This post was updated April 1 at 9:45 a.m.

The sophomore slump rarely discriminates.

Even the most accomplished athletes struggle to deliver when they kick off their second season.

Katelyn Rosen was no exception.

Known for her storytelling and captivating floor routines, the sophomore found success right out of the gate during her freshman campaign with UCLA gymnastics. The Boerne, Texas, local competed in the all-around seven times and ranked as the best freshman in the Pac-12 all-around standings.

Rosen was also a mainstay in UCLA’s floor lineup with her witchcraft-inspired floor routine owning a 9.910 NQS. But after a trailblazing debut season, the “Dark Witch of Westwood” has had a sophomore year far different from what she may have envisioned.

“After having such a phenomenal dream-type freshman year, there were a lot of expectations put on me,” Rosen said. “Usually, I welcome those expectations, and I thrive under that sort of pressure. But for whatever reason this year, it kind of cracked me a bit.”

Rosen’s second season opened with a bout of instability. She notched a career-low 9.575 on beam during the Bruins’ season opener Jan. 4, wobbling on her newly upgraded triple acrobatic series. Rosen said the performance shook her confidence, later culminating in a fall on her floor routine Jan. 18 and her first career fall on beam the following week.

“I am someone who’s going to spiral if something goes wrong,” Rosen said. “I’m going to overanalyze it from every single angle and that usually takes me down into a dark place that I really don’t need to be.”

After the series of mistakes and miscues, Rosen stepped back from the competition floor. She took this time to work with the coaching staff, honing in on the basics and boosting her mental health and confidence.

While Rosen struggled to find her footing, senior Emma Malabuyo was a beacon of support, sitting in her corner every step of the way.

“She [Malabuyo] really took me under her wing when I was a freshman,” Rosen said. “When things kind of started to go south for me this year, she immediately pulled me aside and was like, ‘Do not crash out. This is your sophomore year. It’s called your sophomore slump. It happened to me, it happened to every single one of your seniors. You are still Katelyn. You are still an incredible gymnast, and you cannot forget that.’”

The Bruins’ roster this season seems much deeper than last year. And with that depth, Rosen could prioritize her mental health knowing the squad had her back not only emotionally but also in the gym.

But even in her own times of darkness, Rosen has been a source of motivation and spirit for the rest of the group.

“Even though she was struggling, she showed up as a fantastic teammate every step of the way, and she contributed to the team in every moment, whether it was the corral or on the competition floor,” said head coach Janelle McDonald. “To me, that’s just the epitome of a team leader.”

When Rosen was ready to begin competing, she was back like she had never left.

After several weeks of exhibition routines, Rosen rejoined the lineup in a critical moment at the Big Ten Championships, helping the Bruins notch a season-high 198.450 total – the highest team score ever recorded at the tournament.

On beam, she notched a season-high 9.925 and helped restore momentum after an uncharacteristically low 9.825 mark from lead-off senior Emily Lee. Rosen also nabbed a season-high 9.875 score to lead off UCLA’s record-breaking floor rotation, initiating a rhythm that would tie their nation-leading 49.800 on the event.

“It just goes to show how much her confidence is back and how much trust we have in her and what she has in herself,” Lee said.

Coming from an elite background, Rosen initially strived to keep high-difficulty skills in her beam routine. However, assistant coach Lacy Dagen adjusted her routine for a composition that would better support her confidence – and her scores.

Having conquered the sophomore slump, Rosen returns as a seemingly more resilient gymnast and individual, prioritizing mental health, listening to her body and not pushing past her limits for the sake of difficulty.

With the national championships on the horizon, Rosen is back when it matters most, bringing her signature, self-proclaimed “horrifyingly fabulous” energy back into the postseason.

“When you have a team of girls and coaches as supportive as mine, it’s pretty hard to stay down for too long,” Rosen said.