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By Adam Karon

Daily Bruin Staff

UCLA freshman Michelle Conway found herself in an unenviable position last Saturday night. She was in the pressure-packed leadoff slot with UCLA needing a 48.975 on the floor to claim its 10th Pac-10 title.

Like the rest of her teammates she calmly stuck her routine, scoring a career-best 9.85, becoming just another statistic on a team that nailed 24 out of 24 routines to tally a total score of 197.625.

“She loves to compete,” head coach Valorie Kondos Field said. “Michelle Conway lives for competition.”

Apparently so do the rest of the Bruins, who overcame adversity to win this year’s Pac-10 championship at host Stanford, edging out second place Arizona and third place Stanford. With superstars Jamie Dantzscher and Onnie Willis fighting through injuries, UCLA knew it might not be at full strength. But no one expected to miss the services of NCAA bars champion Yvonne Tousek.

Fighting flu-like symptoms, Tousek was unable to compete after experiencing dizziness during warm-ups. One of UCLA’s most solid all-around competitors is not easy to replace, so the Bruins did so by committee.

“I think it was a really good test that Yvonne had to come out,” junior co-captain Doni Thompson said. “Our alternates really stepped up and did a great job. I feel like we’re peaking at exactly the right time.”

Junior Malia Jones competed all around, Conway hit the floor, and the rest of the Bruins chipped in to fill the gaps.

“When it seems like everything is going well for you, it’s easy to do well,” Kondos Field said. “It’s hard to continue when you’re fighting uphill tonight. Malia Jones really fought. She probably saved us at least three tenths when it was all said and done.”

Bruin fans traveled en masse to see their team compete, nearly filling a complete section of Maples Pavilion. The rooters had custom pom-poms made, and traveled from as far as New Jersey to the arena they now call “Pauley North.”

It was particularly sweet for UCLA to win at Stanford after the Cardinal upset the Bruins last year at the Pac-10 finals in Washington.

UCLA captured first place in three out of four events, as well as the all-around competition. Dantzscher, Willis and Thompson tied for first on the bars with a 9.95, leading the Bruins to a season-high 49.65 on the event. Sophomore Alyssa Beckerman tied Stanford’s Lindsay Wing and Lise Leveille, as well as Arizona’s Stevie Fanning, with a 9.9 on the beam. Dantzscher captured floor honors with a 9.95 to match Arizona’s Randi Liljenquist, and Willis had the top all-around score with a 39.625.

In addition to the competition, Pac-10 season awards were handed out Saturday night. Dantzscher was named conference gymnast of the year, becoming the second Bruin in as many years to win the award.

UCLA’s high overall score landed it a No. 1 seed in the Western Regional, which will be held at Arizona State this weekend.

In related news, seven Bruins were selected to the Academic All-American team.

Juniors Willis and Kristin Parker captured first-team honors. Both are psychology students who have maintained a grade point average above 3.65 this year. Thompson, Dantzscher, Tousek, Alyssa Beckerman and Jamie Williams received honorable mention honors.