UCLA Sweeps Big Ten Conference Weekly Awards for Second Time
January 20, 2026 | Gymnastics
UCLA swept the Big Ten Conference weekly gymnastics awards for the second time this season, as Jordan Chiles was named the Gymnast of the Week for the third-straight week, Ciena Alipio earned Event Specialist of the Week honors for the second time, and Ashlee Sullivan received her first Freshman of the Week award.ย
The Bruin trio played big roles in UCLA's Big Ten-opening win against Nebraska on Saturday, combining for eight event wins. UCLA set a new season high team score of 197.325 and recorded the sixth-highest beam score in school history with a 49.625.ย
Chiles, the Olympic gold medalist and three-time NCAA champion, continues her stronghold on the Big Ten Gymnast of the Week award, capturing her third award in three weeks. She won the all-around with a score of 39.675 and placed first on three events. She scored her first career perfect 10 on vault and nearly scored another 10 with a 9.975 on beam, her second such score in three weeks. She also tied for first on bars with a 9.900. With her four event titles on Saturday, Chiles now has 10 this season in just three meets. She has scored 9.900 or higher on 10 of her 12 routines and remains ranked No. 1 in the nation in the all-around for a third-straight week. She is also ranked No. 2 on vault, No. 7 on balance beam and No. 11 on uneven bars.ย
Alipio, a senior and the reigning Big Ten balance beam champion, won both events on which she competed in the Bruins' dual meet win over Nebraska. She tied for first on beam with a season-high 9.975 and then scored a career-high 9.875 on floor exercise to capture her first win in just her second-ever competitive performance on the event. Alipio ranks No. 6 in the nation and No. 2 in the Big Ten on beam and is averaging 9.942, with no score lower than 9.925 so far this year. She averages 9.838 on floor exercise.ย
Sullivan recorded career-highs on all three events in which she competed on Saturday, tying for first on uneven bars with a 9.900 and on floor exercise with a 9.875 and placing second on vault with a 9.900. Sullivan's event victories were the first of her career. She is now averaging over 9.850 on both vault and uneven bars and over 9.800 on floor exercise, ranking second in the Big Ten on vault and eighth on uneven bars.ย
This is Chiles' 14th career conference Gymnast of the Week award and ninth in the Big Ten. Alipio earns her second career specialist honor, while Sullivan earns her first Freshman of the Week honor and UCLA's second-ever.
Big Ten Gymnast of the Week: Jan. 6 โ Jordan Chiles, UCLA; Jan. 13 โ Jordan Chiles, UCLA; Jan. 20 โ Jordan Chiles, UCLA.ย
Big Ten Event Specialist of the Week: Jan. 6 โ Ciena Alipio, UCLA; Jan. 13 โ Carly Bauman, Michigan; Jan. 20 โ Ciena Alipio, UCLA.
Big Ten Freshman of the Week: Jan. 6 โ Tiana Sumansekera, UCLA; Jan. 13 โ Quincy Walters, Michigan; Jan. 20 โ Ashlee Sullivan, UCLA.
ย
The Bruin trio played big roles in UCLA's Big Ten-opening win against Nebraska on Saturday, combining for eight event wins. UCLA set a new season high team score of 197.325 and recorded the sixth-highest beam score in school history with a 49.625.ย
Chiles, the Olympic gold medalist and three-time NCAA champion, continues her stronghold on the Big Ten Gymnast of the Week award, capturing her third award in three weeks. She won the all-around with a score of 39.675 and placed first on three events. She scored her first career perfect 10 on vault and nearly scored another 10 with a 9.975 on beam, her second such score in three weeks. She also tied for first on bars with a 9.900. With her four event titles on Saturday, Chiles now has 10 this season in just three meets. She has scored 9.900 or higher on 10 of her 12 routines and remains ranked No. 1 in the nation in the all-around for a third-straight week. She is also ranked No. 2 on vault, No. 7 on balance beam and No. 11 on uneven bars.ย
Alipio, a senior and the reigning Big Ten balance beam champion, won both events on which she competed in the Bruins' dual meet win over Nebraska. She tied for first on beam with a season-high 9.975 and then scored a career-high 9.875 on floor exercise to capture her first win in just her second-ever competitive performance on the event. Alipio ranks No. 6 in the nation and No. 2 in the Big Ten on beam and is averaging 9.942, with no score lower than 9.925 so far this year. She averages 9.838 on floor exercise.ย
Sullivan recorded career-highs on all three events in which she competed on Saturday, tying for first on uneven bars with a 9.900 and on floor exercise with a 9.875 and placing second on vault with a 9.900. Sullivan's event victories were the first of her career. She is now averaging over 9.850 on both vault and uneven bars and over 9.800 on floor exercise, ranking second in the Big Ten on vault and eighth on uneven bars.ย
This is Chiles' 14th career conference Gymnast of the Week award and ninth in the Big Ten. Alipio earns her second career specialist honor, while Sullivan earns her first Freshman of the Week honor and UCLA's second-ever.
Big Ten Gymnast of the Week: Jan. 6 โ Jordan Chiles, UCLA; Jan. 13 โ Jordan Chiles, UCLA; Jan. 20 โ Jordan Chiles, UCLA.ย
Big Ten Event Specialist of the Week: Jan. 6 โ Ciena Alipio, UCLA; Jan. 13 โ Carly Bauman, Michigan; Jan. 20 โ Ciena Alipio, UCLA.
Big Ten Freshman of the Week: Jan. 6 โ Tiana Sumansekera, UCLA; Jan. 13 โ Quincy Walters, Michigan; Jan. 20 โ Ashlee Sullivan, UCLA.
ย
Players Mentioned
Ciena Alipio - 9.975 Beam (Jan. 17, 2026)
Monday, January 19
UCLA Gymnastics Post-Meet - Coach Janelle McDonald (Jan. 17, 2026)
Sunday, January 18
UCLA Gymnastics Post-Meet - Coach Janelle McDonald (Jan. 17, 2026(
Saturday, January 17
Jordan Chiles - Perfect 10 Vault (Jan. 17, 2026)
Saturday, January 17