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WINN

Sophomore standout Lori Winn made her return to competition for the UCLA gymnastics team last week at Michigan after serving out a four-meet suspension due to a violation of team rules. Ranked 23rd in the nation on bars prior to her suspension, Winn certainly did not start out where she left off. In her return, Winn competed in three events and showed definitive signs of rust, recording a 9.075 on floor, 9.525 on beam and an excruciating 9.1 for her usually dependable bar performance. So low were Winn’s marks that the team was forced to drop her floor and bar scores in order to stay competitive in the meet. Despite Winn’s uncharacteristically poor performance, UCLA coach Valorie Kondos Field stood by her decision to use Winn in three events despite having missed the majority of the season. “I definitely don’t regret my decision,” Kondos Field said. “Those were three events that she’s been hitting in practice, and the numbers she put up aren’t consistent with what she’d done in practice. “I think fear just sabotaged her performance in the meet.” Despite the difficulties she experienced in Michigan, Winn is expected to strengthen a Bruin squad which has recently been plagued by injuries.

LACK OF CONFIDENCE: After starting the season with scores of at least 197 in three of their first four meets – and winning four out of five during that stretch – the Bruins (6-2) have averaged just 194.7 in their last two outings. While injuries have hit the team from all sides, UCLA believes there’s another reason for the team’s recent struggles. Junior Kate Richardson said after Friday’s meet that the team was doubting itself and needed to be more relaxed. Kondos Field offered a similar take. “The team’s trying to be perfect, but they’re still not sure they can hit all their routines,” Kondos Field said. “If they don’t change their ways, then this is as good as they’re going to get.” One sign of hope for the Bruins is that last year’s team experienced these same types of problems and was still able to end its season with a national championship. “That team didn’t really come together until the week before the NCAA Championships,” Kondos Field said. “With this team, it’s just a matter of them finding a groove and settling in eventually.”

BRUIN RECEIVES HONOR: Senior Kristen Maloney was named the Pac-10 Conference Gymnast of the Week for her performance against No. 2 Michigan last week. Perhaps the only bright spot for the Bruins was Maloney’s performance, as she won the all-around competition with a final score of 39.575. Undoubtedly UCLA’s most consistent performer this season, Maloney is currently ranked No. 1 nationally in the all-around and bars, No. 2 on beam and No. 3 on vault.