Everything is bigger in Texas — including mistakes. And the Bruins learned that the hard way.
On Thursday evening, No. 4 seed UCLA gymnastics (18-2, 9-0 Big Ten) placed third at the NCAA semifinals in Fort Worth, Texas, falling short of the top-two finish needed to advance to the final.
The Bruins ended with a 197.275, topping only No. 9 seed Arkansas (12-14-1, 2-5-1 SEC) who recorded a 196.9625.
Defending national champion and No. 1 seed Oklahoma (32-1-1, 8-0 SEC) led the field with a 198.200 to punch its ticket back to the NCAA final. Meanwhile, No. 13 seed Minnesota (25-8, 7-2 Big Ten) followed in second with a 197.4625, securing its first ever national-final berth.
“I told the team that this one day doesn’t define our season,” said head coach Janelle McDonald. “We had a lot of really amazing moments and won a lot of meets and conference championships. There’s so much to be proud of.”
UCLA entered the final rotation in second place, on track to compete again on Saturday.
Yet, junior Katelyn Rosen fell on her vault routine, resulting in a 9.2125 that put the Bruins in hot water.
With little room to spare, UCLA’s next vaulter, sophomore Mika Webster-Longin struggled on her landing and took multiple steps back. The Bruins were unable to drop her score of 9.5875, and Minnesota snatched the second-place position.
This meet also marked the end of senior Jordan Chiles’ collegiate career.
The two-time Olympian captured the individual floor title with a 9.975, her second national title in the event. On top of that, she was awarded with the AAI award, one of the most prestigious honors in gymnastics, presented to the most outstanding senior in the country.
Chiles’ time in Westwood produced a long list of accolades, including 21 All-American honors, four NCAA titles, 19 perfect scores, two WCGA West Region Gymnast of the Year awards and a Big Ten Gymnast of the Year honor.
Nonetheless, early nerves appeared to get the best of her on UCLA’s first rotation.
Despite not having scored lower than a 9.800 all season, Chiles lost control on a handstand on bars, forcing her to restart her routine.
The Bruins were able to drop her score of 9.3625, but without their anchor pulling through, they ended the rotation with a 49.2650, more than a tenth below their average on bars. This placed UCLA in dead last heading into the second event.
However, the Bruins fought their way back on beam.
Rosen kicked things off with a 9.850, setting the tone for a 9.8875 and a 9.8625 from junior Sydney Barros and Webster-Longin, respectively.
Chiles quickly put the past behind her and stepped up, scoring a 9.950 to push UCLA right back into contention. Senior Ciena Alipio, the Bruins’ beam anchor, then landed a 9.9375 to put the Bruins ahead of Arkansas.
UCLA’s iconic floor party then danced into the third rotation, earning five scores above 9.860. Set to Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” Chiles capped off the Bruins’ floor rotation with the score that secured the individual title.
At this point, UCLA was in second place and more than two tenths ahead of Minnesota.
But it all fell apart on vault.
The Bruins put up a score of 48.975, their lowest event total of the season.
This allowed Minnesota to retake the lead and send UCLA back to Westwood.
“We’re going to learn from these moments,” said McDonald. “And the returners we have coming back next year, they’re going to learn from it, and it’s going to light a fire to be a little bit more dialed in and a little bit more prepared mentally for these moments.”
Although the season closed with a bitter exit, UCLA gymnastics still has plenty to be proud of and an exciting road ahead.
