NCAA vault champion and U.S. National Team member Vanessa
Zamarripa will miss the 2011 collegiate gymnastics season after tearing her
left Achilles tendon in practice on Tuesday.
Zamarripa, an eight-time All-American and the 2010 Pac-10
Gymnast of the Year, will have surgery next week. She will redshirt the
upcoming season and will still have two years of eligibility remaining.
"I feel so badly for Vanessa," said UCLA head
coach Valorie Kondos Field. "She was just coming back from tweaking her
elbow and her ankle and was looking really good. The injury was not a result of
a fall or miscue in her gymnastics. She was punching for a tumbling pass on
floor and felt it pop. It's an unfortunate injury, but we know that she will
recover well. However, for this season, this is a huge loss to our team. As
much as our team and fans will miss Vanessa's gymnastics this season, we will
also miss her personality on the competition floor. Vanessa's gift has always
included her ability to have fun while competing well and focused."
