UCLA Gymnastics Set for Rivalry Showdown with Utah Amid Big Ten Transition

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – UCLA gymnastics head coach Janelle McDonald reached out to her counterpart at Utah shortly after the Bruins announced their move to the Big Ten Conference. “I got on a call with the head coach at Utah at the time and said, ‘We need to keep this West Coast thing going,'” McDonald recalled.

As the No. 4 Bruins prepare to face the No. 5 Red Rocks Saturday night, they are determined to maintain their cherished rivalry, which persists despite UCLA’s departure from the Pac-12.

UCLA, traditionally a powerhouse with seven national championships and 20 conference titles, has struggled against Utah historically, holding a 14-40 record against them. While the Bruins are currently on a 13-meet win streak, they have not defeated Utah in a dual meet since 2019, marking Valorie Kondos Field‘s last season at the helm.

“It’s definitely a long-standing rivalry,” McDonald said. “It’s two strong teams coming from the same conference for so many years. There’s a desire to show up and compete well and to go after the win.”

This matchup is particularly significant, as both teams aim to assert themselves before the upcoming Big Ten Championships. With an average of 9,185 fans showing up for home meets, UCLA’s attendance peaks at 12,918, evidenced by last week’s meet against Stanford.

Saturday’s competition will also double as Utah’s Senior Meet, promising an electric atmosphere that could greatly benefit the Bruins as they gear up for postseason competition.

“When you go to (NCAA) regionals and you’ve got qualifying for nationals on the line, there are really good teams in the room with you,” McDonald said. “You want to be focused on the things that you need to do to be the best that you can be in that moment. And I think this weekend’s going to be a perfect time for us to practice doing just that.”

The national rankings reflect a close contest, with UCLA’s qualifying score at 197.600, slightly ahead of Utah at 197.515. Additionally, UCLA’s average meet score of 197.290 edges out Utah’s 197.280.

Utah boasts talented competitors nationally, including Grace McCallum, who ranks first in the uneven bars, seventh in balance beam, and eighth in all-around. Meanwhile, UCLA, led by standout Jordan Chiles, ranks second in floor exercise.

With vault as a focus area this week, McDonald noted that freshman Riley Jenkins may re-enter the lineup pending solid landings during training. Chae Campbell and Chiles have also remained consistent, scoring above 9.800 on vault throughout the season.

“Each and every day, we’re really trying to individualize the practice to what each person needs,” McDonald explained. “But as a whole, there are things that as a team you can set goals for. You want to be a part of that moment when your team puts it together.”

When: Saturday, 6 p.m. PT
Where: Jon M. Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City
TV: FOX (Ch. 11)