Gymnastics pulls through with strong performances for win over Washington

UCLA gymnastics narrowly avoided what would have been an uncharacteristic loss to Washington on Sunday afternoon in Seattle. An exceptional set of beam routines in the fourth rotation helped widen the Bruins’ slim 0.10 lead to a final score of 196.675-196.450.

The Huskies performed better than their season average of 195.12, which – coupled with the No. 7 Bruins’ overall poor health – made UCLA’s away meet a challenge.

“We had a really rough time,” said coach Valorie Kondos Field, citing small injuries and lingering flu symptoms within the team.

Several top competitors, including freshman Katelyn Ohashi, sophomore Napualani Hall, junior Hallie Mossett and redshirt junior Peng-Peng Lee have also been taken out of the lineup due to more serious injuries. As a result, their teammates have been participating in more events than usual.

“We were hoping to rest Sophina (DeJesus), Angi (Cipra) – people who’ve been competing a lot,” Kondos Field said. “They need a break, but we couldn’t give them (one).”

Redshirt senior Sadiqua Bynum said the injured members are often the ones who give the team its best scores. Hall is one of the only Bruins whose vault routine has a starting value of 10.0. Ohashi is one of three who have performed all around this season.

“But the girls who came in today did so well and it’s good to give them a chance to perform,” Bynum said.

Cipra, a junior and consistent floor performer, competed on beam Sunday. Both she and Kondos Field identified the event as one that Cipra used to struggle with, as her nerves would often get the best of her.

“I used to think, ‘I have to hit this for my team. If I don’t hit this, I’ll let them down,'” Cipra said.

She scored a career high of 9.85 on her second beam routine of the season.

Kondos Field said that it is comparatively easier to get into the right mindset for floor. The routines’ accompanying soundtracks help the athlete’s sense of rhythm and also make the performance more fun.

“You get to dance and perform for all these people and it’s just really fun – there’s no way to explain it,” Cipra said. “It makes me so happy, my heart is so happy. I’m smiling just thinking about it.”

Cipra scored a 9.95 on floor, receiving a 10.0 from one of the judges. The team collectively scored a 49.35.

The Bruins will continue to show off their unique and energetic floor performances at home next Saturday against Arizona State.