UCLA Gymnastics Signs Three Standouts
November 26, 2018 | Gymnastics
UCLA Gymnastics has announced the signing of U.S. National Team member Jordan Chiles (Vancouver, Wash.), Mexican National Team member Frida Esparza (Pittsburg, Calif.) and USA Championships competitor Kalyany Steele (Colorado Springs, Colo.) to national letters of intent.
Chiles, who trains at Nayedenov Gymnastics, is a five-time U.S. National Team member and the 2018 U.S. vault silver medalist and 2017 all-around silver medalist. She won the U.S. vault title at the junior level in 2015 and was the bronze medalist on vault and floor in 2014. In her first senior international assignment, she won bronze in the all-around at the 2018 Stuttgart World Cup, and gold medals on vault, floor and team and bronze on beam at the 2018 Pacific Rim Championships. Chiles was an alternate for the USA's 2017 World Championship team.
Esparza, from Head Over Heels Gymnastics, is the current Mexican national all-around champion. She competed at the World Championships and finished in the Top 32 in all-around qualifying. Esparza also helped Mexico win team bronze at the 2018 Pan American Games, where she also finished ninth in the all-around and fifth on bars. A dual citizen, Esparza competed at the 2016 and 2017 USA Championships and was the 2015 Level 10 National champion on uneven bars.
Steele trains at Colorado Aerials and competed at the 2016 and 2017 USA Championships. In 2017, her first at the senior level, she placed 13th in the all-around. Steele won all-around bronze at the 2017 U.S. Classic and was third on vault and sixth on beam in the junior division at the 2016 Secret U.S. Classic. Prior to moving to the elite level, she won the all-around, vault and floor titles at the 2016 Level 10 State Championships
"We are extremely excited about all three of our signees, each of whom bring unique talents and personality," said UCLA head coach Valorie Kondos Field. "Jordan is very much like her Wonder Woman leotard. She brings incredible power, exquisite technique and a playful demeanor to the competition floor. She is also one of the world's best vaulters. Frida's competitiveness has exploded since she began competing for Mexico. Her skill level is on par with the best in the world, and she will be an impact player on every event, especially bars. Kalyany is deceptively explosive. Her quiet demeanor is contrary to her gigantic tumbling, vault and bars. She has so much potential in the tank, and it will be a joy to see her bloom during her career."