Jordan Chiles Excels as UCLA Takes Third in Challenging Collegiate Quad Meet
UCLA Women’s Gymnastics Faces Tough Competition in Collegiate Quad Meet
UCLA’s women’s gymnastics team, now ranked No. 1 following a strong performance in their opening meet, encountered challenging competition at the Collegiate Quad in West Valley City, Utah, on Saturday. Having finished as the runner-up last season, the Bruins are aware that meticulous attention to detail and unwavering focus will be crucial in their quest for a national title.
In this challenging meet, UCLA secured third place, as Oklahoma—defending national champions and the preseason favorite—along with Louisiana State University (LSU), tied for first. Oklahoma ultimately claimed victory on a tiebreaker.
Jordan Chiles of UCLA showcased her talent by finishing second in the individual all-around competition. Chiles scored a total of 39.575, narrowly trailing LSU’s Kailin Chio, who achieved a score of 39.6.
The meet began with the Bruins competing on the uneven bars, where they scored a commendable 49.425. Chiles and Tiana Sumanasekera led the charge, each achieving a score of 9.9, while Katelyn Rosen, Nola Matthews, and Ashlee Sullivan contributed with scores of 9.875. At the end of this rotation, UCLA held the lead, with Oklahoma trailing at 49.350.
However, the next rotation on the balance beam proved to be a challenge for UCLA. After some shaky performances, including a fall by Matthews, the Bruins regrouped, closing out the rotation with scores of 9.85 from Chiles and 9.925 from Ciena Alipio. Despite their efforts, UCLA dropped to third place as Oklahoma asserted dominance on the uneven bars.
The team continued to struggle during the floor exercise in the third rotation, finishing with a total score of 49.125. Chiles once again shone, scoring 9.925, which earned her a tie for first place in the individual floor competition—her sixth event title of the season. UCLA concluded this rotation with an overall score of 147.725, trailing behind Oklahoma and LSU, who competed closely for the top position.
As the final rotation began, Sumanasekera achieved a score of 9.875 on vault. Additional contributions came from Rosen and Riley Jenkins, who scored 9.825, and Sullivan, with 9.850, while Chiles ended the meet with a score of 9.9. Ultimately, the Bruins finished with a total score of 197, behind both Oklahoma and LSU, who each scored 197.5 points.
UCLA will return to Los Angeles to prepare for their upcoming home meet against Nebraska on January 17, marking their first competition at home this season.
