| Women’s Gymnastics |
|---|
| UCLA — 197.725 |
| Michigan — 196.975 |
As they have so many times in recent weeks, the crowd rose to their feet in anticipation of senior Jordan Chiles’ floor exercise. And as she has so consistently, Chiles delivered with yet another perfect 10.000, her fourth in a row on floor and fifth consecutive overall.
No.4 UCLA women’s gymnastics (9-2, 5-0 Big Ten) came out on top against No.9 Michigan (5-3, 2-3 Big Ten) by a score of 197.725-196.975 on Saturday evening at Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins dropped their second highest point total of the season in front of a Valentines Day and Alumni Meet crowd, including a national anthem sung by UCLA gymnastics alumnus Peng-Peng Lee.
Senior Ciena Alipio scored a career-high of 9.950 in her floor routine, and freshman Nola Matthews, in her only competitive event of the day, broke 9.900 for the first time on the uneven bars with a personal best of 9.925.
When asked about Matthews’ approach towards her only event of the day, coach Janelle McDonald said, “She’s really fighting to be in every lineup, and for her to go out there and really just lock in and perform the lineup she’s in…it’s really awesome to see.”
Freshman Tiana Sumanasekera led off the meet in spectacular fashion, winning the vault with a 9.900, tying her career high. However, the Bruins trailed the Wolverines after the first rotation by a score of 49.325 – 49.225. In the second rotation, UCLA established themselves on the uneven bars and took a lead they would never relinquish. All six Bruins stuck their landings en route to a 49.500 team score, their second highest of the season.
In the third rotation, junior Sydney Barros landed a 9.900 on the balance beam for her own career best, setting up the floor exercise for UCLA’s final rotation. On how the team’s veterans push their success through the last pass, Sumanasekera said, “It really means the world. Jordan, Ciena, our whole senior class, they’re incredible and we really can’t be where we are without them.” Five of the six Bruins scored a 9.900 or higher, and rode their momentum as a team to remain undefeated in Big Ten competition.
Despite chasing records and continuous perfection in competition, Chiles stressed the importance of representing her school and values, “It’s not about how many times I get 10s…it’s about what I show through my personality, through my leadership, through the way I support my team, that’s what being a Bruin is truly all about.”
The Bruins will travel to face Illinois in a dual meet next Sunday, Feb. 22 at 2:00 p.m. PST.
