Bruins Exercising Their Privileges

Perks of winning a national championship, as told by the UCLA women’s gymnastics team:

* cards and flowers galore, some from the likes of Bart Conner and Nadia Comaneci;

* a possible visit to the White House;

* a brief reign as top jocks at a school recently ranked No. 1 in jocks by Sports Illustrated.

And, finally, and perhaps most important:

“It doesn’t matter what we look like when we go out,” junior Stella Umeh said. “We could all walk across campus picking our noses and we would still be national champions.”

Six days after holding off Arizona State at Gainesville, Fla., the Bruins are discovering new ways a national title can work in their favor, and this is before letting on that there is a chance UCLA could win again in 1998.

“It has been amazing,” Coach Valorie Kondos said. “Having finished second or third so many times, we thought some magic spell needed to be cast for us to win it. My athletes know what an accomplishment this is and we are enjoying it.”

Of course, there is one drawback to wining the program’s first title--having to defend it. UCLA was the first team other than Georgia, Utah, or Alabama to be national champion, and the Bruins are not likely to be the favorites in 1998.

But to UCLA’s advantage, next season’s national championship meet, as well as the Pacific 10 Conference championships, will be held at Pauley Pavilion.

“To have them at home will be a wonderful way to end my career,” Umeh said. “I think to repeat, we will have to work hard, but if we peak at the right time, like we did this year, being at home will only work in our favor.”

Said Kondos, “This nationals in Florida was the lowest attended in years, so my biggest concern is going to be getting people in the stands.”

Also of concern for the Bruins is finding replacements for seniors Amy Smith and Leah Homma--two of the team’s more vocal leaders.

Kondos will choose from among Mohini Bhardwaj of Houston, who competed in the Olympic trials and is considered the top recruit in the country; highly regarded Alexis Norman of Fairfax, Va., a level 10 national champion, and versatile Tami Taylor of Huntington Beach.

“[Smith and Homma] were two major assets, and Amy was a three-event specialist so she did so much for us,” said Umeh, one of three captains with the two departing gymnasts. “But I know that two of the three recruits are all-arounders, so that will help.”

Said Kondos, “I think we have the talent to replace Amy and Leah but I don’t know if we have the leadership.”

But before the Bruins begin preparations for 1998, they will enjoy the afterglow of a national championship.

For Kondos that included a call from former Bruin coach Jerry Tomlinson.

“He left the most heartfelt message,” said Kondos. “Of all the calls, that one, I think, meant the most to me.”