Campbell, Esparza Honored with Big Ten Weekly Awards
March 18, 2025 | Gymnastics
UCLA graduate students Chae Campbell and Frida Esparza were selected the Big Ten Gymnast and Co-Event Specialist of the Week, respectively.ย
Campbell scored 39.525 in the all-around at Utah, the highest all-around score in the conference that week and her second-highest all-around total of the year. Campbell earned a career-high 9.950 on beam to tie for second place and also recorded third-place finishes on vault and floor exercise with scores of 9.900. The Carrollton, Texas native has competed in the all-around a team-high nine times and leads the Big Ten with a season average of 39.442. She is tied for second in the conference and 20th in the nation in the all-around rankings and also holds Top 25 national rankings on vault and balance beam. This is her second Gymnast of the Week award this season.
On her only event of the night, Esparza tied for first place on uneven bars at Utah with a 9.950, her second-highest score of the year. Her mark helped UCLA stay even with the host Utes after the first rotation with a team score of 49.425. With her 9.950 score, she jumped up to No. 8 in the national rankings and No. 2 in the conference rankings with a NQS of 9.930. Her season average of 9.880 tops the Bruins, and she also leads the team with five uneven bars victories, seven Top 3 finishes and six scores of 9.900 or higher.ย
The awards are the second this season for each gymnast and the 11th and 12th overall for UCLA in its inaugural season in the Big Ten.ย
Big Ten Gymnast of the Week: Jan. 7 โ Nikki Smith, Michigan State; Jan. 14 โ Jordan Chiles, UCLA; Jan. 21 โ Jordan Chiles, UCLA and Tory Vetter, Ohio State; Jan. 28 โ Emma Spence, Nebraska; Feb. 4 โ Jordan Chiles, UCLA and Nikki Smith, Michigan State; Feb. 11 โ Chae Campbell, UCLA and Nikki Smith, Michigan State; Feb. 18 โ Jordan Chiles, UCLA; Feb. 25 โ Gabrielle Stephen, Michigan State; March 4 โ Jordan Chiles, UCLA; March 11 โ Jordan Chiles, UCLA; March 18 โ Chae Campbell, UCLA.
Big Ten Event Specialist of the Week: Jan. 7 โ Sage Kellerman, Michigan State; Jan. 14 โ Emma Malabuyo, UCLA and Mya Hooten, Minnesota; Jan. 21 โ Brooklyn Moors, UCLA and Carly Bauman, Michigan; Jan. 28 โ Lauren Homecillo, Nebraska and Teryn Crump, Minnesota; Feb. 4 โ Sage Kellerman, Michigan State; Feb. 11 โ Carly Bauman, Michigan; Feb. 18 โ Frida Esparza, UCLA and Emily Erb, Iowa; Feb. 25 โ Carly Bauman, Michigan; March 4 โ Sage Kellerman, Michigan State, March 11 โ Mya Hooten, Minnesota; March 18 โ Frida Esparza, UCLA and Elle Beaufait, Michigan State.
Big Ten Freshman of the Week: Jan. 7 โ Ava Stewart, Minnesota; Jan. 14 โ Aurélie Tran, Iowa; Jan. 21 โ Chloe Cho, Illinois; Jan. 28 โ Aurélie Tran, Iowa; Feb. 4 โ Chloe Cho, Illinois; Feb. 11 โ Chloe Cho, Illinois; Feb. 18 โ Chloe Cho, Illinois; Feb. 25 โ Jahzara Ranger, Michigan; March 4 โ Jahzara Ranger, Michigan; March 11 โ Elizabeth Leary, Penn State; March 18 โ Aurélie Tran, Iowa.ย
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Campbell scored 39.525 in the all-around at Utah, the highest all-around score in the conference that week and her second-highest all-around total of the year. Campbell earned a career-high 9.950 on beam to tie for second place and also recorded third-place finishes on vault and floor exercise with scores of 9.900. The Carrollton, Texas native has competed in the all-around a team-high nine times and leads the Big Ten with a season average of 39.442. She is tied for second in the conference and 20th in the nation in the all-around rankings and also holds Top 25 national rankings on vault and balance beam. This is her second Gymnast of the Week award this season.
On her only event of the night, Esparza tied for first place on uneven bars at Utah with a 9.950, her second-highest score of the year. Her mark helped UCLA stay even with the host Utes after the first rotation with a team score of 49.425. With her 9.950 score, she jumped up to No. 8 in the national rankings and No. 2 in the conference rankings with a NQS of 9.930. Her season average of 9.880 tops the Bruins, and she also leads the team with five uneven bars victories, seven Top 3 finishes and six scores of 9.900 or higher.ย
The awards are the second this season for each gymnast and the 11th and 12th overall for UCLA in its inaugural season in the Big Ten.ย
Big Ten Gymnast of the Week: Jan. 7 โ Nikki Smith, Michigan State; Jan. 14 โ Jordan Chiles, UCLA; Jan. 21 โ Jordan Chiles, UCLA and Tory Vetter, Ohio State; Jan. 28 โ Emma Spence, Nebraska; Feb. 4 โ Jordan Chiles, UCLA and Nikki Smith, Michigan State; Feb. 11 โ Chae Campbell, UCLA and Nikki Smith, Michigan State; Feb. 18 โ Jordan Chiles, UCLA; Feb. 25 โ Gabrielle Stephen, Michigan State; March 4 โ Jordan Chiles, UCLA; March 11 โ Jordan Chiles, UCLA; March 18 โ Chae Campbell, UCLA.
Big Ten Event Specialist of the Week: Jan. 7 โ Sage Kellerman, Michigan State; Jan. 14 โ Emma Malabuyo, UCLA and Mya Hooten, Minnesota; Jan. 21 โ Brooklyn Moors, UCLA and Carly Bauman, Michigan; Jan. 28 โ Lauren Homecillo, Nebraska and Teryn Crump, Minnesota; Feb. 4 โ Sage Kellerman, Michigan State; Feb. 11 โ Carly Bauman, Michigan; Feb. 18 โ Frida Esparza, UCLA and Emily Erb, Iowa; Feb. 25 โ Carly Bauman, Michigan; March 4 โ Sage Kellerman, Michigan State, March 11 โ Mya Hooten, Minnesota; March 18 โ Frida Esparza, UCLA and Elle Beaufait, Michigan State.
Big Ten Freshman of the Week: Jan. 7 โ Ava Stewart, Minnesota; Jan. 14 โ Aurélie Tran, Iowa; Jan. 21 โ Chloe Cho, Illinois; Jan. 28 โ Aurélie Tran, Iowa; Feb. 4 โ Chloe Cho, Illinois; Feb. 11 โ Chloe Cho, Illinois; Feb. 18 โ Chloe Cho, Illinois; Feb. 25 โ Jahzara Ranger, Michigan; March 4 โ Jahzara Ranger, Michigan; March 11 โ Elizabeth Leary, Penn State; March 18 โ Aurélie Tran, Iowa.ย
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Players Mentioned
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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