#3 UCLA Gymnastics Hosts #25 Arizona Wildcats in This Afternoon

The UCLA Bruins gymnastics team takes on the #25 Arizona GymCats today as they return home from a three week road trip, sweeping all three meets and remaining perfect going into the second half of the season.

Last Time Out

Even though Seattle was experiencing a major snowstorm, a record-breaking crowd showed up to watch Washington host the Bruins. UCLA started on bars and earned consistent scores across the board. Margzetta Frazier led off the rotation with a 9.875 and Felicia Hano was up next and earned a 9.850. Savannah Kooyman had an unexpected error that caused her to miss her grip on the high bar, which resulted in an 8.950 and, as the Bruins’ low score, it was dropped. Norah Flatley and her unwavering concentration got the rotation back on track with a 9.850. Madison Kocian followed with a near perfect 9.925 and Kyla Ross finished up the rotation with a 9.875.

Up next for the Bruins was the vault, which resulted in a 49.300 teams score that happened to be the exact same team score as the previous week against Oregon State. Pauline Tratz led off with a 9.750 and Nia Dennis followed with a strong 9.875. Freshman Sekai Wright continued to impress with a 9.825 and Hano earned a 9.850. Then, Ross got one event closer to a Gym Slam (earning a Perfect 10 in all four events in a season) when she stuck her vault and earned a 10. Unfortunately, Kendal Poston had a near fall and scary moment that resulted in a 9.025. As a result, her score would be dropped.

The much-anticipated “Bruin Dance Party” was next and, as usual, the team did not disappoint. Gracie Kramer delivered an even more solid performance than the week before to earn a 9.875 and Ross followed with a 9.925, although no one could really find the mistakes for which the judges took off points. This is the only event where Ross has yet to earn a 10. Up next was Tratz and, even though she stepped out, she still earned a 9.825. Dennis and Hano each earned a 9.900. And that brought up Katelyn Ohashi, who performed her internet-breaking routine in front of her hometown crowd and, in true storybook fashion, earned yet another perfect 10.

UCLA final rotation of the meet was the beam and the Bruins led off with Brielle Nguyen who earned a 9.725. Grace Glenn received a 9.775 for her routine and Flatley earned a 9.875 in the third spot. Dennis had a major mistake that scored in a 9.125, but Ross and Ohashi both came back strong with each earning a 9.975.

Following this meet, UCLA gymnastics would once again get Pac 12 honors as Ross was recognized as Pac 12 Gymnast of the Week for the third time this season and Ohashi was given the Pac 12 Specialist of the Week honor for the fourth time this season.

In case you missed it, or just want to see Ross’ and Ohashi’s perfect 10s again, here is a recap which includes both performances. Thanks to UCLA Athletics for sharing the video:

Arizona Wildcats

The #25 Wildcats are coming in on a two-meet losing streak, having lost to the #12 Oregon State Beavers 196.350-195.475 last week and to the #4 Utah Utes 197.075-195.400 the week before. Against Oregon State, Arizona earned a solid 48.875 on the uneven bars and actually beat the Beavers in this event. Haylie Hendrickson earned season high scores last week on bars and floor and, for the third meet this season, the GymCats scored at least a 49.000 on floor.

This is your UCLA Bruins versus Arizona Wildcats gymnastics open thread.


Go Bruins!