This post was updated Feb. 24 at 12:10 a.m.
It’s not every day that the opposing team roots for the enemy.
But life is different when your name is Jordan Chiles.
No. 2 UCLA defeated No. 15 Michigan 197.550-196.850 on Sunday at the Crisler Center, hitting a final tally of 197.550 for the third time on the road this season. When the judges flashed a 9.975 after Chiles’ floor routine, a chorus of boos ripped through the crowd, seemingly disappointed that the junior had not achieved a perfect 10.
“I have to say – that crowd was really fun,” said coach Janelle McDonald. “They were supportive of both teams and they were really enjoying watching such great gymnastics.”
Graduate student Brooklyn Moors tallied a near-perfect 9.975 of her own in the rotation, displaying why the pair is the No. 1- and No. 2-ranked floor workers in the country. The Bruins continued their dominance as the nation’s No. 1 floor squad, notching a 49.550 on the event.
Senior Emily Lee led off her second rotation of the day to score a 9.850 – a score matched by senior Emma Malabuyo in the fourth spot.
Counting all scores 9.850 or higher, the Bruins’ floor performance marked the seventh consecutive week that the squad posted a 49.500 or higher on floor.
UCLA’s winning day started on bars, sticking four of six dismounts. Graduate student Chae Campbell started the stuck landing trend in the lead off spot and tied her season-high 9.875 mark.
Malabuyo posted the lineup’s only score higher than a 9.900 on bars, securing a career-high 9.925. Freshman Macy McGowan trailed closely behind, matching her 9.875 career high after landing another stick for UCLA.
Even with four hit routines to start the bars rotation, momentum came to a screeching halt when graduate student Frida Esparza casted over on her final handstand and nearly came off the equipment, but managed to stay on en route to a 9.800. Chiles followed up Esparza’s routine with an uncharacteristic fall on her piked Tkatchev, marking a season-low 9.150.
“The team really needed that (Esparza’s performance),” McDonald said. “The mistake really wasn’t that costly because she was able to work out of it. That was a really cool moment for her – to know that she can pivot when needed and stay intentional about what she is doing.”
Despite ending with two falls, the Bruins put up a respectable 49.325 on the event, holding the lead by less than a tenth after the first rotation.
“When things don’t go perfectly, that’s what being on a team is about,” McDonald said. “They know that the next person in line can step up and reset the lineup for us.”
The Bruins stuck five of six landings on beam, posting a 49.425 event total. Lee displayed her signature consistency to leadoff the event, notching a 9.900 mark and began the train of sticks with her gainer full dismount.
Junior Ciena Alipio and Malabuyo posted a pair of 9.900 marks in the final two spots of the rotation, following up a wobbly 9.675 routine from Moors.
“This is my fourth year being anchor on beam, so I’ve kind of had every single situation happen to me,” Malabuyo said. “I just relied on my training and all the experiences that I’ve had before.”
Campbell only competed on bars and beam, stepping back from her usual all around duties. Nonetheless, she landed her second stick of the night on beam, notching a 9.875 mark.
On vault, freshman Mika Webster-Longin set a new career-high, nearly sticking the landing and earning a 9.925. Bouncing back from a fall in the first rotation, Chiles tied the night’s highest score on the event with a 9.950 mark.
“Mika’s vault was probably one of the highlights of the competition,” McDonald said. “She’s been working really hard in the gym on consistent technique and dialing in that landing, so for her to stick it today was really exciting.”
In Riley Jenkins’ first lineup appearance on the road, the freshman nabbed a career-low of 9.625 after taking a hop on her Yurchenko 1.5.
This week’s win marks the first time UCLA has defeated Michigan since the Wolverines became the first Big Ten team to win the national title in 2021.
The Bruins will journey to Columbus, Ohio, next week for the Big Four meet, facing No. 22 Ohio State for the second time this season, as well as No. 20 Nebraska and No. 43 Rutgers.
“This was such a great learning experience,” Malabuyo said. “Through any situation we’re able to adapt and have that fighter mentality, but we were very resilient until the end.”
