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Black History Month 2025

Brooklyn Moors eyes perfect 10 before her final dismount from UCLA gymnastics

Graduate student Brooklyn Moors stares at the student section in Pauley Pavilion on Saturday while performing a floor routine. (Brianna Carlson/Daily Bruin staff)

By Finn Karish

Jan. 27, 2025 10:50 p.m.

This post was updated Jan 28. at 11:13 p.m.

Perfection in the gym is a Bruin trademark.

Junior Jordan Chiles has racked up nine perfect scores throughout her career. Former UCLA gymnastics great Jamie Dantzscher notched 28 from 2001 to 2004 – tied for the most perfect 10s in NCAA history.

Brooklyn Moors hasn’t had her turn yet. But 2025 may be her defining year.

The graduate student has not scored lower than 9.900 on floor in the Bruins’ inaugural season in the Big Ten and tied her 9.950 season high twice already in 2025. However, becoming UCLA’s top-ranked floor worker has been nothing less than a journey.

“I want to get a 10 on the floor,” Moors said. “This is my last year of gymnastics ever, so I’m really giving it my all.”

Changes to the evaluation system with judges being strictly evaluated after each meet has made perfect marks a rarity this season, but with UCLA’s history of 10 performances, Moors would be joining a club filled with fellow Bruins.

Moors’ quest for perfection came to a screeching halt in December 2022 after a knee injury sidelined her for most of the 2023 season. The Canadian Olympian returned in 2024 and contributed eight 9.900 or higher scores on floor but only competed on beam once all season, earning a 9.350 on the event in UCLA’s second meet of the season.

“Going into this year, some of our trainers didn’t even know if it was a good idea for me to compete at all,” Moors said. “I thought I’d come in and do floor just as a specialist.”

However, Moors competed on vault, beam and floor in each of UCLA’s first four meets, notching season-high marks on two events against Maryland and contributing a 9.850 to the Bruin’s season-high 49.550 beam total.

“I was very proud of Brooklyn Moors and how she got out there and really nailed her three events today,” said coach Janelle McDonald after UCLA’s win against Maryland. “It’s really special to see her having the year she’s having as a senior.”

(Brianna Carlson/Daily Bruin staff)
Assistant coach Lacy Dagen hugs Moors Saturday after the Canadian Olympian finished a beam routine. (Brianna Carlson/Daily Bruin staff)

Veteran Bruins have been the driving force behind UCLA’s success this season, with senior Emma Malabuyo contributing four straight 9.900 or higher scores on beam and graduate student Chae Campbell sitting as the nation’s No. 17 all-rounder with a 39.400 average mark.

Amid a roster filled with former elite and Olympic gymnasts, Moors contributes the most on the floor – slotting in as the nation’s No. 4 floor worker with a 9.925 average score. Following the Bruins’ last meet against the Terrapins, Moors was named a Big Ten co-Event Specialist of the Week after tying her 9.950 career high.

Moors’ recent success on beam comes after McDonald brought in first-year assistant coach Lacy Dagen during the offseason to fine tune the Bruins’ beam routines. Her arrival comes after a pair of one-year coaching stints at Oregon State and Arizona State – the former being her alma matter, where she notched three event titles on beam.

“She could relate to us a lot – she had a lot of knowledge with injuries and how to train beam being an athlete herself so recently,” Moors said.

Having this support from staff who understand the physical stress being put on the athletes’ bodies every day could be crucial for someone like Moors who said she strives to stay healthy and maintain confidence.

Additionally, Moors’ goals for the year extend beyond personal accomplishments – seeking to leverage her experience to lead the team’s newcomers.

“I remember being in their shoes coming from elite or Level 10,” Moors said. “All I want to do is pass on all of my knowledge to them so they can lead the team for the next years to come.”

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Finn Karish
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