UCLA Gymnastics Wins Columbus Regional

In what seemed like an easy win for UCLA, with a final score of 197.650, the Bruins won their 23rd NCAA regional title and will advance to the National Championship on April 20-21.

On their first rotation on floor, UCLA brought home a solid 49.375. The Bruins had three scores of 9.9 or higher, with Katelyn Ohashi (again, the best routine in collegiate gymnastics) scoring 9.925, which was good enough for the regional floor title, and Felicia Hano and Gracie Kramer adding 9.9s, who tied for second.

In rotation two on vault, the Bruins notched a 49.4, with 9.9s from Anna Glenn and Pauline Tratz. Nia Dennis and Hano added 9.875s, and Napualani Hall scored 9.85. Scores seemed to take awhile to post, and eventually UCLA was deducted a 0.1 for competing out of order. Glenn and Tratz’s scores were part of a four-way tie for first place on vault, along with Jamie Stone from Ohio State and Braie Speed from Arkansas.

The uneven bars gave UCLA some trouble two weeks ago at the Pac-12 Championships, but they came back strong today, posting a 49.5. Dennis started the rotation with a 9.9, and Madison Kocian made her first performance of the year in this event, and earned a 9.875. Kyla Ross was the lone competitor in first place in this event, grabbing a 9.975.

The Bruins closed the meet on beam, with a 9.9 from leadoff Grace Glenn, another near-perfect 9.95 from Ross who won the event, and another 9.9 by Ohashi, finishing with a total of 49.475.

In addition to winning the regional, head coach Valerie Kondos-Field was named the West Region Coast of the Year, and assistants Chris Waller, Randy Lane, and Jordan Wieber were named West Region Assistant Coaches of the Year.

UCLA’s final performance of the 2018 season will be in St. Louis in two weeks. This meet will hopefully bring home #115!


Go Bruins!