Oregon State
Pac-10 Championships
Gymnasts Place Second At Pac-10 Championships
March 18, 2000 | Women's Gymnastics
March 18, 2000
TEMPE, Ariz. - UCLA made it clear early that it would repeat as the Pacific-10 women's gymnastics champion, but it was a battle for second place between Oregon State and Arizona State heading into the final rotation at ASU's Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday.
The No. 24 Beavers had a slight .300 lead over the 13th-ranked Sun Devils entering the last event, but OSU had to finish the meet on beam while ASU ended on vault.
OSU responded by tying its season-high on beam with a 49.125 after hitting all six routines. That gave the Beavers a solid 196.575 - their second best score of the year - to finish behind No. 3 UCLA's 197.700. Arizona State ended up tying Washington for third place with a 195.900.
"They did a great job. We had no idea how close it was (heading into the final rotation). They went six for six on beam, and I couldn't have asked for more," said coach Tanya Chaplin. "We didn't have to count a fall tonight, although we did have a couple rough spots. We've worked really hard this month."
Annie Campbell turned in a 9.90 to place second on beam, while Stephanie Bychowski and Annette Taylor each scored 9.85s on beam to help lift the Beavers to a second-place finish for the second straight season.
"We just prepared like we did for every other meet. We just visualized and went out and did it like we do in practice every day," said Bychowski, who also didn't realize how close the meet was. "This helps up realize that we can compete with anyone. We have two weeks until regionals, and this is something to build on."
Bychowski also added a career-high 9.925 on bars to tie for second on that event.
The Beavers began strong with a 49.175 on floor in the second rotation after opening with a bye in the first rotation. OSU did not have a score lower than 9.80 on floor. Lara Degenhardt, Jerra Lopez and Campbell each scored 9.85, while Tanya Ricioli turned in a 9.825. Katrina Severin and Marissa Bruch each added 9.80 marks.
Severin led the Beavers on vault with a 9.90, her fourth score of 9.90 or better on that event this season. OSU put together a 49.075 effort on the second rotation. In addition to Severin's 9.90, OSU got a 9.875 from Ricioli and 9.775s from Lopez and Degenhardt.
The Beavers turned in their third 49+ score of the night on bars in the fifth rotation, posting a season-high 49.200 on that event. In addition to Bychowski's 9.925, Elizabeth Jillson added a 9.90 and Lopez and Taylor each scored 9.85 marks.
"I've been working really hard on sticking my dismount, and I had a good practice yesterday," Bychowski said. "I knew I could do it, and I made it."
UCLA claimed a share of all five individual titles, led by Mohini Bhardwaj, who claimed top honors on vault, floor and all-around. UCLA coach Valorie Kondos was voted the Pacific-10 Coach of the Year, while Bruin senior Heidi Moneymaker was named Gymnast of the Year. UCLA rookie Doni Thompson was honored as the league's Freshman of the Year.
PACIFIC-10 GYMNASTICS CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS
Team Scores: 1. UCLA, 197.700, 2. Oregon State, 196.575, T3. Arizona State, 195.900, T3. Washington, 195.900, 5. California, 194.575, 6. Stanford, 193.85, Arizona, 192.95
Vault: 1. Mohini Bhardwaj (UCLA), 9.95, T2. Heidi Hornbeek (UA), 9.925, T2. Onnie Willis (UCLA), 9.925, T2. Lena Degteva (UCLA), 9.925, T5. Katrina Severin (OSU), 9.90, T5. Larissa Fontaine (Stan.), 9.90, T5. Lanna Apisukh (UW), 9.90. Other OSU scores: Tanya Ricioli, 9.875, Lara Degenhardt, 9.775, Jerra Lopez, 9.775, Annie Campbell, 9.75, Soni Meduna, 9.10.
Bars: 1. Lena Degteva (UCLA), 9.975, T2. Stephanie Bychowski (OSU), 9.925, T2. Mohini Bhardwaj (UCLA, 9.925, T2. Kristin Parker (UCLA), 9.925, T2. Onnie Willis, (UCLA), 9.925. Other OSU scores: Elizabeth Jillson (OSU), 9.90, Annette Taylor, 9.85, Jerra Lopez, 9.85, Lara Degenhardt, 9.675, Annie Campbell, 9.05.
Beam: 1. Lena Degteva (UCLA), 9.925, T2. Annie Campbell (OSU), 9.90, T2. Heidi Moneymaker (UCLA), 9.90, T2. Mohini Bhardwaj (UCLA), 9.90, T5. Stephanie Bychowski (OSU), 9.85, T5. Annette Taylor (OSU), 9.85, T5. Tiffany Simpson (UW), 9.85, T5. Leah Waaramaki (UW), 9.85, T5. Randi Liljenquist (UA), 9.85. Other OSU scores: Katrina Severin, 9.775, Tanya Ricioli, 9.75, Bea Tistu-Whisenhunt, 9.75.
Floor: T1. Heidi Moneymaker (UCLA), 9.925, T1. Mohini Bhardwaj (UCLA), 9.925, T1. Lea Carver (ASU), 9.925, T1. Elizabeth McNabb (ASU), 9.925, T5. Randi Liljenquist (UA), 9.90, T5. Tiffany Simpson (UW), 9.90, T5. Lauren Riesenman (UW), 9.90. OSU scores: Annie Campbell (OSU), 9.85, Lara Degenhardt (OSU), 9.85, Jerra Lopez (OSU), 9.85, Tanya Ricioli, 9.825, Marissa Bruch, 9.80, Katrina Severin, 9.80.
All-Around: 1. Mohini Bhardwaj (UCLA), 39.700, 2. Lena Degteva (UCLA), 39.675, 3. Randi Liljenquist (UA), 39.425, 4. Tiffany Simpson (UW), 39.400, 5. Lanna Apisukh (UW), 39.375.
