UCLA’s Gymnasts Want Strong Finish

Maybe it was the flips and handstands Steve McCain did as a child on the front lawn of his parents’ house in Missouri City, Tex., that prompted McCain’s mother to consider gymnastics lessons for him.

But when McCain jumped off a bed and grabbed a chandelier, ripping it out of the ceiling, that was the clincher.

She promptly enrolled her 10-year-old son in classes at a local gym. Now, nearly nine years later, McCain is a probable future Olympian.

McCain, a sophomore on the UCLA men’s gymnastics team, won the high bar competition last season at the NCAA championships with a score of 9.75.

And he will lead the Bruins in their grand finale this season. The gymnastics program will be eliminated, along with the men’s swimming program, after this season.

Ironically, McCain chose UCLA because of its strong gymnastics tradition. The program has produced eight Olympians in the last 30 years. And before last season, UCLA had finished in the top 10 in the nation for 13 consecutive years.

Although McCain said that he will miss competing for UCLA after this season, his first priority is no longer collegiate competition, but international competition.

“It’s really fun competing in the NCAA. Any time something goes like that, it’s very sad,” said McCain, who will remain at UCLA and train with Bruin assistant coach Yefim Furman after this season. “As long as my surroundings are still set, where I can train and everything, I’m not going to spend a lot of time worrying about it.”

The Bruins, however, will try to go out with a bang.

“We have the makings of a team that could win the national championship this year,” said 30-year veteran coach Art Shurlock, who won national championships in 1984 and ’87.

The Bruins suffered a big loss when U.S. national team member Chainey Umphrey, who placed second in the all-around at last season’s NCAA championships, finished his eligibility last season. Still, they are ranked No. 4 in the nation in College Sports magazine’s preseason poll.

UCLA has two members of the U.S. national team on its roster, McCain and junior Mike DeNucci, as well as a member of the Canadian national team, freshman Doug Macey.

The Bruins will begin their season on Jan. 21 in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation dual meet at Santa Barbara.

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It is not uncommon for two siblings to compete for the same NCAA Division I school. It is rare, however, when both are All-Americans.

That’s the case, though, with Kyle and Richelle Depold, brother and sister from Scotia, N.Y., who are on the UCLA men’s and women’s swim teams.

Kyle, a senior, was an All-American last season as a member of the Bruins’ 200-meter freestyle relay team that set a school record, finishing in second place at the NCAA championships in 1 minute 17.94 seconds. Kyle transferred to UCLA from the University of Buffalo before last season.

Richelle, a sophomore, won the 50-meter freestyle at the Pacific 10 meet last season in a school-record 22.58 and finished third in the event at the NCAA championships.

Kyle and Richelle will compete together when the UCLA men and women play host to Nebraska in a combined dual meet, Wednesday, beginning at noon.

The UCLA men will then swim against visiting Michigan on Friday at 1 p.m. in one of the biggest dual meets of the season. At last season’s NCAA meet, Michigan finished second to Stanford and UCLA fifth.

The UCLA women will not compete again until Jan. 28, when they play host to Cal.

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Loyola Marymount’s women’s basketball team pulled out of a seven-game losing streak by winning two of its last three games.

The victories were over New Mexico, 52-43, on Dec. 22, and Wayland Baptist of Texas, 90-77, on Friday.

Against Wayland Baptist, an NAIA team, the Lions (3-8) shot a school-record 59.7% from the floor and Marlee Webb, a sophomore guard, tied a school record with 11 assists.

The Lions have a good chance to continue their winning ways when they play host to Cal State Northridge (1-10), Thursday, at 7 p.m.

“Now we’re starting to play teams that we’re going to be able to play with,” Coach Todd Corman said.

Loyola Marymount opens West Coast Conference play on Jan. 14 at St. Mary’s.

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The Adidas Invitational men’s tennis tournament usually provides a preseason glimpse of some of the nation’s top collegiate players, and this year is no exception.

The tournament, set for Jan. 19-23 at the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort at Indian Wells, features second-ranked Chad Clark of Texas and fifth-ranked Wayne Black of USC, the defending champion.

Most members of the USC team, which is ranked third, and Pepperdine, ranked 12th, are expected to compete.

Other notable collegiate entries include 10th-ranked Brandon Coupe of San Jose State, 14th-ranked Casey Louie of Cal and 19th-ranked Paul Robinson of Texas Christian.

Singles and doubles champions will receive wild-card entries into the main draw of the $1.8-million ATP Newsweek Champions Cup, Feb. 28-March 6, at Indian Wells.