Las Vegas’ Schwikert makes team as alternate

Spencer Patterson

Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2000 | 10:34 a.m.

Her name was not among the seven chosen for this year's U.S. Olympic Women's Gymnastics team on Sunday, but Las Vegan Tasha Schwikert never gave up hope.

"After we left the trials, I heard that maybe I'd get to go to the camp with them," Schwikert said. "I just hoped and prayed that something would come up."

On Tuesday, Schwikert's prayers were answered. A phone call to Schwikert's longtime coach Cassie Rice confirmed that the 15-year-old had been added to the team as a second alternate.

Schwikert left this morning for Olympic coach Bela Karolyi's ranch in Houston, where she and her teammates will train for the next 10 days. After that it's off to Sydney, Australia -- a trip Schwikert has been hoping to make since she took up the sport at age 7.

"It's very exciting," she said. "It will be a really good experience to get to go and train with them and be an alternate. And it's exciting that I'll get to experience an Olympics."

Schwikert came into last weekend's Olympic Trials in Boston needing to gain ground after finishing 11th at last month's U.S. Championships, which accounted for 40 percent of each gymnast's overall Olympic qualifying score.

The Las Vegan improved on that standing, placing ninth after the two-day trials.

"I just wanted to go there and do the best I could, and I felt I did pretty good," Schwikert said. "I improved from the (U.S.) Championships. I threw a new vault and a new floor tumbling pass, so I was pretty pleased with my performance."

Rice said she wasn't sure what scenarios would result in Schwikert competing in Sydney.

"The coaches have full discretion, so if something happens she could wind up being the alternate they pick," Rice said. "At least she's getting a shot at it."

Added Schwikert, "They change their minds a lot, so anything can happen."