DEPARTMENT OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS

Gymnastics SID: Liza David For Immediate Release: SID Phone: (310) 206-8140 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.

NCAA Championships - The second-seeded and second-ranked UCLA gym- 2005 UCLA Gymnastics Schedule nastics 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, Date Opponent Time/Result 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, 1/7 at Utah L 197.3-197.675 BYU, Iowa State and Georgia for three spots in the NCAA Super Six Team 1/14 at Oregon State W 194.5-192.875 Finals. LSU, Utah, Michigan, Nebraska, Penn State and Oklahoma will meet in the afternoon session at 1:00 pm CT. 1/17 NEBRASKA W 197.05-192.65 Competition Format — The three-day competition begins on Thursday, Apr. 1/23 CAL, CSUF, SAC ST. 1st, 197.15 21 with two sessions (1:00 pm and 7:00 pm CT) of preliminary team compe- tition. The Top 3 teams from each Thursday session will advance to the team 1/28 at Arizona State W 194.275-193.4 finals (The "Super Six"), which will begin at 7:00 pm on Friday, Apr. 22. The 2/4 at Michigan L 195.25-196.25 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 2/11 at CS Fullerton W 191.4-189.825 during the preliminary competition. Individuals qualify for event finals by 2/13 WASH. W 196.575-192.6 placing in the top four (including ties) of that particular event during their own preliminary session. 2/18 at Stanford W 196.3-194.625 The Championship Field - Competing for the NCAA team championship 2/27 GEORGIA, ARIZ. 2nd, 196.1 will be regional winners UCLA, LSU, Utah, Alabama, Michigan and Florida, as well as regional runners-up Penn State, Oklahoma, BYU, Iowa State, Ne- 3/6 FLORIDA W 197.85-196.65 braska and Georgia. 3/19 at Arkansas, w/OSU, Neb. 1st 196.85 Rotation Order - UCLA will begin the meet on the , the move to 3/26 @Pac-10 Championships 1st 197.1 beam, a bye and exercise before ending . The Bruins will have a bye in the sixth and final rotation. Rotation order for the championship meet was 4/9 @ NCAA Regionals 1st, 197.025 determined by blind draw by the NCAA committee. 4/21 @ NCAA Championships 7 pm Session I V Bye UB BB Bye FX 4/22 @ NCAA Championships 7 pm I NEB MICH UTAH PSU OKLA LSU 4/23 @ NCAA Championships 7 pm II LSU NEB MICH UTAH PSU OKLA III OKLA LSU NEB MICH UTAH PSU IV PSU OKLA LSU NEB MICH UTAH Home meets in BOLD FACE CAPS V UTAH PSU OKLA LSU NEB MICH Home meets held at Pauley Pavilion VI MICH UTAH PSU OKLA LSU NEB All times local to meet site 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 1- 3 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 Champion- ship record score of 198.125 in front of a home crowd at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA UCLA'S PAST NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY clinched the meet after the fifth rotation, sitting out the sixth and final rotation on a Year Finish Winner bye with the title in hand after a 49.6 on beam. The Bruins were the only team to 2004 1st UCLA score 49.5 or higher on an event, and they did it three times - on vault, beam and 2003 1st UCLA floor. At Lincoln, Neb. in 2003, the Bruins utilized a stellar beam rotation (49.525) to 2002 3rd Alabama take a .475 lead heading into their final event and solidified the championship with a 2001 1st UCLA 49.5 on floor to close the meet. In 2001, UCLA needed a near-perfect beam set to 2000 1st UCLA stave off host Georgia in the two teams' final rotation and responded in style with a 1999 5th Georgia 49.575 (9.915 average) to capture the title with a team total of 197.575, .175 ahead 1998 5th Georgia of the Gym Dogs. The Bruins won in 2000 on the strength of a 48-for-48 perfor- 1997 1st UCLA mance over the two days of the championships. UCLA won its first-ever NCAA 1996 2nd Alabama Championship in 1997, breaking the Utah-Georgia-Alabama triumvirate which had 1995 4th Utah won all the other previous titles. 1994 5th Utah This is UCLA's 14th consecutive and 22nd overall appearance in the 24 NCAA Cham- 1993 4th Georgia pionships. UCLA and Georgia are the only two teams to qualify for every Super Six 1992 9th Utah since its inception in 1993. 1991 – Alabama Richardson Will Try To Reclaim NCAA Beam Title — UCLA junior Kate 1990 4th Utah Richardson will attempt to reclaim the NCAA title she won in 2003 as 1989 2nd Georgia a freshman. Richardson also won a share of the uneven bars title but will be unable to 1988 3rd Alabama compete on bars due to a thumb injury. Other former NCAA champions competing 1987 3rd Georgia at the national championships are three-time champion from Alabama 1986 7th Utah (2003, 2004 vault; 2004 floor), three-time champion from Michigan (2001 1985 – Utah all-around, 2002 beam, 2004 bars) and 2004 floor exercise co-champion Courtney 1984 2nd Utah Bumpers from North Carolina. 2003 all-around and floor champion 1983 6th Utah of Nebraska is questionable for the meet after suffering a knee injury on her final 1982 6th Utah floor exercise pass at the Regional meet. UCLA'S NCAA CHAMPS Individual NCAA History — Eleven Bruins have won 22 NCAA titles to tie for second amongst all teams. UCLA's NCAA champions are: Kim Hamilton (1987-88- Team Championships: 89 floor, 1989 vault), Jill Andrews (1988 vault, 1989 beam), (1995 and 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004 1998 floor), Heidi Moneymaker (1998 bars, 1999 vault), (1999 beam), (2000 bars, 2001 floor), Lena Degteva (2000 beam), Onnie All-Around Champions: Willis (2001 all-around); (2001 bars), (2002 all- Onnie Willis, 2001 around, vault and floor; 2003 bars) and (2003 bars and beam). Two Jamie Dantzscher, 2002 other Bruins won AIAW national titles - (1980-81 all-around and vault, 1980 bars, 1980 beam, 1980 floor) and Diane Dovas (1981 bars). Shapiro Vault Champions: remains the only gymnast ever to sweep the all-around and all four events in one year Jill Andrews, 1988 at a national championships. Hamilton is the only woman to win three consecutive Kim Hamilton, 1989 floor titles. UCLA has won at least two individual titles in six of the last seven years Heidi Moneymaker, 1999 and three titles in three of last four years. Jamie Dantzscher, 2002 The 2004 Championship — Competing in front of a home crowd at Pauley Pavil- Bars Champions: ion, UCLA won its fifth NCAA title with a record-breaking performance. The Bruins Heidi Moneymaker, 1998 headed into the Championships on a bit of a mini-slump, having lost the Pac-10 Mohini Bhardwaj, 2000 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 quali- Yvonne Tousek, 2001 fied to the Super Six after a first-place showing in the team prelims and then put Jamie Dantzscher, 2003 together a near-perfect display of gymnastics in the Super Six, hitting 24-for-24 rou- Kate Richardson, 2003 tines, with 15 scores of 9.9 or higher to set an NCAA Super Six record of 198.125. Beam Champions: UCLA scored 49.5 or higher on three of the four events, including a 49.6 on beam in Jill Andrews, 1989 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 Kiralee Hayashi, 1999 Tedmon followed with a 9.85, Jeanette Antolin and Kate Richardson stepped up for Lena Degteva, 2000 scores of 9.95, Yvonne Tousek scored a 9.9, and slammed the door Kate Richardson, 2003 shut with a 9.925. Floor Champions: The 2003 Championship — With perhaps the greatest collection of gymnasts ever Kim Hamilton, 1987-89 assembled on one collegiate team, UCLA claimed its third title in four years in Lin- Stella Umeh, 1995, 1998 coln, Neb. The Bruins pulled away from a tight competition with a sparkling beam Mohini Bhardwaj, 2001 rotation. After struggling on beam in the preliminaries, Bruin head coach Valorie Jamie Dantzscher, 2002 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,

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 UCLA Season/Career High Scores totaling a 49.525 to take a .475 lead over second-place Georgia Gymnast V UB BB FX AA after the fourth rotation. Alabama closed to within three-tenths Auld 9.75 of a point during rotation five, and the Bruins moved to floor 9.875 Maloney 9.975 10 9.975 9.975 39.825 with the chance to close it out. Jeanette Antolin led off with a 10 10 10 10 39.825 9.85. Seniors Kristin Parker and Malia Jones finished their ca- Peckett 9.875 9.8 9.75 9.8 38.575 reers with standout performances, scoring 9.875 and 9.9, re- 9.95 9.925 9.825 9.95 38.575 spectively. A fall by Kate Richardson put pressure on the Bru- Richardson 9.95 9.975 9.975 9.925 39.625 ins, but there was little doubt that the final two competitors 10.0 9.975 10 10 39.85 J. Schwikert 9.9 9.925 9.925 9.875 39.5 would not respond like champions, and they did just that. Willis, 9.9 9.925 9.925 9.875 39.5 the eventual Honda Award winner, scored a 9.9, and Jamie T. Schwikert 9.975 10 9.975 10 39.825 Dantzscher clinched the win with a 9.975. Individually, 9.975 10 9.975 10 39.825 Richardson claimed the beam title and tied with Dantzscher for Selesky 8.9 9.525 the bars title. 8.9 9.7 Tedmon 9.85 8.7 9.85 9.85 37.3 The 2001 Championship — The Bruins successfully defended 9.85 9.25 9.9 9.85 38.45 their NCAA title with a gritty performance on balance beam in Vanden Eykel 9.925 9.85 9.675 the final rotation. Leading second-place and host-team Geor- 9.925 9.85 9.675 gia by just one-tenth of a point heading into their final rotation, Walker 9.85 9.75 9.3 9.875 38.15 9.85 9.725 9.3 9.875 38.15 the Bruins needed a near-perfect beam set to hold off the Gym Dogs, which ended on vault, one of their best events. Georgia Career-high scores in bold italics 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 Th- Kondos Field earning Co-Head Coach of the Year honors, her ompson started things off with a career-high 9.9 to set the table third in five years, and Randy Lane earning Assistant Coach of for an amazing 49.575 performance and a repeat champion- the Year acclaim. ship. Individually, all eight competing Bruins earned All- The 1997 Championship — UCLA entered the 1997 season America honors, with Onnie Willis (all-around), Yvonne Tousek as the pre-season No. 1, saw Georgia assume the role of favor- (bars) and Mohini Bhardwaj (floor) capturing NCAA titles on ites during the regular season, then proved they were worthy of their respective events. was honored as the No. 1 ranking by winning the school's first-ever NCAA Gym- the Head Coach of the Year for the fourth time, and Bhardwaj nastics title. Georgia opened the door early for UCLA, count- earned the Honda Award as the nation's top gymnast. ing two falls on beam while the Bruins were on a first-rotation The 2000 Championship — UCLA hit 48-for-48 routines bye. In contrast, the Bruins scored a 49.2 on beam to stay in throughout the two-day competition and won its second NCAA contention. Going into the final rotation, UCLA and Michigan title with a final score of 197.3. In the team finals, the Bruins trailed Arizona State, which ended its meet with a final score of led throughout the competition and never let any competitor 196.6. The Bruins and Wolverines needed a 49.25 in the final within four-tenths of a point after two events. Four Bruins placed rotation to overtake the Sun Devils. While Michigan could only in the Top 10 in the all-around, with Mohini Bhardwaj placing score 48.875 on floor, UCLA recorded a school-record 49.525 second, Heidi Moneymaker fourth, Lena Degteva fifth and to win the crown with a final score of 197.15. Kristin Parker 10th. UCLA shined in the individual event fi- NCAA Championship Notes — nals as well, with Degteva first winning the beam, just ahead of Bhardwaj, and then Bhardwaj winning the bars, with Degteva • Only four teams have ever won the NCAA title in the 23 years third. The Bruins also placed three athletes in the Top 5 on of the Championships - Utah (9), UCLA (5), Georgia (5) and vault. Bhardwaj, Moneymaker, Degteva, Parker and Onnie Alabama (4). Willis combined to earn a school-record 18 All-America hon- • Nine schools return from the 2004 NCAA Championships, ors. The coaching staff was honored as well, with Valorie including five Super Six teams - UCLA (1st place), Georgia (2nd), Alabama (T-3rd), Florida (5th) and Utah 2005 UCLA Gymnastics Roster (6th). The other returning qualifiers are LSU (7th), Michigan (8th), Nebraska (10th), and Name Ht. Yr. Hometown (Club) Kisha Auld 5-2 Sr. Corona, CA (Junior Elite Gymnastics) Oklahoma (11th). BYU, Iowa State and Penn Emily Hanson 5-7 So. Copper Canyon, TX (Achievers Gymnastics) State all return to the Championships for the Kristen Maloney 5-0 Sr. Pen Argyl, PA (Parkettes) first time since 2000. 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) Jordan Schwikert 5-4 Fr. Las Vegas, NV (Gym Cats) all schools with 22 individual titles. Georgia 5-2 Fr. Las Vegas, NV (Gym Cats) leads all teams with 26. 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 repre- Courtney Walker 5-2 So. Santa Monica, CA (All-Olympians) sentative, marking the first time only one Pac- Head Coach: Valorie Kondos Field (15th year) 10 squad has qualified in the 24 years of the Assistant Coaches: , Marshall Nelson, Christy Erickson (undergraduate) Championships. A record six Pac-10 teams

p. 3 of 8 Year in a season during Bruins In The Top 25 National Rankings which she tied for the Top 25 Rankings (by RQS) Gymnast AA V UB BB FX conference all-around Rank School Avg. Maloney 1st 3rd 5th 3rd 3rd championship and won J. Schwikert 21st – 22nd – – 1 Utah 197.320 T. Schwikert 2nd 7th 1st 9th 1st the uneven bars title 2 UCLA 197.090 Richardson – 13th – 6th 11th with a perfect 10. 3 LSU 197.025 4 Alabama 196.815 Team 3rd 1st 1st 3rd 5th Schwikert is No. 2 be- 5 Georgia 196.800 hind only Kristen 6 Nebraska 196.750 Maloney in the national competed in the 1992 Championships. 7 Florida 196.685 all-around rankings and 8 Michigan 196.595 Championships To Be Held On Podium — The 2004 NCAA No. 1 on the uneven 9 Iowa State 196.260 Gymnastics Championships will be held on a podium for the bars and floor exercise. 10 Oklahoma 196.130 second consecutive year. The gymnasts will be competing on a She has scored a na- 11 Penn State 195.900 three-foot high elevated surface similar to what is used at the 12 Oregon State 195.715 tional-best four perfect 13 BYU 195.625 Olympic Games, World Championships and U.S. Champion- 10s this year - two each 14 Central Michigan 195.540 ships. on bars and floor. 15 Arkansas 195.510 UCLA vs. 2005 Field — The Bruins have defeated Florida, 16 Utah State 195.370 Schwikert has not only 17 195.310 Penn State and Nebraska (twice) this season and have losses to provided UCLA with 18 Arizona 195.300 Utah, Michigan and Georgia. spectacular routines, 19 195.235 Bruins Win West Regional, Earn NCAA Berth — Needing but she has also been 20 Minnesota 195.185 very consistent, averag- 21 Auburn 195.180 to place in the Top 2 at Regionals to qualify for the NCAA 22 Southern Utah 195.155 Championships, UCLA won the NCAA West Regional at the ing over 9.84 on every 23 Kentucky 195.070 University of Washington with a score of 197.025. Penn State event. She has scored 24 Washington 195.030 was second with 195.375. Tasha Schwikert won the all-around 9.9 or higher on 30 of 25 North Carolina 195.000 (39.725) and tied for first on vault (9.95), bars (9.9) and floor 52 routines (58%) and (9.95). Kristen Maloney won the beam outright (9.975) and 9.8 or higher on 45 of tied with Schwikert on vault and floor. Schwikert, Maloney and 52 routines (87%). She ranks second on the team with 24 indi- Jordan Schwikert went 1-2-3 in the all-around. vidual 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. Maloney Honored As SI On Campus National Gymnast of the Year, Pac-10 and West Region Gymnast Of The Year - Kondos Field Selected West Region Coach Of The Year - Senior Kristen Maloney was honored by Sports Illustrated On UCLA head coach Valorie Kondos Field was honored by her Campus as the national gymnast of the year and by the West peers as the West Region Coach of the Year. Kondos Field led Region and Pac-10 Conference as the Gymnast of the Year for a young squad to dominant victories at the Pac-10 and West 2005. The senior from Pen Argyl, Pa. has had an exceptional Regional Championships despite being in a supposedly rebuild- year, ranking No. 1 in the nation in the all-around since Jan. 24. ing mode due to the graduation of two former NCAA champi- Maloney posted a national season-high all-around total of ons and a National Gymnast of the Year. Kondos Field has 39.825 on Mar. 6 and made history at that meet by becoming UCLA peaking in the post-season once again, as the Bruins the first Bruin gymnast ever to score a perfect 10 on every event have hit 24-for-24 in their last two meets. in her career. Her 10.0 on uneven bars completed her set of UCLA Wins 12th Pac-10 Title - UCLA reclaimed the Pac-10 10.0s. She had previously scored perfect marks on vault in 2004 Conference title, winning easily in Berkeley on Mar. 26 with a and balance beam and floor exercise in 2001. Only three other score of 197.1. Kristen Maloney and Tasha Schwikert domi- gymnasts in NCAA history have ever scored 10s on all four nated the meet, tying for the all-around title with scores of 39.7. events - Georgia's and Heather Stepp and Utah's Maloney also won the vault, beam (tied with ASU's Ashley . Kelly) and floor, while Schwikert won the bars with a perfect Maloney has scored 9.9 or higher on 33 of 50 routines com- 10. UCLA hit 24-for-24 routines en route to the victory. peted and 9.8 or higher on 47 of 50 routines. She has even Bruins Earn 13 All-Pac-10 Honors - UCLA gymnasts earned upgraded her already difficult floor exercise routine, throwing 13 of the maximum 18 All-Pac-10 Conference honors to set a a triple twist as her last tumbling pass since Mar. 6. Maloney's new school record. Kristen Maloney became just the second floor passes are double layout, whip to immediate double pike Pac-10 gymnast ever to receive the five honors (all-around, and triple-twist. The first and last passes are E elements, and vault, bars, beam, floor). Tasha Schwikert earned four (all- the middle pass is a B+D, which holds .3 bonus. around, vault, bars, floor), and Jordan Schwikert earned all- Maloney continues to be an inspiration since her return to gym- around acclaim. Junior Kate Richardson was selected to the nastics in 2004 after a two-year battle with leg injuries. As a vault, beam and floor teams to increase her career total to a freshman, she helped the Bruins win the 2001 NCAA Champi- school-record 10. onship, then she sat out the 2002 and 2003 seasons to heal her Four Bruins Named To Pac-10 All-Academic Team - Bruin injured leg. She returned with a vengeance in 2004 and again gymnasts excelled in the classroom as well as on the competi- helped the Bruins win the NCAA title, scoring a meet-high tion floor, with four student-athletes being named to the Pac- 39.725 in the all-around at the team finals. 10 All-Academic Team. Senior Christie Tedmon and junior Kate Schwikert Named Pac-10 Freshman Of The Year - Fresh- Richardson received first-team acclaim, while senior Kristen man Tasha Schwikert was selected the Pac-10 Freshman of the Maloney and sophomore Ashley Peckett were named to the p. 4 of 8 honorable mention team. on Feb. 18. Despite the injury, she competed in that meet and Career Perfect 10s Tedmon, a three-time won all three events on which she performed - vault, beam and Kristen Maloney NACGC Scholastic All- floor. After resting for one week, she returned on two events on Vault - 4/3/04 at NCAA Regionals American, has amassed a Mar. 6 against Florida and tied for first on balance beam with a Bars - 3/6/05 vs. Florida 3.72 GPA in Psychology. season-best 9.975 and was third on floor with a season-high Beam - 2/16/01 at Oregon State Richardson, a third-team tying 9.925. Richardson returned to the vault lineup on Mar. 19 Floor - 3/4/01 - Bruin Classic Academic All-American and scored a 9.85. She also won beam at that meet with a 9.925 Kate Richardson as a sophomore, holds a and scored a 9.775 on floor. The injury has forced alterations Vault - 1/25/04 at Minnesota 3.78 GPA in Physiological to her beam routine. She has taken out her signature handstand Beam - 1/19/03 - Bruin Classic 2/16/03 at Arizona State Science. Both were sec- mount to two layouts and is now doing two front aerials for her 1/10/04 vs. Utah ond-team picks a year ago, flight series. Her floor exercise routine and vault remains the 2/1/04 vs. ASU, CSUF and Tedmon was also an same. Richardson's Olympic experience has helped her adjust Floor - 2/2/03 vs. Arkansas honorable mention selec- to the new beam routine, as she competed several of these new 3/29/03 - Pac-10s tion in 2003. Maloney elements in her 2004 Olympic routine. Richardson qualified 2/1/04 vs. ASU, CSUF earns her second honor- for the all-around and floor finals in Athens, placing 18th in the 2/22/04 vs. Oregon State able mention nod, while all-around and seventh on floor. 3/20/04 at Pac-10s Peckett receives her first Tasha Schwikert Sister Act - Freshmen Tasha and Jordan Schwikert are the first Bars - 1/17/05 vs. Nebraska in her first year of eligibil- pair of sisters to compete concurrently for UCLA's gymnastics 3/26/05 at Pac-10s ity. To be eligible for se- team. Tasha, 20, deferred enrollment in college to train towards Floor - 1/23/05 - Quad meet lection to the academic an Olympic berth. Jordan, 18, graduated in the spring from Cen- 3/6/05 vs. Florida team, a student-athlete tennial HS in Las Vegas, NV. The two sisters trained together at must have a minimum 3.0 Gym Cats and were both U.S. National Team members. Tasha overall grade point average and be either a starter or significant was a member of the 2000 Olympic squad and captain of the contributor. 2003 World Championship gold medal-winning team. She won UCLA In The Rankings: Maloney, Schwikert 1-2 In All- six U.S. National titles in her career and was an alternate for Around - The Bruins are ranked No. 2 in the national rankings, the 2004 Olympic Games. Jordan was a rising star who made which are based on regional qualifying score (RQS). UCLA the National Team from 2001-02, but a back injury kept her out holds an RQS of 197.09. RQS is totaled by taking the team's in 2003, and she returned in 2004 as a Level 10 champion. top six scores, three of which must be away, throwing out the Both Schwikerts are ranked in the Top 25 nationally in the all- high score and averaging the remaining five. around, with Tasha second and Jordan 21st. UCLA is ranked in the Top 4 on all events - No. 1 on vault By The Numbers - Tasha Schwikert has hit 40 consecutive (49.380 RQS) and bars (49.295), No. 3 on beam (49.285) and routines, with her lowest mark being a 9.75. Twenty-five of No. 5 on floor (49.345). Senior Kristen Maloney and freshman those routines have scored 9.9 or higher, including her last nine Tasha Schwikert have been 1-2 in the all-around two months. in a row ... Kristen Maloney has competed 30 straight meets Maloney, who has been ranked No. 1 since Jan. 24, holds an and 106 routines without suffering a fall, a streak that dates RQS of 39.640, with a national season-best 39.825 earned last back to 2001 ... Ashley Peckett has hit 27 routines without a month. Schwikert, who also scored a 39.825 last month, is right fall, Kate Richardson has hit 19 straight, and Jordan Schwikert behind with a 39.615. Freshman Jordan Schwikert joins them has hit 17 straight ... Tasha Schwikert and Maloney have split in the Top 25 at No. 21 (39.315). Maloney is ranked in the Top amongst themselves every event and all-around title in UCLA's 5 on all four events - No. 3 on vault (9.930), beam (9.935) and last two meets. floor (9.935) and No. 5 on bars (9.905). Tasha is ranked No. 1 Perfect Bruins - Despite the stricter scoring system this year, in the nation on bars (9.94) and tied for No. 1 on floor (9.95). UCLA gymnasts have still seen their share of perfect 10s. Fresh- She is also ranked No. 7 on vault (9.92) and No. 9 on beam man Tasha Schwikert leads the nation with four perfect 10s this (9.9). Younger sister Jordan is now ranked No. 22 on bars year - two each on uneven bars and floor exercise. Senior Kristen (9.865), and Kate Richardson ranks No. 6 on beam (9.920), Maloney also received a 10 this year on the uneven bars, giving No. 11 on floor (9.91) and No. 13 on vault (9.9). her perfect 10s on all four events in her storied UCLA career. Bruins Score National Season-Best 197.85 - UCLA scored a Junior Kate Richardson, who has scored 10 10.0s in her career, national season-high 197.85 in its final home meet of the sea- has come close twice this year, scoring a 9.975 on bars on Jan. son on Mar. 6 to defeat Florida, which recorded a season-high 17 and on beam on Mar. 6. Maloney has also had a few near- away score of 196.65. The Bruins led by just two-tenths at the misses, scoring 9.975 three times on beam, once on vault and halfway mark but pulled away with huge scores on balance beam once on floor. She also had a 9.95 on floor Mar. 6 with one and floor exercise (49.575 on each event). Senior Kristen judge giving her a perfect 10. Schwikert has three 9.975s in Maloney and freshman Tasha Schwikert tied for first in the all- addition to her three 10s. around with career-highs of 39.825. Each gymnast scored a UCLA Loaded With Elite Talent - Six of UCLA's 12 team perfect 10 - Maloney with her first ever on bars and Schwikert members have been members of their countries' national teams, with her second on floor. while three were on Olympic teams and four were on World Richardson Back On Three Events - Junior All-American Championship teams. UCLA's Olympians are Kristen Maloney and two-time Olympian Kate Richardson has returned to com- (2000 U.S. team), Kate Richardson (2000 and 2004 Canadian petition after sitting out the Feb. 27 meet against Georgia and team) and Tasha Schwikert (2000 U.S. and 2004 U.S. alter- Arizona. Richardson suffered a functional rupture of the ulnar nate). Ashley Peckett competed at two World Championships collateral ligament of the thumb during warmups at Stanford for Canada. p. 5 of 8 Four Bruins have won a total of 16 National Championships UCLA On Bars: for their respective countries - Maloney (1998 and 1999 all- • UCLA is the top-ranked team in the nation on bars with an around, 2000 vault and floor), Peckett (2002 beam), Richardson RQS of 49.295. (2000 vault and 2001 all-around, vault, bars and beam) and Schwikert (2001 all-around and beam; 2002 all-around, bars • Three UCLA gymnasts rank in the Top 25 on bars - No. 1 and floor; 2004 bars). Tasha Schwikert (9.940), No. 5 Kristen Maloney (9.905) and No. 22 Jordan Schwikert (9.865). Waller, Bhardwaj Team Up For Olympic Triumph - Bruin assistant coach Chris Waller played a significant role in the • UCLA set a season-high of 49.725 on Jan. 17 against Ne- 2004 Olympic Games, coaching U.S. team captain and former braska, with a perfect 10 from T. Schwikert, a 9.975 from Kate Bruin Mohini Bhardwaj, who led the USA to a team silver Richardson, a pair of 9.925s from J. Schwikert and Lindsey medal. Bhardwaj also found individual success, qualifying for Vanden Eykel and a 9.9 from Maloney. the floor exercise finals and placing seventh and placing eighth • T. Schwikert is the NCAA West Region bars co-champion in all-around in preliminaries (she was unable to compete in and won the Pac-10 Conference title with a perfect 10. the all-around finals, however, due to the two-per-country rule). • T. Schwikert has two perfect 10s on bars (Jan. 17 and Mar. Comforte, Chan, Dantzscher Twins To Join Bruins In 2006 26). Maloney scored the first of her career on Mar. 6. - UCLA has signed U.S. National Team member Kristina • T. Schwikert leads the team with five uneven bars victories Comforte, Level 10 national all-around champion Melissa Chan and 12 Top 3 finishes. Maloney and Vanden Eykel each have and former international elites Jalynne and Janelle Dantzscher two bar victories, and Kate Richardson and J. Schwikert have to national letters of intent. The four standouts will join the one each. Bruin squad for the 2006 season. • Richardson won a share of the 2003 NCAA uneven bars title Comforte, from Burr Ridge, IL (Illinois Gymnastics Institute) with teammate Jamie Dantzscher. She will not be competing on was the national vault runner-up in 2003 and the junior na- bars this year, however, due to injury. tional champion in 2002. She is a two-time national team mem- ber. Chan, a former U.S. junior national vault champion from • Maloney was the 2004 NCAA runner-up on bars, and Los Gatos (Airborne Gymnastics), won the 2004 Level 10 (Se- Richardson placed right behind her in third. nior C) national titles in the all-around, vault and beam. The • T. Schwikert won U.S. uneven bars titles in 2004 and 2002. San Dimas-based Dantzscher twins are the younger sisters of Vanden Eykel won two U.S. junior titles on bars (1999, 2000). former Bruin superstar Jamie Dantzscher and train at SCEGA. Richardson is a former Canadian bars champion (2001). Jalynne won the 2004 Level 10 (Senior A) national all-around • Maloney has a move on bars named after her in the interna- and floor exercise titles. Janelle placed 11th in the all-around, third on vault and fifth on beam at the Regional Champion- tional code of points. A "Maloney" is a toe-on Shaposhnikova. ships in 2004 and was the all-around, beam and floor regional UCLA On Beam: champion in 2003. • UCLA ranks third in the nation on beam with an RQS of UCLA On Vault: 49.285. Kristen Maloney ranks third (9.935), Kate Richardson sixth (9.92) and Tasha Schwikert ninth (9.9). • All six Bruin regulars compete 10.0 start value vaults - Kristen Maloney, Tasha Schwikert, Kate Richardson, Jordan Schwikert • The Bruins scored a season-high 49.575 on Mar. 6 vs. Florida, (Yurchenko layout full); Ashley Peckett (Yurchenko half front receiving scores of 9.975 from Maloney and Richardson, 9.925 layout); and Kisha Auld (Tsukahara layout full). from T. Schwikert, 9.85 from Christie Tedmon and Lindsey Vanden Eykel and 9.825 from Jordan Schwikert. • UCLA ranks No. 1 in the nation on vault with an RQS of 49.380. • Maloney won the NCAA West Regional title, scoring her third 9.975 score of the year. Maloney also claimed a share of the • Five vaulters average 9.8 or better - Maloney (9.913), T. Pac-10 beam title with a 9.95. Schwikert (9.89), Richardson (9.87), J. Schwikert (9.825) and Peckett (9.806). Maloney ranks third nationally with an RQS • Maloney has scored 9.9 or higher on nine of 13 routines. of 9.93. T. Schwikert is seventh (9.92), and Richardson is 13th • Maloney leads the team with eight beam victories. Richardson (9.9). is close behind with six wins. T. Schwikert has two. • UCLA scored a season-high 49.5 at the West Regionals. • Richardson is the 2003 NCAA beam champion, winning the • The Bruins have scored 49.175 or higher in their last seven title with a score of 9.938. In 2001, Maloney tied for third. meets. • Three Bruins won national champions for their respective • Maloney and Richardson each have one perfect 10 on vault, countries on beam - Richardson for Canada in 2001, Ashley both achieved last season. Peckett for Canada in 2002 and T. Schwikert for the U.S. in 2001. • Maloney and T. Schwikert are the NCAA West Regional vault champions, and Maloney is the 2005 Pac-10 vault champion. UCLA On Floor: • Maloney leads the team with eight vault victories this season. • 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 placed ninth on vault at the 2004 NCAA Champi- onships, averaging 9.5875. Richardson a 9.925, Courtney Walker a 9.875 and Christie Tedmon a 9.85. • Richardson won the Canadian vault championship in 2000 • The Bruins have scored 49.15 or better in their last seven and 2001. Maloney won the U.S. title in 2000. 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), UCLA Accolades and Richardson is 11th (9.91). Kristen Maloney • Richardson has scored four perfect 10s on floor in her career, SI on Campus National Gymnast of the Year while T. Schwikert has earned two this year (Jan. 23 and Mar. West Region Gymnast of the Year 6), and Maloney has scored one (2001). Pac-10 Gymnast of the Year All-Pac-10 (all-around, vault, bars, beam, floor) • Maloney is the 2005 Pac-10 floor champion and tied with T. Honorable mention Pac-10 All-Academic Schwikert for the West Regional floor title. Kate Richardson Pac-10 Gymnast of the Week (4x) won Pac-10 floor titles in 2003 and 2004 with perfect 10s and Ashley Peckett also tied for fifth at the 2003 NCAA Championships. Honorable mention Pac-10 All-Academic • Maloney won a U.S. title on floor in 2000, and T. Schwikert Kate Richardson won in 2002. All-Pac-10 (vault, beam, floor) First-team Pac-10 All-Academic ALL-AROUND ACTION: Pac-10 Gymnast of the Week (Feb. 14) • Seven Bruins have competed in the all-around this season - Jordan Schwikert Kristen Maloney, Tasha Schwikert, Jordan Schwikert, Kate All-Pac-10 (all-around) Richardson, Ashley Peckett, Courtney Walker and Christie Tasha Schwikert Tedmon. Pac-10 Freshman of the Year All-Pac-10 (all-around, vault, bars, floor) • UCLA's top four all-arounders have scored 39.5 or greater Pac-10 Gymnast of the Week (Jan. 18) this year: Maloney and T. Schwikert (high of 39.825, highest in the nation this year), Richardson (39.625) and J. Schwikert Christie Tedmon First-team Pac-10 All-Academic (39.5) • T. Schwikert leads the team with seven all-around victories, aging 39.558 in 12 all-around appearances ... Has placed first followed closely by Maloney with six. Richardson has two wins, in the all-around in six meets and in the Top 3 11 times ... Scored and Walker one. a perfect 10 on bars on Mar. 6 to become the first UCLA gym- • A Bruin has won the all-around in every meet this year except nast ever and only the fourth gymnast in NCAA history to score the season opener at Utah. 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 • T. Schwikert won the West Regional all-around title and tied routines (94%) ... Averages 9.85 or higher on all four events - with Maloney for the Pac-10 all-around crown. 9.913 on vault, 9.863 on bars, 9.885 on beam and 9.896 on • Richardson placed third in the all-around at the NCAA Cham- floor ... Four-time Pac-10 Gymnast of the Week (Jan. 18-24, pionships in 2003 with a 39.525 and was tied for fourth in 2004 Feb. 1-6, Mar. 1-6, Mar. 15-20) ... Honorable mention Pac-10 with a 39.575. Maloney tied for eighth with a 39.525 in 2004. All-Academic ... Leads UCLA with 28 individual victories, in- • Maloney and T. Schwikert are two of just six U.S. gymnasts cluding team-highs of eight on vault and beam ... Also has two to win back-to-back all-around titles. Maloney did it in 1998- wins on bars and four on floor ... Second on the team in Top 3 99, Schwikert in 2001-02. placements with 49 - 12 on vault, 11 in the all-around, 10 on beam and floor and 6 on bars. UPDATED BIOGRAPHIES Ashley Peckett - Has competed on at least two events in all 14 Kisha Auld - Competed in seven meets, with a season-best of meets ... Averaging 9.806 on vault with a season-high of 9.875 9.75 set Mar. 26 at the Pac-10 Championships ... Recorded a set at the NCAA West Regionals (fourth-place showing) ... Has 9.7 at the Regional meet ... Scored a 9.7 at Cal State Fullerton scored 9.8 or higher on vault in nine of 13 meets ... Placed to place third, her highest placement in any meet in her two- second on vault on Jan. 14 at Oregon State with a 9.85 ... Re- year career ... Averages 9.661 on the year ... Performed an ex- corded a season-best 9.8 on bars at the Pac-10 Championships hibition on floor exercise in her final home meet Mar. 6 and ... Tied for sixth on bars at the West Regionals ... Competed on scored a 9.75. beam five times with a high of 9.75 at Arizona State ... Scored Kristen Maloney - SI on Campus National Gymnast of the season-bests of 9.8 on floor three times ... Earned a third-place Year ... West Region and Pac-10 Gymnast of the Year ... West showing on floor on Jan. 17 against Nebraska ... Placed third in Regional vault, beam, floor champion ... Pac-10 all-around, the all-around at Oregon State with a 38.575 ... Honorable vault, beam and floor champion ... Second gymnast in UCLA mention Pac-10 All-Academic. and Pac-10 history to earn the maximum five All-Pac-10 hon- Kate Richardson - All-Pac-10 selection on vault, beam and ors in one year ... Ranked No. 1 in the nation in the all-around floor ... First-team Pac-10 All-Academic selection ... Compet- since Jan. 24 ... Also ranked in the Top 5 on all four events - ing with a functional rupture of the ulnar collateral ligament on No. 3 on vault, beam and floor and No. 5 on bars ... Tied for the her thumb, an injury suffered during warmups at the Feb. 11 all-around at the Pac-10 Championships with a score of 39.7 ... meet at Stanford ... The injury will prevent her from competing Won vault with a 9.925 and floor with a 9.975 and tied for first on bars the rest of the year ... Despite the injury, she still com- on beam with a 9.95 ... Clinched the team victory at the Arkan- peted on three events at Stanford and won all three, scoring sas quad with a near-perfect 9.975 on vault and also won the 9.925 on vault, 9.9 on beam and 9.925 on floor ... Also won all-around with a 39.6 ... Scored a national season-high and a beam on Mar. 6 against Florida with a season-high 9.975 and personal-best 39.825 on Mar. 6 against Florida ... She bettered placed third on floor with a season-high tying 9.925 ... Placed her previous national-best mark of 39.75, set Jan. 23 ... Aver- second on floor and fourth on beam at the Pac-10 Champion- p. 7 of 8 10 selection in the all-around and on vault, Career Individual NCAA Scores 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 Kristen Maloney floor and bars, No. 7 on vault and No. 9 Year/Session V UB BB FX AA on beam ... Averages 39.5 in 13 all-around 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 fresh- 04 Prelims 9.9 9.925 9.85 9.85 39.525 (8T) 04 Super 6 9.95 9.925 9.925 9.925 39.725 man record ... First in the nation with four 04 Event Finals -- 9.9375 (2) ------perfect 10s this season - two each on floor Average 9.892 9.925 9.9 9.858 39.625 and bars ... Second on the UCLA squad Ashley Peckett with 24 individual victories, including a Year/Session V UB BB FX AA team-high seven on floor and the all- 04 Prelims 9.85 9.8 -- 9.85 -- around ... Also has five wins on bars, three 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, includ- Kate Richardson ing 12 each on bars and the all-around ... Year/Session V UB BB FX AA Has scored 9.9 or higher on 30 of 52 rou- 03 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) 04 Prelims 9.95 9.925 9.85 9.85 39.575 (4T) every event - 9.89 on vault, 9.896 on bars, 04 Super 6 9.9 9.8 9.95 9.95 39.6 9.842 on beam and 9.871 on floor ... Pac- 04 Event Finals 9.5875 (9) 9.9 (3) 10 Gymnast of the Week for Jan. 9-17 af- Average 9.894 9.7 9.919 9.744 39.256 ter winning the all-around and floor at Christie Tedmon Oregon State and scoring a perfect 10 on Year/Session V UB BB FX AA bars and 9.975 on beam against Nebraska. 04 Prelims 9.3 -- 9.775 -- -- Michelle Selesky - Competed on vault and 04 Super 6 9.7 -- 9.85 -- -- Average 9.5 -- 9.813 -- -- floor at Arizona State and Cal State Ful- 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 Champi- in the all-around and five on bars and vault ... Placed second in onships and bettered it at the NCAA West Regionals with a the all-around Jan. 14, Jan. 17 and Feb. 18. 9.775 ... Had previously scored a career-best on Jan. 28 at Ari- 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 compe- gional 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-Pac-

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