NCAA Gymnastics: UCLA Bruins Soar Past Cardinals, Nearing Postseason Glory

Mar 2, 2024 | 6:15 AM EST

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The 2024 NCAA Gymnastics regular season is nearing its end, firing up the rosters in hopes of a post-season appearance. With a handful of meets left on the schedule, the UCLA Bruins have started on a favorable journey to repeat the 2023 Pac-12 dominance. In the process, having Stanford Cardinals making the recent list, the Bruins ensured to blaze through.

So far into the 2024 NCAA gymnastics Pac-12, the UCLA Bruins have recorded 3 wins to their 2 losses. The most recent of the results arrived when the Cardinals fell to their sixth loss of the season; helping the Bruins near the Pac-12 title and an eventual post-season hope.

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UCLA Bruins blazes through NCAA Gymnastics

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If the Bruins wished to retain their Pac-12 regular season title, a win against the Cardinals would prove a crucial one, followed by a slip-up from Cal and Utah. Ticking off the first box on the list, UCLA posted 197.175-196.725, putting up dominating performances on uneven bars and balance beam. Helping the total with the lead was Chae Campbell in the vault for 9.875, which the gymnast claimed with a Yurchenko full. Frida Esparza and Selena Harris followed on the uneven bars next with 9.9 each. While Nya Reed took on the floor for 9.925, Selena Harris once again rose atop in all-around with 39.325.

FINAL: UCLA 197.175, Stanford 196.725
UCLA event winners:
V – @chae_jada 9.9
UB – @fritataesparza, @selena_harriss 9.9
FX – @nyreed_ 9.925
AA – @selena_harriss 39.325 pic.twitter.com/3LP6yDTSKp
— UCLA Gymnastics (@uclagymnastics) March 2, 2024

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“Overall I think we did a good job pushing through. There were a lot of changes in and out, and I think that it shows how adaptable we can be,” Campbell said talking of the meet. The team currently stands fourth in the Pac-12 standings and has maintained its 10th position overall. Eyeing the NCAA gymnastics championships with that, the Bruins hope to clear out the next challenge arriving next week.

Hopes of repeating history

The last time UCLA Bruins and Arizona went against each other was in January of the 2024 NCAA gymnastics season. The then no.11 Bruins had much to embrace going against the no.18 Arizona Wildcats. For the first view, the roster posted 198.075 – 196.525, thus recording their season-high and becoming the first Pac-12 team to surpass the 198 mark. The meet also saw sophomore Selena Harris record a career-high 39.775 which was also the third-best in the nation.

Also Read: ‘Writing History’ Jade Carey Stuns Thousands at NCAA Gymnastics Meet: ”Setting the Standards”

Now going ahead, the Bruins will look to improve their NQS which will play a big role in seeding for NCAA regionals. Their current standing will definitely act as a boost, however, a strong force from rivals could easily bid the Bruins against Utah or Golden Bears, against whom they have previously lost. Hence, in hopes of a better path toward NCAA gymnastics championships, UCLA hopes to repeat history.