UCLA
Collegiate Challenge Powered by Under Armour (vs. California, Michigan State and UC Davis)
UCLA Wins Collegiate Challenge with 197.700
January 12, 2019 | Gymnastics
Anaheim, Calif. - Kyla Ross and Katelyn Ohashi scored perfect 10s to lead No. 2 UCLA to a first-place finish at the 2019 Collegiate Challenge powered by Under Armour. The Bruins totaled 197.700, highlighted by a team floor total of 49.700, the fifth-highest mark in school history. No. 9 California was second with a 196.075, followed by No. 33 Michigan State with a 194.900 and No. 14 UC Davis with a 194.125.
Ross won the all-around with a career-high-tying 39.700. She took first place on the uneven bars with her fourth career perfect 10 on bars and her sixth overall perfect score. Ross also had UCLA's top mark on vault with a 9.875, placed second on balance beam with a 9.900, and was one of four Bruins to record second-place marks of 9.925 on floor exercise.
Ohashi topped all floor exercise performers with her fourth career perfect 10 on floor. The reigning NCAA co-champion on floor changed her first tumbling pass this week to a split double layout and stuck it cold en route to her sixth career perfect 10. Ohashi nearly scored a 10 on her other event, balance beam, but had to settle for a 9.975.
UCLA started the meet with a 49.075 on vault to claim a .050 lead over Michigan State after one rotation. Ross (9.875), Pauline Tratz (9.85) and Margzetta Frazier (9.825) were the only three to crack 9.8 in the lineup, but in an exhibition performance, sophomore Kendal Poston ignited the Bruins with a 9.85 on her piked front half vault.
The Bruins flipped the switch on uneven bars, totaling 49.450 to increase their lead to 0.70 ahead of second-place Cal. Frazier led off with a 9.925, and last-minute sub Savannah Kooyman hit for a 9.775. After Anna Glenn's 9.750, Norah Flatley earned a season-best 9.900, and Madison Kocian recorded a 9.850 before Ross closed with her perfect 10.
UCLA kept improving as the meet went along, scoring 49.475 on balance beam in rotation three. After Brielle Nguyen led off with a solid 9.775, the Bruins rattled off five straight 9.850+ routines. Kocian made her season debut on beam and scored 9.85. Flatley and Nia Dennis scored 9.875 on back-to-back routines, Ross recorded a 9.900, and Ohashi finished with her 9.975. Poston delivered another strong exhibition routine, scoring 9.825.
Floor exercise was one big dance party for the Bruins, who recorded the nation's top team score on any event so far this season. Flatley started the rotation by completing her first collegiate all-around performance, scoring 9.750 on floor to give her second place in the all-around with a 39.275. After Flatley, the 9.925s came in waves. Gracie Kramer and Ross each put in 9.925s. Frazier made her much-anticipated floor debut and brought the house down with another 9.925. Tratz tied her career-best mark with a 9.925, and Ohashi provided a fitting ending to the night with her 10.0.
UCLA (4-0) returns to Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom on Monday, Jan. 21 for a dual meet against Arizona State at 2pm.
Players Mentioned
