UCLA
Arizona
UCLA Gymnasts Defeat Arizona
January 24, 2016 | Gymnastics
Tucson, Ariz. - The fifth-ranked UCLA Gymnastics team won its conference opener on Saturday afternoon, defeating Arizona, 196.800-196.475, at the McKale Center. Freshman Katelyn Ohashi won the all-around with a career-high score of 39.375 and cemented her status in Bruin lore by repeating and hitting her balance beam routine after an equipment malfunction led to a hard fall on her dismount on her first attempt.
Ohashi was the second competitor up on beam for UCLA in the final rotation and looked well on her way to another top score, when the balance beam cap came off while she was dismounting. Ohashi took a hard fall, but got up and was evaluated by Arizona medical staff and UCLA athletic training staff before being cleared to repeat her routine after the Bruins' rotation was finished. Ohashi hit her routine, including the same double pike dismount, scoring 9.825 to close the meet, giving the Bruins their second-highest overall score of the year.
The freshman from Plano, Texas had a strong meet overall, setting or tying her career-high scores on all four events. She won uneven bars with a 9.925, tied her career-high on floor with a 9.85, set a new career-best on beam with her 9.825, and set a new best on vault with a leadoff 9.775.
Other event winners for UCLA were sophomore Napualani Hall, who claimed her first career event victory with a career-high tying 9.9 on vault, and senior Sadiqua Bynum, who won floor exercise with a 9.925.
UCLA's overall team performance was impressive considering the illnesses that afflicted several team members. Among those who pushed through the illness were freshman Madison Preston, who scored 9.875 on her floor exercise debut; Angi Cipra, who tied for second on floor with a 9.9; and Danusia Francis, who posted 9.85 on beam and 9.825 on bars. Other standout routines included JaNay Honest's career-high-tying 9.85 on bars to tie for third, and Sonya Meraz's career-high-tying 9.85 on beam to tie for second.
The Bruins (2-1) will next compete at California on Monday, Feb. 1 at 7pm.
Team Standings:
1. UCLA 196.800
2. Arizona 196.475
Vault:
1. Napualani Hall, UCLA 9.900
2. Sadiqua Bynum, UCLA 9.875
3. Madison Cindric, Arizona 9.825
Bars:
1. Katelyn Ohashi, UCLA 9.925
2. Gabby Laub, Arizona 9.875
3t. JaNay Honest, UCLA 9.850
3t. Danielle Spencer, Arizona 9.850
Beam:
1. Madison Cindric, Arizona 9.875
2t. Sonya Meraz, UCLA 9.850
2t. Danusia Francis, UCLA 9.850
2t. Lexi Mills, Arizona 9.850
Floor:
1. Sadiqua Bynum, UCLA 9.925
2t. Angi Cipra, UCLA 9.900
2t. Jessie Sisler, Arizona 9.900
2t. Kennady Schneider, Arizona 9.900
All-Around:
1. Katelyn Ohashi, UCLA 39.375
Players Mentioned
