It’s been two weeks since the UCLA gymnastics team last competed, but there’s no absence of competitive fire as the Bruins prepare for the NCAA California Regional Second Round on Friday.
Resting minds and bodies was a priority the past two weeks, which included spring break, but blue and gold challenges allowed the gymnasts to compete against each other and keep spirits up.
“At least once or twice a week, we warm up with volleyball and it gets so intense,” freshman Katelyn Rosen said. “Sometimes there’s screaming matches, but when we get in the huddle for practice that day, we always say let’s keep that competitive energy and attack our gymnastics with that same intensity.”
Eleventh-seeded UCLA (13-11) will travel to Cal’s Haas Pavilion to compete in the California Regional Second Round’s first session at 1 p.m. Friday against No. 6 seed Denver, Arizona State and Washington.
The second session will feature No. 3 seed California, No. 14 seed Auburn, Stanford and the winner of Thursday’s dual meet between Southern Utah and San Jose State.
The two top finishers from each session will move on to the regional finals, which are slated for 5 p.m. April 7.
The Bruins’ first event of the meet will be floor exercise. They’ll move to vault and uneven bars after that and finally, balance beam. UCLA is used to finishing meets on floor, an event in which it’s ranked sixth nationally, but the gymnasts are embracing the change of schedule.
“It’s a little weird, I’m not gonna lie, to start on floor,” senior Chae Campbell told reporters Wednesday. “It feels like it’s a finale for our team. But one thing about us is we’re going to be adaptable. We’re gonna have our floor party first and keep that momentum going.”
UCLA enters the competition carrying momentum. The Bruins are finally settled into their lineups after a series of shakeups due to injuries this season and are coming off a second-place finish at the Pac-12 Championships with a score of 197.875.
Selena Harris became the 21st gymnast in program history to earn Pac-12 gymnast of the year recognition and also won the all-around at the Pac-12 championships. She’s notched four perfect 10s in her sophomore season.
Campbell and Nya Reed were named All-Pac-12 First Team on vault and floor, respectively. Three more gymnasts earned honorable mention nods: Rosen (all-around), Emma Malabuyo (beam) and Brooklyn Moors (floor).
The Bruins have practiced holding each other accountable while focusing on minute details throughout practice this week, like holding finishes.
“It really does take a full team effort every single day in and out of the gym to be able to hold each other accountable to be the championship team that we want to be,” UCLA coach Janelle McDonald said.
The Bruins are also happy to be traveling within the state of California as it goes for their 25th NCAA regional title.
“The Cal Regional is exactly what we wanted,” Rosen said. “It’s a shorter flight time so our bodies won’t be as tight or sore. We’re really happy with where we’re going.”
Related Articles
VIDEO: UCLA’s Eric Bieniemy on return to college football, DeShaun Foster and T.J. Harden
USC captain Kobe Johnson announces transfer to UCLA
UCLA’s DeShaun Foster ‘excited’ about early progress on offense
UCLA women’s basketball can pick up where it left off
Swanson: With respect, LSU and Iowa are going to talk their talk
The win-or-go-home stakes of the NCAA postseason have been softened by the valuable recovery time UCLA has received the past two weeks, in addition to the guidance from upperclassmen like Campbell and graduate students Reed and Margzetta Frazier.
“We’re not focusing on the added pressure,” Rosen said. “That’s something the seniors talked about. It’s the same sport, it’s the same team. We’re just gonna do what we love and love what we do.”
No. 11 seed UCLA (13-11) at NCAA California Regional Second Round
When: 1 p.m. Friday
Where: Haas Pavilion, Berkeley
TV: ESPN+
