UCLA gymnastics aims for final road win of season amid onslaught of injuries

The Bruins will have a chance to return to the win column despite a bevy of injuries.

Following two losses, No. 15 UCLA gymnastics will travel to Tempe to take on No. 20 Arizona State in its last away meet of the regular season Sunday. The Bruins hold a 67-23 all-time record against the Sun Devils and will have the chance to add another win amid a rash of injuries that have hit the team in the past few weeks.

After the team lost senior Margzetta Frazier to a broken foot during the team’s first meet of the season, bars specialist sophomore Sara Ulias tore her ACL in her right knee against Stanford on Feb. 12 and will miss the rest of the season. Meanwhile, senior Norah Flatley came up limping after an awkward landing on the floor against the Cardinal.

Coach Chris Waller said there is no timetable for Frazier’s return and that Flatley will likely rest on vault and floor against Arizona State.

“We are certainly in the deep end when it comes to (injuries),” Waller said. “We need to manage this weekend really smart. We need to make sure we are managing people’s bodies the best we can so (that) as we go into this second half of the season and the postseason, people are ready to bring their best.”

The loss of Ulias leaves a hole in the middle of the Bruins’ bar lineup, as the sophomore has competed on the event in 14 consecutive meets for UCLA and posted seven scores of 9.850 or higher.

Waller said he hopes sophomore Frida Esparza’s return from an ankle injury will help fill Ulias’ spot.

“We are hoping that (Esparza) comes back on bars this weekend. She is super motivated and wants to be back in the lineup,” Waller said. “She is a beautiful bar worker. I’ve never seen her work more intentionally than what she’s done the past three weeks.”

Along with the injuries to Frazier, Ulias, Flatley and Esparza, sophomore Chae Campbell and senior Pauline Tratz have also missed routines because of injuries this season.

Campbell has competed in the all-around in three consecutive meets – including two straight meets without a sub-9.825 score – but will be rested on all events except bars this weekend, according to Waller.

The sophomore said focusing on what the team can control is critical in the face of injuries.

“With (the fact) that we’re dealing with little aches and pains and bumps in the road with injuries, we need to check in with ourselves and make sure that we are as healthy as we can be when we’re competing,” Campbell said.

The meet against the Sun Devils represents the Bruins’ last chance to tally a road score that counts toward their National Qualifying Score, but Waller said managing his team’s health remains the top priority.

With two all-arounders in Flatley and Campbell resting on multiple events Sunday, UCLA will fill the gaps by returning freshman Brooklyn Moors to the floor and vault lineups after she was held out against the Cardinal for resting purposes, according to Waller.

Waller added that senior Samantha Sakti is slated to make her second-ever appearance in the Bruins’ floor lineup after a one-meet cameo last season in which she scored a 9.625.

Campbell said no matter the adversity, the team knows its ability.

“We are one of the top teams, and we have the potential to be a top team,” Campbell said. “We all know individually we are fantastic gymnasts and we just have to find our stride where we all come together collectively to contribute the highest score that we can.”

Sunday’s meet kicks off at 2 p.m.