals
9.9 (1T)
9.938 (1)
9.887 (5T)
every event - 9.89 on vault, 9.896 on bars,
04 Prelims
9.95
9.925
9.85
9.85
39.575 (4T)
9.842 on beam and 9.871 on floor ... Pac04 Super 6
9.9
9.8
9.95
9.95
39.6
10 Gymnast of the Week for Jan. 9-17 af04 Event Finals
9.5875 (9) 9.9 (3)
Average
9.894
9.7
9.919
9.744
39.256
ter winning the all-around and floor at
Oregon State and scoring a perfect 10 on
Christie Tedmon
bars and 9.975 on beam against Nebraska.
Year/Session
V
UB
BB
FX
AA
04 Prelims
9.3
-9.775
--Michelle
Selesky - Competed on vault and
04 Super 6
9.7
-9.85
--floor
at
Arizona
State and Cal State FulAverage
9.5
-9.813
--lerton ... Recorded a season-best 9.525 on
floor at Fullerton.
ships ... Pac-10 Gymnast of the Week for Feb. 7-13 after win- Christie Tedmon - First-team Pac-10 All-Academic selection
ning the all-around with a season-best 39.625 and placing first ... Mainstay in the lineup on vault, beam and floor ... Competed
on vault (season-high 9.95) and bars (9.85) and second on beam on beam in 13 of 14 meets with a season-high of 9.85 set Mar.
(9.9) and floor (season-high 9.925) ... All-around winner in the 6 against Florida ... Placed second on beam at Oregon State
Nebraska dual meet with a score of 39.525 ... Has 12 indi- with a 9.825 ... Scored a leadoff 9.8 on beam at the NCAA
vidual victories, including six on beam and two in the all-around Regionals ... Scored a season-high 9.85 on floor Jan. 23 ...
... Has placed in the Top 3 26 times, including nine times on Placed second on floor and third in the all-around at Cal State
beam and seven on floor ... Ranked in the Top 15 on all three Fullerton ... Earned a career-high 9.85 on vault in the season
events on which she is competing - No. 6 on beam, No. 11 on opener at Utah.
floor and No. 13 on vault.
Lindsey Vanden Eykel - Has competed on uneven bars in all
Jordan Schwikert - All-Pac-10 selection in the all-around ... 14 meets with a career-best of 9.925 posted twice (Jan. 7 and
Placed third in the all-around at the West Regionals ... Aver- Jan. 17) ... Placed first on bars twice - at Oregon State on Jan.
ages 39.068 in 11 all-around appearances and has scored 39.4 14 and at Cal State Fullerton on Feb. 11 ... Finished tied for
or higher in three of her last four meets ... Ranked No. 21 in the fourth on bars at Pac-10s with a 9.85 ... Season average is 9.752
nation in the all-around ... Scored a 39.4 in her first collegiate ... Earned a career-high 9.85 on beam on Mar. 6 against Florida
meet at Utah, scoring 9.8 or better on all four events ... Earned ... Averages 9.68 on beam ... Has posted four straight scores of
career-best marks on three events on Jan. 17 against Nebraska, 9.7 or higher on beam ... Competed on floor four times, with a
scoring 9.925 on bars and beam and 9.875 on floor ... Averages high of 9.675 set Jan. 17 ... Has placed in the Top 3 on bars five
9.825 on vault with a career-high of 9.9 set in three of her last times and on beam once.
four meets ... Has also scored a career-high 9.875 on floor in
three of her last four meets ... Averages 9.83 on floor and 9.789 Courtney Walker - Recorded a victory in her first all-around
on bars ... Ranked 22nd nationally on bars ... Earned her first competition, scoring 38.15 at Cal State Fullerton on Feb. 11 ...
career victory, tying for first on uneven bars at the Arkansas Scored a career-high 9.85 on vault on Jan. 23 ... Set a new
quad with a 9.85 ... Has posted 21 Top 3 finishes, including six career-high on uneven bars with a 9.75 at the Pac-10 Champiin the all-around and five on bars and vault ... Placed second in onships and bettered it at the NCAA West Regionals with a
9.775 ... Had previously scored a career-best on Jan. 28 at Arithe all-around Jan. 14, Jan. 17 and Feb. 18.
zona State with a 9.725 ... Scored a 9.3 on her first and only
Tasha Schwikert - Pac-10 Freshman of the Year ... West Re- beam performance ... Averages 9.675 on floor in eight compegional all-around, vault, bars and floor champion ... Recorded titions, with a high of 9.875 set Jan. 23 ... Placed third on floor
the highest all-around total at all of the regional meets, scoring at Fullerton.
39.725 ... Pac-10 all-around co-champion and uneven bars
champion ... Won the uneven bars with a perfect 10 ... All-PacCareer Individual NCAA Scores
p. 8 of 8