The UCLA gymnastics crew provided followers a sneak peek of what might be anticipated throughout the 2026 season at its annual Meet the Bruins occasion Saturday.
The Bruins are coming off a runner-up end on the NCAA championships and a sweep of the Large Ten common season and convention titles.
Bar routines have been an space of development for UCLA throughout the previous season, and the crew is shaping as much as have higher depth. The gymnasts have been pushing one another to enhance, and UCLA coach Janelle McDonald is happy with the progress.
UCLA gymnast Jordan Chiles, heart, fires up teammates throughout the Meet the Bruins exhibition on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, at Pauley Pavilion.
(Dylan Petrossian/UCLA Athletics)
“Really excited about where we are at on bars,” McDonald stated. ”I really feel like it may be an amazing occasion for us and simply actually engaged on the consistency of the small print proper now.”
There are abilities the Bruins wish to clear up and tighten earlier than the primary meet of the brand new season in January, together with sharper execution and landings.
“There were a couple of uncharacteristic things that we don’t typically see in practice, people that are really consistent with sticking and having steps,” McDonald stated after the Meet the Bruins exhibition.
The seniors say they’re centered on including routines and occasions, emphasizing studying, rising and pushing themselves of their remaining 12 months.
“I feel like both Ciena [Alipio] and Maddie [Anyimi] have had that mentality all summer long to really be able to come into the preseason and make a statement. It was great to see them out there in different events and to see them perform so confidently,” McDonald stated.
Sophomore Macy McGowan didn’t carry out on flooring due to an damage and has been working all through the offseason, constructing again every week to get stronger.
Jordan Chiles confirmed off her Prince-themed flooring routine for the ultimate time and can substitute it with one thing new throughout the competitors season.
“I am really excited to do this floor routine,” stated Chiles, who was a finalist on “Dancing with the Stars” throughout the offseason. ”We’ve already began and actually, I’m like, ‘This is not Jordan. I’ve performed the cutesy, I’ve performed the hip-hop, I’ve performed all these issues and that is extra the passionate, assured final period of being a Bruin.’”
Freshman Ashlee Sullivan stepped onto the Pauley Pavillion flooring for the primary time and has been adjusting to the transition from elite competitors to collegiate gymnastics.
“When I came here, we were already hitting the ground running,” Sullivan stated. “Like everyone looked so good. The team looked competition ready. Feeding off of that, everyone … pushes me to be [the] best I can.”
Tiana Sumanasekera, Nola Matthews, Jordis Eichman, Kai Mattei, Ava Callahan and Sullivan joined the roster this season, bringing all kinds of abilities to the UCLA lineup.
The 2026 season begins Jan. 3, when the Bruins will compete in opposition to Washington, California and Oregon State.
