Editor’s note: This article’s headline was updated Aug. 12 at 1:32 p.m. to replace the original headline, which appeared to be improperly appropriated from another organization.

It is vital to peak at the right time – scoring highest at the meets that matter the most when the pressure is on.

That challenge played out this week when several incoming freshmen stepped onto one of gymnastics’ biggest stages.

Four incoming UCLA gymnastics athletes – Ashlee Sullivan, Tiana Sumanasekera, Nola Matthews and Jordis Eichman – competed at the Xfinity United States Gymnastics Championships on Aug. 8 and Aug. 10 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. Their performance offered a glimpse at how they handle high-pressure moments that often define elite success.

Each athlete competed twice on every event, with the two all-around scores combining to determine the final standings. The top eight automatically earned spots on the U.S. senior national team, and judges selected additional gymnasts at their discretion.

Two Bruins found their way to the national team by the end of the weekend. Sullivan led the Bruins in the rankings, notching a fourth-place 107.950. Sumanasekera made her all-around debut this weekend after facing an ankle injury earlier this summer. She recorded a ninth-place 105.950 and was included as an additional pick to the national team.

“It was so unfortunate when I got injured, but after talking with the doctors and everything, realizing that it was nothing much and just needed a couple weeks to get back into it was such a big relief,” Sumanasekera said in an interview with Inside Gymnastics.

Matthews and Eichman, who finished 14th with a 103.900 and 18th with a 102.300, respectively, fell short of the cutoff. However, Matthews didn’t leave empty-handed – earning USA Gymnastics Sportsperson of the Year honors for the third consecutive season.

The athletes excelled on floor, hinting at the impact they could have for UCLA this upcoming season. Sullivan’s 14.000 and 13.800 combined for the third-highest floor total of the event. Sumanasekera debuted a self-choreographed routine honoring her Sri Lankan heritage. She fell out of her third pass on day one, posting a 12.400, but improved her form in the second round to earn a 13.500.

Matthews notched her highest score of the competition on floor, completing a murder-mystery themed routine that helped her earn a ninth-place 26.300.

“I always like doing a dark, kind of creepy theme. I feel like this is probably my favorite one,” Matthews said in an interview with Inside Gymnastics. “It’s definitely a process, and it takes time and kind of morphs over time, but I’m really happy with the finished product.”

The Bruins flashed their vault skillsets, with both Sumanasekera and Sullivan performing Yurchenko double fulls. Sumanasekera matched her 13.950 on both days, and Sullivan recorded a 27.500.

Eichman and Matthews opted for Yurchenko fulls, which carry a start value 0.800 lower than the double full. Reduced difficulty decreased their scores despite solid execution.

On beam, the four Bruins fought for stability, and visible wobbles marred their routines. Sumanasekera maintained consistency, posting a sixth-place 27.650 on the event, while Sullivan took eighth with a 27.100. Eichman fell off the apparatus on day one, recording an 11.950, but recovered the second day, boosting her score to a 12.450.

Eichman shone on bars, where she stuck the landing on night one and nearly repeated the feat on her second try. Her 26.400 was good for eighth in the competition. But Sullivan and Sumanasekera struggled across the competition – Sullivan notched a 12.050 on the first night after missing a connection on the top bar and falling, while Sumanasekera landed with her hands on the mat on night two, recording an 11.550.

The four athletes showcased versatility and distinct strengths on each event, assets that may bolster their collegiate squad heading into the 2025-26 campaign.

“I’m excited to see them as a whole come together as Bruins in the fall,” said coach Janelle McDonald, who attended the Championships with associate head coach BJ Das. “They’ve got a lot they’re managing right now, but they really are special athletes and really amazing gymnasts to watch.”

Sumanasekera and Sullivan will likely continue their journeys at the women’s World Team Selection event, which will take place Sept. 29 through Oct. 2. The event is the final qualifier for the 2025 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, which will be held at the end of October.