UCLA
Washington
UCLA Gymnastics Wins Season Opener With 196.975
January 03, 2026 | Gymnastics
SEATTLE – The No. 4 UCLA Gymnastics team began its season with a first-place finish at the Best of the West Quad at Alaska Airlines Arena on the University of Washington campus. The Bruins used a strong second half of the meet to surge ahead, including a strong 49.525 on balance beam in the final rotation. No. 20 California placed second with a score of 196.000. Host Washington came in third place with a 195.625, and No. 19 Oregon State finished in fourth place with a 196.550.
Olympic gold medalist and senior Jordan Chiles dominated the competition, placing first on all four events and winning the all-around with a score of 39.725. Freshman Tiana Sumanasekera also had a strong showing, placing second on balance beam with a 9.950 and on floor exercise with a 9.850 in her collegiate debut. Senior Ciena Alipio scored 9.925 on beam to close the meet and also hit a 9.800 on her floor exercise exhibition. Sophomore Mika Webster-Longin added three scores of 9.800 or higher to contribute to the team total.
UCLA posted the meet's highest team scores on three events - vault (49.150), balance beam (49.525) and floor exercise (49.075).
The Bruins began the meet with a 49.075 on floor exercise, led by Chiles' 9.925 and Sumanasekera's 9.850. Mika Webster-Longin contributed a 9.825. The Bruins' floor score put them in second place after the first rotation, behind Cal's 49.275 scored on uneven bars.
UCLA made up some ground in rotation two, with six vaults all scoring 9.800 or higher for a team score of 49.150. Chiles again had the team's highest mark, recording a 9.900 on her Yurchenko double full. Ashlee Sullivan and Riley Jenkins each scored 9.825. Sumanasekera, Madisyn Anximi and Katelyn Rosen added 9.800s to help the Bruins pull to within .075 of the Bears, who scored 49.025 on beam.
On uneven bars in rotation three, UCLA totaled 49.225 to move past Cal into first place. Chiles once again led the way, scoring 9.925 after sticking her double layout dismount. Sullivan and Webster-Longin each contributed 9.850s. Sydney Barros made just her second-ever appearance in the lineup and scored a new career-best of 9.800, a score matched by freshman Nola Matthews. UCLA's exhibition routines were also strong, with Sumanasekera and Anyimi each scoring 9.850.
Armed with a nearly half-point lead going into the final rotation, the Bruins locked in with a huge balance beam score of 49.525. Rosen led off with a 9.825, followed by a 9.850 by Matthews, a 9.950 from Sumanasekera and 9.800 from Webster-Longin. Chiles produced perhaps her best NCAA beam routine to date, earning a 10.0 from one of the two judges and a 9.975 final score. Alipio closed the rotation with another nearly flawless routine that earned 9.925 and gave UCLA a nearly one-point victory.
The Bruins will next compete against No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 2 LSU and No. 5 Utah on Saturday, Jan. 10 at the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad in West Valley City, Utah. The meet will be televised live on ABC at 1pm PT.
Team Standings:
1. UCLA 196.975
2. California 196.000
3. Washington 195.625
4. Oregon State
Event Winners:
Vault - Jordan Chiles (UCLA) - 9.900
Uneven Bars - Jordan Chiles (UCLA), Tonya Paulsson (California), Taylor DeVries (Oregon State) - 9.925
Balance Beam - Jordan Chiles (UCLA) - 9.975
Floor Exercise - Jordan Chiles (UCLA) - 9.925
All-Around - Jordan Chiles (UCLA) - 39.725
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Players Mentioned
