Gymnastics prepares to return to conference championships, looks to defend title

Denied a chance to compete last year, the Bruins will return to the conference championships this weekend.

No. 13 UCLA gymnastics (6-2, 4-2 Pac-12) will travel to Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah, to compete in the second session of the Pac-12 Championships on Saturday. The Bruins enter the meet as the reigning 2019 conference champions, as last year’s meet was canceled weeks before because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

UCLA will face off against No. 5 California (7-1, 6-1), No. 6 Utah (10-1, 6-0) and No. 11 Arizona State (5-5, 4-3) in the evening session. Both of the Bruins’ losses this season were to teams they will directly compete against, the Golden Bears and the Utes.

“We’ve talked about it all year that we need to be at our best when the best is needed,” said coach Chris Waller. “Bottom line is we keep trucking away and trying to improve, getting a bit more gritty and a bit more confident with each meet.”

In its matchup with Utah one month ago, UCLA set a season-high score of 197.100, as the Bruins surpassed 49.000 on all four events – the first of two meets in which that mark was reached this season. However, it was not enough to overtake the Utes, who won by .125 points.

In just the last two weeks, California passed Utah as the highest nationally-ranked team in the Pac-12, making it the No. 1 seed coming into Saturday’s contest despite losing head-to-head to the Utes. The Bears have gained steam as the season progressed, collecting program records on uneven bars, beam and floor, as well as a program record 198.050 when the Bruins came to visit two weeks ago.

In that contest, UCLA was on track for a season-best team score with highs on two events, but multiple falls on beam – its final rotation – closed the door on a come-from-behind victory.

Arizona State is the only competitor in the second session which UCLA defeated in dual meets this season, taking the victory in the opening meet of the year. Nevertheless, the Sun Devils are currently ranked above the Bruins, as their consistency led to a 197.088 Team National Qualifying Score, 0.050 higher than UCLA’s.

Waller said despite the Bruins’ place in the session as the No. 4 seed, the team knows that it can still compete with the best as long as they show the best versions of themselves.

“Every dual meet is important and we want to go undefeated throughout the year and beat our rivals,” Waller said. “But we want to shine brightest at the end of the season, so certainly with Pac-12s, this is the time for us to step up and shine brighter.”

Part of competing at their best is having the best team available, and while the Bruins’ lineup has not been set in stone yet, Waller said that it’s possible Saturday will mark the return of junior Norah Flatley. Flatley has not competed this season because of a lingering ankle injury, but was a staple of the team in 2020, collecting 11 scores of 9.875 or higher competing in three events.

“(Flatley) did train (Wednesday) successfully,” Waller said. “So if all things go well, we hope she’ll be in the bars lineup.”

Another point in the Bruins’ favor is that they will start on their trademark rotation – floor exercise. UCLA is ranked No. 6 on the event, higher than any other Pac-12 team, and is known for its viral and high-scoring performances on the floor.

“The team was super pumped up about starting on floor, they’re like ‘Yay, floor party!’” Waller said. “I think it’s going to be a great way for us to go into the meet and start off with a bang … and carry that momentum throughout all four events.”