The tradition-rich UCLA gymnastics program is blazing a new path this season.
Moving to the Big Ten Conference has brought on the challenges of a more demanding travel schedule and new opponents. The third-ranked Bruins have seized it all and are on the brink of the Big Ten regular-season title.
“We have an opportunity to really start writing this next chapter of UCLA gymnastics in the Big Ten,” head coach Janelle McDonald told reporters on a Zoom call. “We take that really seriously, and we think it’s a special opportunity to be able to learn and grow and really make a statement in this conference.”
UCLA (9-2 overall, 6-0 Big Ten) will compete against No. 21 Nebraska, No. 22 Ohio State and Rutgers in the Big Four Meet on Sunday at Ohio State’s Covelli Centre. A first-place finish in the quad meet will secure the outright Big Ten regular-season championship for the Bruins. UCLA has already defeated the Buckeyes in the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad in January.
The change of conference has meant the removal of Pac-12 Conference rivals like Utah, Oregon State and Cal. The Bruins still have them on their schedule but didn’t have to beat them in order to win an outright title.
More rivalries will likely emerge in the new conference – possibly Michigan State – but the Bruins have been more focused on the week-to-week recovery as they crisscross the country to take on and beat new Big Ten opponents.
“I really like competing against like other teams,” graduate student Chae Campbell said. “It’s cool to be able to go to other places, although we have to travel to Timbuktu to go to other states and stuff. I have friends on other teams, so it’s cool to see them and catch up and it’s also really fun to have a different competitive energy.”
Campbell has perhaps experienced the change in conferences more than others since this is her fifth year in the program. She’s been consistently successful through those five years, too, and will be back competing in the all-around this week after resting on vault and floor exercise in last week’s meet at Michigan.
“I’m so proud of everyone who was able to step into positions that I normally would be in,” Campbell said. “I think that speaks to the depth that we’ve been working on all season. That’s really comforting to know that going into this last half of the season, we have the depth. If people need to rest, we have that option.”
UCLA became one of three teams to post a team score of 197 or higher five times or more this season – alongside Oklahoma and Missouri – when it scored 197.550 at Michigan. The Bruins also rank in the top seven in all four events and are No. 2 in floor exercise.
@haleymsawyerHighlights from every UCLA gymnastics floor routine against Michigan State, including Jordan Chiles’ perfect 10 performance. #prince #olympian #bigten #ncaagymnastics #gymnastics #ucla #journalism #reporter #sports #sportsreporter
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The Bruins are averaging 197.253 this season, which is the best in the Big Ten. No. 7 Michigan State has the next-best team average of 197.084.
UCLA is on track to win the outright conference title and could be looking at a first-place finish at the Big Ten Conference championship meet on March 22.
“The Big Ten is all so new,” Campbell said. “So it’s really exciting for this to be our first year and even be in this conversation of having a possible regular-season title on the line. I think that speaks to a new era, a new beginning, and I think that’s really cool.”
No. 3 UCLA at Big Four Meet
Who: No. 3 UCLA (9-2 overall, 6-0 Big Ten), No. 21 Nebraska (2-10, 1-5), No. 22 Ohio State (2-7, 1-5) and Rutgers (12-6, 1-5)
When: Sunday, 2 p.m. PT
Where: Covelli Centre, Columbus, Ohio
TV: Big Ten Network
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