UCLA gymnastics beats Washington despite posting lowest score since 2016

This post was updated Feb. 15 at 6:35 p.m.

A short-handed Bruin squad emerged victorious in snowy Seattle on Valentine’s Day.

No. 10 UCLA gymnastics (4-0, 3-0 Pac-12) overcame season-low scores on three events to defeat Washington (0-4, 0-4) 195.625-193.500 at Alaska Airlines Arena. The total score was the lowest score recorded by the Bruins since 2016.

Sunday’s showdown served as a rematch of last year’s matchup between the two teams in Pauley Pavilion, in which the Bruins posted their lowest single-event score since 2011 – a 47.875 on beam – in an upset loss to the Huskies.

While last year’s matchup came four days after UCLA tied a season best on beam, the Bruins entered this matchup four days out of a season low on beam.

This time, the team was marred by the same woes.

Despite hitting its first three routines, UCLA suffered two falls from its last three gymnasts on beam including senior Nia Dennis, who recorded a season-high on the event Wednesday against No. 11 BYU. The second fall came from junior Samantha Sakti, who entered the week ranked No. 3 in the nation on beam, but has since fallen in two consecutive meets. 

Coach Chris Waller said the Bruins will need some time to adjust since they have transitioned from a team that is solely grateful for having a season to one that is developing a hunger to compete for a national championship.

“When the stakes go up, the realities of competing change a little bit,” Waller said. “The great thing is, people are starting to live in that space of, ‘Well, how great can I be?’ But they’re still figuring out how to do it now that their sights are higher.”

Following a season-best 49.425 on floor earlier this week, the Bruins recorded a season-low 48.900 on the event. Freshman Chae Campbell and Dennis – who have been staples in the rotation – did not compete, allowing three UCLA gymnasts to make their debuts on floor.

Freshman Sara Ulias, junior Sara Taubman and Sakti all performed on floor for the first time in their Bruin careers. Ulias headlined the trio’s debuts, scoring a 9.725.

“Competing floor for UCLA is such a big deal,” Taubman said. “Anyone who has competed floor at UCLA knows that the first time is really unreal.”

Despite competing in the all-around every meet this season – including four days ago – junior Margzetta Frazier competed in all four events once again Sunday. After her new Janet Jackson-inspired routine earned a 9.925 on Wednesday and was recognized by Jackson herself, the two-time All-American scored a 9.900 on floor for the third time this season.

On bars, the Bruins welcomed back sophomore Kalyany Steele, who scored a 9.850 or better on four consecutive bar routines to close out last season. While Steele did not eclipse that mark on Sunday – scoring a 9.725 in her return – UCLA received three straight scores of 9.850 or better on the back end of the bars rotation. 

“The team rallies behind (Steele) whenever she’s competing,” Waller said. “What was really exciting was to see her hunger to get out there and compete. She fought for it. It wasn’t handed to her, she had to prove herself in practice.”

Following a fall on bars from Ulias in her second official routine as a Bruin, fellow freshman Frida Esparza stepped up, sticking her double layout dismount to score a 9.875 and ignite a bars rotation that finished with a 49.125, tied for a season high. Waller said he was especially impressed with Esparza’s warmups.

“Her warmups were as great as her competition,” Waller said. “It was cool to see her taking control of her emotions.”

For the third time this season, Waller opted to scratch the sixth vaulter and send out only five gymnasts. Despite doing so in two meets previously, the Bruins entered the meet ranked No. 7 in the nation on vault, their best ranking on any event. 

Senior Kendal Poston, who has averaged a 9.831 on the event this season, said there is no added pressure on the gymnasts to perform despite knowing that their score will likely be counted even if they fall.

“By the time we get down to the last person, whether we decide she’s going to go or not, that doesn’t matter because we’ve all committed to going big and doing it for each other,” Poston said.

This time, however, the Bruins counted a 9.675 from Frazier en route to a season-low 48.950 on vault, but still surpassed the Huskies’ 48.600.

“I feel like we’re all very excited to get in there and work really hard in the gym,” Poston said. “Coming off two meets, that is a pretty inspiring thing to want to work hard after a lot of meets.”

After competing twice in two different states in a span of five days, UCLA will head to Salt Lake City to take on No. 3 Utah on Friday in a much-anticipated rematch of last year’s high-scoring affair.