UCLA vs. Michigan State Gymnastics: A Clash of Titans

The world of NCAA gymnastics is set to witness a thrilling showdown as No. 6 UCLA Bruins play host to No. 5 Michigan State Spartans. This highly anticipated meet marks a significant milestone as the first gymnastics event to be broadcast on Fox. Both UCLA and Michigan State stand out as leading programs, boasting top-tier talent and a drive for excellence.

A Historic Broadcast

The Bruins and Spartans will showcase NCAA gymnastics to a potentially new audience on Fox. For UCLA coach Janelle McDonald, this is an exciting opportunity to exhibit "what NCAA gymnastics is about."

Gymnasts in the Spotlight

The Bruins and Spartans feature the top four all-around gymnasts in the Big Ten: UCLA’s Jordan Chiles and Chae Campbell, and Michigan State’s Nikki Smith and Olivia Zsarmani.

Jordan Chiles' Triumphant Performance

In front of a crowd of 10,681 and a nationally televised audience, Jordan Chiles delivered a perfect 10 on floor, securing a 197.300 to 197.200 victory over Michigan State. Despite battling illness, Chiles' performance led UCLA to a nation-high 49.800 floor score.

Riley Jenkins' Vault Debut

Freshman Riley Jenkins made her vault debut, scoring a 9.850. McDonald praised Jenkins for her ability to settle in and trust her training.

UCLA's Gymnastics Legacy

Janelle McDonald's journey in gymnastics began as a young spectator, inspired by the energy of college meets and the achievements of Bruins like Onnie Willis. McDonald's early exposure to the sport fueled her passion for coaching, shaping her perspective on gymnastics. McDonald "was definitely inspired by a lot of former Bruins," and she loved "NCAA gymnastics because of the energy and the joy and the passion that’s out there on the competition floor."

Macy McGowan's Bruin Dream

Freshman Macy McGowan, once an avid viewer of UCLA meets, now lives her dream of competing in Westwood. Inspired by Christine Peng-Peng Lee's vlogs, McGowan is settling into her college career, appreciating the team aspect of gymnastics. McGowan said she recalls tuning into Christine Peng-Peng Lee’s vlogs on YouTube, watching the NCAA balance beam champion on UCLA’s 2018 national championship team share what being a gymnast in Westwood was like, and "[the vlogs] just made me want to come here."

McDonald notes McGowan's innate competitive spirit, highlighting her ability to excel in high-pressure situations. "She innately has competitive greatness in her," McDonald said, and "she gets to meets and she locks in. There’s a spark in her eye when she’s out there competing."

Emma Malabuyo's Leadership

Senior Emma Malabuyo, a veteran on the team, supports McGowan's transition to college, both athletically and academically. Malabuyo, who represented the Philippines at the 2024 Paris Olympics, believes UCLA is capable of even higher scores.

Reflecting on the Michigan State Meet

The meet against Michigan State was a display of grit, with UCLA overcoming struggles on balance beam and bars. Chiles' perfect 10 on floor exercise ultimately secured the victory for the Bruins.

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McDonald said that the win "wasn’t without grit," especially for Chiles, who competed while sick. Chiles said, "I knew in that moment, that no matter what, how strong I am, I have people around me that can help me and support me, and do the best that they can on their end as well to make sure that it’s a team sport."

Fan Engagement

Graduate student Brooklyn Moors noted the energy boost from the large crowd and national television broadcast. "We were really hyped for this week," Moors said, and "We knew that there was going to be a Pauley party."

UCLA's Future in the Big Ten

UCLA faces an impending conference switch to the Big Ten, which McDonald welcomes as an opportunity to compete against new teams consistently.

Historical Performance

UCLA has generally outperformed Big Ten teams in season-high scores over the past decade. Since 2014, the Bruins have boasted a higher season-best score than any Big Ten school in six seasons.

Travel Considerations

The conference shift could mean farther travel for athletes, but efforts are being made to minimize the impact on student-athletes. "The travel was actually going to be less than we had anticipated because the Big Ten is so committed to making this a smooth transition and limiting the impact on our student athletes overall," McDonald said.

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Analyzing the Live Blog

A live blog from a meet provides insights into the performances of UCLA, Cal, Michigan State, and UC Davis.

UCLA's Lineup Changes

UCLA shuffled its lineups to rest Grace Glenn and Felicia Hano, while Cal also made adjustments. UCLA has shuffled lineups to rest Grace Glenn and Felicia Hano, both of whom had a bad landing last week of home but neither of whom are hurt in the long term, and Cal’s shuffled a bit too, just taking Abi Solari out of rotation today.

Standout Performances

Notable performances included UCLA's Frazier on vault, Cal's Jones on uneven bars, and Michigan State's Raybon on vault. FRAZIER - UCLA: Ugh didn’t catch which vault she did. JONES - CAL: Maloney to Pak, a touch archy but that’s usual, half turn on the low bar, missing her handstands a little, full in and STUCK and RAYBON - MSU: Great double front.

Team Standings

After a rotation, UCLA led with a score of 98.525, followed by Cal, Michigan State, and UC Davis.

Floor Exercise Highlights

UCLA's Ohashi delivered a spectacular floor routine, earning cheers and ten hands from the crowd.

UCLA vs. Michigan: A National Championship Showdown

Two national championship-winning teams - No. 2 UCLA gymnastics (8-2, 5-0 Big Ten) and No. 15 Michigan (8-2, 4-1) - will face off Sunday at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Bruins have been dominant on the road this season.

Vault Improvement

UCLA focused on improving its vault performance, which is its lowest-ranked event nationally. “Vault was a huge win,” said coach Janelle McDonald.

McGowan's Consistency

McGowan has become a regular in two other events as well, averaging even higher on bars and floor this season with 9.836 and 9.861, respectively.

Floor Dominance

Floor remains the Bruins’ most dominant event, topping the national rankings and only scoring below a 49.500 once in 2025.

Bars Improvement

UCLA has entered the nation’s top five on bars, posting its season-high event total against Penn State on Saturday with a 49.575 mark.

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