The No. 6 UCLA women’s gymnastics squad was given the chance to exact revenge against a formidable opponent in No. 11 Denver on Sunday afternoon, and they did not pass up the opportunity.
The Bruins dominated the quad meet from the start, finishing with a 196.250, which was good enough for a first place finish over Denver, California and Cal State Fullerton.
The team began the event on vault, sticking all of their landings and jumping out to an early lead with a score of 49.275
“Both vault and bars went really well. Everybody stuck their landings, which made the difference,” coach Valorie Kondos Field said.
The team only improved from there, adding two 9.975 scores on uneven bars from sophomore Ariana Berlin and junior Jordan Schwikert.
Berlin was a huge factor, placing first in the all-around competition and energizing the crowd throughout.
“I haven’t gotten above a 9.9 yet, and that was my goal for today,” Berlin said.
She far surpassed her goal, tying the team’s highest score of the season, and scoring a career high in the all-around with a 39.325.
Another big boost for the Bruins was the reemergence of Jordan Schwikert in all-around competition.
Competing in the all-around for the first time this year and with a first appearance on floor exercise, Schwikert came down with the flu before Sunday’s meet.
“Jordan did amazing, especially because she was sick. She told herself before the meet she wasn’t sick and had an amazing day,” Berlin said. Schwikert finished with a score of 39.2, placing her third overall.
Junior Tasha Schwikert, Jordan’s sister, competed in vault, floor, and beam but was held out of the floor exercise due to an Achilles strain. She remained thoroughly involved in the event though, cheering on her sister’s every flip.
After a stellar start, the Bruins faltered slightly at the end, scoring a below-average 48.3 on floor exercise.
“On floor, it was like their minds petered out. We can do a lot better on floor,” Kondos Field said.
The team acquired its highest score of the season on uneven bars with a 49.7, blowing out its previous best of 49.35.
Kondos Field added that the scores are finally getting to the place where they should be.
“I think we’re finally getting the scores we deserve. The west coast has always been really tough judging-wise and it’s good to see the scores finally coming up,” she said.
With Georgia heading into Pauley Pavilion next Sunday, the Bruins’ confidence is riding high.
“We’re gonna dominate, okay? We have no doubts. They are going down,” Berlin said with a laugh.