Balance beam defined UCLA gymnastics in 2016.

Nearly a decade later – and eight years after a national championship was decided on the event’s final routine – assistant coach Lacy Dagen is reshaping beam into the program’s new identity.

In Dagen’s second year as lead beam coach, UCLA’s No. 4 beam ranking leads all events – a mark not reached since the 2016 Bruin beam squad earned the same mark.

“She (Dagen) creates a casual, hard-working energy,” said coach Janelle McDonald. “There’s never this big, stressful environment on beam, which allows them to build a calm confidence when they’re up there competing.”

Success came immediately with Dagen’s arrival at Westwood. The program climbed from No. 9 in 2024 to No. 4 in her first season, finishing the year with a 96.9% hit routine rate and no scores below 49.000.

Dagen coached then-senior Emma Malabuyo to 14 scores matching or exceeding 9.900. Malabuyo anchored every beam lineup in 2025, culminating in a season-high-tying 9.975 that clinched her the NCAA beam runner-up title.

Senior Ciena Alipio has since taken over the anchor position after her own 2025 accolades. Alipio marked nine scores of 9.900 or above, including a career-first perfect score that secured her the Big Ten beam title.

Dagen, who is endearingly referred to as a “teammate” by UCLA gymnastics team members, is not far removed from her own NCAA gymnastics career.

The Pleasanton, California, local began at the University of Florida in 2015, where she was hindered by several injuries. She was sidelined her freshman season following a torn anterior cruciate ligament in fall training, competing one vault the following year before undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus.

With only one collegiate routine under her belt, Dagen transferred to Oregon State in 2017 and competed four exhibition beam routines the following season. From 2019-21, Dagen completed 50 vault and beam routines for the Beavers, including a career-high 9.975 on beam in February 2020 against Stanford.

After serving as team captain in her last two years with the Beavers, Dagen began coaching, first at UC Davis, to Oregon State, to Arizona State University and then finally at UCLA at just 27 years old.

Even after just three competitions this season, the Bruins’ beam potential is shining. UCLA is fresh off a season-high 49.625 – a mark it hasn’t exceeded more than once in a season since 2018.

“That was one of the best beam (rotations) I’ve seen for a very long time,” said senior Jordan Chiles Sunday after matching her career-high of 9.975 on the apparatus. “We finally are figuring things out.”

Heading into 2026, Dagen could be rewriting the Bruin’s legacy – one that cements their status as a nation-leading beam team.