UCLA
NCAA Regional Final
UCLA Gymnastics Wins NCAA Ann Arbor Regional
April 06, 2019 | Gymnastics
Ann Arbor, Mich. - No. 2-ranked UCLA scored 198.075 to take first place at the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional Final and qualifying along with Michigan to the NCAA Championships Apr. 19-20 in Fort Worth, Texas.
Kyla Ross bookended the competition with a pair of perfect 10s, recording one on balance beam in the first rotation and one on uneven bars in the final rotation to improve her 10.0 streak to 10 consecutive meets. She now has 14 10s this season and 19 in her career.
The Bruins' meet got off to a rocky start, as junior leadoff Grace Glenn suffered her first career fall on the event. But the team avoided counting a fall with five secure routines following that. Brielle Nguyen followed her with a 9.875, and Madison Kocian added a 9.725. The back half of the lineup came through with big scores, as Norah Flatley turned in a 9.875, Katelyn Ohashi scored a 9.925, and Ross finished with her second beam 10 of the year. UCLA's total score of 49.400 was just a hair behind Alabama's 49.425 on floor.
UCLA took over the lead in rotation two with a 49.625 on floor exercise. After Margzetta Frazier's leadoff 9.875, the Bruins' scores escalated with each routine. Nia Dennis hit for a 9.9, followed by a 9.925 for Gracie Kramer and a 9.95 by Ross. After Felicia Hano's 9.9, Ohashi closed it out with her crowd-favorite 9.95 routine.
The Bruins went to vault in rotation three leading second-place Michigan by four-tenths and third-place Alabama by 0.475. For the second-straight night, UCLA totaled 49.4 on vault, led by three 9.9 scores from Dennis, Pauline Tratz and Ross. Sekai Wright and Hano each added a 9.85 to help maintain the lead, which Michigan cut into after a 49.450 on floor.
The meet finished up with first-place UCLA on bars, second-place Michigan on vault, and third-place Alabama on beam. While the Wolverines powered through a 49.200 on vault to just edge out Alabama, who earned 49.425 on beam, the Bruins blasted a 49.650 on bars. Frazier and Dennis led off with 9.9s, Hano added a 9.8, and Flatley scored 9.9, setting up a big score for the Bruins' big two of Kocian and Ross. Kocian scored 9.95, and Ross earned a 10.0 to secure the Bruins' final score of 198.075.
UCLA will be making its 35th overall NCAA Championships appearance.
Players Mentioned
