Jordan Chiles Shines for UCLA in Last Home Meet, Leading Bruins to Victory Against Utah
The UCLA gymnastics team celebrated an emotional farewell to its seniors with a narrow victory over rival Utah, winning 197.850 to 197.400 during their final meet at Pauley Pavilion on Saturday night. An enthusiastic crowd of 12,598 witnessed the event, which served as a fitting conclusion to the season.
Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles captivated fans with a nostalgic floor routine set to ’90s R&B, clinching the all-around title with a score of 39.800. “She brought back an oldie but a goodie for her last routine in Pauley!” the team’s social media account remarked, expressing gratitude for Chiles’ contributions over her four years.
The evening began with Tiana Sumanasekera achieving a 9.750 on the vault, while Mika Webster-Longin and Riley Jenkins both scored 9.900. Ashley Sullivan followed with a remarkable 9.975, earning a perfect score from one judge. UCLA head coach Janelle McDonald energized the crowd as Chiles launched into her routine, culminating in a score of 9.950, giving UCLA a slim lead over Utah by just 0.050 points.
During the bars event, Ciena Alipio initiated the rotation with a 9.850, followed by Webster-Longin scoring 9.875. Matthews, despite an unsteady landing, contributed with a 9.850, while Sullivan impressed with a 9.900. Chiles concluded this rotation with a strong 9.950.
Utah closed the second rotation with a vault performance that brought them within 0.025 of UCLA. Facing the beam, Barros set a positive tone with a 9.825. Webster-Longin, after a shaky start, managed to score 9.800.
In a notable moment of the night, sidelined due to injury, Katelyn Rosen initiated a “10” chant from the audience after Sumanasekera scored 9.900. Chiles’ teammates rallied for a perfect score following her routine, but the judges settled on 9.950, met with disappointment by the crowd. Alipio, visibly emotional, completed her performance with a score of 9.925, prompting McDonald to question the judge’s decision.
After three rotations, UCLA led 148.300 to 148.125, especially after Clara Raposo from Utah was unable to finish her floor routine due to injury. Alipio concluded her senior night with a score of 9.800, followed by additional strong performances from Webster-Longin (9.875) and Barros (9.900). Sumanasekera delivered an impressive 9.925, with Sullivan earning 9.900 as she set the stage for Chiles. Chiles closed the meet with a heartfelt 9.950, receiving an outpouring of support from teammates.
UCLA will next head to Champaign, Illinois, for the Big Ten Conference championship meet, aiming to continue their successful season.
