With the new year, comes the latest season of gymnastics, the UCLA Gymnastics team performed the opening in Oceanside on January 4th at the American Gold Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Championships, but after long anticipation the results were kinda disappointing and it turns out no one was expecting this, they have scored their lowest in more than a decade, leaving the majority wondering how a dominant force in NCAA gymnastics could drastically falter at the season’s opening?

The Bruins led by Olympic star Jordan Chiles, faced off against Oregon State and California. In the tri-meet competition that brought together the Pac-12 conference rivals, all the involved colleges were ranked under 20 in the last season. With California sitting on the #4, Oregon took #19, and UCLA at #10. However, individual scores were good, but not good enough to keep the pace up like they used to. Brooklyn Moors and Jordan Chiles created many wows, but it didn’t help with the overall score being low.

The results of the competition left everyone shocked. With California claiming the first position, Oregon claiming second, and third stood UCLA, lost to Oregon State, 195.250-195.775, and California, 195.250-195.275. Turns out, this wasn’t the only thing. They scored the third lowest in more than 15 years of UCLA Gymnastics Openings. That was a bummer for everyone, as loads of expectations were loaded.

From a season high of 197.650 in 2022 to staying near it even in 2024 with 196.550, the UCLA Gymnastics opening scores have varied around the 196 to 197 benchmark, touching just a bit over 195, which is exceptionally low for UCLA. Even the fans have voiced their mixed opinions about their performances. Things did go wrong during the start.

A rough vault rotation opening and two early falls of uneven, unstable rhythm were quite notable. Olympian Emma Malabuyo and Chae Campbell scored only 48.200. The lowest score since Coach Janelle McDonald’s presence. McDonald recognized the setback, she stated, “I was not planning to start the meet like we did, I think they just got a little bit amped up. They had a little bit of excitement, mixed with nerves probably. Those are definitely moments we’re going to really learn from and take with us.”

Will The Bruins hop onto the second chance?

Despite the disappointing results, the season opener has provided valuable lessons for the team. Coach McDonald’s perspective remains optimistic, focusing on the opportunity to learn and grow from the challenges. With the season still young, there is plenty of time for the Bruins to recover and adjust as they look ahead to upcoming meets. The closest call is taking place on 10-11 January, at The Sprouts Collegiate in Oklahoma City, a chance for the UCLA gymnastics team to be salvaged.

Looking ahead, UCLA’s history of overcoming early-season struggles is a testament to their resilience. This setback could very well serve as a motivation booster, encouraging the Bruins to recalibrate and focus on building a more cohesive team dynamic. With strong leadership from Coach McDonald and standout athletes like Chiles, Malabuyo, and Campbell, the Bruins are expected to bounce back quickly, hoping for it!

Furthermore, the competitive nature of the Pac-12 conference means that the Bruins can’t afford to dwell on a single poor performance. Every meet is an opportunity to refine their skills and gain momentum. As they move forward into the rest of the season, UCLA Gymnastics will be focused on recovering their consistency and pushing their limits. What do you think about the upcoming showdown at OKC?