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Email this article Printer-friendly format Marci Bernholtz (photo courtesy Samantha Davies, www. samanthadavies.co.uk)

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Three Standout Gymnasts Sign Letters-Of-Intent With UCLA

Marci Bernholtz, Allison Taylor, Mizuki Sato to join Bruins.

Nov. 8, 2006

Three standout gymnasts have signed national letters-of-intent to compete at UCLA. Joining the five-time NCAA champion Bruins are Canadian National Team member and 2006 World Championships competitor Marci Bernholtz from Unionville, Ontario, Canada; U.S. international elite gymnast Allison Taylor from Dallas, Texas; and three-time J.O. National Championships qualifier Mizuki Sato of Fair Oaks, Calif.

Bernholtz, who trains at ASF Gymnastics in Richmond Hill, Ontario and attends Thornhill Secondary School, competed at the 2006 World Championships and was an alternate at the 2004 Olympics after finishing sixth at the Olympic Trials. In 2005, she narrowly missed medaling at the American Cup, finishing fourth on floor exercise, and at the Canadian National Championships, she finished third in the all-around and on floor exercise. Bernholtz earned a bronze medal on vault at the 2004 Massilia Cup in France and on floor exercise at the 2004 Canadian National Championships.

Allison Taylor (photo courtesy Michelle Banom)

Taylor, who trains at the famed World Olympic Gymnastics Academy (WOGA) and attends Spring Creek Academy, earned a Top 20 all-around finish at the 2003 USA Championships as an elite. In 2005, she competed at the U.S. Classic, and won the uneven bars competition and placed third in the all-around at the Metroplex Challenge. She was also second on vault and third on bars at the 2005 WOGA Classic.

Mizuki Sato (photo courtesy Mizuki Sato/Timeless Images Photography)

Sato is an honors student at Bella Vista HS and a Level 10 gymnast at Technique Gymnastics. She is a three-time Junior Olympic National qualifier (2004-2006) and two-time team champion. At the 2006 Level 10 National Championships, she placed seventh in the all-around and fourth on floor exercise. At the Regional Championships in 2006, she placed third in the all-around and on floor exercise, and at the 2005 Level 10 Nationals, she had an eighth-place showing on balance beam.

"We are looking forward to the addition of Marci, Allison and Mizuki to an already nationally competitive squad," said UCLA head coach Valorie Kondos Field. "They will round out the depth on every event for us in the future and will certainly enable us to continue our yearly challenge for the national title."