After a second-place run and significant roster turnover, the question remains: Who will rise to the occasion?

For the Bruins, the answer is simple – everyone.

UCLA gymnastics gave fans a glimpse of what it has to offer Saturday afternoon at Pauley Pavilion during its annual Meet the Bruins showcase. Stuck landings, debuted routines and a palpable positive atmosphere – with teammates dancing together and sprinting in for group hugs after every routine – defined the exhibition.

The cohesion masked a roster in transition, and athletes returned from vastly different offseason paths.

“Everybody had a very different offseason,” said junior Katelyn Rosen. “We have ‘Dancing with the Stars’ [and] we have international gymnastics. I was pretty much training and at the beach the whole day. We all came from very different starting points, but we all got to the retreat, set our goals, created what this family dynamic was going to feel like.”

The 2025 No. 1 floor team in the nation picked up right where it left off, despite losing half of its starting lineup in alumni Chae Campbell, Brooklyn Moors and Emma Malabuyo. Ten athletes showcased a variety of floor routines, blending different styles and backgrounds into a cohesive showing.

Rosen traded her dark witch persona of years past for that of a rapper, performing a routine with Eminem’s music.

The freshmen appeared fully integrated into the team’s explosive floor group, with a trio of elite newcomers showcasing distinct routines. Freshman Tiana Sumanasekera celebrated her Sri Lankan heritage with music and choreography, an approach that has defined her elite performances.

First-year Nola Matthews also continued themes from her professional work, performing a horror routine featuring haunting expressions, eerie head and arm movements and even a scream incorporated into the Lady Gaga soundtrack.

Freshman Ashlee Sullivan leaned into throwback music with a Britney Spears-inspired routine, sticking her opening double layout. Sullivan said she only learned the routine earlier this week, a product of the team’s varied offseason schedules.

The Richardson, Texas, local spent a portion of the fall with Team USA, competing at the World Selection Event and serving as an alternate at the World Championships. She also won the Memorial Arthur Gander tournament in Morges, Switzerland on Nov. 5.

“I just got here four weeks ago,” Sullivan said. “Coming in freshman year but also having that elite path … is truly something special. But when I came here, we were already hitting the ground running. … Everyone looks so good, it pushes me to be as best as I can.”

Multiple gymnasts used the exhibition to stake their claim, showcasing offseason work and a willingness to step into roles that departing upperclassmen left open.

Senior Ciena Alipio, who has primarily competed on beam throughout her collegiate career, stuck her bars dismount while also leading off on floor and anchoring beam. Senior Madisyn Anyimi similarly broadened her presence, factoring into bars and floor, along with her usual vault exhibitions.

“The dynamic is there, the way that they train is definitely going to show throughout the season,” said senior Jordan Chiles. “It’s cool to see where their minds have changed, especially knowing that we were so close last year and now, this year, we’re going to continue to fight.”

Offseason work continued to pay dividends on vault, where sophomore Riley Jenkins stuck her Yurchenko 1.5 cold. The event featured a young group, with five of the seven gymnasts being underclassmen, which mirrored a roster that consists of 11 underclassmen out of 18 gymnasts.

Coach Janelle McDonald added that although many of the athletes intend to compete the Yurchenko 1.5, holding a 10.0 start value, several opted to compete Yurchenko fulls in the exhibition.

Seven underclassmen also contributed on bars, which was the squad’s lowest-ranked event last season. Several gymnasts rose to the occasion, with even those playing it safe due to injury – such as freshmen Ava Callahan and Jordis Eichman – delivering clean routines despite holding back on full dismounts. Multiple routines featured stuck landings and upgraded connections.

“Something we talked about at retreat is equality,” Rosen said. “A freshman can be just as important and just as good a leader as a senior can be, and that’s something really fun. Even though we have a younger team, the gymnastics is still there, the confidence is still there. … We can just play gymnastics.”

Upgrades and new additions were also present on beam.

Sophomore Mika Webster-Longin opened her routine with a handstand mount that flowed into a split position before sticking her roundoff 1.5 dismount. Chiles also introduced new choreography, incorporating elements from her “Dancing with the Stars” freestyle.

“It’s a new era,” Chiles said. “I’m excited for the season. 2026 is going to be so special.”