GYMNASTICS : UCLA’s Keswick, Marrow Win the All-Around Titles

After anchoring the U.S. men’s national team to a fifth-place finish in last year’s World Championships, the UCLA Men’s and Women’s Gymnastics Invitational at Pauley Pavilion Saturday night was nothing but fun for Bruin Scott Keswick. Competing before 4,026, he and Bruin freshman Kareema Marrow were the meet’s all-around champions.

In the team competition, Marrow, a former elite gymnast from Meriden, Conn., led the ninth-ranked Bruin women to the team title, edging Minnesota, 189.85 to 189.45. Washington was third (185.40).

But Keswick’s team was not so fortunate, finishing nearly three points behind Minnesota, 283.25 to 280.40. UC Santa Barbara finished third at 277.75.

Cal State Fullerton’s women’s team finished fifth with 183.15. There were six men’s and six women’s teams in the competition.

Keswick, a senior, was competing for the final time in Pauley Pavilion. The remainder of the season’s meets will be held elsewhere on campus.

“I just wanted to go all out and have fun,” said Keswick, who will turn 22 on Tuesday. “The experience at the World Championships, competing against the top gymnasts in the world, being with the best and being one of the best in the nation gave me so much confidence.”

Keswick edged Minnesota’s John Roethlisberger, scoring a personal-best 58.45 points out of 60 to Roethlisberger’s 58.10. Santa Barbara’s Mark Brodman finished third at 57.05.

Marrow edged Bruin Amy Thorne, 38.15 to 38.10 out of a possible 40 for the all-around title. Minnesota’s Zsuzsanna Csisztu finished third at 37.70.

Marrow, the Bruins’ top scorer this season, likes college competition more than elite.

“It’s the same intensity in college as in elite . . . no matter what, you go out and do your best,” Marrow said. “But here, you can cheer and you have teammates cheering for you. In elite, you are alone, and you are not really allowed to cheer.”