This post was updated April 15 at 10:36 p.m.
A plethora of gymnasts will say goodbye to the sport at the national championships this week.
And for eight Bruins, competing on collegiate gymnastics’ biggest stage will be their final hurrah.
UCLA gymnastics will continue its quest for a national title – its first since 2018 – Thursday in Fort Worth, Texas. Before leaving for the Lone Star State, the squad practiced in its home training facility one last time before it closes for at least four months to undergo seismic renovations.
After spending their entire collegiate careers training in the John Wooden Center’s Yates Gymnasium, UCLA gymnastics’ veterans had the opportunity to take it all in one last time.
Graduate student Chae Campbell walked into the facility as a freshman in 2020, surrounded by UCLA’s seven national championship banners. The newcomer seemed to immediately buy into that tradition of success, winning Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and an individual bid to the national championships.
Five years later, Campbell is as dominant as she’s ever been in the all-around – reminiscent of her first- and second-year success – and was crowned the Big Ten’s top all-around gymnast at the conference championships. And as she leaves Westwood having established a powerful legacy, one accomplishment Campbell has yet to check off is a national title.
“I feel like we’ve been through the hard, been through the grit moments together. So today was just all about letting go, having fun,” Campbell said.
Emma Malabuyo, a 2024 Olympian, has continued her role as UCLA’s top beam performer. The senior finished the regular season ranked sixth in the nation on beam – the first time in her career landing in the event’s final top 10.
Malabuyo’s final year of gymnastics started with a run at the Olympic Games representing the Philippines and will end with a chance at a national title. And with UCLA ending the semifinals on beam, the opportunity to advance could depend solely on Malabuyo in the anchor spot.
“I’m really focusing on no regrets and having no fear whatsoever because this is it,” Malabuyo said.
Graduate student Brooklyn Moors will also say goodbye to the sport after the national championships. Familiar with the Olympic and World Championship stages, Moors finally earned her first career perfect 10 on floor March 22 at the Big Ten championships.
After struggling with injuries early in her collegiate career, Moors placed third in the 2025 national rankings with her 9.960 floor NQS while owning the second-highest average at 9.948. However,
Moors said she is still hungry for more and is focusing on training like normal before Thursday’s meet while staying in the “Bruin Bubble” – a phrase the team uses to block out external noise.
But above all, Moors has carved an impact deeper than scores.
“We wanted to leave it better than we found it and that is exactly what we did,” Moors said.
However things play out in Fort Worth, the Bruins can look back at an accomplishment-filled season. From boasting a nation-leading six All-American honorees to an undefeated inaugural run in the Big Ten, coach Janelle McDonald’s squad has a season to be proud of.
And following a year where UCLA’s season was cut short in the regional second round, the 2025 squad has already pushed ahead further than last year.
“This is the fun part,” Moors said. “We did the hard part. We just got to carry that in like we did at Big Tens.”
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