LOS ANGELES – So that is a UCLA floor party, huh?
Consider me floored.
The Bruins threw one of their patented floor parties – distinctive, galvanizing floor routines that routinely bring down the house – to celebrate the eight seniors on the women’s gymnastics roster Saturday afternoon at Pauley Pavilion.
It was a fine way to go about commemorating those perseverant careers, beating Clemson 198.550-196.825. The Bruins’ score the third-highest in program in history and boosted by senior Chae Campbell’s 10 for her brilliant Black Panther-themed exercise.
It also was a timely and big-time bounce back after last week’s fumble at Arizona State, where No. 11 UCLA lost to No. 18 Arizona State 196.625-196.325 in its final Pac-12 dual meet – that tally the Bruins’ lowest this year and worst since February 2022.
And it was a plug for the future of a proud program that’s recalibrating following a few seasons of stress and strife, after the Bruins, in 2021 and 2022, missed the national meet in consecutive seasons for first time.
Saturday’s regular-season closer before a crowd of 5,237 fans – and Olympic silver medalist Jordan Chiles – an apt showcase for what second-year coach Janelle McDonald’s team has to offer in the years ahead.
Sophomore Selena Harris arrived as the nation’s top recruit a year ago and performed like one of the top gymnasts in UCLA’s decorated history Saturday, recording 10s on her first two routines – the vault and the uneven bars – before finishing with an all-around score of 39.900, tied for the second-best score in Bruins history.
“It only goes up from here,” said Margzetta Frazier, a sixth-year senior who finally was healthy enough to make the most of her first and last floor program of the season, recording a career-best 9.975.
“This program is so special and legendary. Down to Kerri Strug, there’s so many legends and there’s so much history, it’s absolutely iconic … you have no choice but…
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