| Gymnastics |
|---|
| UCLA — 197.850 |
| Utah — 197.400 |
In case you haven’t already, you should grab a tissue.
The 2026 gymnastics senior night is one for the books.
No. 5 UCLA gymnastics (15-2, 9-0 Big Ten) welcomed No. 12 Utah (13-4, 6-0 Big 12) on Saturday, March 14, at Pauley Pavilion for their final home meet this season. Seniors Jordan Chiles, Ciena Alipio and Madisyn Anyimi, along with graduate student Carissa Clay, were honored during their senior ceremony as they faced their last time ever playing at home.
“There was so much joy and pride in each act we did,” said Chiles, “I don’t want to say because it was senior night, but I want to say because each and every day this week we really put in the work. We put in the effort to make sure every detail that we’re committed to.”
It would be a lie to say Utah did not come prepared.
Utah’s Makenna Smith landed a score of 9.850 on uneven bars and soon after, UCLA’s start of the night began with freshman Tiana Sumanasekera on vault with her landing score of 9.750. This strong lead caused fans to hold their breath not only throughout the remainder of the vault event, but for the last three rotations. The Bruins were able to maintain the lead score of 49.475 to close out the first rotation.
Heading into the second rotation, Alipio breathlessly flowed in uneven bars, shaking the crowd after a solid landing of 9.850. Utah’s Clara Raposo scored 9.575 on vault after landing the first of a few rough landings of the night for their team.
Following Alipio’s high spirit, freshman Ashlee Sullivan brought in a force of power tonight, effortlessly switching bars to bar through a balanced momentum to stick her landing of the second-highest score on bars of 9.900. Chiles closed off the second rotation for the Bruins with the highest score of 9.950.
If the night was not emotional enough, the third rotation marked the spot. Junior Sydney Barros performed her emotion-capturing beam routine, landing a score of 9.825 in tears. The tears continued to flow after Clay’s routine, which scored a 9.775. Chiles scored a crowd roaring landing of 9.950, whilst Utah brought moves onto the floor through the 9.900 scored routine by Ella Zirbes, moments before a sudden fall that cut the routine short.
“It was a very emotional day,” said Alipio, “I think going into the postseason we just need to keep doing this because right now what we’re doing is what we need and at the end of the day we could be on top, at the end of this, and I’m really excited to see where postseason takes us.”
The struggle to maintain balance continued after a stumble on the beam for Utah. However, UCLA was able to conserve energy on the floor. The volume of the crowd increased as Chiles prepared for her time on the floor.
Ending the suspense, Chiles performed her 90s inspired routine from her sophomore year as a throwback that scored her a 9.950. The Bruins completed their rotation with routines by Clay and Anyimi.
UCLA ended the meet with a final score of 197.850-197.400.
“We have such great leaders,” said Sullivan, “They led a team meeting that I really think just connected everyone together. So I do wanna give my hats off to them for leading the team in the right direction.”
Sullivan won on vault and Utah’s Avery Neff won on uneven bars. Chiles won beam, floor and the all around with a score of 39.800.
“I just know how much she worked on this vault,” said Chiles, “For the past two-three weeks that she had to really zone out everybody else, what they were saying and find herself.”
The Bruins will be moving on to the Big Ten Championships on Saturday, March 21, at 3 p.m. PST at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois.
