Washington, Sacramento State at California, 2/21/03

by Greg

The Cal Bears hosted the visiting Washington Huskies and Sacramento State.  Both Cal and Washington are coming off years wracked with injury and other challenges.  Both have rebounded strongly and have moved up from their previous year’s ranking.  In particular, Cal set a new school record earlier in the season under the leadership of new Head Coach Cari DuBois.  Most of the injured gymnasts are now back, and are contributing strongly for both teams.  Due to the lack of notes or video, this meet report will be limited to highlights and is lacking complete routine details.  The tri-meet format made me focus primarily on UW and Cal for this report.

For Cal, this is a season of new beginnings.  The frosh are already stepping up and adjusting and this meet marked a no-counting fall effort and a new school record.  Looking particularly strong are sophomore MyLan Dodd and frosh Monique Chang, but all the returners have improved.  A big surprise has been the steady performances of all-arounder Britani Pittulo, and the welcome return of Karissa Chock.

On Vault, Cal threw five 10.0 SV vaults, led by Chang (Yurchenko Full?, small step) and Dodd (Yurchenko LO full, step).  It was also good to see Chock (Pike front ½… some troubles on the landing) and Shipp (Hristakaeva, step) back in action after extensive injury problems.  Pitullo added a Yurchenko LO and McKnight her consistent Tsuk LO Full (both slightly piked).

Cal on UB was led once again by Dodd and Chang, both demonstrating great lines.  Dodd’s elgrip work is always a highlight and she showcases her great lines.  Chock threw a nice Shushunova and Maeda shows solid improvement.  Senior McKnight threw her full twisting double layout and a hop full.  Form and execution issues in the first part of the lineup will be the focus in Cal’s continued improvement.

On BB, Cal held on, despite a number of small wobbles throughout.  Dodd and Maeda both led the way, with both tossing front tuck mounts and showing solid acro series.  Dodd’s beautiful lines were apparent in her ff-lo.  Despite Shipp’s fall, the rest of the Bears held through for a no-fall advantage. 

Cal wrapped up on FX, capped off with a trio of 9.9s.  Dodd has added a 2 ½ to punch front to mount, with a stumble on her second pass of whip ½ to layout front full.  She closed with front layout to punch front.  Pitullo’s energetic routine opened with a double pike as did Stephanie Kim’s elegant effort (with great form and height).  Cal suffered a fall from Chang, who featured excellent difficulty (2 ½ twist to punch pike; triple twist; front LO double twist - fall).  Chock showed progress once again, with a nice front to double pike to open.  McKnight showed a double pike in her second line, after a front full punch front opening.

Washington has a strong core of gymnasts returning, but recently lost Molly Seaman to re-injury.  With five meets across the country packed into just two weeks, the Huskies rested a few gymnasts this meet.  Most notably absent was Emily Pritchard.  The Huskies experienced numerous problems on UB and BB, problems that left them in a deep hole by the time FX rolled around. 

On UB, the Huskies demonstrated good technique and form, but suffered moderate to large breaks on four routines.  McDonald stalled on an elgrip giant and ended up swing the other direction but showed a terrific double front ½ out dismount.  Dockendorf did a giant blind to elgrip, elgrip giant to pike jaeger but pulled it too close to the bar and had to tuck her legs.  Her double layout floated nicely.  The Huskies showed particular strength on dismounts, with five E dismounts and Lewis’ giant full to double full (and a Pike Jaeger).

On BB, Washington suffered four falls from three gymnasts.  Despite the falls, the remainder of these routines were relatively solid, with good execution and lines. McDonald’s double tuck and Dockendorf’s smoothly connected front tuck to wolf were both highlights, despite falls on their acro series. Wong’s cartwheel to gainer double full off the side had great height, sufficient enough to spot the landing for a stick.  Canavan (check on series, big step on dismount) and Labatte (break on series) both hit career highs, in the first two Husky routines.

Washington rebounded on FX, hitting their tumbling elements.  Dockendorf hit her routine to percussive music, with interesting dance and interpretation.  The Middle Eastern flavored set features a series of pinwheel/butterflies timed to the music.  Appropriately, she opens with an Arabian double front.   Lewis opened with a triple full, and McDonald opened with a high double pike and closed with a solid double tuck.  Pelaez, Metcalf and Ehlers also added solid double pike mounts.

Washington ended on Vault and ended with several more steps than usual (as in more than one per landing).  In this meet, the Huskies were led by a solid pike front ½ from Wong.  After two ACLs, back surgery, a torn Achilles, and miscellaneous other surgeries it is simply amazing that such a small gymnast can generate that much power from the new Table.  Labatte also looked much improved, with a powerful Yurchenko LO full (two steps).  

Two days later the Huskies traveled across the country and eliminated most of the mistakes (including several stuck vaults and no counting falls) to post a 196.725 at Nebraska.