LOS ANGELES — Chae Campbell won the all-around and came in clutch when she was needed most in No. 8 UCLA gymnastics’ 197.200-194.700 win over Illinois on Saturday afternoon.
Campbell scored 39.400 across all four events. The graduate student tied for first in vault with Jordan Chiles in the Bruins’ home opener and second Big Ten Conference meet of the season at Pauley Pavilion.
“I want to be able to soak up any moment that I have as each meet goes by,” Campbell said. “It’s about staying present, not taking anything for granted and being ready for any opportunity I have to be in the all-around.”
The team score against the Illini (3-2 overall, 1-1 Big Ten) ran UCLA’s streak of exceeding 197 to three meets. The Bruins (5-2, 2-0) scored 197.550 in their last two meets after recording a 195.250 in their season opener.
The signature floor party wrapped up the meet on a celebratory note. Emma Malabuyo hit 9.925 in the Bruins’ second floor routine and true freshman Macy McGowan followed with a 9.875 in her Western-style routine embellished with hints of Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter.
Brooklyn Moors and Campbell reached 9.90 on floor and Chiles anchored the group with her 9.95-scoring, Prince-inspired performance.
“We’re performing and enjoying every single moment and staying present,” Malabuyo said of UCLA’s approach to floor. “When we’re enjoying and feeding off of the crowd, that’s when we do our best.”
UCLA tied a season-high team score on vault with a 49.725. Campbell’s 9.925 was a season best and Emily Lee’s leadoff 9.90 tied a career high.
The Bruins got out to a shaky start on balance beam when Lee briefly wobbled twice in her leadoff routine and Katelyn Rosen had a fall after a back handspring layout. The experience of Campbell, Moors and Malabuyo came in clutch when the trio recorded scores of 9.850, 9.875 and 9.900, respectively.
“It literally gave me chills to see (Campbell) go up there and attack her routine in that moment,” head coach Janelle McDonald said, “because Chae from last year or even previous years would have been able to handle that moment as good as she did today. That was a huge leadership moment for her.”
Chiles performed an exhibition routine but did not compete in the all-around after taking part in all four events last week.
The team beam score of 49.150 was the second-lowest of the season, but McDonald saw a silver lining.
“I’m really excited about how beam went today,” she said. “It wasn’t our season high or anything, but to have a mistake in the lineup like that and everybody really rally and still hit their routines with aggressiveness and confidence, those are the moments that are going to build us into he strongest team we’re capable of being.”
There was also stifled success on uneven bars in UCLA’s second rotation. While there were no major deductions, the Bruins recorded their second-lowest event score of the season with a 49.225. Specialist Frida Esparza won the event with a season-high 9.925.
The pacing of the meet didn’t offer either team any grace throughout the afternoon. Judges now receive feedback from a committee as part of a change in college gymnastics, which resulted in long pauses between events.
Gymnasts had to wait patiently and keep their minds clear for multiple minutes before beginning their routine.
“The pace of the meet was a little slower today,” McDonald said. “But you never know what’s going to happen in a meet. You might get held for five minutes — that’s how it felt with Chae before beam.
“Adapting to those moments and staying mentally prepared, even when it does take a little longer, it’s good growth for us to have.”
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