A group of die-hard UCLA fans hoards the student section for every home gymnastics meet, sitting right in front of the floor.

When each gymnast lands their final tumbling pass, shreds of blue and gold paper fly into the air. When the gymnast salutes, the crowd shouts and demands a perfect 10 from the judges.

This group of students – better known as The Den, UCLA’s student section – is ever-present for No. 15 UCLA gymnastics’ meets. Packing the front row of the of Pauley Pavilion, these dedicated fans dance along to the floor routines, like those of Bruins’ alumnus Katelyn Ohashi, who went viral for her floor routine in 2019.

The Den will be back in action Saturday as UCLA holds its first home meet of the season. After competing in three straight quad meets on the road, coach Janelle McDonald said the team is looking forward to having The Den present at the meet.

“Our Den is just incredible,” McDonald said. “Just a student section that invests in learning our gymnasts’ routines, and has been really invested in our program and giving them all the support that they can, and so the energy is second to none.”

To prepare, The Den came to Yates Gym last week to learn choreography and meet with the team ahead of its home opener.

“We had them in last week, which was super fun to get them prepared for our first home meet,” McDonald said. “It really sparks a lot of joy for our team to get to share their routines and really get to teach The Den little pieces of it.”

Assistant coach BJ Das, who has coached and choreographed the Bruins’ floor since 2020, incorporates interactive movements that allow the crowd to play a part in the gymnasts’ floor routines.

For the team’s newcomers, Saturday will be the first time they get to perform their floor routines in front of The Den. Graduate student Nya Reed experienced student sections in the SEC, but she said has never witnessed a student section like at UCLA.

“I cannot wait to see what they have with floor, I’m very excited when it comes to that,” Reed said. “That’s going to be a special moment that I get to experience and that I’m going to hold dear to my heart.”

Freshman Katelyn Rosen is used to competing in big stadiums at elite competitions. The Texas local was a 2020 U.S. National Team member and was a five-time U.S. Championships qualifier.

In her first home meet as a NCAA gymnast, the student section in Pauley Pavilion will be a new experience for her.

“I cannot wait to see how it is, not only for my own floor routine, but for the rest of my team’s routines,” Rosen said. “I’m definitely going to remember this meet forever. I just know we’re going to make a lot of special memories.”

The Den has been an integral part of the UCLA Athletics’ culture for about 26 years.

And for UCLA gymnastics, it means a backbone of support at every home meet.