Saturday, January 4
Oceanside, Calif.
12:30 PM (PT)
UCLA
195.250
vs
196.275
California
Brooklyn Moors
Photo by: Jesus Ramirez
UCLA Finishes Third at American Gold Classic
January 04, 2025 | Gymnastics
Oceanside, Calif. - No. 10 UCLA opened its season with a third-place finish at the American Gold Classic in Frontwave Arena, scoring 195.250. No. 4 California took first place with a 196.275, and No. 19 Oregon State was second with a 195.775.
The Bruins had meet-winning routines from Olympians Jordan Chiles (9.900 on vault) and Brooklyn Moors (9.900 on floor exercise) and two other 9.900 scores from Chiles on uneven bars and fellow Olympian Emma Malabuyo on balance beam. Freshman Macy McGowan competed on three events and contributed three scores of 9.775 or higher, including a 9.850 on vault.
Two early falls on uneven bars in the first rotation put the Bruins in a hole, as they were only able to score 48.200. The back half of the lineup provided solid marks of 9.800 from McGowan and Frida Esparza and 9.900 from Chiles to finish strong.
"I was not planning to start the meet like we did," said The R.C. Rothman UCLA Head Gymnastics Coach Janelle McDonald. "Two falls and some low scores - that was not how we've been training. I think we just got a little bit amped up. They had some excitement mixed with nerves."
Rotation two showed improvement, as the Bruins scored 49.050 on balance beam, thanks to Emily Lee's 9.850 leadoff, and 9.825 or better from each of the last three competitors. Competing on beam for just the second time in nearly three years, Moors scored 9.825. Ciena Alipio followed with a 9.850, and Malabuyo closed with a 9.900.
UCLA recorded the meet's highest floor exercise score in rotation three, tallying 49.075. Moors led the way with a first-place-tying score of 9.900. Freshman Mika Webster-Longin contributed 9.825, Katelyn Rosen led off with a 9.800, and McGowan and Chiles each added 9.775.
The Bruins closed on vault with a 48.925. Chiles stuck her vault for a 9.900, and Chae Campbell and McGowan each added 9.850s.
"Those are definitely moments we will learn from and take with us," McDonald said about the meet. "I told the team we're going to turn the page and build from what we did today. I think a lot of the mistakes we made today were uncharacteristic, so I'm excited to dial things in and show a stronger performance next weekend."
UCLA next competes at the Sprouts Farmer's Market Collegiate Quad in Oklahoma City on Saturday, Jan. 11. The meet will be televised live on ESPN2 at 7pm CT/5pm PT.
The Bruins had meet-winning routines from Olympians Jordan Chiles (9.900 on vault) and Brooklyn Moors (9.900 on floor exercise) and two other 9.900 scores from Chiles on uneven bars and fellow Olympian Emma Malabuyo on balance beam. Freshman Macy McGowan competed on three events and contributed three scores of 9.775 or higher, including a 9.850 on vault.
Two early falls on uneven bars in the first rotation put the Bruins in a hole, as they were only able to score 48.200. The back half of the lineup provided solid marks of 9.800 from McGowan and Frida Esparza and 9.900 from Chiles to finish strong.
"I was not planning to start the meet like we did," said The R.C. Rothman UCLA Head Gymnastics Coach Janelle McDonald. "Two falls and some low scores - that was not how we've been training. I think we just got a little bit amped up. They had some excitement mixed with nerves."
Rotation two showed improvement, as the Bruins scored 49.050 on balance beam, thanks to Emily Lee's 9.850 leadoff, and 9.825 or better from each of the last three competitors. Competing on beam for just the second time in nearly three years, Moors scored 9.825. Ciena Alipio followed with a 9.850, and Malabuyo closed with a 9.900.
UCLA recorded the meet's highest floor exercise score in rotation three, tallying 49.075. Moors led the way with a first-place-tying score of 9.900. Freshman Mika Webster-Longin contributed 9.825, Katelyn Rosen led off with a 9.800, and McGowan and Chiles each added 9.775.
You've gotta watch Brooklyn Moors scoring a 9.900 on the floor ????#B1GWGym x @uclagymnastics pic.twitter.com/F5OQa0jZ0v
— Big Ten Gymnastics (@B1GGymnastics) January 4, 2025
The Bruins closed on vault with a 48.925. Chiles stuck her vault for a 9.900, and Chae Campbell and McGowan each added 9.850s.
Jordan Chiles is making a statement in her return to @uclagymnastics as she scores 9.900 on vault ??#B1GWGym pic.twitter.com/Yo2Q2whv0N
— Big Ten Gymnastics (@B1GGymnastics) January 4, 2025
"Those are definitely moments we will learn from and take with us," McDonald said about the meet. "I told the team we're going to turn the page and build from what we did today. I think a lot of the mistakes we made today were uncharacteristic, so I'm excited to dial things in and show a stronger performance next weekend."
UCLA next competes at the Sprouts Farmer's Market Collegiate Quad in Oklahoma City on Saturday, Jan. 11. The meet will be televised live on ESPN2 at 7pm CT/5pm PT.
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Jordan Chiles - 2025 Big Ten Championships Floor (10.0)
Thursday, September 04
Chae Campbell - 2025 NCAA Championship Floor (9.925)
Friday, August 15
Frida Esparza - 2025 NCAA Semifinal Bars (9.925)
Saturday, August 09
Frida Esparza - 2025 NCAA Semifinals Bars (9.925)
Saturday, August 09