Friday, March 29, 2024

AdvertiseDonateSubmit
NewsSportsArtsOpinionThe QuadPhotoVideoIllustrationsCartoonsGraphicsThe StackPRIMEEnterpriseInteractivesPodcastsBruinwalkClassifieds

Sophomore Chae Campbell earns 1st career perfect 10 in gymnastics’ win vs. Huskies

Sophomore Chae Campbell dances on floor. Campbell reached perfection for the first time in her career in No. 18 UCLA gymnastics’ win over Washington on Sunday. (Esther Ma/Daily Bruin staff)

Gymnastics


Washington194.300
No. 18 UCLA197.125

By Genevieve Trimbell

Feb. 27, 2022 4:53 p.m.

This post was updated Feb. 27 at 10:55 p.m.

For the third time in four meets, the Bruins reached perfection.

No. 18 UCLA gymnastics faced off against Pac-12 rival Washington on Sunday, leaving Pauley Pavilion with a 197.125-194.300 victory. Sophomore Chae Campbell closed out the meet with a perfect 10 on floor, marking the first time a Bruin not named Jordan Chiles has earned a perfect score this season.

“I’ve been manifesting it for a long time,” said Campbell. “Today was the day.”

After scoring a season high on vault with a 49.325 in their most recent meet, the Bruins kicked off the meet with a 49.250 on the apparatus, anchored by a season-high 9.925 from Campbell. The sophomore won both the vault title and the floor title on the afternoon.

“As our student-athletes are here longer, we get to know Chae better. She gets to know the rhythm of being a collegiate athlete better and figuring out how to compete at the highest level week after week,” said coach Chris Waller.

UCLA entered the second rotation with a lead of 1.525 points after Washington counted two falls on bars, posting a score of 47.725. The Bruins never lost that lead during the meet.

After scoring a 47.825 on bars in its previous meet – its lowest score on any event since 2011 – UCLA bounced back Sunday. Led by a pair of 9.875s from senior Norah Flatley and freshman Emma Malabuyo, the latter tying her season high on the event, the Bruins scored a 49.175.

Campbell said UCLA’s mindset in practice helped the team improve after last week.

“When we went into practice this week, we really just hit the reset button,” Campbell said. “Having that mentality going into this weekend really helped.”

When junior Kalyany Steele faltered with a 9.675 during her season debut, UCLA had to count a 9.750 from freshman Jordan Chiles, who fell on the event during the previous meet.

On beam, UCLA just breached the 49 threshold, tallying a 49.150. Malabuyo led the Bruins once more with a 9.900 from the fifth spot in the lineup. Every member of the team had at least one balance check, but UCLA went 6-for-6 for the third straight rotation.

“I noticed a change in attitude and the way we approached it today,” Malabuyo said. “We definitely came in here with confidence and just knowing that we’re going to do good gymnastics.”

Freshman Brooklyn Moors and senior Pauline Tratz tied their season highs on floor with 9.900 and 9.925, respectively. But it was Campbell who contributed the biggest score on floor for the Bruins, notching a perfect 10 for the first time in her career.

“(Campbell) has believed from day one that she was going to get a 10 at some point,” Waller said. “To her it has felt like a lifetime battling for that 10. … It’s a beautiful moment.”

Campbell’s perfect 10 capped off her all-around performance at a final score of 39.575, giving her the all-around title.

UCLA’s 49.550 on floor pushed it over the 197 mark for the second time this season, finishing with a 197.125 to Washington’s 194.300. The Bruins hit 24-for-24 for the second time this season.

“Today was a phenomenal day,” Waller said. “They were aggressive. They kept their energy. … The next step is bringing that next level of confidence with that intensity, energy and determination throughout the competition.”

The blue and gold returns to Pauley Pavilion on Sunday to face off against California.

Share this story:FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Genevieve Trimbell | Sports contributor
Trimbell is currently a contributor on the gymnastics and rowing beats.
Trimbell is currently a contributor on the gymnastics and rowing beats.
COMMENTS
Featured Classifieds
More classifieds »
Related Posts