What does it take to win big? Well, in UCLA’s case, it’s not just the impressive scores or Olympic gold medal winner Jordan Chiles hitting a perfect 10 on uneven bars. It’s also the energy, the passion, and a lot of resilience. After a solid 197.550-194.850 victory over Maryland, UCLA gymnastics earned its first-ever Big Ten Conference win—and Coach Janelle McDonald was feeling it.
Coach McDonald gave it off with a proud smile, as her Twitter handle says, “I’m really proud of the team. They were really resilient in moments and really showed the consistency we’ve been working on in the gym.”
The atmosphere was electric, with a high-notch, record-breaking crowd of 7,287 people packing the arena. Toasting the crowd, McDonald said, “The crowd was great, and the energy in the room was really awesome. It was a great place to be for our first Big Ten competition. I’m really proud of the team. They were really resilient in moments and really showed the consistency we’ve been working on in the gym.”
“I’m really proud of the team. They were really resilient in moments and really showed the consistency we’ve been working on in the gym.” – @Janel2001 after the Bruins’ 197.550-194.850 win at Maryland.
Meet recap: https://t.co/p1CkDllXiY pic.twitter.com/eW808zE2zS
— UCLA Gymnastics (@uclagymnastics) January 19, 2025
Well, definitely, a grand crowd boosts the momentum of the sport and players! And what we see here alongside is UCLA’s flawless performance, a cocktail of grit, preparation, and that perfect team chemistry.
The inception definitely took flight with style. Performing on the uneven bar, Jordan Chiles, the star we can hail, slew it off with a perfect 10.0- talk about a statement! With that score, Chiles now shares the No. 6 spot in UCLA history for most 10s on bars. Only Kyla Ross and Jamie Dantzscher have scored more, making Chiles part of an elite club. But UCLA wasn’t just flying high—they stuck the landing, too.
UCLA finished strong on balance in the final rotation
Closing the night with apt and sheer brilliance, UCLA headed off with the national-best 49.550 in their final rotation. Starting with all six gymnasts earning season-high scores. Emily Lee set the tone with a commanding 9.925. Followed by Jordan with a solid 9.775. Chae Campbell and Katelyn Alipio delivered matching 9.900s, while Brooklyn Moors added a strong 9.850. However, Emma Malabuyo became a showstopper, earning a 10 and a final score of 9.975.
Now, the Bruins are all set for their return to Los Angeles. All await their heavily anticipated home meets, first facing Illinois on Jan. 25 and then Michigan State on Feb. 1. With the gaga momentum on their side and an electrifying crowd waiting, it looks like UCLA has promised to keep the zeal alive in their hearts for the win.
Speaking of scores, UCLA’s national qualifying score (NQS) has improved to 197.525, but unfortunately, the Bruins dropped one spot to No. 3 in this week’s national ranking. The Bruins are currently No. 2 on floor exercise, No. 3 on the balance beam, No. 6 on uneven bars, and No. 7 on vault.
Being one of the most consistent teams in the country this season, UCLA makes the inevitability of consistency evident!
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