Tag: UCLA

sports

UCLA wins National Championship!

LEWA EVANS

After an incredible competition, UCLA won their seventh national title with a 198.075 at the 2018 NCAA Championships in St. Louis, Missouri. The Bruins are one of only six teams that have won an NCAA title and this was their first since 2010.

Following a bye in the first rotation, UCLA started their meet on floor. Kyla Ross had a fall in her double pike pass, but the team was able to drop her score and earned a 49.625. The top routines came from Felicia Hano, who scored a 9.9 and Katelyn Ohashi who scored a  9.95.

On vault, the Bruins were strong, scoring a 49.225. Their highest score came from Anna Glenn who posted a 9.8875.

UCLA was on bars next. The Bruins scored a  49.6375, counting three scores in the 9.9s and a perfect 10 from Peng Peng Lee. Kyla Ross anchored with a nearly flawless routine.With this rotation, UCLA passed Florida heading into the final event but was still behind Oklahoma.

Grace Glenn lead off the Bruins on beam with a 9.9375. Madison Kocian was second and had a surprising fall on her series, putting the pressure on the rest of the lineup. The final four gymnasts delivered though, and the rotation topped off with another perfect 10 from Peng Peng Lee, pushing the Bruins past the Sooners
The Sooners started off on beam where they had a fall mid-rotation. This fall did not through them off though, because the final three competitors nailed their routines and they totaled a 49.425 to take the lead after the first rotation. Maggie Nichols and Anastasia Webb both scored 9.9125s.

After a bye, the Sooners went to floor to score a 49.5875. Their lowest counting score was a 9.875 Breanna Showers. Brenna Dowell scored a 9.9375 mid-rotation and Webb and Nichols close with a  9.925 and a 9.9625.

Continuing the momentum to vault, OU scored a 49.4875. Dowell and Nichols both posted 9.9375s and Jade Degouveia scored a 9.9.

The Sooners finished on bars and scored a 49.5375. Nichols delivered a perfect routine scoring a 9.9625. Finishing early in the rotation, the Sooners had to wait to see if their score held up. Ultimately, they were beat out and took second place.

Florida started on vault where they posted a 49.4125.

On bars, the Gators totaled a  49.5375. Megan Skaggs and Amelia Hundley both scored 9.9s and Alex McMurtry anchored with a 9.975. With six amazing routines, they were able to drop a 9.85.

Moving to beam, Florida put up five great routines, but McMurtry fell in the anchor spot. Fourth-up Rachel Gowey scored a 9.9125 followed by Alyssa Baumann with a 9.9375. The team was still able to score a 49.3375.

The Gators finished on floor with a  49.5625 and four scores above a 9.9, to put them in third.

After a bye in the first rotation, LSU came out with a 49.475 on bars.  After a solid 9.775 for first-up Sami Durante, the rest of the bar rotation went well. Sarah Finnegan was set to anchor but had a minor mistake casting over on the high bar. She was able to cover it well and still finished with a 9.8125. An impressive five routines out of their six routines in the lineup stuck their landings.

The Tigers moved on to beam where they put up six strong routines for a 49.3875. They were able to drop Erin Macadaeg’s 9.7375. Sarah Finnegan anchored with her beam work to score a 9.9375.

On floor, the Tigers were strong and aggressive. They totaled a 49.5125. Onto the vault, a lot of the line up stuck their vaults. They totaled a 197.8375 to finish fourth.

Utah started on floor where minor mistakes earning a 49.1875. MyKayla Skinner was great in the anchor spot, scoring a 9.925. Utah moved on to vault but didn’t have the outing they were looking there. Skinner posted a score of a 9.8625.

On bars, the Utes earned a 49.2875, once again Skinner anchored a 9.9125. MaKenna Merrell-Giles also had a great bar set and scored a 9.8625.

The Utes finished with a 196.9 for fifth place.

Nebraska had trouble from the start after a rocky bar rotation posting a 48.825. On beam, they ran into more trouble with a fall , but the rest of the lineup did well and they were able to score a 49.275.

On floor, the Huskers looked more themselves and earned a 49.4, led by a 9.9 from Sienna Crouse and a 9.925 from Megan Schweihofer. They ended their meet with a 49.3 on vault.

The Huskers finished with a 196.8 for sixth place.

I was surprised that UCLA took first place in the meet. I was expecting Oklahoma to win again because they were the two-time reigning champions. Who did you guys think would win the meet? Were you happy that UCLA won?

sports

UCLA, LSU, and Nebraska advance to Super Six!!

LEWA EVANS

UCLA, LSU, and Nebraska are the first three teams to achieve their spots in the Super Six finals after the first semifinal at the 2018 NCAA Championships. Coming into the competition, LSU, UCLA, and Alabama were the top-ranked teams, but Nebraska was able to slide past Alabama with a great showing on every event.

The Bruins
The Bruins, who were entering the competition as the No. 3 team in the country, proved that they deserved a spot in the Super Six.

With the Olympic order rotation, UCLA started on vault where they scored a total of 49.1875. Some of their line up included two Yurchenko one and a halfs by Felicia Hano and Pua Hall. All vaults scored above a 9.8 with three 9.85s from Anna Glenn, Pauline Tratz, and Kyla Ross.

Moving on to bars, the team scored a  big 49.375. Within the bar line up, there was an amazing set from from Ross, who scored a 9.95. Unfortunately, Madison Kocian, had a small slip up, but was able to still pull off a 9.775, which ended up getting dropped.

The Bruins continued to show their talent when they went over to beam. The team scored a total of 49.5375. The final three routines of the line-up were amazing, with Katelyn Ohashi scoring a  9.925, Kyla Ross scoring a 9.95, and Peng Peng Lee scoring a 9.9875.

The Bruins finished the meet on floor. They scored a total of a 49.4625. Ohashi anchored with her amazing Michael Jackson routine and scored a 9.9625.
The Tigers
The No. 2-ranked LSU Tigers were also another team that proved why they deserved they deserved a spot in the Super Six. Even though they didn’t have their best performance, they still earned a total score of 197.475 to make it to the finals.

The team first started on beam, where they had some mishaps. Following three hit routines from Erin Macadaeg, Myia Hambrick, and Kennedi Edney, fourth-up freshman Christina Desiderio fell on her series. Fortunately, the Tigers were able to get it back and finish with two more excellent routines and therefor they were able to drop Desiderio’s score. The team finished with a total score of 49.225.

Next for the Tigers was floor. They scored a 49.4. On this event, the team was led by Kennedi Edney’s 9.9, then Myia Hambrick’s 9.95. Unfortunately, Lexie Priessman had a short landing on her double pike but managed to still finish her routine the best she could.

Next the team went to vault. Unfortunately, there was some technical difficulties with the lights as Sarah Finnegan vaulted (they flickered). The NCAA officials allowed her to redo her vault at the end of the line-up, she stuck her landing and earned a 9.85. The rest of the team looked amazing, and they were able to score a 49.35.

LSU finished on bars with a score of 49.5. The top three scores included Edney, who had a 9.9375, Priessman, who had a 9.9125, and Harold, who had a 9.9.

The Cornhuskers
The Huskers were strong throughout the entire meet, proving they belonged in the Super Six more than Alabama.

The team started on bars and earned a 49.0625. Even though they had a solid bar performance, it was their beam rotation that allowed them to get past Alabama. The beam lineup earned a 49.375, where all gymnasts scored above a 9.8. The top two scores in the lineup were by Taylor Houchin and Grace Williams, whom both earned 9.8875s.

They team continued to do great as they moved on to floor, scoring a 49.3375. The teams high score came from Sienna Crouse with a 9.9.

The Huskers went to vault, scoring a 49.2375, and they finished third in the session.

All in all, the competition was great. There was a lot of head to toe routines, that tested everyone in the competition. It was a great competition to watch. Who was your favorite team to watch compete?

sports

UCLA, LSU and Nebraska qualify to Super Six!

LEWA EVANS

UCLA, LSU, and Nebraska are the first three teams to achieve their spots in the Super Six finals after the first semifinal at the 2018 NCAA Championships. Coming into the competition, LSU, UCLA, and Alabama were the top-ranked teams, but Nebraska was able to slide past Alabama with a great showing on every event.

The Bruins
The Bruins, who were entering the competition as the No. 3 team in the country, proved that they deserved a spot in the Super Six.

With the Olympic order rotation, UCLA started on vault where they scored a total of 49.1875. Some of their line up included two Yurchenko one and a halfs by Felicia Hano and Pua Hall. All vaults scored above a 9.8 with three 9.85s from Anna Glenn, Pauline Tratz, and Kyla Ross.

Moving on to bars, the team scored a  big 49.375. Within the bar line up, there was an amazing set from from Ross, who scored a 9.95. Unfortunately, Madison Kocian, had a small slip up, but was able to still pull off a 9.775, which ended up getting dropped.

The Bruins continued to show their talent when they went over to beam. The team scored a total of 49.5375. The final three routines of the line-up were amazing, with Katelyn Ohashi scoring a  9.925, Kyla Ross scoring a 9.95, and Peng Peng Lee scoring a 9.9875.

The Bruins finished the meet on floor. They scored a total of a 49.4625. Ohashi anchored with her amazing Michael Jackson routine and scored a 9.9625.
The Tigers
The No. 2-ranked LSU Tigers were also another team that proved why they deserved they deserved a spot in the Super Six. Even though they didn’t have their best performance, they still earned a total score of 197.475 to make it to the finals.

The team first started on beam, where they had some mishaps. Following three hit routines from Erin Macadaeg, Myia Hambrick, and Kennedi Edney, fourth-up freshman Christina Desiderio fell on her series. Fortunately, the Tigers were able to get it back and finish with two more excellent routines and therefor they were able to drop Desiderio’s score. The team finished with a total score of 49.225.

Next for the Tigers was floor. They scored a 49.4. On this event, the team was led by Kennedi Edney’s 9.9, then Myia Hambrick’s 9.95. Unfortunately, Lexie Priessman had a short landing on her double pike but managed to still finish her routine the best she could.

Next the team went to vault. Unfortunately, there was some technical difficulties with the lights as Sarah Finnegan vaulted (they flickered). The NCAA officials allowed her to redo her vault at the end of the line-up, she stuck her landing and earned a 9.85. The rest of the team looked amazing, and they were able to score a 49.35.

LSU finished on bars with a score of 49.5. The top three scores included Edney, who had a 9.9375, Priessman, who had a 9.9125, and Harold, who had a 9.9.

The Cornhuskers
The Huskers were strong throughout the entire meet, proving they belonged in the Super Six more than Alabama.

The team started on bars and earned a 49.0625. Even though they had a solid bar performance, it was their beam rotation that allowed them to get past Alabama. The beam lineup earned a 49.375, where all gymnasts scored above a 9.8. The top two scores in the lineup were by Taylor Houchin and Grace Williams, whom both earned 9.8875s.

They team continued to do great as they moved on to floor, scoring a 49.3375. The teams high score came from Sienna Crouse with a 9.9.

The Huskers went to vault, scoring a 49.2375, and they finished third in the session.

All in all, the competition was great. There was a lot of head to toe routines, that tested everyone in the competition. It was a great competition to watch. Who was your favorite team to watch compete?

sports

Bruins win Master Classic!

LEWA EVANS

The UCLA Bruins won the Masters Classic with a score of 197.500, against Nebraska who score a 197.175, Iowa State who scored a 195.575, and Kent State who scored a 194.700.

The Bruins had a strong meet which resulted in them becoming the first team in 25 years outside of Nebraska to win the master’s Classic.

They started the meet with a 49.4 on balance beam. Four scores of 9.9 or better helped rid the pair of 9.75s to start the rotation. Gleen, Ohashi, and Ross each scored 9.9 before Lee closed with a 9.95. The host, Nebraska took the early lead after scoring 49.475 on vault.

UCLA counted five scores of 9.875 or better on floor exercise to claim the lead in rotation two, scoring 49.575. Kocian and Ross started with scores of 9.875, followed by a 9.85 by Dennis. Tratz returned to the lineup after a week off and tied her career-best with a 9.925, and Hano and Ohashi finished out the lineup, both receiving 9.95’s.

Leading Nebraska 98.975-98.800 at the halfway mark, UCLA stalled out a little with a 49.050 on vault Anna Glenn led the Bruins on vault with a career-high leadoff score of 9.875, while Ross and Hano added 9.85s. However, the Huskers scored the same total on balance beam to keep UCLA’s .175 lead intact.

UCLA clinched the victory with a strong 49.475 on uneven bars. The Bruins started out with 9.875s from Dennis and JaNay Honest and closed with a 9.85 from Ohashi, a 9.925 from Lee and a meet-winning 9.95 from Ross.

I always enjoy watching the UCLA team because each year they always show a tremendous amount of talent. I also think UCLA is an underrated team. A lot of attention goes to teams like Oklahoma, LSU, or Florida. It is going to be interesting to see how UCLA does at nationals and what they place.