Jan. 8, 2013

A pair of Bruins were honored by the Pac-12 for their performances in the season opening win over Southern Utah. Senior Vanessa Zamarripa was named the Pac-12 Gymnast of the Week, and freshman Sophina DeJesus earned the first-ever Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Week award.

Zamarripa won the all-around with a score of 39.475 and captured first-place honors on balance beam (9.875, tied for first) and floor exercise (career-high 9.975). She also had a second-place showing on vault (9.825) and placed sixth on uneven bars (9.8).

Sophina DeJesus

In her collegiate debut, DeJesus scored 9.8 or better on all three events in which she competed and tied for first place on uneven bars with a 9.9. DeJesus also tied for third on balance beam with a 9.8 and was fifth on floor with a 9.825.

Stanford's Nicole Dayton received Special Performance of the Week honors after scoring 9.95 on vault in the Cardinal's season opener.

This is Zamarripa's sixth Gymnast of the Week honor and UCLA's 42nd all-time. This is Dayton's first Specialist of the Week honor and Stanford's sixth all-time. It is DeJesus' first freshman of the week honor.

Gymnast of the Week has been selected every week of the season since 2001. The Specialist of the Week award was added in 2008. It is the first year for Freshman/Newcomer of the Week.

Second-ranked UCLA hosts fifth-ranked Utah on Saturday night in a meet televised live on the Pac-12 Networks at 7:30pm. For more information including a complete television schedule please visit www.pac-12.com.

Also Nominated:
Gymnast of the Week: Allison Flores, ARIZ; Madisyn O'Brien, CAL; Shona Morgan, STAN.

Special Performance of the Week: Aubree Cristello, ARIZ; Serena Long, CAL; Katelyn Ohlrich, OSU; Olivia Courtney, UCLA.

Freshman/Newcomer of the Week: Lexi Mills, ARIZ; Serena Long, CAL; Hailey Gaspar, OSU; Melissa Chuang, STAN.

2013 Pac-12 Gymnast of the Week
Jan. 8: Vanessa Zamarripa, UCLA

2013 Pac-12 Special Performance of the Week
Jan. 8: Nicole Dayton, Stanford

2013 Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Week
Jan. 8: Sophina DeJesus, UCLA